Who we are
Educators with passion. Administrators with expertise.
Rainier Scholars is a community committed to racial equity and passionate about the transformative power of education and the immeasurable value of opportunity.
We walk beside our scholars throughout their journey to college graduation and beyond.
Leadership
Rafael del Castillo
Executive Director
B.S.E. Aerospace Engineer, University of Florida
M.S. Science Education, Florida International University
Kaila Davis Nsimbi
Associate Executive Director
B.A. History, Seattle University
Jennifer Ward
Chief Operating Officer, Rainier Scholars Tacoma
B.S. Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of Washington
M.Ed. Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, University of Washington
Sumiko Huff
Director of Strategic Growth & Program Design
B.A. Art, Willamette University
Masters in Teaching, Seattle University
Principal Certification, City University
Ed.D. Candidate Education, University of Washington
Janelle Blakely
Director of Development
B.A. Communications, Humboldt State University, M.A. Nonprofit Leadership, Seattle University, Certificate in Fundraising Leadership, Seattle University
Roy Fisher
Child and Family Therapist
B.A. Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, Pacific Lutheran University
Derek Rogers
Director of College Counseling
B.S. Business Administration, California Lutheran University
Liz Sadler
Director of Academic Counseling
B.A. Mathematics, Hamilton College
B.A. Classical Languages, Hamilton College
Masters in Teaching, Seattle University
Staff
Kathia Vivar Acevedo
Academic Counselor
B.A. Marketing & Finance, University of Washington, Bothell
Nicole Anthony
Director of Recruitment, Rainier Scholars Tacoma
20+ years experience in Youth Development, program management, leadership development and training
Mary Bristow
Major Gifts Officer, Special Projects
B.A. Child and Family Studies, Washington State University
Aisha Cathcart
Academic Counselor
B.A. Speech and Hearing Sciences, Washington State University
Dominique Daba
Director of Placement
B.A. Literatures and Cultures in English, Brown University
Sara Daniel
Academic Counselor & Program Assistant
B.A. Educational Studies, Colgate University
Hannah Daniels
Academic Counselor
B.A. Global Studies, North Park University
Milena Flores
Associate Director of Academic Counseling
B.A. Political Science, Stanford University
Bethany Furubayashi
Director of Corporate Engagement
B.A. Mathematics and Computer Science, Indiana University
Saedah Ham
Development Associate
B.S. Public Relations, Syracuse University
Asha Hanstad
Academic Counselor
B.A. Sociology, Occidental College
Sara Jackson
Director of Career Development
B.A. International Studies, Macalester College
M.P.P Educational Policy and Urban Affairs, UCLA J.D., UCLA School of Law
Quianna Koonce
Mental Health Clinician/ Counselor
B.A. Sociology & Anthropology, Agnes Scott College
Masters in Social Work, North Carolina Central University
Alison Krupnick
Marketing & Communications Director
B.A. International Relations, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Drego Little
Learning Support Specialist & Literature/Writing Teacher
B.A. Law, Society and Justice, University of Washington
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
Olivia Littles
Grants Manager
B.A., Wheaton College
M.A. Socio-Cultural Anthropology, University of Washington
Ph.D Socio-Cultural Anthropology, University of Washington
May-Lannie Lozano
Academic Counselor
B.A. Sociology, Whitman College
Rosida Mohamathno
Career Development Manager, Middle School and High School
B.A. Communications, University of Washington
Tammy Moter
Finance Manager
B.S. Business Administration & Accounting, University of Phoenix
M.S. Accounting, University of Phoenix
Rediet Mulugeta
Office Manager & Program Assistant
B.A. Global Development Studies, Seattle Pacific University
Myly Nguyen
Academic Counselor
B.A. Psychology, Whitworth University
Kathryn Pienta
Clinical Social Worker & Therapist
B.A. Psychology, Wheaton College
Masters in Social Work, Simmons College
Jaliyah Putney
Program Assistant, Rainier Scholars Tacoma
B.A Marketing, Western Washington University
Steph Salazar
Career Development Manager, College
B.A., Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Texas at Austin
M.Ed., Leadership in Higher Education, University of Washington
Ashante Samuels
Recruitment Associate
B.A. Psychology, University of Washington Tacoma
Jessica Schreiber
Development Manager
B.A. Sociology, Whitman College
Ashley Sirls
Director of Leadership Development
B.A. Secondary Education (English & African American Studies), Arizona State University
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
Paulo Sotero de Menezes
Academic Counselor
B.S. Biology, University of Washington
Yael Tellez-Rodriguez
Academic Counselor
B.A. Psychology and Humanities, Seattle University
Kelabe Tewolde
Leadership Development Coordinator
B.A. Political Science, Colgate University
Dean Witt
Database and Systems Administrator
B.A International Development Studies, Calvin University M.Th. Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary
Faculty
Sean Baughn
History/Research
B.A. History and Philosophy, University of Washington
M.I.T. Education, Western Washington University
Cleressa Brown
History
B.A. History, Hampton University
M.A. Teaching K-8 Endorsement, Antioch University
Heather Clark
Invictus
B.A. Evergreen College
Ph.D. Social Cultural Anthropology, University of Washington
Roy Fisher
Conclave
B.A. Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, Pacific Lutheran University
Sam Fout
Mathematics
B.S. Discrete Math, University of Washington
M.Ed Secondary Education, Vanderbilt University
Tyler Hartanov
History
B.S. History, Montana State University
M.Ed Secondary Education, Vanderbilt University
Jon Howland
Mathematics
B.A. Politics, Government and International Relations, University of Puget Sound
M.S. Education, City College of New York
Alexandra Ibarra
History
B.A. History, Humboldt State University
M.Ed. Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, University of Washington
M.A. Secondary Education, Loyola Marymount University
Drego Little
Literature/Writing
B.A. Law, Society and Justice, University of Washington
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
Jason Medeiros
Science
B.S. Biology, Yale University M.S. Soil Microbiology, University of California, Berkeley M.S. Landscape Architecture, University of Washington
Corey Paulson
History
B.A. History, University of Washington
Master’s course work finished in Religious Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder, CO
Kathryn Pienta
Conclave
B.A. Psychology, Wheaton College
Masters in Social Work, Simmons College
Alyssa Reyes
Science
B.S. Biology, University of Washington
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Liz Sadler
Mathematics
B.A. Mathematics, Hamilton College
B.A. Classical Languages, Hamilton College
Ashley Sirls
Literature/Writing
B.A. Secondary Education (English & African American Studies), Arizona State University
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
English
Spanish
Vietnamese
Amharic
Somali