Leadership Team
People will always be our greatest asset at Jumpstart. With the passion, dedication and experience of our Leadership Team, we’ve got what it takes to prepare every child to succeed. Read on to learn more about the outstanding individuals leading the way at Jumpstart.
Naila Bolus
President & CEOKarina Kidder
Vice President of Field OperationsJessica Lazzara
Vice President of Education & ResearchJamella Lee
Vice President of People & CultureDavid Melendez
Vice President of DevelopmentMark Reilly
Vice President of Policy & Government RelationsAtalaya Sergi
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & ProgrammingJennifer Templeman
Chief Operating OfficerAbby R. Weiss
Chief Program OfficerDiversity, Equity, & Inclusion Council
Jumpstart is committed to creating an environment that nurtures unique perspectives, facilitates authentic dialogue and honors the identities of its community members to enhance our ability to close the kindergarten readiness gap. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council brings together members from across the network for reflection, learning, and project planning. Learn more about our DEI work here.
- Beth Bauman, Director of National Program
- Drew Esposito, Manager of Marketing, Design, & Digital Strategy
- Joery Francois, Volunteer Manager
- Christopher Hernandez, Quality Coach
- Kortney Hernandez, Site Manager, California State University – Los Angeles
- Jamella Lee, VP of People and Culture, (Council Co-Lead)
- Jessie Levit-Shore, Senior Development Writer
- Maria Monarrez, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships & Programming
- Mathew Moura, Senior Director of Field Programs, Classroom and Community Impact
- Paulette Pinero, Director of Strategy
- Meghan Robinson, Site Manager, University of Washington
- Brandon Rothschild, Site Manager, Jumpstart Hartford
- Jennifer Templeman, Chief Operating Officer (Council Co-Lead)
- Michelle Zuzock, Senior Site Manager, Kean University
National Board of Directors
Jumpstart’s National Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from many backgrounds with one thing in common: a desire for every child to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. Their passion leads strategy, guides governance, and galvanizes support for our organization.
Kim L. Mitchell, Co-Chair
Vice President, Program Development & Operations, NPowerChris Stadler, Co-Chair
Managing Partner, CVC Capital PartnersLorie E. Almon
Co-Managing Partner, Seyfarth Shaw Attorneys, LLPDelia Arellano-Weddleton, MSW
Senior Program Officer, Nellie Mae Education FoundationNigel Barker
Fashion Photographer, Author, FilmmakerStephanie Blank
Chair, GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students); Senior Advisor, Arthur M. Blank FoundationJoseph I. Castro, PhD, MPP
President, California State University, FresnoJames Cole, Jr.
Chairman and CEO, Jasco Group, LLCThomas G. Connolly
Managing Director, Goldman SachsKimberlynn B. Davis, PhD
Counsel, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLPJosh Duhamel
ActorTamara Jones Dunn, MD
Physician, Stanford Hospital & Palo Alto Veterans HospitalYendelela Neely Holston
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Kilpatrick TownsendDavid Humphrey
Managing Director, Bain CapitalJackie Jenkins-Scott
Founder & President JJS Advising, President Emeritus Wheelock CollegeGreg Johnson
Chairman of the Board, Director, & CEO, Franklin Resources, Inc.Michael H. Levine, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Learning and Impact | Noggin at NickelodeonDavid Lissy
Chief Executive Officer, Bright Horizons Family SolutionsElizabeth Marcellino
Freelance Writer & Reporter, City News ServicesJennifer K. Marrus
Board Member and AdvisorMark Pinho
Managing Partner, St. Victor GroupMark Polebaum
General Counsel, MFS Investment Management (retired)Linda K. Smith
Director, Early Childhood Policy at Bipartisan Policy CenterNational Early Education Council
Our National Early Education Council (NEEC) is a select group of scholars, leaders, and change-makers who inform the development of our programs to create real and lasting change in children’s lives.
Dale Atkins, PhD
Author and PsychologistW. Steven Barnett, PhD
Board of Governors Professor and Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers UniversitySherry M. Cleary
Executive Director of the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute at City University of New YorkDouglas Clements, PhD
Kennedy Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Learning & Professor, University of DenverMolly F. Collins, EdD
Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt UniversityLinda M. Espinosa, PhD
Author and Consultant; Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri-ColumbiaWalter S. Gilliam, PhD
Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology Director, Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University Child Study CenterRoberta Golinkoff, PhD
H. Rodney Sharp Professor, School of Education, University of DelawareKathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD
Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow, Department of Psychology, Temple UniversityIheoma U. Iruka, PhD
Chief Research Innovation Officer and Director of The Center for Early Education Research & Evaluation, HighScope Educational Research FoundationSharon Lynn Kagan, EdD
Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Early Childhood Education and Family Policy; Co-Director, National Center for Children & Families, Teachers College, Columbia UniversityChristopher J. Lonigan, PhD
Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Psychology, Florida State University; Associate Director, Florida Center for Reading ResearchMariela M. Páez, EdD
Associate Professor, The Carolyn A. and Peter S. Lynch School of Education, Boston CollegeRobert C. Pianta, PhD
Dean, Curry School of Education, University of VirginiaArthur J. Rolnick, PhD
Senior Fellow and Co-Director, Human Capital Research Collaborative; Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of MinnesotaShirley Sagawa
President & CEO, Service Year AllianceJudith A. Schickedanz, PhD
Professor Emerita, School of Education, Boston UniversityMarlene Zepeda
Professor Emeritus of Child and Family Studies at California State University, Los AngelesLocal Advisory Boards
Across the country, we rely on the support of local board members who are fierce advocates for Jumpstart, passionate about early education, and who live in the areas where Jumpstart’s program is implemented. Our local boards help us spread the word about the work we’re doing by encouraging local companies to get involved, inviting friends and families to join our mission, and much more.
New England Advisory Board
Mark Polebaum, Chair | General Counsel, MFS Investment Management (Retired)
Bill Barke | Chairman, Pearson U.S. Higher Education (Retired)
Ian Blasco | General Partner, Riverside Partners
Grier Tumas Dienstag | Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company
Eric Greenberg | Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Samuel Karshis | Director of Global Business Development, Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Nakia Maddox-Eubanks | Portfolio Strategist, Bainco International Investors
Hiren V. Mankodi | Managing Director, Charlesbank Capital Partners
Joseph Robbins | Managing Director of Private Equity, Bain Capital
Rebecca Schechter | Senior Vice President, Optum Health
Tri-State Advisory Board
Jennifer K. Marrus, Co-Chair | Fundraising and Board Development Consultant
Mark Pinho, Co-Chair | Managing Director, St. Victor Group
Milena Alberti | Former CFO, Penguin Random House
Lorie Almon | Co-Managing Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Sharyar Aziz | Managing Director, UBS
April Whatley Bedford | Dean, School of Education, Brooklyn College
Mark Flannery | Sector Executive, Point72
Alice Kim | Managing Partner, DigiConsult
Kellie Lerner | Partner, Robins, Kaplan LLP
Cynthia Mitchell | Partner, Seyfarth Shaw
Kim Mitchell | Vice President, Program Development & Operations, NPower
Kelsey Nason | Partner, Baretz+Brunelle
Alan Riffkin | Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
Brian Rivel | President, Rivel Research Group
Megan Sheetz
Erica Swainson | Corporate Counsel, Salesforce
Atlanta Advisory Board
Kimberlynn B. Davis, PhD, Co-Chair | Counsel, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Yendelela Neely Holston, Co-Chair | Partner & Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Yolanda Adrean | District 8 Member, Atlanta City Council (Retired)
Gerard J. Dash (YPB Co-Chair) | Global Technology Market / Board & CEO Services, Korn Ferry
Michael A. Davis, Jr. | Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers
Nina Schwartz | Founder, Student Leadership Development Program
Aimee Turner (YPB Co-Chair) | Project Engineer, Croy Engineering, LLC
Northern California Local Advisory Board
Tamara Dunn, MD, Chair | Physician, Stanford Hospital and Palo Alto Veterans Hospital
Vijay Advani | President & Chief Operation Officer, TIAA Global Asset Management
Ryan Buckham | Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Rosy Cohen | Managing Director, Principal Investing, Wells Fargo
Gordy Holterman | Managing Member, BrightForge Technology Holdings
Emily Lopez | Community Volunteer
Jed Plafker | President, Franklin Templeton Investments International
Matthew Pielert | Managing Director, Wells Fargo
Thomas W. Pulley | Managing Director, Fortress
Witek Sobanski | Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Jennifer Sorkin | Managing Director, Treasurer and Head of Operations, Fortress Investment Group
Southern California Advisory Board
Elizabeth Marcellino, Chair | Writer & Journalist
Brad Barrett | Vice President, Capital Group Companies
Sue Gaon | Vice President of Customized Learning Solutions, Lakeshore Learning Systems
Whit Hayslip | Consultant, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Becca Patton | Director Early Care and Education, First 5 LA
For more information about our Young Professionals Boards, check your local board page: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Northern California, Southern California, and the Tri-State area.