Our People

Headquarters Staff

Dan founded BEAM with a unique vision: to create pathways for underserved students to achieve their STEM dreams. He has shepherded BEAM through a period of extraordinary growth — from serving 17 students to more than 1,000 students annually, and has built the organization into a valuable contributor to the national conversation around equity in STEM. In addition to his work at BEAM, Dan leads the board of Canada/USA Mathcamp and is on the board of the New York Math Circle. An award-winning teacher, Dan is himself a product of numerous enrichment math programs. He received an undergraduate degree in math from MIT and master’s degrees in both mathematics and teaching mathematics from the University of Illinois.

Daniel Zaharopol

BEAM Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Ashley brings over a decade of experience in supporting impactful and innovative organizations as a Human Resources/Recruitment professional. At BEAM, she partners with hiring teams in their recruitment efforts to ensure an inclusive/equitable process and other talent-related strategies. Ashley holds a Bachelors in Sociology with a minor in Art History from Wheaton College, a Masters in Organizational Psychology from William James College, and finally a graduate certificate in Positive Organization Development from Champlain College. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and art.

Ashley Sachariah

Manager, Recruitment and Retention

Cassie Logan joined BEAM in 2023 as BEAM’s Executive Assistant. Prior to joining BEAM, Cassie dedicated 18 years to teaching elementary school, working in a variety of schools with students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. During this time, she witnessed firsthand the inequities within the education system, which became the driving force behind her passion for BEAM’s mission. Cassie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Georgia Southern University and a Master’s degree from Southern Wesleyan University. Outside of her professional commitments, Cassie enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring her creative side by painting pet portraits.

Cassie Logan

Executive Assistant

Born in Bulgaria but raised and educated in Tennessee, Dimi holds a BA in Theater with minors in Business, Cinema Studies, and English from the University of Tennessee as well as an MA in Arts Management from the University of Manchester (UK). Dimi has always sought missions that support and strengthen underserved populations, starting from his year of service with AmeriCorps after college. He has over a decade of nonprofit experience working with missions focused on sport for social good, education, leadership development, and arts advocacy. Now based in Chicago, he is excited to bring his Salesforce skills to BEAM and help leverage data and technology to help our programs continue to grow. In his free time, Dimi likes watching movies, going to concerts, and pursuing his passions for film and theater.

Dimi Venkov

Manager, Salesforce and IT Systems

Lynn was BEAM’s second employee and has served in various roles during her more than 10-year tenure, including as Chief Programs Officer. Her current role is change management -- using the workforce experiences of BEAM alums to inform areas of re-development for BEAM's current and future programs, revising the design of our programs based on lessons learned, focusing program design on key activities that drive results, and building measurement of those results. Lynn's background in middle school math teaching, bilingual education, museum education, camp administration, and college admissions allow her to bring a wide-ranging perspective to BEAM's program design process. Lynn has a BA with high honors in history and Spanish from Wesleyan University and an MS in Teaching from Pace University with a focus in teaching middle school math to emerging bilingual students.

Lynn Cartwright-Punnett

Senior Director, Central Programs

Michael earned his BA in Women’s and Gender Studies at Columbia University and has spent the past 15 years supporting student success in higher education. Previously, he served as a Senior Trainer with The Posse Foundation, where he advised STEM cohorts, coordinated leadership programming, and partnered with campus staff to strengthen pathways to persistence and graduation. Drawn to BEAM’s mission of expanding access to STEM pathways, nurturing enthusiasm for learning, and fostering belonging for deserving students, he looks forward to contributing care to this community. Based in Newark, NJ with his wife Kaye, Michael remains grounded through reading, music, cycling, video games, ginger tea, and connection with dear ones.

Michael Williams

Coordinator, College and Career Success

Samir has extensive experience building and managing programs in the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds as COO of FITGMR, founding Executive Director of Training Grounds (Cloud9’s esports academy focused on developing STEM career pathways through competitive gaming), and Chief Program Officer for Teach for America Bay Area. Prior to that, he co-founded the nonprofit Mastery Design Collaborative to support school systems in designing tech-enabled personalized learning models, and was a manager at Deloitte Consulting LLP. He earned his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and has undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering and liberal arts from the University of Texas, Austin.

Samir Bolar

Chief Programs Officer

Tania Tiburcio joined BEAM in 2020 as the organization's first Chief of Staff. She began her work in New York City’s nonprofit sector at the New York Public Library, where she worked while pursuing a BA in urban studies at Queens College. For more than a decade, her work has been defined by her commitment to expanding opportunities for marginalized communities coupled with her interest in advancing the financial sustainability of nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Tania worked at the New York Hall of Science where she launched a community engagement program designed to increase access to the museum and support the community’s interest and participation in life-long learning. She also led the museum’s visitation-related earned revenue departments and oversaw ongoing visitor experience research. Prior to the museum, Tania worked for The National Association of Social Workers, NYC Chapter where she helped organize a public policy forum addressing the social policy and service needs of Latinos, and was instrumental in helping the chapter increase its revenue streams.

Tania Tiburcio

Chief Operating Officer

Vincent Schiavone has over a decade of experience in program evaluation, educational research, and learning outcomes assessment in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. His passion for the evaluation of educational interventions was sparked during his graduate studies, when he had the opportunity to serve as a research assistant on an evaluation of a national after-school program. Since then, he has led evaluations of programs in fields ranging from mental health and family services to education and workforce development. Most recently, Vince served as program manager for education support services at NASA Glenn Research Center, where he led a team of education specialists and program evaluators working in support of NASA's STEM Engagement programming. Vince resides in Northeast Ohio with his wife and two children.

Vincent Schiavone

Senior Manager, Research and Evaluation

Prior to joining BEAM, Anastasia SookbirSingh spent the last seven years working in a Philadelphia-based healthcare fintech startup. This knowledge, coupled with her experience traveling and volunteering, pushed her to transition into the nonprofit sector to dedicate more of her time supporting an organization whose mission revolves around diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an immigrant raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, she is passionate about building better pathways to success for those who have been historically left behind. In her current role, Anastasia is responsible for developing and implementing efficient protocols and systems that will allow the organization to securely scale the technical operations.

Anastasia SookbirSingh

Director, IT Systems and Operations

Barbara Karsnak has explored math education from multiple perspectives. She helped found the National Museum of Mathematics, interacting with the public, managing the museum’s social media presence, and supporting exhibit content development. From there, Barbara entered the classroom as a Math for America Fellow. She taught math and led student advisory groups for three years at a public middle school in Long Island City, Queens. At BEAM, Barbara reviews course curricula, supports database administration, and manages NYC programs admissions and BEAM Discovery alumni outreach. Barbara has a BA in Mathematics and Drama from Vassar College and an MA with honors in Secondary Mathematics Education from the City College of New York.

Barbara Karsnak

Senior Coordinator, Data and Operations

Claribel brings over 13 years of experience in education, youth development, and workforce programs, with a background that includes supporting students in STEM pathways, managing cross-functional teams, and strengthening college and career access programs. Claribel joined BEAM because she believes every young person deserves high quality, joyful, and challenging learning experiences, especially in spaces where they have historically been underrepresented. She is excited to build strong systems, support staff and students, and help make BEAM summers unforgettable. Outside of work, Claribel loves traveling, watching reality tv, reading self-help books, and planning her next adventure. She is also fluent in Spanish and very proud to be Dominican.

Claribel Azcona

Director, Summer Programs Management

Prior to joining BEAM as our first Human Resources Coordinator, Emily worked on the talent team at a graduate school of education. In her previous role, Emily's work included creating equitable hiring processes, maintaining internal systems, and cultivating an inclusive staff culture to set candidates, hiring teams, and staff up for success. She looks forward to building upon that work at BEAM and as a first-generation college student, Emily is passionate about the impact our programs have for underserved communities. Emily holds an MA in Political Science and a BA in International Affairs and outside of work enjoys expressing her creativity through cooking and crafting.

Emily New-Cruse

Director, Human Resources

Megan Ross joined BEAM in 2023 as the Director of Individual Giving. Before joining BEAM, Megan contributed her expertise to Reading Partners and City Year, prominent education nonprofits. Her extensive background in the nonprofit field encompasses individual giving, major gifts fundraising, and board development. A graduate of Duke University, Megan holds an A.B in Public Policy and Spanish and actively participates on Duke's Annual Fund Advisory Board. Her dedication to education and social justice fuels her passion for her work. Outside of her professional commitments, Megan enjoys spending quality time with her family, dancing, taking yoga classes, and the great outdoors.

Megan Ross

Director of Individual Giving

Patty grew up in San Diego, California. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Cinema from San Francisco State University, followed by a Master of Science in Counseling & Guidance, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education. As a first-generation college student, Patty personally understands the unique journey of transferring from a community college to a four-year university and is drawn to the BEAM Mission to support marginalized student populations. She has dedicated eight years to helping engineering students successfully translate their academic knowledge into fulfilling STEM careers. Patty excels at creating and implementing innovative programs that seamlessly guide college students into pre-professional and thriving STEM careers. She is now part of the College & Career Success team, committed to developing educational programs that empower BEAM students to transition from high school to successful STEM professions.

Patty Wiesbach-Leach

Senior Manager, College and Career Success

Sophie Yoakum is BEAM's Advancement Coordinator. Born and raised in Northern California, she graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English and a minor in Professional Writing (although she started college as a math major)! Post-graduation, she developed her love for nonprofit communications while working for a criminal justice journalism organization. After moving to New York City, Sophie worked for a university in the college of engineering where she continued to hone her communications skills and developed a passion for supporting underserved students pursuing STEM degrees. In her free time, Sophie enjoys reading every genre of book, hanging out in the park, spending exorbitant amounts of money on food, and trying new arts and crafts (recent favorites have been metalworking and crochet).

Sophie Yoakum

Advancement Coordinator

Tina joined BEAM in 2023 as the Senior Manager of Finance and Administration. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a MS in Accounting from Michigan State University. Prior to joining BEAM, Tina took time to raise her family, including living abroad. Preceding that, she worked as the Director of Accounting at the Michigan Humane Society. Her previous experience also includes work in the non-profit healthcare sector as well as public accounting. Tina is passionate about BEAM's programs and their impact on underserved communities. She now resides in Florida and enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling and exploring the outdoors.

Tina Glisic

Director of Finance and Administration

Annie is a Bay Area native, UCLA graduate, and AmeriCorps alum. She's spent the last several years advocating for education equity in Los Angeles schools; prior to working for BEAM, she led the Los Angeles community engagement and communication teams at Reading Partners, a national literacy intervention nonprofit. Annie joined BEAM in 2024 and is thrilled to bring her background in education and her love of storytelling to BEAM's advancement team. As a recent New York transplant, Annie spends most of her free time exploring all that the city has to offer, which is great for her daily step count but bad for her wallet.

Annie Chin

Sr. Manager, Individual Giving & Communications

Ben Blum-Smith is a research mathematician with roots in K-12 mathematics education, where he has lived professionally for over two decades—first as a classroom teacher, then a teacher trainer, and now with BEAM. Prior to joining year-round, he worked as BEAM summer faculty and faculty mentor. In his current role, he leads a team of BEAM high school students conducting original mathematical research. Outside of BEAM, Ben is a postdoctoral fellow in applied mathematics at Johns Hopkins, studying symmetry and its use in data science. He holds a BA in anthropology from Yale, an MAT in mathematics teaching from Tufts, and a PhD in mathematics from NYU. He has taught courses at Fordham, The New School, Bard, and schools in Boston, Cambridge, and Manhattan, and has run workshops for teachers at Math for America and schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx, but BEAM is his all-time favorite place to teach.

Ben Blum-Smith

Mathematician-in-Residence

Dillon is a lifelong math enthusiast and Brooklyn native. After earning his BS in Mathematics from Georgetown University, he joined BEAM full-time, where he initially supported college students as part of the NY Programs team. In December 2023, he completed his MS in Data Science at Columbia University and rejoined the organization, now working with the Advancement team on data and operations. Dillon is particularly passionate about leveraging data science to foster equitable outcomes in STEM for the student population that BEAM serves. Outside of work, he enjoys reading manga, playing and watching basketball, and exploring new cuisines.

Dillon Sparks

Manager, Advancement Operations

Kay Broussard (she/they) earned her Ph.D. in Experimental Social Psychology from Saint Louis University in 2020 and worked on an NSF ADVANCE grant at Villanova University from 2020-2023, examining various aspects of underrepresentation in STEM and academia, as well as examining and developing tools to measure motivation for participation in DEI development. She specializes in research on social identities, understanding prejudice, bias, stigma, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Kay is passionate about increasing equity and inclusion for historically minoritized and underserved groups, which led her away from traditional academic work and into more volunteering and work, including teaching children to read, volunteering in animal welfare, organizations serving unhoused people, baking for foster kids, and being a disability advocate with San Diego Pride.

Kay Broussard

Assistant, Data Processing

Melissa Gillis has worked as a writer, editor, teacher, and activist. Prior to working for BEAM, she consulted with various United Nations programs and nongovernmental organizations, including UNICEF and the U.N. Office for Disarmament Affairs. She has taught literature, expository writing, and gender studies at John Jay College and SUNY-Rockland. She holds an MA in interdisciplinary studies from New York University and a BA in English from DePauw University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Melissa has published books on women's and gender studies, and disarmament policy, as well as numerous articles. She is passionate about issues related to social justice and the intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality.

Melissa Gillis

Chief Advancement Officer

Rick Iandoli joined BEAM in 2018 as the Director of Finance and Administration. Rick is a lifelong New Yorker who earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting at New York University. Most recently, Rick was the Chief Financial Officer at Great Oaks Foundation where he oversaw the finances for the central office and three charter schools. Prior to that, Rick was a department chair and classroom teacher at a Long Island high school for seven years where he taught students in grades 9-12. Rick is excited to be a part of the BEAM team and is looking forward to meeting and working with many of the amazing students we serve. Rick is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MS in Theology.

Rick Iandoli

Chief Financial Officer

Sydney is an experienced grants manager with a passion for social and restorative justice. Prior to working at BEAM, Sydney led grant writing and management at Reimagine Reentry, a Pittsburgh-area nonprofit focused on reducing recidivism. A native of West Virginia, Sydney earned her BA in Theatre and History from West Virginia University in 2018. Sydney graduated from Duquesne University with a MA in History in 2022. She has a passion for storytelling that helps further impactful missions. Now residing in Washington, D.C., she enjoys spending time with her partner and her cats, going on long walks, and reading.

Sydney Yates

Grants Manager

Victor was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Hunter College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science. During his time in college, he interned in many technical fields, and he tutored undergraduate students in Computer Science courses. He also became a coding instructor for children ages 7–13, where he truly found his passion for helping the younger generation. As someone from a low-income background, he found it especially rewarding to see students learn and excel regardless of their background. Now Victor works as an IT Systems & Operations Assistant in the Business Operations Department of BEAM, where he works to assist with onboarding/offboarding, software/hardware issues, and projects to further improve BEAM's security practices and IT policies.

Victor Yuen

IT Systems and Operations Assistant

 

BEAM National Staff

Callie was born and raised in Upstate NYS, but has travelled all over the country professionally in service of K-12 education. She received a B.S. degree in history, while simultaneously volunteering for college access programs, working for pre-college programs, and volunteering with political campaigns. She then worked for an education focused congressional candidate which shifted her focus from campaigns back to public education, after which she spent several years working in operations and programming for a company that specialized in instructional & leadership coaching and curriculum implementation. Callie is a first-generation college student herself, and is glad to continue her career here at BEAM, as it is an opportunity to bring high quality programming to students who may not otherwise have access. When Callie is not at work, she is likely reading fiction, trying something new from the culinary world, or hiking with her dog, who does like to make guest appearances in remote meetings.

Callie Campbell

Manager, National Programs Administration

LaTasha has over 15 years of experience overseeing programs that support student success, with a focus on STEM and workforce development. She has a background in K-12, nonprofit management, and post-secondary administration. She has a proven track record of increasing student retention, most notably achieving growths of over 30% at Wesleyan College. With a passion for learning, she received a B.S. in Elementary Education from NAU and went on to pursue a Master's in Higher Education Leadership and Program Management. She was drawn to BEAM by its commitment to opening pathways for students to excel in STEM and beyond. She is excited by the opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization that creates real impact in students' lives.

LaTasha Andre

Director, National Programs

Zoraya Aranda was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology at UCLA. Her drive for improving community health by building health equity and advocating for underserved populations came from her first-generation upbringing. Zoraya has first-hand experience with advancement programs that provided opportunities outside of the traditional classroom setting both as a facilitator and a participant. Additionally, she has experience working in the non-profit, education, and private sectors. Through her previous role as a community health worker, she was able to move to New York City and continue serving BIPOC populations in three boroughs. As a Program Assistant at EAM, she will work with the National Initiatives team to continue to grow and support the Entry Points program. Outside of work, you would find her exploring all the amazing things New York has to offer.

Zoraya Aranda

Senior Coordinator, National Initiatives

Born in Phoenix, Carlton has moved 32 times and lived in 12 states. Following high school, Carlton enlisted in the Marines and served as an intelligence analyst in South America and the Levant on a counter-narcotics and reconnaissance team. After the honorary completion of his service, Carlton attended the University of Colorado–Boulder and earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in geoscience. Carlton’s undergraduate honors thesis focused on rebuilding the evolution of a mountain range in Nevada, while his master’s investigated STEM bridge program (i.e., BEAM) structures, administration, and evaluation and their impact on marginalized communities. Carlton’s time in the Marines was highly influential as he realized the disparity in access to education for various children worldwide. Since 2017, Carlton has worked in education and bridge program efforts nationwide. Carlton’s passion lies in serving underrepresented students and communities by providing access to educational opportunities that may otherwise be unavailable to create a better future for all.

Carlton Lloyd

Schools Outreach Manager, Entry Points

Lia was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She attended the University of Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. During her time in college, Lia was involved in multiple student organizations that fostered supportive communities for marginalized students in the Physical Sciences Division. She also worked with several non-profits to broaden access to high-quality STEM education for underserved populations across Chicago. Lia began working with BEAM in 2020 as a TA and Counselor at BEAM Discovery. She found it incredibly rewarding to help students develop their identities as problem-solvers and to watch them grow as members of a larger community of mathematicians. Now Lia works as a full-time member of the National Initiatives team, where she supports teachers, students, and families in the Entry Points program.

Lia O’Bryan

Senior Coordinator, National Initiatives

Erin Toliver is a long-time math educator. She holds degrees in mathematics from Bard and Dartmouth Colleges, but her love of math goes all the way back to middle school. She has spent three decades immersed in math education in various roles: tutor, teaching fellow, full time teacher, summer program faculty (including BEAM's first summers!), homeschooling parent, workshop creator and facilitator, curriculum developer, and coach. Erin believes that everyone is capable of deep mathematical thinking, regardless of age or experience. She's passionate about making sure that this is available, accessible, and enjoyable to all. At BEAM, Erin enjoys supporting BEAM's partner teachers through coaching and workshops, engaging in conversations around pedagogy and curriculum, and bringing math to whole families. Outside of BEAM, she leads an unschooling family, plants a veggie garden every spring, and dances around her kitchen.

Erin Toliver

Coach, Pedagogy and Community Support

Originally from Illinois, Westley earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College and then moved to New York. Westley has been part of the math education world since middle school, when they started helping their classmates during math class to reach "aha!" moments. In 2016, they were part of the first cohort of the summer TEU for Math Education, teaching a group of mixed-age high school students with a focus on mathematical identity and problem solving perseverance. Since then, Westley has written math curriculum for ages 3-18, including for enrichment, Common Core, AP, and a summer camp! Westley believes that everyone deserves positive experiences with math, and is excited to bring BEAM math to more locations and younger students through the National Team. When not doing or talking about math, Westley can be found crocheting, doing jigsaw puzzles, and staring adoringly at their two kingsnakes, Trig (short for Trigonometry) and Domino.

Westley Mildenhall

Senior Manager, Elementary Math and Pedagogy

 

BEAM Los Angeles Staff

Analisa studied very different subjects throughout her education - integrative biology on the one hand and Spanish literature on the other. Her experience working in educational equity began as a side project to provide free tutoring to her peers and community, which then led her to nonprofit work for increased STEAM accessibility.

Analisa Burke

Coordinator, STEM Enrichment and Access

After spending 7 years college advising at low-income high schools, Yesenia Luis joined BEAM as the College Admissions Coordinator. She received a BA in Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley and an MA in Education from CSULB; her experiences as a first-generation woman of color in STEM motivated her to pursue work where she has supported hundreds of underrepresented students with applying to and enrolling in institutions of higher education.

Yesenia Luis

Sr. Coordinator, College Admissions and Access

Josephine Ochoa is the Director of our LA Programs. Josephine, who has worked in various capacities at BEAM programs since our expansion to Los Angeles in 2017, most recently served as our Manager of Student Services. She has an MA in teaching from USC, and has worked with students throughout South Los Angeles via afterschool programs, volunteer efforts, and other community-based organizations serving marginalized populations. Josephine has led our Discovery Program for the past three years and will continue in that capacity in 2024.

Josephine Ochoa

Director, Los Angeles Programs

Karen Valle

Manager, STEM Enrichment and Access

Xochilt is a South Central LA native and a graduate of Agnes Scott College, a small liberal arts college in Georgia, where she earned a BA in Math-Physics. Her academic journey exposed her to the disparities that many women of color face in STEM, fueling her passion for educational equity and ultimately leading her to BEAM. Xochilt is committed to inclusive and equity-driven work, shaped by her experiences in both STEM and environmental justice, and is dedicated to creating supportive spaces for underrepresented communities. In her free time, you can find Xochilt picking up a new hobby or searching for her next favorite coffee shop.

Xochilt Rodriguez

Coordinator, Summer Math Enrichment

 

BEAM New York City Staff

Alyssa is a Queens NYC native with a passion for working with students. Her motivation for working to uplift marginalized students is influenced by the inequalities she witnessed as a student in NYC public schools. Prior to joining BEAM, Alyssa worked in community organizing and healthcare. She has a BA in Mathematics from Hunter College. She enjoys film photography, reading, and exploring new places.

Alyssa Brasse

Senior Coordinator, Summer Math Enrichment

Jorge was born in El Salvador, but grew up in Nyack, NY. He obtained a B.S. in Applied Mathematics, with a concentration in statistics, from The City College of New York. He also obtained a J.D., with a concentration in Business Law, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Jorge first joined BEAM as a counselor in 2019 when he was a rising senior. Since then, he remained involved with mathematics education, serving as a MATHCOUNTS coach, grader for The Art of Problem Solving, math tutor, college admissions advisor, and assisted students applying for financial and scholarship programs. Jorge has also worked for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association to investigate complaints made against all attorneys in Cuyahoga County, externed for Honorable Judge John J. Russo from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, and assisted clients in obtaining intellectual property protections (patents/trademarks/copyright). Jorge decided to pursue his passion of assisting students and returned to BEAM as a Coordinator of Middle School Programs. Jorge has a background similar to that of the students that BEAM serves and is excited to help build education pathways for students. His personal interests include business and technology.

Jorge Monzon Diaz

Coordinator, Summer Math Enrichment

Sophia was born and raised in Queens and has spent nearly a decade working in education, from designing playful STEM experiences in museums to supporting teens on their ESL journey in Madrid classrooms. She graduated magna cum laude from Hunter College in 2020 with a degree in Classical Studies and a minor in Economics. At BEAM, she’s thrilled to combine her love of data and creativity to support students in the city she calls home. Outside of work, Sophia can usually be found hunting for the best food in Queens, buying something pink, or planning her next beach trip.

Sophia Madonia

Coordinator, STEM Enrichment and Access

Cynthia Correa joined BEAM in 2024. Cynthia has worked in education for the past eight years, first as a math teacher, and more recently serving as a network director for math instruction at Dream Charter Schools, where she wrote and implemented a new curriculum, as well as coached teachers and school leaders. At DREAM she implemented a new Algebra 1 curriculum for 8th grade and drove dramatic improvement in the 6th- and 7th-grade students’ NY State Mathematics Test results. Prior to her work in education, Cynthia spent 15+ years working in the financial services sector, where she worked at major banks such as Itau Bank in Brazil and JPMorgan Chase in New York. She has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, an MBA from the Wharton School, and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Lehman College. Outside of work Cynthia loves traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Cynthia Correa

Director, New York Programs

Sebastian has spent the last decade working in education with the same student population that BEAM serves, holding roles from teacher to school leader. He graduated from Bowdoin College (Economics and Gender & Women’s Studies) and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Education (School Leadership). As Middle School Manager for BEAM’s New York program, he's excited to help bridge families and students to math enrichment opportunities and see the power of math change lives. In his free time, Sebastian loves exploring NYC with his husband Adam—every corner from Great Kills in Staten Island to City Island in the Bronx—and re-reading fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss. Although he's lived and worked in Brooklyn for 10 years, this is his first role beyond the borough, and he's thrilled to make a positive impact across the city.

Sebastian Bamba Tanaka

Manager, Summer Math Enrichment

Raysa Chowdhury was born in Bangladesh and grew up in New York City. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and later pursued a Master’s in Education Policy and Analysis at Harvard University. Raysa began her career as a high school math teacher in Brooklyn, where she saw firsthand the inequities that students in under-resourced communities face and worked to create supportive, engaging classrooms where young people could thrive. Throughout her studies, Raysa was also involved in efforts to expand educational opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities, drawing on her own experience navigating school as the child of immigrants. She worked with organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, where she supported refugees in adult education programs. Raysa joined BEAM in 2025, and is excited to continue supporting young people in developing their mathematical identities and creating pathways for them to thrive.

Raysa Chowdhury

Coordinator, STEM Enrichment and Access

Hector Miranda was born in Cuba and grew up in Miami, FL. He has a BS in Applied Mathematics from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an MS in Mathematics from Lehigh University. Hector was introduced to BEAM in 2018 where he worked at BEAM Summer Away at Union College as a TA/Counselor. The following summer, he returned to BEAM as the Director of Student Life at Union. Now, as a full-time staff member, Hector supports our 11th and 12th graders throughout the entire college admissions process. In his free time, Hector enjoys playing video games, soccer, anime/manga, and salsa dancing.

Hector Miranda

Sr. Coordinator, College Admissions and Access

Shane was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. They attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where they earned a Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy, a minor in Education, and a Master's in Education studying teaching and curriculum. After becoming certified to teach Physics (grades 7-12), they lived and worked in New York City for almost 13 years as a classroom educator, adjunct lecturer, museum educator, and doctoral candidate. Shane was drawn to BEAM's commitment to low-income, marginalized communities and youth access to quality STEM education, mentorship, and professional development. They are most excited about engaging local students and communities in a wide array of exceptional educational programming and look forward to utilizing their research and expertise in community education to expand BEAM's high school programming.

Shane Coleman

Manager, STEM Enrichment and Access

Adrianne Royal is a current student at Hunter College on the Upper East Side of NYC. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree and certification in Accounting. Having always loved math, Adrianne is a part of BEAM’s alumni cohort of 2015 and has been an active participant since. She is excited to be working for BEAM and witnessing students grow as mathematicians (like she has). In her free time, Adrianne enjoys taking long walks and exploring New York City.

Adrianne Royal

Office Assistant

 

In addition to our year-round staff, BEAM employs over 150 staff at our summer programs.