Associate Principal | Milford High school | He/Him | First Generation College Student

What perspectives, roles or lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“Today the student who barely got by in high school has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Boston College, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Endicott College—and now one of the Principals in the High School I graduated from—not bad for that poor kid who grew up on the wrong side of town….”

Director of Curriculum and Instruction | Breakthrough Greater Boston, Cambridge Campus | She/Her 

What perspectives, roles or lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“That all shapes how I want to reimagine education to be human first and the need to remove tracks and inherent things schools do to tell kids, and adults, they are not the same, therefore they are not good enough.”

Principal | Veritas Prep High School | He/Him 

What perspectives, roles or lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“I have the skills and perspective to help young people adapt to and prepare for a world that they did not create; I also have the skills to help my professional peers understand the thinking processes and cultural norms of the generation we serve… I am an innovator an heart. I have been told that my ideas about education reform are too radical and I am looking for a space in which they are taken seriously and not written off.”

Associate Director, Early College | University of Massachusetts Lowell | She/Her 

Francine Coston serves as the Associate Director of K-12 Early College Initiatives at the University of Massachusetts Lowell where she has been instrumental in the development, implementation, and delivery of the early college program that extends opportunities to students who do not normally have access to college. Through the work she does, she provides support and advocacy to students from diverse backgrounds, religions, culture, as well as the LGBTQ community. She has been influential in the building and execution of admission initiatives that have attracted and retained students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Specific programs like Multicultural Overnight, allow perspective high school seniors the opportunity to preview college life as they start their college exploration. Yield events such as these have sufficiently increased in the application, acceptance, and matriculation rate at the university. Supporting student success and engagement is a passion of hers.

Director of Strategic Alliances | Leadership Brainery | He/Him 

What do you consider to be your greatest personal achievement, honor, or accomplishment?
“I have dedicated my career to creating a more just world through diversity education by building a multiregional network of career educators, college professionals, students, and company leaders that care about this important work.”

Associate Director of Early College and New Skills | University of Massachusetts Boston | He/Him 

Why would you like to be considered for this fellowship?
“Throughout my career I’ve wanted to build sustainable and impactful programing and supports for students, especially students who come from under resourced communities and have been historically underrepresented or even systemically prevented from accessing educational spaces. I’m interested in this fellowship because there is a substantial disconnect between K-12 and higher education, and as an individual who has now worked in both worlds.”

Associate Provost for Student Success | Bentley University | She/Her 

What do you consider to be your greatest personal achievement, honor, or accomplishment?
“I am the inaugural Associate Provost for Student Success at Bentley University, and in this position I am building Bentley’s first-ever Office of Student Success. I am incredibly proud to have been entrusted with this work, specifically at this moment in Bentley’s history when we are more consciously than ever before attempting to diversify our student body and close equity gaps.”

Graduate Student/ Mental Health Officer | Harvard University/One League | She/Her 

What are your long-term goals? Is there a particular role or position that you aspire to fill? How can the lab help you get there?
“Upon completion of the ELOE program, I plan to expand my educational practices to more schools across China and the US, transforming systematic dynamics regarding mental health supports through teacher training and student mentorship programs, and ultimately fostering the well-being of people and achieving betterment of society.”

Director of The Persistence Project | Boston Prep | He/Him | First Generation College Student

What perspectives, roles or lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“I hope to connect with individuals from a variety of lenses and perspectives. I am especially interested in getting more connected with those working in higher education or that are connected to the department of education. These are two lenses that I have found it difficult to build two-way connection and conversation with. I also hope to leave re-inspired and to learn more about other organizations that are working in tandem with Boston Prep to create generational change and impact for students and families in the Greater Boston area.”

Senior Director of Program and Partnerships | University of Massachusetts Boston | First Generation College Student

What is your hope in joining the lab? What are you expecting to take away or gain from this fellowship experience?
“To be in a space with like-minded and forward thinking education warriors, whom I can connect and collaborate with.”

Director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program | Brandeis University | She/Her

Kathryn has worked for over 20 years in higher education in multiple positions to promote and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion for our most marginalized and disenfranchised populations. Currently, she serves as the director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program (MKTYP) at Brandeis University for the past six years. Kathryn holds a B.A. in psychology and Africana studies from the University of Notre Dame, an Ed.M. in human development and psychology at Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Ph.D. in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education. Kathryn’s work and passion directly aligns with the vision of the Catalyst Innovation Lab at OneGoal Massachusetts and she’s really excited about this opportunity to have great dialogue and to be a part of this collaborative engagement!

AVP of Student Financial Assistance & Enrollment Management | Bridgewater State University | She\Her

First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?

“I can bring the insight of 18 years of being in the field of enrollment management and college as a business in the state of MA. I have worked for Private non-profit and public colleges. I also have a passion for clearly communicating and navigating

Director of Undergraduate Admissions | Framingham State University | She/Her

Shayna Eddy is currently Associate Dean of Admissions/Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Framingham State University. She has 22 years of experience at Framingham State University, with 21 of those in the admissions office. Previously, she worked for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Middlesex, Inc. as a case manager. Shayna holds a BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and an MA in Public Administration, both from Framingham State University. Shayna joined this lab to continue to build professional relationships and provide higher educational opportunities to all students.

Supervisor of Counselors | Lawrence High School | She, Her

First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ I am looking to learn from and become re-energized by thinking about how education can be reimagined.”

Assistant Director of Postsecondary Placement | Mastery Charter School | She/Her |First Generation Student

What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ My journey into reimagining education began at this point as I grieved the loss of my brother… I had also wondered about the man who took my brother’s life and I learned that his brother had been previously arrested for homicide. I thought about what their relationship was with their school community and whether there was something that could have been done to change their trajectories. I think often about how closely our lived experiences in our communities are directly related to our school experiences. I thought about how all of our experiences connected to our school experiences and what actions schools could take to be more intentional about the messages we send our students.”

Assistant Director of Multicultural Outreach | University of Massachusetts Lowell | She/ Her
First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?

” I am a first generation Latina graduate with roots in Lawrence, MA and Dominican Republic. Growing up, education was not a choice for me- it was mandatory! My first job after college was as a Program coordinator and college advisor for TRIO Upward Bound at Lawrence High School. This experience was the catalyst to my transition into Undergraduate Admissions as Admissions Counselor here at UMass Lowell. My experience on “”both sides of the desk”” has allowed me to create pathways, spaces and support systems for underrepresented student populations. Higher education is not always the goal for many youths and there is a need to reassure ALL students that there are many paths that can lead to college and a career. “

Principal | Milford High School | He/Him

What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ Through all of these [professional experiences] experiences (and through my undergraduate and graduate studies), I have come to understand both the strengths and weaknesses of our current system and have an insiders’ perspectives on the practical/legal/political factors that make our schools what they are and that make our schools so hard to change. While I recognize the urgent need to radically overhaul and reimagine our schools, I have chosen to work within the system and to try to be a change-agent from within.”

Academic Advisor | Northeastern University | She/Her

First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ I have experienced higher education as a student and now as a professional and I am constantly aware of the gap that makes it difficult for students with similar identities to succeed in college. We are academically skilled but lack the cultural capital that is needed for college success. I constantly believe it is up to the institutions to be prepared to not only have initiatives and policies to help students succeed, but also make sure they have a staff that is implementing these initiatives to be equitable and effective. Now that I am a professional, I want to do what I can to make sure students who have similar experiences to me, have the knowledge and resources needed so they can succeed in college and beyond.”

UAspire | Massachusetts Policy Director | She/ Her

Femi Stoltz is the Massachusetts Policy Director for uAspire. Prior to joining uAspire Femi spent several years working in various roles in higher education and in nonprofit organizations that focus on higher education. Femi has seen firsthand the positive impact that postsecondary educational attainment can have on students and families and she is committed to making higher education more accessible to the students who need it most. Femi joined the lab because she believes that making postsecondary education more accessible will undoubtedly help combat some of the other systemic disparities that exist in various areas such as wealth accumulation, home ownership, and various other factors that contribute to an individual’s overall quality of life. Femi looks forward to meeting with peers who are also committed to seeing meaningful progress and change.