Leadership

In Fall 2026 I will become a member of the Board of Directors for the Community of St. James, a nonprofit organization in North Philadelphia with four mission pillars: a 3rd-8th grade school; a Graduate Support division to help students after completing the school; a Church that welcomes all; and a resource hub for the neighborhood and community called the Welcome Table.

I have never seen an institution like the Community of St. James. It is a unique blend of forces geared toward helping kids in the North Philadelphia area, and as a North Philadelphia native, I’m honored to serve on this organization’s Board. I bring my higher education lens to the K-12 space, and so I will see what connections we can make between earlier education and long-term collegiate aspirations and success.

The mission of the College and Family Engagement (CAFE) Lab is to advance knowledge and understanding of the dynamic relationship between families and American higher education institutions. I founded this research and inquiry lab to engage in a variety of projects under this topic and provide practical opportunities for students. Visit to see our work and what’s next: https://web.sas.upenn.edu/cafe-lab/