Our Board

Aaron Walker

Aaron is the Founder and CEO of Camelback Ventures, a fund that levels the playing field for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Since 2015, Camelback has made 33 investments and has helped those companies raise nearly $13M. Aaron is on a journey to live in the spirit of his baseball hero, Jackie Robinson, who said “a life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” With this ethos, Aaron taught ninth grade English in West Philadelphia through Teach For America, put together deals for companies large and small as a lawyer at Allen & Overy, and supported new ideas to improve education as a portfolio director for the NYC Fund for Public Schools. Aaron is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Penn Law School.

Allen Square

Allen Square is the founder and chief executive officer of Square Button. With over twenty years of experience in both public and private sectors, Allen has worked with and led teams to deliver value to projects and organizations. Allen’s experience is deep and varied, covering several industries such as engineering, construction, consulting, and technology. He consistently delivers for his customers on projects large and small.

Post completion of an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Allen worked as a consultant with Bain & Company, Inc. and as the Chief Information Officer of the City of New Orleans. Allen also holds engineering degrees from Tulane University (BS Electrical Engineering) and Southern Methodist University (Masters of Science in Telecommunications).

Beth Rabbitt

Beth is CEO of The Learning Accelerator (TLA). Prior to becoming CEO, Beth was a Partner on the organization’s start-up team, leading national strategies for developing human capital and for researching emerging teaching and learning models and practices. Beth has previously served as Director of Human Capital at Touchstone Education, an Associate Partner at the NewSchools Venture Fund, a consultant to and with Education Resource Strategies, and the founding Doctoral Fellow at the Harvard Innovation Lab. Beth serves on the board of several education nonprofits, including the Highlander Institute and UNOW, Princeton University’s early childhood education center. She earned her B.A. from Dartmouth College and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Harvard University.

Elaine Lenore

Elaine has spent her career supporting nonprofits advance equity in the community. She currently serves as CFO of Hively, a nonprofit that provides resources and support to ensure that everyone in Alameda County can thrive. Formerly Child Care Links and Family Service Counseling and Community Resource Center, Hively provides children and families throughout Alameda County access to high-quality social services. Serving as a strategic partner, Elaine makes finance concepts accessible and actionable, so that teams can have the greatest impact possible. Previously, Elaine worked as Director of Finance at NewSchools Venture Fund. Prior experiences have included Aspire Public Schools, Achievement Network, and EF Education First. Elaine graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, MA and lives in the Bay Area with her husband and three kids. She enjoys spending time with family and working out at the Bar Method Walnut Creek where she is also an instructor.

Heather Attale

Heather Attale has 25 years experience creating impactful education technology products. Most recently Heather was CPO of Illuminate Literacy, an organization in incubation with philanthropy funds seeking to eradicate illiteracy. Previously, she was an early employee of 2U, Inc. where she spent 12 years focused on building a suite of products powering online graduate degrees. She played a key role in the evolution of the product portfolio, team, and processes as the organization matured from a small start-up to a large public company. Before that she led a production team within The Princeton Review’s K-12 Division and she began her career at the constructionist learning website for kids, MaMaMedia.com.

Heather is now a self-employed consultant offering fractional CPO services to mission-driven education orgs. She assists leaders in the creation or evolution of product strategy, establishing product teams & processes that deliver working software, and mentoring product managers. By working with many organizations with various product challenges, Heather has found herself more energized and making more impact in the education space than ever before.

Heather lives in Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin, TX but she is a New Yorker at heart. She grew up in the Hudson Valley and called New York City home for 10+ years. Heather enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, often cheering on their competitive basketball and lacrosse games. She stays involved in the local schools where she has held inclusion centered PTA roles at the school and district level. Currently she volunteers at the school district’s clothes closet, at inclusion events, and is a Healthy Lifestyles sub-committee member with National PTA. In her spare time she enjoys nature walks with friends, her yoga practice, and gardening.

Jay Altman

Jay Altman is a senior advisor to America Achieves and a founding partner of Greenhouse E3, a fellowship program for aspiring charter network executives. Jay is the former CEO and co-founder of FirstLine Schools in New Orleans. He also worked in London as Director of Education for ARK Schools, developing a network of charter-type schools and helping develop training programs for leaders of open admissions urban schools, including Future Leaders, a program for aspiring principals of open-admissions urban schools, and Teaching Leaders, a program for mid-level school leaders. Prior to this he was co-founder and a school leader of New Orleans Charter Middle School, the first charter school in New Orleans. Jay serves on the boards of Catalyst:Ed, Leading Educators, Special Education Leader Fellowship, and The New Orleans Career Center. He is the proud father of two children, Calder and Talia, and the lucky husband of Adrienne.

Kimberly Smith

Prior to joining Digital Promise, Ms. Smith served as Chief Learning and Innovation Officer with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), leading the innovation strategy for the global leader in youth entrepreneurship education. Ms. Smith oversaw the development of a portfolio of college- and career-ready programs to empower disadvantaged youth to lead economically sustainable lives and research on the Entrepreneurial Mindset Index (EMI) – a pioneering tool for measuring the impact of non-cognitive skills on student success.

Previously, Ms. Smith was Vice President of Education at PBS, where she directed the education strategy, including the launch of PreK-12 digital curriculum and teacher support services in partnership with school districts and states. Ms. Smith also served as Vice President of Product Development for Discovery Education, where she oversaw the creation of a portfolio of broadband services and learning tools for K-12 schools, including Discovery Streaming and curriculum digital products. Prior to Discovery, Ms. Smith was at the Annenberg/Corporation for Public Broadcasting Project, where she developed digital tools to support students taking college courses for credit at a distance.

Ms. Smith is an Aspen-Pahara Institute fellow, member of the Maryland State Department of Education Business Management and Finance board, former board member of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), and former board chair of the Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School. She received her Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University and her Bachelors of Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Founder/CEO

Leona Christy

Founder and CEO

Leona Christy is an impact entrepreneur who excels at finding innovative and elegant solutions to vast, complex, and often hidden challenges. She founded Catalyst:Ed to improve outcomes for America’s children and youth by strengthening the schools and nonprofits that serve them, and transforming the capacity of the nation’s education ecosystem. Under her leadership, Catalyst:Ed has pioneered a unique model to rapidly and effectively match education organizations to the expertise, resources, and hands-on support they need to become more effective, innovative, and equitable. Catalyst:Ed is currently working with state and local education agencies, schools, and education nonprofits in all 50 states to address long-standing challenges and expand the limits of what they can accomplish. It is also investing in strengthening the capacity of grassroots organizations that work in close proximity to historically marginalized communities. At a systemic level, Catalyst:Ed is building the “marketplace” infrastructure – the tech, the network, and the know-how – needed to support capacity building at scale, strengthen the field of providers, and facilitate sector-wide learning.

Leona is a Malayali, who grew up in India and emigrated to the United States as an adult. With no access to networks of power and wealth, she overcame multiple challenges and constraints as she sought to launch and grow Catalyst:Ed to its national presence. Her experiences have fueled her drive to remove barriers to access, knowledge, and opportunity for all.

As the Founder and CEO of Catalyst:Ed, Leona is responsible for defining Catalyst:Ed’s vision and strategy and for shepherding its ongoing impact, growth, health, and sustainability. She also writes and speaks about topics at the intersection of education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and equity. Leona has previously built thriving teams and organizations across the world throughout her professional career in both the corporate and social sectors. Leona has an MPP from Duke University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.

Nikhil Gehani

Nikhil shapes New Profit’s evolving brand and communications strategies to further the organization’s impact. He also oversees the day-to-day operations of the communications team, working closely with colleagues and partners across the New Profit network to elevate and amplify social impact stories. Through a deep understanding of New Profit’s audiences and how to engage with them across channels, Nikhil supports the organization’s strategic goals including fundraising and thought leadership. Before joining New Profit, Nikhil served as Director of Communications at Accion International’s Center for Financial Inclusion, where he helped to complete the successful acquisition and integration of MIX, the global pioneer in data for inclusive financial services where he worked for the previous five years. While at MIX, Nikhil repositioned and relaunched the brand as it shifted from microfinance to fintech; he also designed and implemented the brand and communications strategy for the organization’s flagship initiative, Inclusive Fintech 50. Earlier in his career, Nikhil was a brand strategist at Digitas, a leading communications and marketing agency. He has also spent time at GTB, a global advertising agency, and in the impact investing space.

Emeritus: Frances Messano

Our Team

Manager

Brooke O’Brien

Accounting and Finance

John Foard

Senior Associate

Natasha Carballo Saenz

Tech Advisor

Harmik Wilkho

Associate Partner

Alisha Stewart

Marketing and Communications

Alisha Stewart is a storyteller with expertise in cause marketing and advocacy. As the former director of marketing and communications at UnboundEd, Alisha drove the execution of robust strategies to reach school and district leaders in need of professional development centered on equitable instruction. Previously, Alisha managed media and executive communications for Project GRAD Atlanta, a former college and career readiness partner of the Atlanta Public School, and the digital media and crisis communications efforts for the Boy Scouts of America.

Alisha earned her bachelor’s in public relations from Howard University and a master’s in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University. She is also certified in Google Analytics, cause consulting (Georgetown University Center for Social Impact), and email marketing. Outside of her professional career, Alisha is a brewer, and has successfully brewed four different styles of beer— so far, her favorite is the peach saison.

Partner

AntoniA “Toni” White

Programs

Toni oversees Catalyst:Ed’s portfolio of proximate organizations—those who are deeply embedded in communities of color, led by people of color, and are oriented toward specific populations of minoritized and underserved people. Since 2021, she has led our work with NewSchools Venture Fund and has implemented our capacity building support with The Kauffman Foundation, The Louisiana Department of Education, and Texas Education Agency through our State Education Agency Exchange. Before Catalyst:Ed, Toni’s professional experience includes serving as an elementary school teacher, a policy specialist at multiple education agencies, and a practicing attorney for the State of Texas. Outside of work, you can find Toni embracing rest and relaxation.

Manager

Brooke O’Brien

Programs

Brooke has an undergraduate degree in Biology from Butler University and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Marquette University. She has varied amounts and types of experiences working with kids and within the education realm, including working as an inclusion aide for an after-school program, ABA therapist, respite provider, teaching English abroad, and tutoring. Most recently, she has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist at a high school in Aurora Public Schools in Aurora, Colorado for the past four years. She is passionate about education and transforming the system to be more equitable and supportive for all students. Outside of work, she is also passionate about urban farming and food accessibility. She loves spending time in nature, cooking, meditation, and yoga.

Manager

Grace Frye

Network Engagement

Grace is responsible for engaging and supporting Catalyst:Ed’s provider network. A journalist, writer, and storyteller, Grace grew up in Austin, TX and received a BA from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX where she studied communication, economics, and entrepreneurship. As a 2018 Venture for America fellow in Cleveland, OH, Grace worked closely with post-secondary institutions to increase access and equity on college campuses through innovative tech solutions and mentorship programming. At Catalyst:Ed she is excited to bring together her passion for meaningful storytelling and empowering organizations to improve student outcomes. Outside of work Grace enjoys being artsy, spending time outdoors, and hosting roller skate meetups throughout Northeast Ohio.

Manager

Ivy McKee

Programs

Ivy McKee grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin among a family of activists, poets, and lifelong learners. She attended Kalamazoo College, majoring in Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology. After college, Ivy served as an educator for four years in New Orleans. In the charter school space, she worked in a variety of capacities, such as lead middle school interventionist, ELL support, and special education teacher. In a project-based, community-driven micro-school, she held the roles of an innovative teacher guide and curriculum director. She used her experience as a teacher to participate in educational policy fellowships, support family organizing, and facilitate youth-led community development. Outside of work, Ivy enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors.

Vice President

Jason Carter

Growth

Jason is responsible for growth, engagement, business development, marketing, and branding at Catalyst:Ed. Previously, he led business development for the College Board, working closely with the BigFuture team, and managed national assessment programs like Praxis and HiSET at ETS. Passionate about leveraging education to improve outcomes for historically underserved communities, Jason brings a wealth of experience to his role.

Before his education career, he worked at JPMorgan Chase in the Commercial Bank and participated in the Internal Consulting Services program, along with a stint at MDM Equity Partners. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS from Georgetown University.

In his spare time, Jason serves on his local school board, is a member of Innovation for Equity, and enjoys completing marathons, gardening, and building with Legos alongside his wife and daughters.

Partner

Jeremy Tullis

Programs

Jeremy (JT) supports our efforts to connect state, district, and school leaders to personalized capacity-building. He joins Catalyst:Ed with 15 years’ experience in education and passion for improving systems with students at the center. He began his career as a middle-school ELA teacher in Houston, where he fell in love with the rigors, joys, and intensity of teaching 7th-graders. During his years in the classroom, he also served as a teacher coach and network curriculum specialist for ELA. In addition, he supported the founding of new public charter schools in Washington, overseeing a small network’s academic program and supporting cross charter-sector academic collaboration. Most recently before joining Catalyst:Ed, he has partnered with school, district, and state education leaders across the country to improve instruction, particularly focused on the use of school data systems and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Outside of work, he appreciates great coffee, neighborhood walks, lifting weights, and open world video games.

Accounting and Finance

John Foard

John brings over 20 years of public and private accounting experience to the table. Prior to joining the Catalyst-Ed team, he performed financial statement audits, internal control studies, and prepared tax return filings. Besides professionally working with a variety of educational-related organizations and not-for-profits, he has also served as Treasurer for Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish. John happily lives in New Orleans, where he enjoys the cultural diversity and social aspects of the Crescent City; he is a float captain in a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe and has lived in the city for over 15 years.

Senior Fellow

Kendra Lee

Talent Capacity Advisor

Kendra Lee is the founder of Jeong (pronounced “chung”) Consulting. Her work encompasses talent and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy, advising, program design, and facilitation. Prior to starting her own consulting practice, Kendra served as the Vice President of DE&I for The Philadelphia Inquirer, reporting to the CEO and a member of the executive team. In her capacity as VP, DE&I, Kendra developed and oversaw the company’s overall DE&I strategy and goals.

Prior to The Inquirer, Kendra held two positions at Comcast – first as the Director of DE&I Learning, followed by a promotion to Senior Director of Leadership Development. As the Director of DE&I Learning, Kendra developed the company’s first-ever DE&I learning strategy. She was responsible for stakeholder engagement with senior leaders, developing the curriculum, and overseeing implementation for more than 85,000 global employees. Before joining Comcast, Kendra was a Diversity Business Partner at Facebook where she coached and advised the recruitment and HR business partner teams that supported the largest tech team on how to integrate DE&I into their strategies, systems, and processes.

Kendra began her career in education. She was a 7th grade teacher with The School District of Philadelphia, through Teach For America, and she then spent a decade working in K-12 education and non-profits focused on talent and DE&I. During that time, she held a range of roles, including serving as the interim Chief Talent Officer for The School District of Philadelphia.

Kendra has her Bachelor’s of Science from Syracuse University and her Master’s of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Though raised outside of Buffalo in New York, she calls Philadelphia home.

Founder/CEO

Leona Christy

Founder and CEO

Associate

Madison Taylor

Product

Madison is originally from Elizabethtown, KY and is currently living in Louisville, KY. She is a graduate of Hanover College where she studied Cultural Anthropology, International Studies, and Spanish. She has previously worked in refugee resettlement and international health system capacity building with a focus on process improvement, system design, and data management. Outside of work, she loves reading, puzzles, hiking and camping with her husband and dog, and supporting Liverpool Football Club.

Partner

Maya Dorsey

Programs (Place-Based Partnerships)

Maya Dorsey is an award-winning, nationally recognized leader, having received the BMe Vanguard Award, been named Outstanding Diversity Champion by the Dayton Business Journal, and selected as a White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow. With over 25 years of experience in public health, K-12 education, and the cradle-to-career sector, Maya has focused her work on dismantling systemic barriers and creating pathways for all individuals to thrive.

As a White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow, Maya has worked collaboratively with the Ohio Afterschool Network to revise Ohio’s Out-of-School Time Programs Quality Standards, with the new set of standards slated for release in early 2025. Her leadership spans education administration, policy, advocacy, and community engagement, having served as an Elementary Teacher, Education Administrator, Adjunct Professor at the University of Dayton, and Cradle-to-Career leader. Maya is deeply committed to transforming systems that limit children’s potential and advocating for policies that ensure equitable access to quality education and resources.

A native of Cincinnati, OH, Maya resides in Dayton with her husband, with whom she recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, and their two children. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Women’s Studies, Master’s degrees in K-12 Education and Educational Leadership, and a certification in Diversity from Cornell.

Maya will support Catalyst:Ed’s Place-Based Partnerships work. She believes there should be no limits on people’s access to opportunities and the ability to live the lives they choose. One of Maya’s favorite quotes is by Ava DuVernay: “Ignore the glass ceiling and do your work. If you’re focusing on the glass ceiling, focusing on what you don’t have, focusing on the limitations, then you will be limited.”

Outside of her work, Maya enjoys traveling abroad, spending time with family and friends, and continuing to advocate for justice and access.

VP, People and Operations

Meladee Evans

Meladee is responsible for the health and effectiveness of Catalyst:Ed’s talent management and operational strategy, systems, and processes so that they center the humanity of our people, our providers, and our partners, supporting and empowering them to work at their highest potential. She joined Catalyst:Ed in 2019 and has played a major role in expanding our foundation partnerships and leading our supports to emerging Black and Brown education leaders serving marginalized communities. Meladee brings over a decade of experience managing strategic programs and partnerships and leading high-functioning teams across social impact and technology spaces. Prior to joining Catalyst:Ed, she worked as the Director of Talent Strategy for KIPP New Orleans Schools, where she designed a number of tools and structures to strengthen teacher and leadership pipelines and build equity into talent practices. Before entering the education sector, Meladee worked as a mechanical engineer, and she now uses her critical eye for problem-solving and system building to deliver outcomes that elevate and empower marginalized groups. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University and BS degrees in mathematics and mechanical engineering from Spelman College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively.

Senior Associate

Natasha Carballo Saenz

Programs

Natasha supports our work on equity initiatives and with emerging organizations led by leaders of color. She hails from South Florida and earned her BA from Boston University, studying International Relations and Human Rights. From analyzing migrant workers’ rights in the Persian Gulf to providing material resources for undocumented immigrants in FL, Natasha has a passion for equity and action that comes from her own proximity to underserved communities. She hopes to use her drive for civil rights to bring integrity and fairness to education through her work at Catalyst:Ed. In her spare time, you can find her reading novels in between naps or tending to her virtual farm in Stardew Valley.

Manager

Nybria Acklin

Human Resources

Nybria split her upbringing in Kansas City and Philadelphia, which informs her advocacy for eradicating racial disparities in education after experiencing the challenges that inner-city public school systems face. She is a 2019 Venture for America fellow and recent alum of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. Nybria graduated from Smith College in 2018 with a B.A. in Sociology. Her experience so far has sparked an interest in ecosystem building and social impact work. Outside of work, Nybria is passionate about dance and music.

VP, Programs

Rachel Klein

Rachel is responsible for the overall strategy, implementation, and success of Catalyst:Ed’s programmatic services to the sector, including maximizing strategic fit with sector needs, ensuring equity is woven through all aspects of our process and outcomes, and delivering on the organization’s impact goals. Rachel joined Catalyst:Ed in 2018 to lead our support to the Gates Foundation’s Networks for School Improvement Community of Practice, including launching the Learning Lab for School Improvement Teams. Rachel also launched our work in the Postsecondary sector, and our Innovative Learning Expert Hub. Rachel has extensive experience working to achieve equitable outcomes in schools and school systems through her work as a District Administrator in Highline Public Schools, a Vice President for Code.org, a Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and roles within the public school districts in Seattle, Chicago, and Boston. In her free time, Rachel serves as the Board Chair for Ada Developers Academy, makes pizza from scratch, obsessively grows dahlias, and enjoys spending time with family, friends, and in the mountains.

Senior Associate

Rachel Shriver

Programs

Rachel helps education leaders to strengthen their capacity within the incredible work they’re doing for students. Drawing from her experience as a globally-minded teacher, she is passionate about connecting school stakeholders to individualized resources and support. She has experience in teaching, coaching, and research across the east coast, Colombia, and Ecuador, where she taught learners in trade schools, community colleges, private schools, public schools, and universities. She has also partnered with education organizations through innovative, virtual exchanges in the US, China, Brazil, and Korea. These diverse experiences inform how she approaches her work, as she tries to do her part in making the world a more equitable place to learn and live.

In her freetime, she can be found hanging out with her grandma, practicing Brazilian Portuguese, and virtually volunteering with Corporación Stonewall, a queer non profit in Medellín, Colombia.

Vice President

Rakesh Verma

Product & technology

Rakesh Verma leads the product and technology vision at Catalyst:Ed, guiding the development of the product roadmap and ensuring the organization’s technology evolves seamlessly to support future growth. He focuses on shaping the product strategy and driving technical excellence across the organization.

With over 25 years of experience in product development and software engineering, Rakesh has a proven track record of building high-performing teams and scaling operations. His leadership roles span industries such as EdTech, Public Safety, Insurance, and Technology Services. Before joining Catalyst:Ed, Rakesh played a key role in expanding an early-stage EdTech company, driving both team growth and revenue. He has also led mission-critical teams that developed 911 dispatch software, responsible for managing two-thirds of all U.S. emergency calls.

Rakesh’s leadership style is collaborative and results-driven, focusing on fostering innovation through empowered, agile teams. He holds a Computer Science and Engineering degree from one of India’s top institutions and an MBA from the University of Southern California. Rakesh lives in San Diego with his family and enjoys outdoor activities, tinkering with new technologies, and working on backyard projects.

Partner

Rasheeda Washington

Network Engagement

Rasheeda is an experienced professional with expertise in organizational effectiveness, strategy and implementation and capacity building. She has achieved positive results and real impact working across multiple sectors and with organizations of various sizes. Rasheeda spent 10 years working in corporate supply chain before transitioning to the K-12 and non-profit sectors in 2013. Since then, she has served as the executive director of operations for the Tennessee Department of Education and the Senior Director of Recruitment and Selection for The Broad Academy program at The Broad Center and Founder of Beyond Sixth.

Rasheeda has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master in Business Administration from the Krannert School of Management, Purdue University. She is the proud fur-mom of her dogs KJ and Hershey; and loves roller skating, hiking, and volunteering with youth-centered organizations.

Partner

Rohini McKee

Programs

Rohini is responsible for managing and growing our K12 nonprofit portfolio to ensure that our equity-centered approach to capacity building leads to impact for the education sector. Since joining Catalyst:Ed in 2019, she has managed our work with the Gates Foundation’s Networks for School Improvement Community of Practice, including the development and launch of the Learning Lab for School Improvement Teams. In addition to the Gates Foundation, Rohini also manages our capacity building efforts for several of our philanthropic partners including New Schools Venture Fund, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Oak Foundation. Prior to Catalyst:Ed, Rohini was a management consultant for 15 years, most of which was spent with clients in the education sector. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places with her family, dancing in the car, and grocery shopping solo.

Manager

Sema Ramos

Programs

A lifelong learner and student at heart, Sema has a Bachelor’s degree in Education Studies from DePauw University in Indiana. Having been raised in both the city of Chicago and the suburbs of Massachusetts, he is motivated to identify and address racial and socioeconomic disparities that exist in educational ecosystems. After witnessing various barriers in many different school systems, he dedicated his post-undergraduate career to college access as a college counselor in most settings, including international service as a Fulbright Scholar in Paraguay. At Catalyst:Ed, he is excited to support State and Local Education Agencies with capacity-building projects that will improve educational and professional experiences for students, faculty, and staff nationwide.

Outside of work, Sema can likely be found walking, running, or biking around the neighborhood with his energetic pitbull-husky, Sage. He also loves spending time in nature, trying new foods, and consuming science fiction content.

Director

Taysa Mohler

Product

Taysa leads our work creating and curating products and applications that increase our model’s accessibility and efficiency. Taysa is from Lake Tahoe, CA and is a graduate of Bard College in NY, where she studied Literature, Middle Eastern Studies, and Science, Technology, & Society. She is a 2018 Venture for America Fellow, and has worked previously in web design, marketing, program management, and operations. She was drawn to Catalyst:Ed as the daughter of a charter school founder and non-profit executive director, and she loves the impact she gets to make at work! When not working, catch her knitting or color-coding her life.

Senior Fellow

Tiffany Cheng Nyaggah

Place-Based Partnerships

Tiffany is a builder and connector who brings a deep passion for advancing justice and impact in complex systems in the US and Global South. She supports Catalyst:Ed’s work with Place-Based Partnerships. Tiffany founded, led, and scaled an award-winning social impact nonprofit focused on improving school leadership and student outcomes in marginalized communities in Kenya. Over the course of her decade-long tenure, Tiffany cultivated a robust network of grassroots, civil society, and government actors to build the case for investing resources in informal settlements, leading to $65M in new funding for education in urban slums. More recently, Tiffany led an $8M investment portfolio focused on increasing racial diversity in education leadership at a national venture philanthropy, and has continued to work on initiatives ranging from climate justice to economic mobility helping leaders and organizations translate vision into impact. Born and raised in Oakland, she developed an enduring belief in the power of cross-racial movements, equity, and leadership development in her youth and early-career experiences as a college admissions counselor and public school teacher. After living in various cities across the US and globe, Tiffany is raising two children with her husband back in the Bay Area. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley College and an Ed.M. in School Leadership from Harvard University.

Senior Fellow

Tre Johnson

Tre is a career educator that started as a classroom teacher in Houston, TX via Teach For America. He has done work in youth non-profit college access and development work between Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, PA, working at the Urban Alliance Foundation and Philadelphia Futures. In Philadelphia, Tre served in grant-writing and admissions roles for the Mariana Bracetti Academy and Freire Charter Schools and he also served on Teach For America’s (TFA) Greater Philadelphia regional staff as the managing director of alumni affairs and as executive director. He has since served as the senior manager of the District Advisory Board and Strategic Partnerships in the Camden City School District and the deputy director for JerseyCAN, focused on education policy advocacy, community engagement, and community leaders. Before joining Catalyst Ed, Tre has also started a career as a writer for major media outlets on issues of race, culture and leadership. Outside of education, he serves as co-chair for the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, focused on juvenile life sentencing issues and reentry. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Tech Advisor

Harmik Wilkho

Product and Tech

Harmik works with Catalyst-Ed as an Advisor on Product and Technology initiatives. He has 14 years of experience in software development, business strategy, technology consulting and product management in the IT services, non profit and ed-tech startup sector globally. He is an engineer from India with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Harmik has worked on various technology solutions ranging from IoT systems and software deployed in remote Asia and Africa to Cloud Based Software, ML Solutions for education startups in the US and UK. Apart from work, Harmik enjoys taking cooking classes and learning pottery.

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