OUR TEAM

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

Kat believes that everyone has the right to forge their own path in life. She sees the power in telling the story of self and seeks to provide youth a chance to explore and unpack their stories in safe spaces, with mentors who believe in and support them.

Prior to joining Summer Search, Kat worked for the Boston-based NGO South Africa Partners as a program assistant, and with the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM). She graduated from UMass Amherst with a BA in Social Thought and Political Economy.

Outside of the office, Kat can be found running, biking, singing, and eating entirely too much Thai food.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Devin has a passion for working with young adults and helping them to discover their passions and reach their potential. At Summer Search he works as a program associate and enjoys the opportunity to help guide young students through their High School years.

Prior to Summer Search he worked as the guidance counselor for DME Sports Academy, a prep school in Daytona Beach, FL. He competed for the Men’s basketball team at DePaul University in Chicago, IL from 2008 – 2011.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine. He now lives in Jamaica Plain, MA.

When not at Summer Search he coaches the Women’s Basketball team at Roxbury Community College and coaches AAU basketball with the New York Gauchos.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Sam believes strongly that every individual deserves access to opportunity and the support system to help them reach their potential.

Before joining the Summer Search team, Sam worked in development and communications for a variety of non profits, primarily focused on education and women and youth empowerment. Her most recent role was at a local charter public school and she looks forward to continuing to work to support the students of Boston. Her passion lies in working for organizations that are creating positive change in their communities.

Sam holds a Bachelors degree in Media, Culture and Communications from New York University. Outside of work she enjoys reading, yoga and travelling to see as much of the world as she can.

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: He/Him/His

Darryl believes in spreading love and understanding to each other and our surroundings.

Darryl came to Summer Search with a background in youth development, providing students with opportunities that will help them be successful in their future. At Squashbusters in Lawrence, MA, Darryl was the head squash coach and led the high school portion of the Lawrence program.

Darryl graduated from the Summer Search program in 2010 before heading to Colby College, where he created his own major within the American Studies and Photography departments. Darryl played on the Colby men’s varsity squash team and held leadership positions for several clubs on campus, such as the Men of Color Alliance, Colby’s Gentlemen of Quality, and Students Organized for Black and Hispanic Unity. He graduated from Colby in 2014 and began working in youth development.

In his spare time, Darryl enjoys spending time at the gym, traveling, cooking, being with family and friends, but ultimately being on his couch watching comedy sitcoms or action tv series.

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Pedro comes to Summer Search with a commitment to helping students succeed, while providing them with tools to use as they navigate their high school careers, and progress into their collegiate careers.

After working in student affairs for several years, Pedro felt a need to help high school students succeed in their high school careers, while also aiding in their goals for higher education selection and retention.

Pedro worked in Providence, as a 1st grade Instructor, providing lessons for learning and enrichment in the Providence school system and surrounding community. Pedro holds a B.A. in Psychology focusing in adolescent development and mental health.

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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.

Stephanie’s passion for social change manifests in the way she mentors students and staff to believe in their own potential. She imagines a world that when we come together as a community, anything is possible. As a Posse Alumna, Stephanie understands the importance of support that is necessary to be successful in higher education and how it relates to college access. Throughout her time at Hamilton College, Stephanie truly unearthed her passion in social justice and diversity and equity work. She culminated her time at Hamilton with a BA in Africana Studies and continued her education at New York University pursuing her MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Combining her studies along with her passion for serving her community, Stephanie decided to work for the Posse Foundation. Working at Posse was a way for her to give back to an organization and community that has impacted her life. After graduate school, she served as a Program Coordinator at Posse Boston and learned about Summer Search through alumni and staff. Excited about Summer Search’s one-on-one mentorship and belief in student’s infinite potential, Stephanie served as a Program Associate and Mentor in the Boston office.

She returns to Summer Search Boston as the Director of Post-Secondary and Alumni Relations after working as Posse Boston’s Program Director for almost six years. Throughout her career with nonprofit education organizations, Stephanie has worked with diverse cadres of students. She has formed and maintained partnerships with schools and community organizations, and she has organized and overseen internal program development.

On her time off, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her partner, family, and friends and playing with her four godsons. Stephanie enjoys taking walks to relax, exploring new places, and focusing on her spiritual growth.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Maria is passionate about helping individuals access opportunities and supports to help them realize their potential, reach their goals, and be successful in the future, however that looks to them.

Before joining Summer Search, Maria has followed her passion of guiding young people by teaching Spanish in the Boston Public Schools, working at various summer camps, managing out-of-school time programs, and most recently coordinating outreach and programming at a non-profit that focuses on outdoor experiences and leadership opportunities for Boston youth.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish with a Secondary Education Concentration from Assumption University (formerly Assumption College).

In her spare time, Maria enjoys traveling and exploring new places, and partaking in all things outdoors- especially snowboarding, skiing, and lounging on the beach.

Libby believes that creating community and providing personal growth opportunities for students is a significant piece of the puzzle in removing barriers to their overall success.

Prior to working at Summer Search, Libby worked at Catie’s Closet, a Massachusetts based non profit providing free clothing and toiletries to students in Boston Public Schools. Her experience at Catie’s Closet ignited her passion for supporting local Boston students through meaningful engagement. She also has experience in the field of educational travel with a focus on student travel groups.

Libby has a B.A in Sociology from Emmanuel College in Boston. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, practicing yoga, reading, taking care of her plants, and exploring the city.

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Trixie has a passion for helping to improve the lives of others, especially those of young people through education and mentorship. Growing up in the Philippines, then moving to Chicago and attending public schools there, she found her way through a strong support network of teachers and administrators that became her close mentors. Trixie attended Denison University in Granville, OH and earned her BA in Anthropology/Sociology in 2018. She then became a tutor and mentor with City Year in Columbus, OH and Chicago, IL working closely with her 8th graders. She also provides direct care to a small group of homeless individuals in the greater Boston area through another non-profit organization. Outside of work, you can find her in the kitchen cooking tried and true dishes, or on a yoga mat trying to find inner peace. 

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Julia is passionate about college access and youth development, supporting young people to leverage their strengths and follow their own pathways. Growing up in an ROTC military family, she is especially conscientious of the challenges first generation students face and dedicated to providing insight and resources.

Prior to coming to Summer Search, Julia served as a college advisor for 4 years at KIPP Delta Public Schools in the rural Arkansas Delta. There she recognized the power of 1:1 mentoring and group work to support students through postsecondary milestones, as well as identity and social development. Additionally, she volunteered with the local Humane Society as a foster mom and shelter photographer. Julia is excited to be back on the east coast and serving Boston students.

Outside of work you can find Julia hiking or saltwater kayaking with her dog Sasha, cooking every meal of the day, and writing postcards to her friends and family scattered around the world.

Madison believes that with the right resources, guidance, and support, every young person can thrive.

For 2 years, Madison served with College Advising Corps – Boston University (CAC-BU), an Americorps program. She was a College and Career Adviser at Charlestown High School in Boston Public Schools, providing postsecondary planning support to juniors and seniors. Through her experiences with CAC-BU, she fell in love with youth work and is excited to be able to continue empowering youth to achieve their goals at Summer Search.

Madison graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in International Relations. She recently received a Certificate in Community Leadership and Social Change through the Institute for Non-Profit Practice’s Community Fellows program.

Outside of work, Madison is passionate about food and loves to cook, bake, and try new restaurants. You can also find Madison attempting to create an unofficial personal ranking of every bubble tea shop in the Boston area.

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Ruby believes that all young people deserve access to skill-building experiences that lead to long-lasting personal and professional fulfillment. She is excited to continue the work of reducing barriers to professional opportunities and establishing programs that meet student needs in the role of Career Navigator and Internship Manager.

Ruby received her B.A. from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, where she was active in student-run policy initiatives and global social justice dialogues. After graduating, Ruby moved to Monduli, Tanzania as a Princeton in Africa Fellow at Orkeeswa School, a community-based secondary school emphasizing accessible, high-quality, holistic education. There, she acted as the Career and College Counselor and developed multiple extracurricular programs focused on strengthening essential social, emotional, and professional tools through dialogue and hands-on experiences. She also spent time as the school’s librarian, Model UN coach, and trumpet teacher and wore many other hats that allowed her to connect with students. After moving back to the U.S., Ruby continued to write unit plans for Orkeeswa’s Life Skills curriculum.

Ruby then completed an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Fellowship managing the inaugural year of Generations Ahead’s Internship Program, which aims to empower young parents in her hometown of Traverse City, Michigan.

She loves reading in the sun (especially if near a large body of water), discovering new music, and hosting game nights with friends.

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Adriana joined Summer Search in August 2022 as the Post-Secondary Program Manager. Prior to Summer Search, Adriana led the MITES program at MIT, a summer residential program for approximately 80 underserved and underrepresented high school students from across the country. This included planning and executing the summer program, organizing logistics and special events, training and managing teams of 40+ mentors and instructors, and ensuring overall student well-being. Adriana also led the recruitment and selection process for the programs, overseeing application pools of approximately 2,000 each year for four years. Adriana loves working with young people, especially those from historically marginalized communities, and empowering them to thrive.

Adriana earned a Bachelor’s of Science in environmental engineering from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Outside of work hours, Adriana enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling to new places, being involved in her church, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Program Associate – He/Him/His

As a first-generation college grad and alumnus of the Summer Search program, Josue has seen first-hand the benefits of mentoring and providing opportunities to youths that would otherwise not receive those opportunities. Josue is passionate about youth empowerment and through Summer Search he became interested in working in the fields of education, non-profit work, and youth mental health.

Josue has worked as a team leader for the Jumpstart Americorps program, family service provider and therapeutic mentor for youths ages 4-21. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Degree in Psychology concentrating in Community Psychology and minoring in Criminal Justice.

Outside of work, Josue enjoys boxing, sports, art, music, films, and spending time with friends and family.