Staff

Meet our Team

I am an experienced non-profit executive who is passionate about youth development, equity and education. Before coming to Breakthrough, I led the marketing, fundraising, membership and outreach departments for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences and a minor in business administration. I also graduated from the University of Michigan with a master’s degree in business administration. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband Rob, and two active teenagers. I am also involved in several community organizations, including Impact 100, Jack and Jill of America and Rotary Club.

I’m excited to be a part of the exceptional team at Breakthrough Cincinnati. I know that together we will continue to change the educational outcomes for our talented students while helping to diversify the teaching pipeline.

I am driven by a passion for establishing a caring community in my work with the youth and teachers at Breakthrough Cincinnati. A native of California, I came to Cincinnati in 2011 after teaching middle and high school math and science in the U.S. and abroad. I earned my master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University in International Comparative Education, Educational Leadership, and Curriculum Studies. I have been with Breakthrough Cincinnati since 2016. I am very proud of the partnership between Breakthrough Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati to create academic enrichment opportunities on campus for students from nearby communities. I am excited to continue to listen to the needs of our students and teachers to make their experience one of tremendous growth.

I hope to connect with families, build community partnerships, and provide a safe space for youth to grow, develop, and learn at Breakthrough Cincinnati! I am a native of Dayton, Ohio, and have served youth in multiple capacities for over ten years. I earned a B.A. in Music Vocal Performance with an emphasis in Operatic Studies from Hampton University. After graduating, I performed extensively and in my spare time I still enjoy taking the stage as often as possible. In 2013, I joined Teach for America in Jacksonville, Florida, and taught high school for two years. With the desire to reach more students, I returned to the Dayton region to lead student programs with the Muse Machine, an arts education organization that serves 72,000 students throughout the Miami Valley.  I am currently working toward a Master’s in Public Administration from Regent University. Student engagement is my passion and my goal is to help each student explore a productive struggle in a place where they know success is attainable.

I’m a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati with a major in Educational Studies and a concentration in Educational Community-Based Action Research. I have worked in the education field for seven years as an educator and researcher. I hail from the southside of Chicago and know what it is like to need a program like BTC in the community. My current research is centered around understanding how we can impact Black girls' STEM identity and create better spaces that foster interest and exploration through informal learning for students with marginalized identities. I’ve worked with diverse student populations nationally and internationally. Working with organizations and community members to provide access and opportunities in education is a forever passion I hold, and I am committed to doing just that at BTC.

A native of Cincinnati, I have spent over 13 years working with and for youth. I have always had a desire to serve others and Breakthrough Cincinnati is a perfect mix of what I enjoy and who I want to serve. I have a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration degree. I’ve spent the last 10+ years working with children and families, and would like to think that I spent that time finding my way to Breakthrough Cincinnati. I look forward to helping to grow BTC and helping to propel more students into college.

Being an AmeriCorps VISTA at Breakthrough Cincinnati from 2021-2023, I grew a love for BTC's culture and a passion for raising funds on behalf of the organization through grant writing. I'm ecstatic to be serving as the Development Director for BTC and continuing my work with such a great organization! I was born and raised in Cincinnati, and I'm happy to be here serving my community. I graduated from Miami University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, majoring in Public Health and minoring in Global Health Studies. I'm currently pursuing my MBA with a focus in Healthcare Administration at the University of Cincinnati.

After previously working with Breakthrough in various capacities in years past, I am happy to serve BTC as a Community Support Specialist. I graduated from UC with a degree in Social Studies Education and am currently pursuing my Master’s in American History from Southern New Hampshire University. During the school year, I am also teaching History at one of BTC’s host sites, Cincinnati Country Day School.

My goal in my new role is to foster meaningful connections with students and families and find the best ways to support their growth and success in the program. When I first started as a Super Saturday Volunteer, I was amazed by the program's profound engagement and positive impact on its students. In my various roles since, I have had the privilege of working alongside a fantastic team of individuals who share the same passion for organizing and facilitating transformative learning opportunities. Through this experience, I have developed a deep appreciation for the power of education in transforming lives.

I am thrilled to integrate valuable insights from my Breakthrough experience into my work so that every student and family receives the guidance and encouragement they need to thrive within our community.

I'm a second-year AmeriCorps VISTA for Breakthrough Cincinnati from Indiana. My passion for community building and advocacy began at Marian University, where I pursued a dual degree in Communication (B.A.) and Marketing (B.S.) and competed on the speech and debate team.

After completing my Master of Arts in Communication at the University of Cincinnati in 2022, I joined BTC as a Development Advancement Specialist. I'm excited to bring my skills out of academia and into serving the vibrant Cincinnati community.

I am a recent graduate of Miami University, where I majored in Political Science and Comparative Religion. Throughout my time at Miami University, I was involved in many organizations on campus. I found my passion for helping and educating students through my work as a Peer Health Educator. Here at Breakthrough Cincinnati, I am an AmeriCorps VISTA and part of Program Development, where my focus is on grant writing. I am happy to use my skills to help such a great organization.

I graduated from Marian University (IN) in 2020 with a B.A. in Communication, and recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2023 with a M.A. in Communication. I look forward to working with Breakthrough Cincinnati as the School Year Program Specialist after serving the last two summers as a Teaching Fellow and Communication Coordinator. Originally from Lafayette, IN, my main interests include watching podcasts, running, and being with friends.