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.

Andrew Jensen is a 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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Auriel Hill-Banks is a Black and Filipinx Bay Area native and UC Berkeley alumna with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies research. Accumulating experience from an out-of-state, community, and four-year college, Auriel’s unconventional journey as a first-gen student prepares her to meet the vast needs of college students pursuing post-secondary education. With roots in youth environ(mental) health advocacy and Black feminist community building, Auriel’s coaching style is culturally dignifying and holistically empowering. Beyond her role as a college coach, she is an impassioned mother, homemade chef, world-peace advocate, kinship preserver, and scholartist—illuminating her everyday experience through essay and song to inform new selves and modes of liberation.

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.

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.

Tara Waln-Lewellyn is Beyond 12’s student success research associate. She has 25 years of experience as an educator, advocate, and administrator in the higher education and non-profit fields. Tara most recently served as the personal development coordinator at a non-profit dedicated to serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In recognizing the barriers she faced as a first-generation and low-income college student, her scholarly and professional focus has been on first-generation college student integration and success. Tara received her B.A. from Creighton University, her M.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her Ed.D. from the College of Saint Mary.

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.

Ivana Gutierrez is a first-generation college graduate from the Chicago area. She attended Bowdoin College, a small liberal arts college in Maine, where she studied Hispanic Studies and Anthropology. During her time at Bowdoin, she worked as a Writing Assistant at the Baldwin Center for Teaching and Learning, served as an America Reads Tutor at a local middle school, and volunteered as a Spanish enrichment teacher in a Kindergarten classroom. Before joining Beyond 12, Ivana served as an AmeriCorps service member with College Possible for two years. In this role, she supported first-generation, underrepresented students through the college application process. This experience propelled her toward becoming a high school counselor. Currently, she is attending classes to earn her Master of Education in School Counseling. In her free time, Ivana enjoys crocheting, making jewelry, listening to music, and reading.

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.

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 senior 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.

K-LA Spieles is a first-generation graduate of the University of Chicago, AB ‘25 in Sociology with a minor in Education and Society. She is passionate about education equity, especially in collegiate experiences outside the classroom. Originally from Vandalia, Ohio, her experiences in Chicago inspired her to help others gain meaningful educational experiences through access to new people, places, and skills. During undergrad, she worked for her university’s Center for College Student Success and served as president of her Questbridge Scholars Network chapter in addition to various internships with education non-profits. K-LA also conducted independent research on the experiences of first-generation, low-income students in relation to soft skills. Eventually, she hopes to earn a PhD in Sociology to better advocate for marginalized students in higher education spaces. Outside of work, K-LA enjoys watching movies, spending time with friends, and learning about new cultures.

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!

Kate was born and raised in Richmond, California. Her interest in education led her to major in Education Sciences and Chicanx/Latinx Studies at the University of California, Irvine. Throughout her undergraduate years, she took on various research projects centered around the community college student experience. Prior to graduating, she completed her Honors Thesis on the role of isolation faced by Latinx community college transfer students and worked alongside her mentors to further that research. Before beginning her role at Beyond 12, she worked as a research assistant where she spent her time translating curriculum and facilitating meetings with researchers and participants. Kate is excited to join Beyond 12 and continue her efforts towards improving the college experience through intentional guidance and support.

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 executive 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.

Maddy Ford is the student communications project manager at Beyond 12. She has over five years of experience in project management in education startups, and is deeply committed to doing excellent work that contributes to equity in education. Maddy’s background also includes software engineering, nonprofit administration, and scientific research. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tafari Alan is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley where they earned their bachelor’s in African American studies and gender and women’s studies. Originally born in Dearborn, MI and raised in Los Angeles, CA, they attended Santa Monica College where they discovered their passion for equity work in education and had extensive experience as a student leader and advocate. As a Black nonbinary person, the throughline of their work throughout each space they inhabit is direct service and building spaces of joy for their community, especially fellow Black LGBTQ+ folks. While at UC Berkeley, Tafari worked as a mentor with Stiles Hall’s Experience Berkeley Transfer Program, helping students of color prepare their application to transfer to UC Berkeley through mentorship and connection to resources. Now as a College Coach, Tafari centers the holistic identities of their students while encouraging confidence to foster enriching experiences and build community. They are ambitious in furthering their ability to serve and help others flourish authentically.

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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.

Tien is a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor of Science in psychology from Oglethorpe University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in applied industrial and organizational psychology at George Mason University. Immigrated to the United States at the age of five, Tien learned the appreciation for resilience, community, and the importance of accessible pathways to education and career success. During her undergraduate studies, Tien served as a mentor for first-year college students, supporting their transition into university life. She also worked extensively with nonprofit organizations supporting vulnerable and underserved populations especially those experiencing inadequate resources, such as education. These experiences drive her passion for equity, access, and helping others navigate education and career pathways with confidence. Outside of academics and professional pursuits, she enjoys reading, painting, exploring museums and art galleries, and spending time with her dog.

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.