Our Team
Abraham Fofanah, Director 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)
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
Jennifer Stange, Co-Executive Director
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
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
Paola Martin, Senior 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
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, Chief of Staff
email: colivehall@btgbmail.org
Edmund Standford, Program Director, Boston
B.A. in History, Tuskegee UniversityM.S. Ed in Elementary Education, Cambridge College
Edmund joined Breakthrough in2023 as the Program Director for the Boston Campus. In this role Edmund will be responsible for overseeing Curriculum & Instruction and Student Support for Boston. Before joining Breakthrough Edmund taught 6th grade English, Math, Science, and Social Studies for 10 years at The Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School. He also taught those same subjects for 5th grade at The Boston Renaissance Charter Public School.
In his free time, Edmund enjoys hikes, reading, playing games, and spending time with family and friends.
Email: estandford@btgbmail.org
Jennifer Gardony, Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Jenny (she/her) first fell in love with Breakthrough as a Teaching Fellow at Summerbridge Cambridge (now BTBG) in 2008 and as an Instructional Coach in 2017. She returned to Breakthrough as the Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction in February 2024. In this role, she oversees academic programming and the teaching fellow experience across the three campuses. Prior to joining Breakthrough, Jenny taught middle and high school math for 10 years in the Boston/Cambridge area. She then managed the Scheller Teacher Education Program at MIT, where she co-taught Introduction to Education courses and supported and evaluated the undergraduates earning their teaching certification in secondary STEM subjects.
Outside of work, Jenny enjoys cooking, learning new crafts, and walking in the woods with her kids and dog.
Email: jgardony@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.
Email: ksalazar@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
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 BTGB 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 Breakhrough and stay engaged. Before Breakthrough, Angela primarily worked as an 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
Jenna Tonet, Development Manager
B.A. in History from Stonehill CollegeM.P.H. in Community Health from Boston University
Jenna (she/her) joined Breakthrough in May 2024 as the Development Manager. Jenna will be responsible for grant writing and management, data management, donor stewardship and solicitation, and other responsibilities in partnership with the Development team.
Before joining Breakthrough, Jenna worked at nonprofits located in Greater Boston, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and Upham’s Community Care, with a focus on grant writing and management.
In her free time, Jenna enjoys CrossFit; meditation; yoga; volunteering as a board member for a nonprofit supporting public health efforts in Kenya; and, most of all, spending time with her family and friends.Email: jtonet@btgbmail.org
Jesenia Gervacio, Senior Director of High School Programs
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
Oneda Horne, Co-Executive Director
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, double minor in African-American Studies and Women & Gender Studies, 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
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