About the Staff |
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Graduated, with honors, from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2002. Engaged in the Youth Development field since the year 1997. As a participant in a Youth Development model, developed a passion for working with youth and families. For the past 6 years, worked to support inner city youth through her work with Catholic Charities of New York and Good Shepherd Services. In addition to youth work, she enjoys dancing, reading, and being with loved ones.
Kevin Anthony
Graduate of Rutgers University (B.S.). Worked with the GEAR UP Program at Lehman College since its inception (1999) and the Center for Academically Talented Middle School Students as a Program Associate, Co-Director, and Program Manager. Served as an Assistant Director for the Youth Theater and Junior High School Programs of the Creative Arts Team, a Theater-in-Education program in residence at CUNY. He has also worked as an adjunct in the Theater department at Passaic County Community College.
Martha Atencio
Graduate of Universidad del Valle with B.A. in Modern Languages and Masters degree in Bilingual Education in her native Colombia. In 2003 received a Masters degree in TESOL from Lehman College. Joined The Bronx Institute in 2001 and is currently working as Program Associate for Management Systems. Ms. Atencio worked for 7 years as a teacher with the Colombian Board of Education.
Naomi Barber
Deputy Director, The Bronx Institute, Youth Development Programs. Served as Director Community Involvement and Special Projects School District 10, Bronx, New York; Developer and Director, New Visions Schools Initiative, New Visions for Public Schools; Adjunct, Bank Street College Leadership for Schools and Cultural Institutions Program; After School Program Developer, The After School Corporation (TASC); and Consultant, Projecto AXE in Bahia, Salvador, Brazil, developing first public school for street children.
Amanda Bickerstaff
Graduate of Emory University with a BA in Anthropology and Lehman College with an MS in Science Education. Joined The Bronx Institute as a Project Associate for South Bronx GEAR UP in September 2007. Works as a science curriculum writer for The Grow Network/McGraw-Hill/American Book Company. In her experiences as a high school biology teacher, she created an Advanced Placement biology program, student affairs programs, and school newspaper programs. She received an Americorps Service Learning Award for her work with her school’s community services program.
Francis Echevarria
Graduate of APEX University, Dominican Republic (B.A. in Business Administration) and studied Bilingual and Multicultural Education at City College and Lehman College. Worked for The Bronx Institute in different capacities since November 2003. Since 2005, worked as Project Associate for Parents and C.B.O engagement in GEAR UP. Worked as educational consultant for Chapman & Associates. Provided assistance for Council Member Guillermo Linares in District 10 in Manhattan, in the areas of human services and immigration. After school instructor and coordinator for Chapman’s Center for Education and Community Programs, in Hyde Park, MA. In the Dominican Republic, she worked as Public Relations Manager for Interamerica Financial Group.
Jessica Fei
Graduate of Yale University (B.A., Literature and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration). Completed the Yale Teacher Preparation Program with a concentration in urban and multicultural education; certified in teaching Secondary English. Joined The Bronx Institute as Project Associate in September 2007. Taught English, Psychology, and film/ photography workshops in East Harlem.
Rachel Francois
Graduate of Bryn Mawr College (cum laude Sociology and Educational Studies). Joined The Bronx Institute as a Project Associate in June 2007. Interned as a teacher’s assistant and mentored, tutored and facilitated workshops for students in the Philadelphia public schools and the Bryn Mawr College community. As a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, developed her interest in African-centered education and its effects on Black learners in an African-centered charter public high school. As a Posse Foundation scholar in Boston public schools, Rachel found that enrichment resources and support are needed to prepare students for college.
Kata Gainard
Graduate of Youngstown State University with a B.A. in Anthropology, a M.A. in History and a M.A. Certificate in Historic Preservation. Originally joined The Bronx Institute as a Research Assistant in 2008 establishing an archival finding aid of resources pertaining to the study of Bronx immigration. Currently working as a Project Associate across all three GEAR UP programs.
Elsa T. Girma
Graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania (M.S. /B.A. Psychology). She joined the Bronx Institute in October of 2008 as a Project Associate for GEAR UP. As a Senior Counselor, she traveled to South Africa with HERO Youth Ambassadors, a U.N. Campaign providing academic and social programs for children affected by HIV-AIDS. For the past three years, she served as Assistant Director of Admissions responsible for recruitment of diverse students in Philadelphia Public Schools.
Lillian Hernandez, Ed.D.
Joined the Bronx Institute at Lehman College as a program manager in August 2008. Worked in the New York City Department of Education in several supervisory capacities including as an Assistant Principal, Supervisor of Guidance and Executive Director of the Office of Bilingual Education. Has been an adjunct professor at Baruch College, Lehman College, Bank Street College and Teachers College. Directed a special project addressing the issue of institutionalized racism in the New York City public schools at the CUNY Graduate Center. Served as a Special Assistant to a Member of the New York City Board of Education.
Justin Hertog
Graduate of Vassar College (1992) with a BA in Religion. Joined the Bronx Institute in 2008 as Communications Specialist. Previous position with Lehman College’s Office of Media Relations and Publications writing articles and contributing to other editorial projects. Worked for ten years in the information technology industry.
Bruce Irushalmi
Graduate of Lehman College (B.A.) and City College (M.S. Ed.). Joined The Bronx Institute at Lehman College in September, 2005 as Project Director of GEAR UP and Associate Director of The Institute. Served as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Bronx Community School District Ten and Director of Youth Development in New York City Public Schools Bronx Region One until 2005. Worked as an adjunct in the Graduate Education Departments of Bank Street College and Hunter College.
Charles Kaczynski
Graduate of Miami University (Ohio) (B.S.) and Northern Illinois University (M.A.). Currently a doctoral degree candidate in United States immigration/ethnic and religious history at The Catholic University of America. Joined The Bronx Institute at Lehman College in June 2007 as a Project Associate of GEAR UP. Serves as an adjunct instructor in the department of history at Lehman College. Previous teaching experience at high schools in the District of Columbia, New York, and Ohio and a number of New York-area colleges, including Pace University, Saint Francis College (Brooklyn), and Saint John’s University (Queens).
Professor Herminio Martinez, Ph.D.
Professor Martinez is a tenured Professor in the Department of Middle School and High School Education. As principal investigator, he provides administrative leadership of funded programs, which include the following—ESEA Title VII/NCLB Title III, special and bilingual education teacher education and professional development programs, Federal and State technical assistance centers, desegregation centers, National Science Foundation projects, and federal, state, local, and foundation school reform projects; He serves on Boards such as the National Council of La Raza; the Audubon Partnership of NYC; the Private Industry Council; and the New York Hall of Science.
Deborah Montes
Graduated Binghamton University (BA in Sociology and Women’s Studies); Joined The Bronx Institute as a Project Associate in 2007. Served as Education Supervisor for the Harlem Children’s Zone and Education Advisor for the NY Road Runners Foundation.
Veronica Mora
Graduate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (B.A. Psychology and Spanish/Hispanic Studies). Previously interned at the Fresh Air Fund and the Ramapo for Children, where she focused on working with children from low-income communities. Worked for Jumpstart focusing on early childhood development. Also worked with youth for the Police Athelic League in New York City.
Iwan Notowidigdo
Graduate of Hunter College of CUNY (B.A./MA). Joined Lehman College in January, 2005 as Director for Sustainability of The Institute. Served as Founding Director, New York City Bilingual Education Technical Assistance Center at Hunter College (2000-2004); Hunter College Coordinator, New York Technical Assistance Center (1995-2000); and Field Services Coordinator, New York Multifunctional Resource Center (1986-1995). Worked as a consultant to various local educational agencies, state departments of education, institutions of higher education, foundations, and community based organizations.
Geobany Rodriguez
Graduate of Boston University (BA). Currently studying visual arts and arts education at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Joined The Bronx Institute as a Project Associate in 2007. Worked at the Citizen’s School in Boston and Worked for three years as a Counselor in the Prep for Prep program, responsible for helping students navigate tough academic and cultural environments of their new independent schools. Geobany traveled with the Experiment in International Living and led students on an ecological tour through Costa Rica.
LaRae Snoddy
Graduate of Lawrence University (B.A. Philosophy & Spanish) and Edgewood College (M.A. Education). Joined the Bronx Institute in November 2007 as a Project Associate for the South Bronx GEAR UP. Served as an Admissions Counselor at Edgewood College, where she was responsible for counseling and recruitment and also coordinated Community and Pre-college programs. Worked as a grant writing intern for the Wisconsin Foundation of Independent Colleges in 2004.
Taylor Vecchio
Graduate of Umass-Boston (BA Anthropology) 2005 and joined the Bronx Institute as a GEAR UP project associate in summer of 2008. Recently completed an Americorps VISTA term of service for Jumpstart, a leading national early childhood literacy organization where she worked to support volunteer coordinators. Previously involved in projects that serve homeless children in Boston, spent time in low-income preschools as a teacher, and worked with youth in a number tutoring and after school programs..
Dita Wolf
Graduate of Lehman College (B.A.) and College of New Rochelle (M.S. Ed.). Fellow of the Institute for Learning, University of Pittsburgh (1999-2001) and Center for the Study of Expertise in Teaching and Learning (2005-2006). Joined The Bronx Institute at Lehman College in August, 2006 as Program Manager. Served as teacher, librarian, assistant principal and principal of P.S. 7, The Kingsbridge School, until 2006.
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