Founded by a financial analyst and a teacher, SuitUp’s team and board bridges the world of urban education and corporate America.

Kelsey English Smith

Interim Chief Executive Officer

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Kelsey English Smith is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of SuitUp, a leading education nonprofit dedicated to enhancing career readiness for students nationwide. A founding member of the Senior Leadership Team, Kelsey previously served as the Managing Director of Partnerships, where she played a pivotal role in expanding SuitUp's impact. Since joining SuitUp in 2020, Kelsey successfully secured over $3M in philanthropic support from companies across 30+ states, including organizations such as Forbes, Goldman Sachs, NBC Universal, Snap Inc., Salesforce, The TJX Companies, among others. Kelsey's dedication to education is deeply rooted in her experience as a Teach for America alum and former TFA New Jersey Board Member. Her commitment to ensuring all students have access to quality education has been a driving force in her career. Notable accolades include being a recipient of the Gratitude Network Fellowship, a testament to her innovative and impactful contributions to the education sector. Kelsey has been invited to share her insights at events such as ACCP's annual conference, Steelcase's Curious Minds Global Summit, SOCi's annual conference, TFA New York's annual retreat, and more. As SuitUp's Interim Chief Executive Officer, Kelsey English Smith continues to lead with vision and dedication, driving the organization toward new heights of success in its mission to prepare students for successful futures.

Email: kelsey@volunteersuitup.org

Erica Davis

Chief Operating Officer

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Erica Davis serves as the Chief Operating Officer for SuitUp. Prior to SuitUp, Erica has worked in many different nonprofit spaces, including The Los Angeles Job Corps, Green Dot Public Schools, Ruffalo Noel Levitz and most recently, The Financial Clinic. Erica is a College of Wooster and Pepperdine University alum, where she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology & Black Studies and a Master of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship & Change. She has also served as an Americorps member with City Year, been an Education Pioneer Fellow and piloted her own youth empowerment program in South Africa. Coming from an environment that predicted a dismal future, Erica’s participation in opportunities similar to SuitUp’s model has allowed her to become an example of what SuitUp’s mission and vision looks like when fully realized. This is the driving force behind her passion and drive to come to work at Suit Up each day. Erica also suits up for life by learning about superheroes, creating mocktail drinks, writing fictional novels, enjoying the arts and traveling the world.

Email: erica@volunteersuitup.org

Dr. Sara Hill
Chief Impact Officer

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Sara serves as SuitUp’s Chief Impact Officer. Prior to SuitUp, Sara led program operations, logistics, and data analysis for Teach for America’s school leader professional development program. In addition, Sara has worked in higher education, managing grant programs funded by the National Science Foundation to support increasing the number of historically underrepresented students in STEM career fields. She volunteers as a mentor with Take Stock in Children and serves as an Equity Partner for her local school district. Sara received a Bachelor's degree in Advertising from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida. She recently completed the last year of her doctoral program at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where she studied Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a concentration in Diversity & Equity in Education. Sara suits up for fun cardio workouts, going on boat rides and trying new food trucks.

Email: sara@volunteersuitup.org

Hananatu Tunis
Northeast Regional Program Director

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Hananatu Tunis is a SuitUp’s New York Program Director. Hana organizes and facilitates SuitUp’s virtual and in-person business competitions. As a new team member of SuitUp, Hana is looking forward to hosting her first competition this Fall! Prior to SuitUp, Hana supported the social good initiatives of youth living in West Africa and Southeast Asia as a Program Coordinator at the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program. Hana is a St. John’s University alum, with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and a minor in Rhetoric. Hana is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals advocate with a passion for youth development and global change. Hana suits up for giving young people a platform to live at their fullest potential. In her spare time, Hana loves eating brunch with friends and admiring the NYC skyline!

Email: hana@volunteersuitup.org

Madison Combs
Director of Virtual Programming

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Madison is the Director of Virtual Programming at SuitUp and is passionate about fostering positive relationships with corporate partners and youth alike to create high-quality, impactful experiences that drive sustainable change. Born and raised in rural Ohio, Madison sees the true value in virtual programming and its ability to unite communities and provide exposure to opportunities that students across the United States and abroad dream of. She is most proud of her contributions that support SuitUp's virtual expansion, reaching over 14,500 students and more than 11,500 corporate volunteers. Having received her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work, Madison leverages her interpersonal skills rooted in her social work practices, human development, and student engagement to deliver effective virtual programming that empowers students to harness their potential and pursue their goals while simultaneously supporting with end-to-end service planning and delivery. While she's not behind her screen, she's likely outdoors with her significant other and two bernedoodles, Gus and Gilligan, or at the gym.

Email: madison@volunteersuitup.org

Daniela Lebron
National Program Manager

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Daniela Lebron is a Program Manager for SuitUp, facilitating competitions. As a new member of the Programs Team she’s looking forward to hosting competitions and meeting the amazing students and coaches SuitUp works with! She is a recent graduate of Barnard College, with a degree in Political Science and American Studies with a minor in Environmental Humanities. Prior to SuitUp, Daniela worked with children and youth in various capacities and is passionate about changing the way in which we educate to allow students to take charge and shape the way they learn. Daniela suits up for bouldering, reading, and spending time with her friends, family, and pets!

Email: daniela@volunteersuitup.org

Ashley Brown
Senior Program Manager, Northeast Region & Alumni

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Ashley brings a decade of experience cultivating young minds to SuitUp. Following her early career in computer systems at Raytheon, she pivoted towards her passion for education, earning recognition as a DC Teacher of the Year nominee. Dedicated to diversity, equity, and justice (DEI), Ashley fosters inclusive and joyful learning environments for all students. Her unique perspective stems from a Master's in Counseling and a Bachelor's in Criminology and Sociology. Ashley's impact began with creating a program for students with learning disabilities, before thriving as a high school English teacher. Championing students beyond the classroom, she led the Student Government Association, the Employee Engagement Committee, and co-founded an internal DEI committee. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys baking, reading, tackling hikes, staying active, and spending time with loved ones.

Email: ashley@volunteersuitup.org

Shanita Perdomo
Senior Youth Partnerships Manager, Northeast Region

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Shanita Perdomo is the Senior Youth Partnerships Manager at SuitUp. As the newest member of the team, Shanita looks forward to her first competition in the Spring. Shanita is excited about deepening SuitUp’s impact by building and maintaining relationships with schools, youth organizations, and individual students across the country. Prior to SuitUp, Shanita served as the Director of Housing and Social Services for a maternity shelter in Northern New Jersey. With a background in therapeutic case management, Shanita has worked with foster youth in facility and group home settings. Hailing from Oakland, California, Shanita lost schoolmates to gun violence and almost succumbed to this fate herself, but heavily relied on education to open up doors of brighter opportunities. These life experiences emboldened Shanita to dedicate her professional career to ensure that students from under-resourced communities are given the tools to succeed in life. One way she does this is organizing college tours for a group of high school girls from Newark. Shanita is a University of California, Berkeley alum, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare. Shanita suits up for joy by going on vacations with her husband and their two sons, word search puzzles, and creating balloon arches.

Email: shanita@volunteersuitup.org

Jeffri Whittington
National Program Director

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Jeffri Whittington is the National Programs Director for SuitUp. Jeffri is a Denver native and attended the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a degree in Political Science and obtained her certification in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Prior to SuitUp, Jeffri worked exclusively in the nonprofit industry for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, Judi’s House/JAG Institute, Project C.U.R.E. & There With Care. Jeffri was a first-generation college student and received a 4-year college scholarship to pursue her education. This was the driving force behind her passion to work for SuitUp and pursue a career in supporting and empowering students. She has an excitement for bringing together the corporate and nonprofit world and has raised millions of dollars in her career for causes she deeply cares about. Jeffri suits up for cooking new recipes, exploring new hikes, and spending time with her friends/family and big Bernedoodle, Bear.

Email: jeffri@volunteersuitup.org

Seema Shah
National Youth Partnerships Manager

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Seema Shah is the National Youth Partnership Manager at Suitup and oversees our relations with schools and scholars across the country. While she is a tri-stater at heart, she recently relocated to Chicago and has been loving the Windy City. Prior to SuitUp, Seema taught 9th and 10th grade English with New Visions Charter High School in the South Bronx for 5 years and carries a deep passion for bringing equity into Education. Seema has a Bachelor's degree in English and Secondary Education from Manhattan College, and is finishing her MEd at Boston University. In her spare time, Seema loves walks with her dog, game nights with friends and picking out her next read at the local library!

Email: seema@volunteerSuitUp.org

Jaqueline Cipolla
Northeast Regional Corporate Partnerships Manager

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Jaqueline Cipolla is SuitUp’s Northeast Region Corporate Partnerships Manager. Jackie works with corporations in the Northeast Region of the United States to cultivate lasting partnerships with SuitUp Inc., impacting as many students as possible. Prior to SuitUp, Jackie worked as an elementary school teacher for ten years in both the private and public sector, and in the past five years she has also built a real estate business with her husband. Jackie is a St. John’s University alum, with a bachelor's degree in General Education, a masters in TESOL K-12, and she also attended Long Island University to acquire her advanced certificate in Educational Leadership. Jackie suits up for finding opportunities to support and empower other women and mothers. In her spare time, Jackie loves spending time with her family, reading, and grabbing coffee with a friend.

Email: jaqueline@volunteersuitup.org

Dylan Balber
National Corporate Partnerships Manager

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Dylan Balber is the National Corporate Partnerships Manager for SuitUp. Dylan is new to SuitUp and is looking forward to attending her first competition in the Spring. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Special Education, where she was awarded the "Outstanding Student Teacher Award" from the Department of Education. Prior to SuitUp, Dylan was a special educator in a K-4 resource class at an underserved public school in Phoenix, AZ. She has always had a passion for helping others and has been involved in various non-profits over the years, including Best Buddies, and Damar Inc. Dylan is very outgoing and loves to meet new people. In her free time, Dylan SuitUp’s by enjoying nature, working out, taking her dog, Oscar, to the dog park, and playing guitar!

Email: dylan@volunteersuitup.org

Defne Morova
Alumni Data & Impact Manager

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Defne is the Alumni Data & Impact Manager at SuitUp. She has a Bachelor’s in International Relations and extensive coursework in human rights and women’s studies. Prior to SuitUp, Defne worked at other social impact non-profits, primarily focusing on gender equality in education in her home country, Turkey. Her multicultural international background has helped her understand and identify gaps in equal access and opportunity in the current U.S. education system and corporate America. This has motivated her to work towards providing resources to underserved students, so they realize their dreams and ambitions for the future and become the next leaders of their generation. To her, SuitUp is the perfect medium for this. She is most proud of her work spearheading alumni engagement and data governance strategies at SuitUp to connect with and prepare SuitUp alumni for their future. Defne suits up for hiking and enjoying the outdoors in her day-to-day life with her two Australian Shepherds, Dobby, and Chef, discovering new restaurants and traveling.