Our Team

Abraham Fofanah, Manager of High School Programs (Boston Campus)

M.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota 

Abraham joined the Breakthrough team in 2023. As the Manager of High School Programs for the Boston Campus, he supports early high school development and college access. Before joining Breakthrough, Abraham worked as a high school advisor in Providence, Rhode Island. In this role, he prepared first-generation students to attend and complete college.

Abraham likes to listen to podcasts, learn about history, and watch movies in his free time.

Email: Afofanah@btgbmail.org

Bella Cartularo, Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Somerville Campus)

B.F.A. in Writing, Literature, and Publishing, Emerson College
Actively pursuing an M.A. in Political Communication, Emerson College
 
 

Bella (they/them) joined Breakthrough Greater Boston in 2024 as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Somerville Campus. In this position, Bella works closely with Teaching Fellows and Middle School students to ensure that they are having rich educational and socio-emotional learning experiences. Before joining Breakthrough Greater Boston, Bella started their teaching journey as a 2nd grade teacher in the Bronx, NY for the Children’s Arts and Science Workshop. Bella was an 8th grade English teacher and Academic Coordinator in Bridgeport, CT and a 10th grade English teacher and Team Lead in Dallas, TX. Bella was also a Teach for America Corps Member in 2019.

In their free time, Bella enjoys reading, crocheting, and playing TTRPGs with friends!

email: bcartularo@btgbmail.org

Diane Gomes, Senior Director of College Success

B.A. in Psychology, Sacred Heart UniversityM.S. Ed in School Counseling, Manmouth University

Diane joined Breakthrough in 2023. As the Senior Director of College Success, Diane works closely with the breakthrough network to support students throughout their college experience. Prior to joining the Breakthrough family, Diane has spent 10 years in education guiding students through the college application process and providing direct support to increase college persistence. She is excited to bring her experience and passion to the Breakthrough community and continue to support students as they pursue their future careers. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and spending time friends and family.

Email: dgomes@btgbmail.org

Jesenia Gervacio, Senior Director of College Access

B.A. in Psychology & Spanish, Bryn Mawr College

M.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration, The University of Vermont

Jesenia (she/her) joined Breakthrough Greater Boston team in 2022. As the Senior Director of College Access, Jesenia works closely with the Managers of Early High School and Directors of College Access across all three campuses ensuring high school students and families feel supported as they transition to high school and navigate the college application process. Before joining Breakthrough, Jesenia has worked in a variety of educational settings providing support to students and families as well as training and hiring staff to support students seeking a college degree. She is excited to bring her skills and passion to Breakthrough and make new memories here. Outside of Breakthrough, Jesenia enjoys regular videocalls with her family in Florida, spending time with her friends, binge watching shows, listening to music, traveling, and trying to stay on top of her ever-growing list of books to read.

email: jgervacio@btgbmail.org

Milena Familia, Development Associate of Communications and Events

B.A. in English and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross

Milena (she/her) joined Breakthrough in 2023 as a Development Associate for Communications and Events. In this role, Milena will be representing the BTGB brand voice through email, social media, and other communications, as well as overseeing events.

Before joining Breakthrough, Milena has focused on copywriting in various settings, most recently doing Content Strategy/UX Writing at Wayfair, with previous experience at a public relations firm and a law firm. Milena has spent some time in the classroom by volunteering as a teacher’s assistant, first for preschool students with disabilities and later for adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners.

In her free time, Milena enjoys dancing, hiking with friends and family, trying food from different cultures, and learning about tarot and astrology.

Email: mfamilia@btgbmail.org

 

Shannon Ferguson, Director of College Access, Cambridge Campus

B.A. Sociology: University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeM.A. Special Education: Fordham University

Shannon (he/him) joined Breakthrough in 2022. As the Director of College Access at the Cambridge campus, Shannon supports 11th and 12th grade students and families during the college application process. Before Breakthrough, Shannon spent the previous three years as a college counselor at a high school in Boston, and 7 years as a middle school teacher and Dean of Students in Brooklyn, NY. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys dancing and listening to music with his 20-month-old daughter, watching the Milwaukee Bucks, and cooking delicious meals for his family.

Email: sferguson@btgbmail.org

Yamileth Reneria, Director of Early High School (Cambridge Campus)

B.A in Education Studies from Brown University

Yamileth (she/her) joined Breakthrough in 2021 as the Manager of Early High School. In this role, she supports 9th and 10th grade students in their transition to high school and with college-related goals. Prior to joining Breakthrough, Yami worked as a College Success Advisor, primarily supporting students attending UMass Boston and Bunker Hill Community College through their degree pathways.

Outside of Breakthrough, Yami enjoys taking Buzzfeed quizzes, browsing bookstores, and eating Hot Cheetos.

email: yrenteria@btgbmail.org

Andrew Jackson, Managing Director of Development

B.S. History and Political Science, Union UniversityM.A. Business Administration, Bethel University

Andrew (he/him) joined Breakthrough Greater Boston in 2023. As the Managing Director of Development, Andrew supports BTGB by overseeing fundraising, marketing, and communication. Prior to joining Breakthrough, Andrew was the Deputy Executive Director at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the Development Director at buildOn.

When not at Breakthrough, Andrew enjoys trying new restaurants and traveling with his friends and family.

Email: ajackson@btgbmail.org 

Carrah Olive-Hall, Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Cambridge Campus)

B.A. from the University of Georgia in Political Science
MAT in General and Special Education from Relay Graduate School of Education in NYC
M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Learning and Teaching Program
 
Carrah (she/her) first joined Breakthrough as a Teaching Fellow at Breakthrough Atlanta teaching social studies and fell in love with the program. Before joining Breakthrough Greater Boston for Summer 2022, she worked for Americorps at Covenant House, a shelter for unhoused youth, did a teaching fellowship in NYC in the Bronx where she taught k-8 students with disabilities, and then taught at KIPP NYC in Washington Heights. She also taught in Atlanta and coached JV volleyball and this past year worked for Teach for America Massachusetts as a coach, working with 30 teachers across Greater Boston.
 
In her free time, Carrah enjoys boxing class, reading, and going on fun adventures with her friends and family!

email: colivehall@btgbmail.org

Jahmali Matthews, FAO Schwarz Fellow

Jahmali (she/her) joined the Breakthrough Greater Boston team in 2022. As the Communications and Marketing FOA Schwarz Fellow, Jahmali divides her time between direct-service, serving as an aid for a caseload of students in the college success program, as well as clarifying BTGB’s social media outreach goals and executing them. Before Breakthrough, as an undergrad at Hamilton, she served as the editor-in-chief for Culture Magazine, a publication that highlights underrepresented voices on campus.

Outside of work, Jahmali enjoys studying astrology, spending time with her family, and thrifting.

email: jmatthews@btgbmail.org

Juan Mojica, FAO Schwarz Fellow

B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Race and Ethnicity Studies from Southwestern University. 

Juan (he/him) joined Breakthrough in 2022 through the FAO Schwarz Fellowship Program after graduating from college. Before joining the team, he held multiple student worker positions alongside his studies, including being Head Resident Assistant and an Orientation Leader. His interest in Breakthrough was sparked by his senior capstone entitled “Hasta la Raíz: Reproduction of Whiteness in Higher Education.” After taking a close look at the education system in the United States and the inequalities present within them, he sought to continue his work by pursuing a position at Breakthrough Greater Boston. Juan relocated to Boston after living in Texas all his life and is very excited to begin his position at Breakthrough as the Alumni Coordinator to assist in managing alumni events, committees, and services. 

In his free time Juan enjoys photography, running, hiking, reading, and binge-watching movies and tv shows. 

email: jmojica@btgbmail.org

Oneda Horne, Co-Executive Director

B.A. in Sociology, Wheaton College
M.A, in Higher Education Administration, Boston College

Oneda joined Breakthrough Greater Boston in 2024 as Co Executive Director. Before joining Breakthrough Greater Boston, Oneda served as Executive Director of Room to Grow’s Boston region. She has also held leadership roles at a variety of pathway programs in Philadelphia and Greater Boston, supporting students as early as 4th grade and working closely with public school districts and institutes of higher education across the country to affect college matriculation and completion gaps for First Gen Low Income students. 

In her free time, Oneda enjoys reading, dancing, and spending time with family and friends.

email: ohorne@btgbmail.org 

Sherley Muscade, Operations Associate

B.A. in English with double minor in African-American Studies and Women & Gender Studies from Georgetown University. 

Sherley (she/her) joined the Breakthrough team in 2023 as Operations Associate. She will be helping the Operations Team prepare resources to facilitate another successful summer of learning and fun at one of the three Breakthrough campus locations: Boston, Cambridge or Somerville, two out of four neighborhoods where she formerly attended high school.

Prior to Breakthrough, Sherley served as Operations Coordinator at a startup company named ThankYouKindly and the law offices of Jason Stone Injury Lawyers. During her undergraduate years she served as a tutor for an organization called DC Reads, as well as Transportation Coordinator and eventual Co-Chair on the planning committee for Hoya Saxa Weekend, two fly-in weekends where admitted high school students visited Georgetown University’s campus in order to get a taste of what college was like before making the best matriculation decision for themselves. Her favorite part was meeting students in person and getting the opportunity to learn about them and their stories. Sherley is also a proud Haitian, first-generation college student, and low-income identifying individual, and is enthused to work with students of similar backgrounds.

In her free time, Sherley is a music fanatic, attending every concert she can afford (and even some she can’t), hanging out with friends, or scrolling on Tik Tok for hours when she should be reading or writing.

Email: smuscade@btgbmail.org

 

Angela DiPesa, Senior Director of Student Services

B.A. in Spanish and History, Syracuse University

M.Ed. in Educational Administration, University of Massachusetts Boston  

Angela (she/her) joined the Breakthrough Greater Boston team in early 2022 as the Senior Director of Student Services. She oversees all aspects of student and family services in our Middle School program to ensure that all students receive the support and resources needed to help them apply for Breakthrough and star engaged. Before Breakthrough, Angela primarily worked as a after school program leader with the education nonprofit Citizen Schools in the communities of Boston, Chelsea, and Somerville.

Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with family and friends, ballroom dancing, cooking elaborate meals with her friends, and hiking all over new England. 

Email: adipesa@btgbmail.org

Dewayne Green, Manager of High School (Somerville Campus)

B.S. in Counseling Psychology, Leslie University 

Dewayne joined the team in 2023. He is a proud Breakthrough Student and Teaching Fellow alum and is thrilled to be back at the organization to help support Breakthrough’s high school students! Before joining the team, Dewayne served two years with College Advising Corps – BU as a College and Career Advisor at Somerville High School. In that role, he supported students on their post-high school endeavors.

Dewayne in his free time likes to listen to his extremely specific Spotify playlists, write and read poetry, as well as cooking and spending time with his family and friends!

Email: dgreen@btgbmail.org

Jennifer Stange, Co-Executive Director

B.S. in Business Administration: Finance, Northeastern University
M.Ed. in Education Policy and Management, Harvard Graduate School of Education
 

Jennifer (she/her) has been with Breakthrough Greater Boston since 2016, previously serving as our Managing Director of Operations. Jennifer has been a member of the Management Team and has overseen Operations, Finance, HR, and IT, while leading in meaningful ways around organizational growth planning and internal staff relations. Prior to joining Breakthrough, Jennifer was the Vice President of Shared Services at the EcoTarium (Worcester, MA) and the founding Director of Operations at Brooke Charter School East Boston.

When not at Breakthrough, Jennifer spends time with her family and dog enjoying the outdoors.

 

Email: jstange@btgbmail.org

Kimberly Salazar, Director of Student Services (Somerville Campus)

B.A in Psychology from University Massachusetts Boston 

Kim (she/her) joined Breakthrough in March 2023 as the Director of Student Services- Somerville Campus. She will oversee the Somerville Sites and her role will be to ensure all students and families have the support and resources necessary to join Breakthrough. 

Before Breakthrough, Kim worked for Tenacity as a Site Director and Academic Coordinator at the Curley K-8 in Jamaica Plain and also was an alum of the program herself! Additionally, she worked for the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing in East Boston assisting Boston residents fight eviction and remain housed through rental assistance, shelter placement and community outreach. 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring thrift stores with her dog Kobe and cooking. 

 

Paola Martin, Director of Operations

B.S. in Labor Relations, University of Puerto Rico

Paola (she/her) joined the Breakthrough Greater Boston team in 2022 as the Director of Operations with a focus in Human Resources. Before joining Breakthrough, Paola worked at Initiative for a Competitive Inner City as an Office Manager providing staff operations and human resource support. Originally from Puerto Rico, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Labor Relations from the University of Puerto Rico. In her free time, she volunteers with MA HOBY, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth leadership and volunteer service throughout Massachusetts. She enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Email: pmartin@btgbmail.org

Wynther Gedeon, Director of Student Services (Cambridge Campus)

B.A in Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Wynther (she/her) started her journey with Breakthrough as a student in 2007. Over her six years as a student, she’s grown an immense love for learning and memories to last her a lifetime. Now she is Manager od Student services helping students foster their own amazing and unique experiences with Breakthrough. Prior to working with Breakthrough, Wynther worked as an OST Coordinator at Framingham Public Schools, running after school programming.

In her free time Wynther loves being a freelance digital artist, a foodie and reader!

bio coming soon