OUR TEAM

Kenyon DeVault is honored to serve as Bay Area Executive Director since January 2023, Summer Search’s founding and largest program site. Kenyon has been part of the Summer Search community since 2014, including serving as Bay Area Director of Development and then Deputy Director for nearly five years. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Kenyon has spent his career in nonprofit management and resource development, leveraging his lifelong propensity for relationship- and community-building into service of his values of social justice and equity. Prior to Summer Search, he held development leadership roles with youth-serving national nonprofits, Jumpstart and Peer Health Exchange. Kenyon is an enthusiastic alumnus of Macalester College and earned his Master of Nonprofit Administration degree through the University of San Francisco School of Management. He lives in San Francisco’s Castro District with his rescue pup, Levi.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

Dr. Gretchen Mielke is the post-secondary director for Summer Search Philadelphia. Gretchen joins Summer Search with more than 15 years of experience in higher education focused on experiential learning, civic engagement, student development and local-to-global partnerships. Gretchen is passionate about access to education, fostering civic values and career pathways, forging deep partnerships, and training the next generation of change agents and purposeful professionals.

Previously, Gretchen served as the executive director of The Philadelphia Center, a fifty-five-year-old domestic study away center and internship semester. There she worked with faculty, and staff to bring college students from around the country to live, learn and work in Philadelphia. Students explored issues of race, equity and inclusion, urban economics, and gained work experience in 32 hour per week internships in the Greater Philadelphia region. Gretchen oversaw strategic planning, a marketing rebrand, a center build and relocation, and data reporting. Gretchen fostered relationships with key academic partners and external stakeholders including alumni, an advisory board, local employers, higher education institutional partners, and the state of PA.

As the former assistant dean for civic engagement at Widener University, Gretchen led the university’s civic initiatives including cultivating and sustaining meaningful, reciprocal partnerships with community organizations, supporting faculty’s experiential learning efforts including service-learning, community-based research and political engagement, designing and overseeing cohort scholarship students, and leading ongoing civic evaluation efforts.  Gretchen’s additional previous roles included: the manager of general education, academic living learning assessment at American University, the assistant director of academic community engagement and global partnership consultant at Siena College, and program associate at the Bonner Foundation. Gretchen also was a Fulbright grantee in South Korea.

Gretchen holds an Ed.D in higher education leadership from Widener University, a Master’s in international affairs from American University and a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Studies from Dickinson College. Her hobbies include going to the library, reading, watching HGTV and raising two little boys with her husband and dogs. Gretchen is also a lifelong advocate for neurodiverse children and adults.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

Lakesha Knatt, Executive Director of Summer Search Seattle, is a native of the Seattle area and lives with her family in South King County.

Prior to joining the Summer Search community, Lakesha served as the Regional Director at the College Success Foundation Seattle/King County, where she supported college and career readiness programs starting in middle school through college completion for BIPOC students from low-income households. Lakesha managed a team of 40 professional staff, including school-based staff in 6 middle schools, 12 high schools and 5 college/university campuses across King County.  Lakesha is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work and Field Education at Seattle University and has been teaching in higher education for the past 6 years.  Before that, Lakesha worked as a social worker in various Seattle-based nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity, where she served as their Family Services Director.  Lakesha is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.  She then received her Master of Social Work degree from University of Washington.

In her spare time, Lakesha enjoys engaging in community work, parenting her 10-year-old daughter, traveling as often as possible, and spending time with family and friends.  Lakesha is excited to learn from her colleagues at Summer Search and build on the successes of the previous leadership while leading the Seattle team into a new era of success for the organization.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

A native of Belize, Central America and a first-generation college graduate, Hermese has firsthand experience with the game changing power of education. Hermese’s long-standing commitment to Summer Search spans multiple roles, including participant during her high school years, Alumni Board Chair, and member of the Summer Search Boston Board of Directors. It is Hermese’s delight and Summer Search’s great fortune to have her add staff member to that list, stepping into the role of Boston Executive Director in December 2016.

Before joining the Summer Search staff, Hermese was a results-oriented Project Manager in the travel industry. She has provided project management over several top priority initiatives and enterprise wide implementations, cultivating her skills in data analysis, risk assessment, communication, relationship building, and change management, vital talents for a non-profit leader. While her professional experience is heavy in the project management capacity, her volunteer experience has been dominated by Summer Search! Though Hermese’s after work haven is now her full-time gig, she continues to volunteer as a coach for adults reentering college.

During the warmer months, Hermese enjoys daily 5Ks while listening to Beyoncé and Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits! She also loves to travel and has visited at least 1 new country a year for the past 5 years; with 5 continents, down and 2 more to go! Hermese and her family live in Boston.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Dreaming of a world robust with social and educational equity, SiMone has spent the majority of her professional experiences working in youth development.

Her journey started as a first-generation college student at UC Berkeley where she graduated with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. Motivated to serve, she spent several years working within public schools in the Bay Area. Then, she first joined Summer Search as a high school mentor, and has since supported within the post-secondary program as an advisor, a program manager, and now as the Post-Secondary Program director.

Outside of Summer Search, she spends most of her time traveling around the larger Bay Area and Sacramento where she cherishes spending time with her partner, friends, family, and dogs. You might even catch her out on the dance floor performing, teaching, or enjoying song after song until her feet hurt.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Brian believes in the importance of introspection, critical thinking and learning by doing. As Regional Program Director, he supports Summer Search staff in their work with participants and helps ensure that the entire program from outreach to post-secondary and beyond runs smoothly. His previous professional experience includes coordinating advocacy projects with youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems and assisting high school students build their job skills through workshops and internships. Brian holds a B.A. in Health and Societies from the University of Pennsylvania. He likes to travel, read and spend time with friends.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

Kristie believes passionately in providing equal access to educational opportunities.

Prior to joining Summer Search, Kristie led development efforts for Breakthrough Greater Boston, an educational non-profit providing out-of-school time programming, and City on a Hill Charter Public Schools, a charter school network in Boston and New Bedford. It was through City on a Hill students who were involved with Summer Search that she first began her admiration for the organization ten years before joining the team.

Kristie holds a B.A. in Sociology from Villanova University. Outside of the office, she can be found running, snowboarding, and having a blast with her husband and two boys. She and her family live in Milton.

Pronouns: She/Her

Borah is passionate about empowering young people to live authentically, and a believer in the power of transformative experiences and nature. As a High School Program Manager, Borah supports mentors to hold space for their mentees’ kaleidoscopic experiences, grow in their own amazing ways, and model healthy work/life balance by celebrating, taking care, and being fully present in our own lives.

Before joining Summer Search, Borah taught literacy and global citizenship in the Bronx. Borah received the 2017 Excellence in Education award from the Committee for Teaching on the United Nations for her work as a NYC Junior Ambassador Educator.

Borah holds a BA from Boston University and an MA from the Hunter College School of Education.

A wilderness enthusiast herself, Borah has participated in an archeological expedition in Mongolia, camped in the Adirondacks, canoed the Delaware, and hiked all over upstate NY with her baby girl (safely strapped into her carrier). When she’s not in the woods, she’s probably singing, knitting, soaking up time with family and friends, or making dumplings.

Pronouns: She/Her

Dedicated to social change and a commitment to understanding history, culture and the impact that racism and other intersections have on individuals and communities, Jené is continually inspired by authentic conversations and relationship building.

Jené provides mentoring and training support to Program Associates and loves the opportunity to create spaces where people feel supported and heard.

Jené graduated from Brandeis University and holds a MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work.

In her spare time, Jené enjoys laughing, learning from, and supporting her friends and family. She enjoys music, reading fantasy books, cats, swimming in the ocean, and sleeping in. She has spent the last couple of summers travelling to Cuba, and getting involved with community organizing efforts.

She currently lives in Brooklyn, and dreams of spending the winters in the Caribbean.

Pronouns: She/her/hers.

Therese is a Sacramento, California native that enjoys dancing, traveling, and quality times with her loved ones. Therese graduated as a part of the first inaugural class at the University of California, Merced (Go Bobcats!) and received her BA in Psychology, with a minor in Cognitive Science in 2009. In pursuit of a higher learning, Therese moved to the Pacific Northwest to complete her graduate studies in Student Development Administration (M.Ed) at Seattle University in 2013.

Joining the Summer Search Seattle team couldn’t be more of a perfect fit for Therese because she was a product of mentoring and college preparation program called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) during her high school experience. Since Therese’s high school AVID experience, serving students has been a calling that she is truly passionate about. Her background in education spans from transfer admissions advising, academic advising, career advising, and new student orientation within college institutions in both California and Washington State.

In the words of the great Maya Angelou, Therese deeply resonates with the following quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. Thus, Therese considers it a privilege to invite students into a safe space where they feel heard, validated, and empowered to use their voice as a catalyst to spark positive change wherever it is needed. Moreover, Therese is deeply committed towards partnering with students in defining their pathway of success while helping them understand that they were born with the ability to succeed!

Therese resides in south King county (Federal Way), and when she is not at Summer Search, she enjoys dance fitness, Marvel superhero movies, live jazz music, eating lavender ice cream at Point Ruston, traveling to different countries with her best friend, fellowship with her church family, and spending quality time with her amazing husband.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Click here to meet with Duron

Duron joined the Summer Search team in 2023, with a passion for empowering young people to reach their self-defined comfortable life. Over 10-years of his career was built on supporting youth, with a focus on youth who are the global majority, in gaining access to college, career, and entrepreneurial opportunities that would further them in becoming lifelong learners and achieve success. Duron has served as an adjunct faculty member and director in the business school at a private university, advisor to public school districts on college preparedness programs, and a management consultant for corporations building career readiness programs.

Outside of work, Duron enjoys video games and tabletop games, creative writing, the outdoors, anime, taking naps, and educating people about real estate.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Ethan believes that confidence building through adventure and mentorship is key to supporting teen development. Ethan also understands the need for deeper equity in Boston, a city with a widening opportunity gap. Before arriving at Summer Search, Ethan worked at Youth Enrichment Services managing adventure programs and volunteers. His work experience also includes student instruction at Thompson Island Outward Bound, case management at Action for Boston Community Development, and coaching at Boston College High School.

Ethan holds a BA in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire and a Core Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

Outside of his work, Ethan enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, gardening, and playing speed chess.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers/Siya

Born to immigrant Filipino parents, Christine Capacillo was born and raised in the Excelsior District of San Francisco, CA. Growing up, she was surrounded by strong family ties and embraced her community.  She was accepted into Summer Search as a student at Balboa High School. Her life changing summer experiences gave her the early exposure to becoming a leader in advocating for educational equity. Christine propelled to be the first in her family to attend college. At UCLA, she immediately emerged as a student activist and leader focusing on local and international social justice and educational equity issues. She went on to serve in various roles between the Summer Search San Francisco and New York City sites. In 2002, she served as the very first Summer Search Alumni Director.

Christine has dedicated her entire career in ensuring equity for underrepresented communities and has worked in the educational non-profit sector for the past 20 years. She earned her M.A. in Developmental Psychology at Columbia University Teachers College and led efforts in bridging access to higher education for underrepresented students. She has contributed her work and leadership at other nationally recognized organizations such as Harlem Children’s Zone, College Summit (now known as Peer Forward), iMentor and Black Girls CODE. After living in New York for 13 years, she thrilled to be back in Bay Area and return to Summer Search full circle as the Director of Alumni Relations and Career Services. She is eager to lead efforts to address, combat and remedy the racial inequity in the workforce and provide thoughtful, relevant and quality programming to her fellow alumni community. She is also a founding member of Level, a diverse professional women’s network taking action in addressing the racial wealth gap by investing in Black women entrepreneurs. Christine enjoys attending concerts, hosting gatherings, and traveling with her fiancé and son.

Pronouns: She/Her.

Trish’s passion for learning and growth started with her first job at Chuck E. Cheeses, pushed her to study abroad in college, pulled her into college access and success work, and guides most of her life choices to this day. As a first-generation college student Trish had to overcome many challenges in her pursuit of higher education and quest for fulfilling her purpose. She is grateful to those who helped her come to this point as a Post-Secondary Manager at Summer Search!

Trish holds her bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College and her Master’s in Education Studies from Boston University, Wheelock College. She’s spent all of her career working in the education realm as a college access AmeriCorps volunteer, doing school operations and recruitment in Boston, and working with college access and success counselors here in NYC.

Originally from a small town in Bucks County Pennsylvania, Trish has lived in Brooklyn since 2014. Outside of work she enjoys reading all genres, biking around the city, spending time with her little brother, nieces, and nephew in PA, devouring her mother-in-law’s cooking, going on walks with her dog Bishop, and making her partner pick new shows for them to watch together.

Erik is a Principal Owner responsible for Business Operations at Toth Construction with his brother Klaus. Toth Construction was started by his father Walter in 1976, and is a premier remodeler and builder of custom homes in the Seattle area.  Erik has a B.S. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington. He is also very involved with the Boy Scouts of America, YMCA and the First United Methodist Church. Erik and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Tristan and Emma.

Inducted – Term End: June 2011 – Sept 2024