Staff & Board

Beth (she/hers) brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in both the higher education and nonprofit sectors. She spent 11 years at the TEAK Fellowship, a college access and success nonprofit in New York City that helps bright and motivated students from low-income families. Prior to joining TEAK, Beth worked in Admissions at Dartmouth College. She earned her BA from Dartmouth, her Master’s degree in Education from Harvard, and a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Long Island University.

Olivia (she/ella) has been working in the education space for over 10 years. Olivia’s road to this work was not traditional; she studied political science at Dartmouth College and completed her masters in comparative ethnic conflict in Queen’s University Belfast. As a first-generation student and a child of immigrants, Olivia is deeply passionate about ensuring that all students and families have access to the information and support they need as they navigate the education system. Olivia is a strong believer in the power of community and is grateful to be part of Breakthrough New York.

Clifton (he/him) has been serving in the education/youth development space for over 11 years and brings over 6 years of leadership experience. He spent 7 years at Uncommon Schools Charter Network, and served as the Director of Operations of 4 high-performing Brooklyn middle schools. As a first-generation college graduate, Clifton has a deep passion for supporting our youth and has an unwavering purpose to deliver a high quality educational experience to our future leaders. Prior to joining Uncommon Schools, Clifton worked in Financial Services at Fordham University in NYC. He earned his BA in Accounting and his Master’s degree in Taxation, both from Fordham University.

Paola (she/her) has recently worked with City Year New York as a volunteer member and then a Team Leader. She started her career by working in the UConn Collegiate Awareness and Preparation Program (ConnCAP), a program she herself was in during high school. She earned her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut. She looks forward to building relationships with students, their families, and her peers to better serve Breakthrough New York in meeting its mission.

Enya (she/her) is passionate about building capacity for nonprofit organizations. Since joining Breakthrough New York in 2017, she has supported the organization’s work around 6th grade student admissions, seasonal staff hiring, and Salesforce implementations.  She graduated from Boston University and worked in Boston for 2 years supporting 5th grade students and families in a college access program. She is currently earning her MPA in Nonprofit Management from CUNY Baruch College.

Destany (she/her) earned her BA in Global Affairs at George Mason University. It was during this time that she was a Teaching Fellow at Breakthrough Greater Boston and fell in love with her experience helping students reach their full potential. Destany returns as Breakthrough New York’s High School Placement Manager and is looking forward to helping students and families explore their high school options and find the right fit.

Daisy (she/her/ella) graduated from Brooklyn College with her B.A in Psychology and minors in Children Youth Studies and Thanatology. Daisy comes from a background in community advocacy. She has always had a passion for empowering and advocating for marginalized groups. She aims to bring awareness to students and families about all the different types of resources and services that are available for students. She is looking forward to connecting families Breakthrough New York and all that it offers! 

Margaret (she/hers) comes to Breakthrough with a background in social work. She completed both her bachelors and masters in social work at Fordham University where she focused on educational equity and support for young people. She is passionate about holistic mentorship and approaches to education that recognize learners for everything they bring to a space. She looks forward to connecting with students, families, and mentors as 9th graders transition into high school.

Saijah (she/hers) comes to Breakthrough New York with over a decade of experience in various educational spaces such as museums, schools, and nonprofit organizations. She developed a love of education, culture, and community growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. Her passions influenced her academic journey into college where she earned her B.A. in American Studies and minored in African American Studies from Brooklyn College. Saijah is looking forward to supporting Breakthrough students and their families as they embark on the college application process, as well as encouraging students to pursue their passions and interests!

Skye (she/her) graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Sociology and Education as well as Secondary Social Studies Teaching Certification. Her focus on urban education and educational equity led her to Breakthrough Collaborative where she was a Teaching Fellow at Breakthrough Greater Boston in 2021 and now joins as the 10th grade coordinator at Breakthrough New York. Her time as a Teaching Fellow showed her the impact Breakthrough has on students, families, and the larger community. She is excited to continue to connect students with educational opportunities and collaborate with students and families to make high school great for all!

Joshua (he/him) has been passionate about education since he was five years old, when he “helped” his mother teach preschool students. Since then, Joshua’s interest in education merged with his dedication to justice-oriented practices as he gained leadership experience while managing a youth empowerment program. As a team member at Breakthrough, Joshua is most excited to connect with students while building community through compassion, humor, and authenticity. Joshua received a B.A. in Government & Education from Cornell University before earning a M.A. in Education Policy from Stanford University.

Bushra (she/her) is a licensed social worker who has experience working with middle and high school students, providing individual and group counseling as well as prevention programming around topics of healthy relationships, consent, and anti-violence. She has collaborated with parents, administrative teams, and community-based organizations to provide trainings and develop campaigns on trauma-informed care, suicidality in BIPOC youth, and social-emotional growth. Bushra earned her MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She looks forward to developing social-emotional curricula, providing mental health support, and being a resource for students, parents, and the greater Breakthrough community.

Bianca (she/her) has worked in local and international nonprofit organizations for over five years. She started her career as a development studies researcher, and grew to expand her career in grant writing and institutional partnerships for nonprofits. She earned her BS from Ateneo de Manila University and MA in International Development from Fordham University. She is excited about creating, deepening, and cultivating organizational partnerships to support Breakthrough New York.

Nicole (she/her) has a diverse background that includes higher education administration, recruitment, and teaching English as a new language. She has always maintained a passion for education and providing individuals with tools to succeed in school and beyond. She looks forward to using her experience in outreach and communications to strengthen Breakthrough New York’s brand across multiple channels, and connect audiences more closely with its mission. Nicole has earned a BA in Cinema Studies from New York University.