STRONG START - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Member of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
As a administrative assistant, Alina is responsible for daily operations and providing project support for the Strong Start to Finish initiative. She brings experience relating to finance, public policy and administration, as well as the implementation of Colorado law and regulation. Alina is dedicated to the mission of Strong Start to Finish and believes that through informed leadership and sustained commitment, we can better serve our communities and contribute to an educational system that provides equal opportunities for all. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, making memories with her family and spending time outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
- Senior Director
In her role leading the convene team at Education Commission of the States, Antionette oversees the planning and execution of all events, including the annual National Forum on Education Policy and Winter Commissioners Meeting. She also serves as the point person for our operational teams including our executive office - staffing and advising the president. In her tenure at Education Commission of the States, Antionette has worked in nearly every division, including finance, administration and policy. Her institutional knowledge and longstanding relationships with Commissioners, partners and foundation officials are invaluable to the work of Education Commission of the States.
Job Titles:
- President of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
- President of Education Commission of the States
José Muñoz is the ninth president of Education Commission of the States. He brings nearly 30 years of cross-sector experience leading initiatives that elevate policy adoption to create meaningful change in communities across the United States. In their free time, José and his family like to serve their community in New Mexico through their church and by leading community groups.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
- Site Strategist
- Strategist for Strong Start to Finish
As the Site Strategist for Strong Start to Finish, Julie provides support to higher education systems and institutions implementing developmental education reforms, and identifies opportunities for shared learning across the network. Julie comes with experience in education policy and implementation science research, and has focused much of her work on equitable systems change at the intersection of K-12 and higher education. Julie is dedicated to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students of color, students from lower-income communities and adults; and is passionate about working alongside educators and students to collaboratively develop solutions.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education
- Ascendium Education Group
Keith Witham is the director of education grantmaking at Ascendium Education Group, where he oversees strategic grantmaking in support of Ascendium's philanthropic mission. Prior to joining Ascendium, Keith was managing director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program where he led initiatives focused on community college leadership and institutional transformation centered on equitable student success. Prior to that he was on the faculty at the Temple University College of Education and held positions with Complete College America and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. He has published numerous journal articles and book chapters focused on issues of postsecondary equity and student success, community college finance and organizational change in higher education. Keith received a Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. He also earned a master's degree in social service administration and a bachelor's degree in political science, both from the University of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Omari Burnside is a senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this role, he works with communities of practice comprised of researchers, associations and service providers who partner to deliver evidence-based services and resources designed to support institutions' equitable student success efforts. Prior to joining the foundation, Omari served as the assistant vice president of strategy and practice at NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, where he researched and developed tools on implementing student success practices, including student employment, emergency aid, advising and other holistic student supports. Prior to that, Omari worked at a non-profit consulting firm where he designed and delivered technical assistance to help campus and state system leaders plan, scale and implement strategies to close opportunity and equity gaps. Omari holds degrees from Harvard, George Washington University, and the University of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
- Policy Analyst
As a policy analyst, Shytance analyzes education policies, tracks legislative developments and provides data-driven recommendations to state policymakers. With 10 years of experience in higher education research and policy, she has supported federal agencies, postsecondary institutions, nonprofits and private foundations both in the U.S. and internationally, including researching transformative practices for underrepresented students with the Education Trust and the Gates Foundation. Shytance holds an M.A. in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in International Education Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
- Project Manager
- Project Manager for Strong Start to Finish
As the Project Manager for Strong Start to Finish, Stacy oversees operational processes and collaborates with network partners to implement effective developmental education reforms in postsecondary institutions. With over 20 years of experience in higher education administration, equity and inclusion, student success, and lean process improvement, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. When Stacy is not at work, she can be found cheering on her young kids from the sidelines at soccer games and in the gymnasium.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Officer at Ascendium Education Group
Sue Cui is a senior program officer at Ascendium Education Group, where she works on philanthropic initiatives to reduce or eliminate institutional and systemic barriers for underrepresented postsecondary education learners so they can achieve their academic and career goals. Sue serves as co-chair of Grantmakers for Education's Postsecondary Access & Attainment Impact Group. Prior to Ascendium, Sue made grants for STEM teaching and learning at the Helmsley Charitable Trust and supported corporate giving in arts, nutrition and domestic violence awareness at Altria. Sue studied anthropology and art history at New York University. Sue completed the Aspen Rising Presidential Fellowship in 2019 alongside the inspiring third cohort of higher education executives.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Staff Funder Advisory Board Advisory Board
- Director of Strong Start to Finish
- Interim Director, Strong Start to Finish
As Director of Strong Start to Finish, Victoria works with team members, funders, and postsecondary leaders to advance proven developmental education reforms. She has over 16 years of experience in higher education policy, practice, and research through various roles in government, postsecondary institutions, and policy research organizations. She earned her PhD in Higher and Postsecondary Education from New York University. Victoria is dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities for students who have been historically and systematically excluded from unjust systems.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director for the Kresge Foundation 's Education Program
William (Bill) F. L. Moses serves as managing director for The Kresge Foundation's Education Program, which supports postsecondary access and success for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students. The key architect of Kresge's education programming, Bill leads the team's continuum of domestic and international grant activities from developing program strategy, reviewing preliminary ideas and helping grantees develop proposals or initiatives, to awarding funding and monitoring existing grants. Since arriving at Kresge, Bill has served as a program officer and senior program officer, was instrumental in developing Kresge's Green Building Initiative and has spearheaded the foundation's grantmaking in South Africa. He serves on the Governing or Advisory Boards of College Promise, APIA Scholars and Africa Grantmakers Affinity Group.