Adrian Garcia Hernandez is a data insights analyst at Beyond 12. Adrian completed a master's degree in data science from Columbia University and dual bachelor's degrees in sustainable environmental design, forestry, and natural resource management from the University of California, Berkeley. He was recognized as the inaugural recipient of Columbia University's JP Morgan Chase Diversity Fellowship Award, showcasing his commitment to furthering diversity and inclusivity in the data sphere. Through his work at Beyond 12, Adrian hopes to combine his desire to create positive social change with his passion for research and data. Outside of work, Adrian enjoys taking long walks with his dogs, Schleppy and Sola, as well as reading and running.

Amina Sarr is a first-generation college student born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BS in health science and psychology and is currently pursuing a master's degree in public health. As a first-year coach, Amina is eager to be able to deliver resources and form bonds with students. Before beginning her role at Beyond 12, Amina served as a peer mentor and advisor for the Minority Advisement Program. Amina is passionate about student success and ensuring that all students have equal opportunities. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Andrew Jensen is an associate software engineer with Beyond 12. Previously, he worked as a high school math teacher and in a variety of functions in investment management. He earned a teaching credential at San Francisco State University, a BS in Mathematics at the University of California at Davis, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder. Andrew is grateful for the choices and security that education has afforded him and therefore deeply values the opportunity to work to increase educational equity.

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Batul is a hardworking Berkeley City College transfer student who studied ethnic studies at UC Berkeley. She graduated the summer of 2022, officially making her a first-generation Muslim Yemeni-American college graduate. Batul has also obtained education in political science and psychology. Batul aims to commit time and dedication to work centered around peer mentorship for underserved scholars and is very passionate about building community and advocating on the injustices taking place around the world, including her home country Yemen. Post-graduation, Batul dedicated her time in statistical archival research on Yemeni Migration and the communities they have built in the US, in her very first publication, التراث اليمني العالمي: Examining the Rich Cultural Heritage of Yemen and its Diaspora, with the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative. With this, she put her words into action by shedding light on underrepresented communities facing injustices, which she wants to continue supporting as a new college coach.

Prior to joining Beyond 12, Bryan helped develop mission-driven initiatives for first-generation college students at the University of Dallas. During his time at the University of Dallas, he supported students navigating their first-year college experience by organizing academic workshops and informational sessions about campus resources and developing a peering mentorship program led by first-generation college students. Bryan has also worked to increase commuter-student outreach and recently helped create a summer bridge program for DFW-area high school students and incoming college students. Throughout his career, Bryan has developed a passion for serving students and working to provide them with the tools and resources they need to be successful. Bryan is excited to join Beyond 12 and continue his work with students by enriching their college experience through meaningful connections and guidance!

Chloe Low (she/they) earned her bachelor's in English with a minor in literary journalism and emphasis in teaching from theUniversity of California, Irvine. She cultivated a passion for higher education counseling through her roles as a peer mentor, seminar leader, and resident advisor for Summer Bridge, a student retention program for first-generation and low income freshmen. Chloe also supported students' personal, academic, and social aspirations as a life coach in the UCI Counseling Center. She is committed to empowering students to navigate challenges with confidence and resilience.

Dan has worked as a software engineer for over 10 years. Before his commitment to reducing inequality led him to Beyond 12, he created mobile games at Big Fish Games and community websites for nonprofits at Trellon. Dan is a San Francisco native with a BA in cognitive science from UC Berkeley and a MA in information studies from the University of Toronto.

Dana has over 12 years of experience in full-cycle fundraising and strategy and philanthropic partnership management. Immediately before joining Beyond 12, Dana was the managing director of development at education nonprofit City Year Los Angeles, where she served as the head of the 15-person development department and worked with the executive director, board of directors, and her team to raise $8.3 MIL, reaching the highest annual private revenue goal in City Year’s 29-site national network. Throughout her career, she has led fundraising initiatives for noteworthy education causes, securing major donations from corporate, individual, and institutional funders. Dana’s previous experience includes serving as corporate development director at City Year LA, director of development, annual fund and donor engagement at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, donor relations and special events manager at Allies for Every Child, and account executive at the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Dana received her BA in human development from the University of California, San Diego.

Danica is a recent first-generation college graduate from UCLA with degrees in psychology and sociology in addition to a minor in education studies. Driven by her upbringing in South Stockton, California, she continuously seeks opportunities to empower and uplift underserved and underrepresented communities of students to further reimagine what access and persistence looks like to their educational journeys. At UCLA, Danica found herself investing in these community-led and student-run organizations as she was heavily involved as a peer tutor and peer counselor for SPACE and SPEAR–projects that were made for students and by students to increase the number of students of color within and through higher education. Her other involvements included Kappa Psi Epsilon, a Pinay-interest sorority, and the Academic Affairs Commission through UCLA’s student government. Outside of being a college coach, Danica loves spending time with her family, friends, and dog, going on walks, working out, and reading!

Deja Jahi currently serves as a first-year college coach for Beyond 12. She graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, with a BS in psychology. Prior to becoming a college coach for Beyond 12, Deja was an assistant director/mentor for Star Struck Sports. There, she created and orchestrated fundraiser events to help support students from underrepresented areas and provided guidance, and recommended coping mechanisms for youth dealing with difficult issues and situations. As a first-generation college student, Deja knows firsthand the challengesone may face while being in a new environment, and how important it is to have a strong support system to help navigate through their college career. This is what led to her interest in Beyond 12. She genuinely loves helping others and in her role as a college coach, she aspires to continue to support students throughout their college journey. During her free time, she loves hot yoga, trying out new foods, and traveling with her family.

Donna Arriaga Edmonds brings almost 10 years of experience within the education sector as a director of customer success. Since joining in 2015, her work exemplifies her core values and commitment to enhance the opportunities of underrepresented groups within our education system. Donna began her time with Beyond 12 as a college coach working with HSF GO Scholars and currently manages the Atlanta office and partners while leading efforts to scale the program department. Before joining Beyond 12, Donna managed the African American Male Initiative grant and supported the Goizueta Scholarship at the University of North Georgia. She obtained BAs in political science and writing and linguistics from Georgia Southern and a MA in public administration from the University of Georgia, concentrating on higher education and nonprofit management. As a first generation college graduate, Donna strives to improve college success support services to increase persistence and graduation rates for underrepresented students.

Tianna Sims-Miller has over ten years of experience with data analysis, data visualization, and research. Tianna has worked in a variety of educational settings including academia, state government, and local schools where she used data to generate deep actionable insights. She loves talking about all things data to both technical and nontechnical audiences and telling compelling data stories. Tianna believes data can be used to reduce educational inequities and to improve education systems and outcomes for all. Tianna received a Bachelors of Science from the University of Central Florida and a PhD in research, measurement, and statistics from Georgia State University.

Since 2015, Francis has led coaching skills training for Beyond 12’s coaches and he now leads the overarching training and professional development strategy for the broader program team. To his role, he brings over a decade of experience in project management, training, and facilitation, with a particular focus on coaching and leadership development. His experience ranges from building the leadership, evaluation, and strategic planning capacity of social sector organizations through his private practice, to working at a leadership development and culture change firm serving large private and public organizations. Francis is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Harvard College, where his academic engagement focused on education, community organizing, psychology, and social change. Outside of Beyond 12, Francis is a volunteer executive coach with the Humanitarian Coaching Network, and a member of the board of directors for YES Nature to Neighborhoods, a leadership and wellness organization serving the community where he grew up.

A native of Atlanta, GA, Iman graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2020 with her BA in African American and diaspora studies and earned a MA in human relations from the University of Oklahoma in 2023. Iman’s aspirations, personally and professionally, are focused on creating programs and resources for students from underserved communities. Before joining Beyond 12, she gained experience as a special education teacher and case manager; a college access and financial aid specialist; and was Program Director of a mentoring program. Outside of work, Iman enjoys traveling, trying new cuisines, watching and playing sports, and spending time with her friends and family!

James Robinson is a part time student onboarding coordinator for Beyond 12 and a full time postsecondary transition advisor (PTA) for KIPP Texas. As a PTA, he helps seniors in high school transition to postsecondary pathways and year 1 college students adjust on their new journey. From 2021-2023, he coached college students for Beyond 12. As a coach he helped students in their first, second, and sometimes third year academically and/or socially/emotionally. He earned his bachelor’s degree in quantitative social science and minored in afro-african american studies from Dartmouth College in Spring 2020.

Before joining Beyond 12, Javier worked in his hometown of Delano, California as an agriculture prep counseling fellow with the Wonderful Company, where he supported high school students and their families during the college application and decision-making process. While an undergraduate student at the University of Redlands, Javier secured a position working for Campus Diversity and Inclusion, the entity responsible for coordinating diversity programs. In this role, he primarily supported first-generation student programs but also helped plan and execute programming to create an atmosphere that welcomes, values, and fosters diversity and inclusion on campus. Javier is passionate about empowering and supporting low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented college students. He understands the transformative power of his college experience and the vital role that his different support systems played in ensuring his success. Javier graduated from the University of Redlands with a BA in race and ethnic studies in the spring of 2020. He recently completed a master’s in higher education and student affairs at the University of Redlands.

Since 2017, Jeanette has led the end-to-end cycle for consumer/B2C and enterprise/B2B products. She proactively sought a role in software consulting after working at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to promote STEM for underrepresented high school youth in over 15 cities nationwide. Jeanette was the first in her family to graduate from high school and pursue a college degree. During undergrad, she was a peer counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program, helping first-generation college students navigate the unknowns of attending University of California, Berkeley where she earned her bachelors in social welfare. On her free time, you'll find Jeanette developing recipes for Café 15, her family's creative kitchen in Oakland or spending time in nature with her husband, 2 kids, and parents.

Jenni is a first-generation alumna from the University of Redlands, holding a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Race and Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and educational equity from East Palo Alto, CA. During her undergrad, she gained diverse experiences through internships, serving as the Multicultural Intern with her university's Campus Diversity and Inclusion office and as an Immigration Intern at Community Legal Services in her hometown. Before joining Beyond 12, she was a Community Outreach Liaison with Volunteers of America Southwest, where she provided essential resources to families and developed strong stakeholder relationships. Jenni is also a Peninsula College Fund scholar and Peninsula Bridge alumna. Her personal experiences with supportive systems like Beyond 12 have fueled her dedication as she strives to level the educational playing field for first-generation students from underrepresented backgrounds.

John Lithio is a data scientist at Beyond 12. Previously, he worked to improve K-12 student outcomes as a data scientist with the New York City Department of Education, where he developed a passion for improving equity in society through education. John also has experience in the finance industry and received a master's degree in analytics from Georgia Tech and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Hope College. He is dedicated to applying his technical skills as a data scientist to improving educational outcomes for first-generation and low-income students at scale.

Justin Hunter is a college coach at Beyond 12. Most recently he worked as a case assistant for Seyfarth Shaw’s immigration department where he helped migrants gain visa status and adjust to a new life in the United States. Before working at a firm Justin graduated from Morehouse College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communication Studies. During his time at Morehouse, Justin worked with many community based organizations with the goal in mind of helping establish a better future for inner city youth. He has worked with organizations like Atlanta Common Good to help inmates achieve their degree, and also working with organizations like Detroit Green Task Force to advocate for green new deals for the City of Detroit. Combining this with his other professional work as a legal assistant, Justin has multiple years of experience in client engagement, advocacy, and social work. 

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Karina was born and raised in a small central valley town called Porterville. She attended Porterville College, and then transferred to UC Berkeley where she obtained her bachelor's degree in ethnic studies with a minor in public policy. She served on the board of the Black Student Union and IGNITE for women in politics while at UC Berkeley, and was a Destination College Advising Corps College Advisor Fellow from 2021-2023. As a Beyond 12 college coach she is here to inspire, motivate, and support students on their journeys in higher education. Being a Black and Mexican first-generation woman, the world had always told Karina that college was an unattainable dream, so after she successfully graduated, she vowed to help make college accessible to students in marginalized communities. In her free time Karina loves to watch horror films, go to Disneyland, and try new food spots in the Bay Area!

Kearra Cooper is a recent, first-generation graduate from Alabama State University, where she majored in psychology. Her desire to move to Atlanta from her home in Birmingham, Alabama came from her desire to find opportunities for herself to work in higher education and college access. Before joining Beyond12 as a College Coach, she served one year as an Americorps service member with the College Advising Corps in the Atlanta Public Schools System. In that role, she was able to support other first-generation students to apply to colleges, the FAFSA, and several scholarships. As she continues to gain experience and expertise in college access, she has also been taking online classes so that she can earn her Master of Education in school counseling with the hopes of one day becoming a high school counselor. Kearra enjoys coffee in the morning, dancing, and spending time with her cat, Keanu.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Khadijah graduated from the University of San Francisco (USF) where she earned her B.A. in Critical Diversity with a minor in African American Studies. As a first-generation college student, she sees educational access and support for underrepresented youth as her calling. Khadijah served as a peer mentor for the Muscats Scholars Program, where she mentored 50 first-generation college freshmen during their transition from high school to college. Khadijah’s passion for educational equity built her commitment to ensure all students possess the tools to succeed in higher education.

Khawla, a familiar face at Beyond 12, returns as the special assistant to the CEO, bringing with her a profound dedication to education and community development. As the trailblazer in her family to pursue and complete a degree from the University of California Davis, Khawla is driven by her commitment to giving back to her community and assisting others in reaching their academic aspirations. Before rejoining Beyond 12, Khawla made significant contributions as a program coordinator at Community Development Advocates of Detroit. In this role, she spearheaded various community development initiatives, including the impactful Neighborhood Action Table, aimed at advancing equity and justice in Detroit neighborhoods. Before her time at CDAD, Khawla served as a college coach at Beyond 12, where she provided invaluable support to over 150 first-generation college students. Her passion for empowering others and her firsthand experience navigating the challenges of higher education make her an invaluable asset to Beyond 12 and its mission.

Lara brings both personal and professional experience to her role as senior director of program. Since joining in 2013, her work strengthens her passion for serving youth and commitment to developing systemic interventions that generate more equitable outcomes for individuals from underserved communities. She has served as a college coach, coordinated professional development, and managed a partnership with NASFAA and The Department of Education. Before joining Beyond 12, Lara mentored Upward Bound students, facilitated Kids’ Turn workshops for families experiencing separation, supported survivors of domestic violence with the Riley Center, and promoted health and wellness at the YMCA and St. Vincent De Paul’s Ozanam Wellness Center. Lara earned a BA in psychology, graduating magna cum laude from the University of San Francisco and a MSW with a concentration in children and families with a PPSC from UC Berkeley.

Mariah was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a program manager in Beyond 12’s Atlanta office. She is a recent graduate from Spelman College and received a bachelor’s of arts in International Studies with a minor in Spanish. Previously, she served as a peer ambassador for Achieve Atlanta mentoring students academically and socio-emotionally in the program. During her time in college, she established a teen girl health and empowerment course in Cienfuegos, Dominican Republic to ensure girls of color were receiving equitable education regarding their health and empowering them to become global change makers. Mariah loves engaging in international relations topics and has interned with three international organizations: CARE International, International Rescue Committee, and Girls Going Global. She believes the world will never be equal until education equity is achieved domestically and internationally. Mariah has a passion for community outreach which drives her continuous efforts to give back to her community and mentor students throughout Atlanta. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, trying out new restaurants, and making organic beauty products.

Maricarmen was proudly born and raised in Salinas, California. She is a first-generation college graduate from UC Davis with her bachelor’s in design and a minor in computer science. Maricarmen is passionate about dedicating her time to help students from underrepresented communities attain higher education. Prior to working with Beyond 12, she worked at a middle school in Sacramento, CA where she was able to support students through their academic journey by providing the appropriate resources. Simultaneously, she would instruct elementary students on how to code using block based programs. Not only have these experiences given her a better understanding of the educational system but also fueled her passion in helping first generation students navigate the educational system. In her free time, she enjoys thrift shopping, bullet journaling, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Miles has had the opportunity to see all walks of life. While attending school at Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), he was able to be a part of numerous mentorships along with college readiness programs that helped him see the light at the end of the tunnel within education. After graduating from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) during the peak of the pandemic, he developed a passion for helping students like himself achieve higher levels of success. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in communication studies in hopes of continuing to spread the knowledge he’s gained while inspired to learn and understand others. He often emphasizes the importance of success not having a set look to it. Judging a book by its cover is NOT in his repertoire. As a first-generation college graduate, Miles hopes to become a resource and benefit to those within his community.

Payal has over 15 years of experience in finance, operations and human resources management in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Before joining Beyond 12, Payal was the Director of Finance & Operations for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights where she helped manage a $21M capital campaign and helped launch Restore Oakland. Payal is passionate about helping others, especially mentoring students, and has dedicated much of her life to volunteering with youth organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs and Girls Inc. She has also been an advocate for education equity and other human rights through her previous roles. She is active in her community, previously serving as a Commissioner for the City of Richmond, CA. Payal is a Bay Area native and earned her BA in psychology from San Francisco State University.

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Pedro attended San Jose State University earning his bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in economics in May 2023. Pedro is an  EOP student, a Peninsula College Fund Scholar, and a first-generation college student. In addition, Pedro is currently pursuing a master's in Finance at San Jose State University. Through his three years of work experience in the banking industry, college classes, and experience Pedro hopes to inspire first-generation college students to take control of their education and finances. He looks forward to working with any students and always looks forward to changing students' lives.

Born and raised in San Francisco, CA, Roxette Mae attended Sonoma State University and graduated in 2020 with a BA in American multicultural studies. Being the first in her family to obtain higher education, she understands firsthand the importance of creating a level playing field for underserved youth. Before joining Beyond 12, Roxette served as a two-year college adviser with UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corps at James Logan High School. Roxette was responsible for executing school-wide college-related workshops and supporting a cohort of 150 students that identified as first-generation, low-income, or from a marginalized community. Roxette spent her summer working as a program coordinator and leadership instructor for the Pre-College Academy Program at UC Berkeley to prepare students for the following school year. Roxette was the first in the program to create and execute a low ropes course event for students and staff to build stronger connections. Roxette is committed to continuing their work in ensuring education is accessible to all.

Sandra was raised in the metro Atlanta area and is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. She arrived in the US at the age of six with her single mother who always encouraged her to pursue higher education. After attending college part-time and working full-time, she became the first in her family to receive a college degree. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, graduating summa cum laude from Kennesaw State University. This choice of degree was driven by her profound dedication for social justice and social change. She is a former DACA-Recipient who has actively advocated for equal access to education for other undocumented and DACA-mented students in the state of Georgia. Sandra worked as an enrollment counselor at KSU and has over nine years of diverse work and college experience. Sandra is devoted to making a difference in her community and supporting first-generation and underrepresented students in their pursuit of a college degree.

Saredo Ali grew up in Boston, Massachusetts by way of Somalia. During high school, Saredo was involved in a couple of college-access programs that inspired them to become a mentor. The support and guidance they received from their mentors inspired Saredo to be passionate about educational access for first-generation and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Saredo graduated in 2022 from Vassar College with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies and a minor in English. Saredo nourished their passion for mentorship by working with Exploring College at Vassar College and Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America as a counselor and mentor. Upon graduating college Saredo worked as a professional mentor for Friends of the Children. Saredo is deeply moved to fight against injustice in our world and is committed to finding liberation and hope in mundane and extraordinary moments. They do this primarily through their love for language and words. Saredo is a poet and creative writer, who is currently working on their first poetry collection. Saredo hopes to empower people through the words and worlds that they create both on the page and off it.

Shallah has a wide range of experience in customer success, operations, compliance, and hospitality. Prior to Beyond 12, she worked at Wish, helping to align policies and improve communication with global outsource partners. Her passion for reducing inequality led her to the role at Beyond 12 and she is focused on working with partners to help close the college graduation gap between first-generation students and their peers. Shallah is a Bay Area native and received a BS in criminal justice from California State University, East Bay.

Shola was born and raised in Oakland, California. After attending OUSD K-12 schools, he studied for two years at Merritt College before obtaining his AA degree in communications and transferring to UC Irvine. He then completed his two years at UCI, achieving a BA in urban studies. While attending university, he began working for EAOP at Jordan High School in north Long Beach, where his experience became a driving factor in his motivation to work with disenfranchised youth of color in the educational setting. After graduating, Shola journeyed to Morocco to serve in the Peace Corps as a youth development volunteer for a 27-month service, but unfortunately due to the global COVID-19 pandemic he was brought back early. Knowing the many obstacles that young people face when coming from underrepresented communities and identities, he feels passionate about providing his own knowledge and support to contribute to a community of empowerment. In his free time, he enjoys watching and playing sports such as soccer and basketball, listening to music, and spending time with loved ones.

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Stephanie graduated from Pepperdine University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in social work. During her time at Pepperdine, Stephanie served as first wave ambassador providing invaluable mentorship to her  fellow first-generation students as they navigated their college experience. Prior to joining Beyond 12, Stephanie served in Jumpstart AmeriCorps as a corps member, team leader, and program intern. In this capacity, she actively worked towards bridging the early literacy and education gap for preschool children in under-resourced communities. Stephanie’s dedication to service and her commitment to social justice have fueled her passion for supporting students throughout their college journey, and she aspires to continue this mission as a college coach.

Tajeé Jackson-Drake is a senior college coach at Beyond 12. She is a first-generation college student born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish at Franklin and Marshall College in 2019. Before joining Beyond 12, Tajeé worked as a college advisor with the College Advising Corps serving students in three schools as they explored, planned, and executed their college and career journeys. As a coach with Beyond 12, she worked with a diverse range of students and adults as they worked towards degree completion, career exploration, financial planning, and socio-emotional support. She hopes to one day have a counseling practice providing mental health services and education to underserved communities at little or no cost.

Wilson La is an associate data analyst at Beyond 12. Prior to joining Beyond12, he was a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in data science and developed a passion for improving social equity and advocating for underserved communities in higher education. Wilson has experience conducting qualitative research using Python and transforming data to tell meaningful stories. Having experienced a steep learning curve to navigate college, he hopes to support fellow first-generation and low-income students on their personal journeys through institutions of higher learning. Driven by his background and values, Wilson is committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive education system.

Yaniv made the leap to software after teaching himself to code; previously, he worked as a chemical engineer on projects ranging from predictive analytics to alternative fuels. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. As the child of immigrants, Yaniv saw first-hand the difficulty of navigating unfamiliar systems, which led him to volunteer with youth education groups including Junior Achievement and PAIR Houston (Partnership for the Advancement & Immersion of Refugees). He strongly believes in increasing education equity and helping underrepresented students own their journey through the education system.