Staff
Executive Team
Nikki Thompson, Executive Director
Nikki (she/her) brings an extensive background in the social sector in NYC, with a focus on K-16 education. She started her career as an admissions officer at Barnard College and from there, spent time as a 7th-grade social studies teacher in East New York, a senior leader at the New York City Department of Education, and then at Teach For America. The majority of her career was spent at One Goal, a national college access and success organization where she served first as the founding Executive Director of the New York region and then as the first Chief Regional Operations Officer, overseeing six regions across the country.
Bethany Nelson, Chief Development Officer
Bethany (she/her) is deeply dedicated to creating partnerships across communities to ensure all NYC students have the opportunities they deserve. Her experience in youth development work spans two decades and she is committed to championing educational equity through strategic resource reallocation. Bethany previously served as the head of development at OneGoal New York and Summer Search New York City. Prior to fundraising, she led student admissions at Summer Search and directed youth programs at Hartley House. Proud of having lived in four of NYC’s five boroughs, Bethany now happily resides in Jackson Heights. She’s eager to make connections – reach out to her to learn more about BTNY or to share your BTNY experience!
Middle School Team
Paola Penuela, Senior Director of Middle School Program
Paola (she/her) has a deep and diverse background in New York City’s school system, with a strong focus on K-8 education. She began her career with Teach For America, teaching in East Harlem, where she later advanced to become the school’s Assistant Principal. Following this, Paola joined a network of charter schools in the Bronx, where she worked to support the implementation of rigorous and engaging curriculum. As a first-generation college graduate, Paola is passionate about empowering students to achieve their dreams of attending the college of their choice, equipping them for bright and successful futures.
Paola Hernández, Middle School Program Director
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.
Will Banes - Middle School Program Manager
Will (he/him) is interested in serving as an advocate for the students he works with as they navigate their varied journeys in education. He has a passion for designing and implementing enjoyable and meaningful programming that caters to the students and families that he works with. Previously, Will has worked as an AmeriCorps Senior Leader and later as a Program Coordinator on the Middle School team at Breakthrough Central Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Art and Archaeology from Princeton University.
Karla Castro - Director, High School Placement
Karla (she/her) is deeply dedicated to expanding access to high-quality educational opportunities for underrepresented students. With over seven years of experience in nonprofit education organizations, she has worked extensively in community engagement, admissions, and program management, building strong relationships with schools and community partners to support student success. Karla is committed to helping students navigate the high school placement process and find the best opportunities for their futures. Born in Ecuador and fluent in Spanglish, Karla loves to say hi to every dog on the street—even though her allergies might silently protest.
Karina Eumana - Manager, High School Placement
Karina (she/her) is passionate about helping students and families navigate important educational decisions and opportunities, and is committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where every family feels informed and empowered. She has five years of professional experience working in the nonprofit education sector. Throughout her career, she served as a Program Coordinator, supporting the development and implementation of educational programs designed to provide students and families with access to valuable academic opportunities and resources. Her experience in education has allowed her to work closely with students, families, educators, and community partners, strengthening her ability to build trusting relationships and provide individualized support. She looks forward to bringing her experience, dedication, and passion for education to the program and to building meaningful relationships with the families she serves.
College Access and Success Team
Lauraly Laurent - Senior Director of College Access and Success
Lauraly (she/her) brings a deep and dedicated background in the college access and success space, driven by a commitment to educational equity. She began her career as a College Adviser with the NYU College Advising Corps, where she gained firsthand experience navigating the complexities of the admissions process with students. Since then, she has dedicated her career to working with various educational nonprofits, focusing on building sustainable systems that foster meaningful college access and long-term student success.
Born in Haiti and a first-generation college graduate, Lauraly deeply understands the transformative power of opportunity. As a QuestBridge Scholar, she earned her BA from the University of Chicago and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Politics from New York University. Passionate about empowering students to achieve their dreams, she is committed to ensuring every scholar has the resources and guidance necessary to navigate their unique path toward a bright and successful future.
Scott Gannis - Director of College Guidance
Scott (he/him) has spent the last decade guiding students through the college admissions process and advising them once they arrive on campuses. With stops at Macalester College, the University of Minnesota, NYU, The New School, CUNY, and various college access nonprofits (including as a seasonal staff member of BTNY), he has assisted thousands of students, and their families, cultivate post-secondary education goals—and accomplish them—through deeper understanding of the systems/practices underlying both the high school and college side of the admissions journey. As a first-generation student himself with degrees from Macalester College and NYU, he is eager to grow alongside, and learn from, the BTNY community in building college access strategies grounded in humility, multiculturalism, empathy, and passion for social mobility.
Delaney Rice - High School Manager
Delaney (she/her) is passionate about creating student-centered curriculum and programming. Her goal as High School Manager is to provide holistic advising to help students achieve academic and pre-professional success, working with students to identify their strengths and professional interests. Delaney began her career in education at Breakthrough Cincinnati in 2018 as a Teaching Fellow. Since then, she has taught sixth-grade math and has worked in educational program management since 2022. Delaney hopes to create and facilitate meaningful academic experiences for Breakthrough New York’s high school students. Delaney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs & Political Science from the University of Cincinnati.
Finance & Operations
Lisbeth Valerio, Manager, Operations & Americorps
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A graduate with a BA in Marketing and a minor in Psychology, Lisbeth (she/her) is not just a professional; she is an advocate for collective success and well-being. Her passion for community empowerment is evident in her hands-on experience with nonprofit educational organizations. Lisbeth is dedicated to breaking down barriers and enhancing resource accessibility to foster sustainable growth within these communities. Her mission goes beyond survival; she envisions communities thriving by connecting them to meaningful resources.
Development Team
Max Haigney, Manager, Individual and Corporate Giving
Max (he/him) is a recent college graduate with a passion for educational equity and community-driven social justice initiatives. He has previously worked in fundraising for nonprofits dedicated to refugee empowerment, emergency response, and food insecurity. He earned his BA from Brown University in Education Studies and International & Public Affairs in May of 2023. He is excited to utilize his experience in fundraising and education to support the external relations team and Breakthrough New York’s mission.
Alex Jordan, Development Manager
Alex (she/her) is a development manager passionate about expanding educational access and economic opportunity for under-resourced students. With over seven years of experience in education-focused nonprofits, she has led and supported fundraising efforts that strengthen programs and deepen donor relationships. As a first-generation college graduate, Alex understands firsthand the power of higher education to create long-term stability and opportunity. She is proud to continue this work at Breakthrough New York.
Admissions Team
Andrew Lindsay, Director of Admissions
Andrew (he/him) brings extensive leadership and operational expertise in the education and nonprofit sectors, with a strong commitment to advancing educational equity and economic mobility for historically marginalized communities. Before joining Breakthrough New York, he served as Manager of Strategic Initiatives at Basta, where he spearheaded the launch of the Google Software Engineer Program, providing interview prep, mentorship, and career opportunities to over 400 underrepresented tech students. Andrew has also led quality improvements in early childhood education at the NYC Department of Education and directed an early education program at a public school in NYC. He holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University.
Dylan Amaro, Admissions Manager
Dylan (he/him) is a recent college graduate from the University of Michigan who has been building his career around promoting student’s accessibility to a quality education. Before moving to New York City, he worked as a case manager assisting his county’s refugee population by providing families with easy access to school enrollment referrals and various benefits surrounding their academic future. Additionally, he coached after-school chess at the Ann Arbor Public School District’s various elementary schools for 4 years. Dylan is excited to bring his unique experiences to the admissions team by providing equitable and holistic care for the organization’s prospective students.