Lizzie graduated from Swarthmore College with a Bachelor of Arts in History and English Literature. Following her graduation, Lizzie moved to New York City, where she worked across a variety of sectors in corporate America, including law, finance and communications. To balance her day job with her desire to do good, Lizzie spent many hours volunteering at a sleepaway camp for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey, and as a virtual tutor for students in Harlem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lizzie moved to Pittsburgh in the Fall of 2023 and since arriving, has been working to engage and support our region’s diverse community.
Keysha rejoins the Promise after working as the human resources generalist in 2022. She has also worked in the education technology, education services, and philanthropic fields. Keysha holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Peirce College and a master’s degree in human resources management from Temple University. She is a Society of Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).
Chanel is a wife, mother, NeNe and lover of good food and good music. She is a Perry Traditional Academy graduate with over 15 years of experience in the education field. Chanel is excited to join the Pittsburgh team and help youth build the confidence they need to accomplish their education and career goals. Chanel is also a leadership coach and podcast host. Her experience has included roles in various industries such as education, real estate, banking and human services. Chanel holds a B.S. from Geneva College in Organizational Development and a M.S. from Robert Morris in Organizational Leadership.
Soraya is a proud alumna of the historical Schenley High School, class of 2007, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing from Edinboro University. A passionate mental health advocate and two-time self-published author, Soraya’s work focuses on mental health awareness and healing. With a strong background in sales and marketing, she has transitioned into the nonprofit sector, using her skills to foster community engagement and improve overall health. Certified as a Mental Health Advocate, Soraya employs a trauma-informed approach in her work, particularly when supporting underprivileged youth. Her commitment to community well-being drives her mission to make a meaningful impact.
Melvina attended & graduated from Pittsburgh Perry in 2019 and is also an alumnus of The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship, as a first-generation student she continued PennWest: Edinboro to pursue her Social Work degree. During her college career, she held positions through The Neighborhood Learning Alliance focusing on student mental health and postsecondary education. Her passion for youth success has built many bridges between scholars and their families. Melvina is eager to share her kind heart and pour knowledge into the promising futures of our future leaders!
Bishop is a Taylor Allderdice class of 2013 Alumni. Following graduation, he attended Slippery Rock University where he not only received his bachelor’s in digital media & communication but was apart of three Football championship teams. While most of his time was spent in sports outside of school, Bishop has always been a part of mentoring the youth of his community. He has had the opportunity to work with the youth through Mt. Ararat Baptist Church youth ministry programs since 2012. There he tutored and mentored kids in the after-school program as well as was a lead counselor for the summer camp program. Bishop hopes to educate and inspire the next generations to be successful in their future.
Emily is a 2019 graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she holds a B.A. with Highest Honors in English and theatre. She received her M.A. in Literary and Cultural Studies from Carnegie Mellon University in 2022. Since 2016, Emily has worked in various educational settings, from kindergarten classrooms to college writing centers, and most recently, at an after-school program for immigrant and refugee students of Pittsburgh. Her career can be best described as providing students with the tools they need to succeed, and she brings her passion for student success to the Pittsburgh Promise.
Emoni is a Pittsburgh Obama Class of 2017 Alumni. Emoni used her Promise scholarship while attending Point Park University for her Bachelor’s in Psychology and her Master’s in Community Psychology. After college Emoni served three terms with KEYS AmeriCorps in various education-based positions. Emoni hopes to use her diverse knowledge and compassion to support scholars of Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Tashawn has focused on helping to support students and youth in school and community settings for over a decade. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and Master of Science in Education from Duquesne University in school counseling. Tashawn’s experience includes previous work with Familylinks overseeing their school partnership mental health services and work as a school counselor. She hopes to empower students through her work with The Pittsburgh Promise.
Emmanuel is a Pittsburgh Obama Class of 2015 Alumni. After studying for a year at CCAC Allegheny and earning his Promise scholarship via the extension program, he transferred to Point Park University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early education from Pre-K to 4th grade. The year he graduated, the pandemic hit the nation, which lead to him taking a gap year from teaching until he reconnected with Pittsburgh Public Schools to teach Kindergarten & 1st Grade mathematics at Pittsburgh Weil both hybrid and in-class for 2 years. Emmanuel hopes to use his wide range of teaching experience and community work to enrich and support the scholars of Pittsburgh Public Schools to reach their full potential.
