Executive Officer

Susan Shaffer
President and Co-Founder
Proud and happy grandparent of three, passionate and seasoned equity advocate working for the civil rights of all people to achieve social justice. Susan's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Karmen Rouland
Vice President
Petersburg, VA native; wife and mother of small children; passionate about ensuring that our schools meet the needs of all students. Karmen's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »
Staff

Chi Ali-Cooper
Communications Intern
Virginia Beach, VA native, passionate about equity, positive impact, honesty, and chai tea lattes. Chi's pronouns are she/her/hers Read More »

Nyla Bell
Senior Education Equity Specialist
Native Philadelphian and fourth generation Black educator with over 20 years of experience working at the intersections of equity, social justice, and public education. Nyla's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Mira Best
Senior Evaluation Associate
Raised in Richmond, VA and passionate about the use of data to amplify voices, promote social justice, and inform meaningful change from the micro- to the macro-level. Mira’s pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Kate Farbry
Director of Communications and Engagement
DC-area native, lover of sharp wit and vegan junk food, believes that empathy makes the world go round. Kate's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Dannele Ferreras
Data and Evaluation Specialist
Dedicated to leveraging evaluation methods and data to assess the needs of education stakeholders and amplify their voices, knowledge, skills, and agency; identifying root causes of inequities; and telling stories of change and capacity growth. Dannele's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Carol Gant
Associate Director of Early Childhood Programs
Dedicated advocate for equity with over 25 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood and Special Education. Carol's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Jordan Gilliard
Communications Intern
Passionate English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher in Virginia, always searching for ways to make education more human-oriented. Jordan's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Lily Klam
CAFE Equity Intern
University of Maryland graduate student passionate about learning how to shape policies to create equitable outcomes for students. Lily’s pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Allegra Kogan
Communications Intern
Bronx native, former Teach for America teacher, and lifelong advocate for educational access and equity. Allegra’s pronouns are she/hers. Read More »

Jenny McCann
Administrative Associate
Former VA teacher and DC-area native, passionate about the cross section of immigration and education justice, house plants, and her dog, Bernie. Jenny's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Hugo Nájera
Communications Specialist
Focused on amplifying voices from oppressed communities, empowerment, and building community in his work from advising BIPOC students at college campuses to performing for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Hugo's pronouns are he/him/his. Read More »

Michelle Gwinn Nutter
Senior Educational Equity Consultant
Passionate civil rights advocate and dedicated educator who is committed to helping create and maintain safe, respectful learning environments for all students. Michelle's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Jenny Portillo
Senior Education Equity Specialist
A first-generation college graduate and proud daughter of immigrants, passionate about supporting educators in building equitable learning communities that foster student and community agency. Jenny's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Mariela Puentes
Senior Education Equity Specialist
First generation college graduate who is passionate about educational equity and creating educational systems where all children and families can have access and opportunity. Mariela's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Vo Ram Yoon
Data and Evaluation Consultant
Third culture kid with roots in Bolivia and South Korea who uses mixed methods research infused with abolitionist values to promote equity and social justice. Vo's pronouns are he/him/his. Read More »

Kasia Razynska
Director of Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
First generation immigrant who is passionate about languages, ballroom dancing, evaluation, and ensuring access to education for all children, especially English Learners. Kasia's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Claire Ruhlman
Data and Evaluation Associate
Recent college graduate excited to offer data insight to a field of enormous importance and relevance to the current political and social climate. Claire's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Phoebe Schlanger
Director of Finance and Administration
Former New Yorker and unabashed grammar geek, passionate about the beauty of words and their power to affect change, who has recently acquired an admiration of numbers. Phoebe's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Paul Smith
Project Manager
Busy dad trying to keep up with two teenagers, who believes in all the gifts young people have to offer. Paul's pronouns are he/him/his. Read More »

Marianna Stepniak
Content Specialist
Lifelong learner passionate about dismantling inequitable systems, making complex topics accessible, and exploring new places. Marianna's pronouns are she/her/hers. Read More »

Nikevia Thomas
Senior Education Equity Specialist
A vegan foodie who is dedicated to promoting excellence in education. Read More »

Daryl Williams
Associate Director of the Center for Education Equity
Daryl returns to MAEC as the Associate Director of the Center for Education Equity, providing managerial day-to-day operations and monitoring program alignment with CEE's goals and objectives. Read More »

Hwa Pyung Yoo
Data and Evaluation Intern
Korean American master’s student of International Development at Sciences Po Paris, researching global citizenship education and advocating abolitionist pedagogy. Hwa's pronouns are he/him/his. Read More »