Charlotte has been a data manager in academic, nonprofit, and fundraising contexts for over ten years. Since 2005, she has also worked as an educator in K-12, college, continuing education, and professional development settings. She loves work that improves understanding and creates insight. Charlotte holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University in English literature and Secondary Education.
Billy was born and raised in Pittsburgh and returned in 2019 after living in Boston for nine years. He graduated from Tufts University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in history and Africana studies and earned a Master’s of Education from UMass Boston in 2016. While in Boston, Billy taught 8th-grade civics and coached basketball. He has also worked at schools and community organizations in Pittsburgh – teaching math, counseling students, running a basketball clinic, and organizing a tutoring program. Joining The Promise enables him to continue working directly with middle and high school students in his hometown.
Heather graduated from Pittsburgh Brashear High School in 2015 and is a proud Pittsburgh Promise alumna. She went on to graduate from Robert Morris University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. During her studies, Heather became passionate about the public school system and social justice. Previous to her time with The Promise, she enjoyed impacting the lives of urban students as an educational assistant with Pittsburgh Public Schools. Heather cares deeply about giving back to her community and is excited to continue to do so with The Pittsburgh Promise.
Chan-Elle has more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Previous to her time with The Promise, Chan-Elle developed extensive experience building partnerships and fundraising in the Charlotte and Philadelphia communities, most recently with the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Chan-Elle is a proud HBCU graduate, attending Clark Atlanta University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing and Management. She is a native of Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District and a graduate of Pittsburgh Brashear.
Braná graduated from Pittsburgh CAPA in 2013. Following graduation, she attended Clarion University and received a bachelor’s degree in communications. In her early career, Braná spent time in Pittsburgh Public Schools, serving as a substitute teacher. She also served at the Board of Education’s Magnet and Assessment Offices. Braná served as a Heinz Fellow through the Center for Urban Education working with students at Pittsburgh Milliones, Miller, Weil, and Obama. Following a ten-month placement at The Pittsburgh Promise through the Coro Public Allies leadership program as an AmeriCorps Apprentice, Braná now works as a Promise Coach at Pittsburgh Carrick.
Angela attended Edinboro University for her undergraduate and graduate studies, earning her bachelor’s degree in individualized studies in 2015 and her Master’s of Social Work in 2017. During graduate school, Angela had the opportunity to intern at the Office for Students with Disabilities on campus and aid in the development of BASIS, Edinboro University’s support program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After college, she moved back to her beloved hometown of Pittsburgh and worked as a Behavioral Specialist. Angela is excited for her new chapter with The Pittsburgh Promise and hopes to provide support to Pittsburgh students and watch them flourish in their endeavors.
Amy comes to The Promise with 23 years of experience in higher education at the University of Virginia, the University of Texas at Austin, and Carnegie Mellon University. Throughout her vast higher education experience, Amy was driven to prioritize equitability and accessibility for students. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from The University of Pennsylvania.
Paul is a 2011 graduate of Pittsburgh CAPA and a native of Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. He graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media Journalism and has been playing the saxophone since 2001. While most of his studies involve media arts, Paul has always had a strong passion for working with and uplifting youth. Since 2009, he has had the opportunity to work alongside youth through local summer camps, after-school programs, and as a Youth Programs Coordinator with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Paul is dedicated to ensuring that the students he reaches are prepared to be successful in school, their future careers, and beyond.
Marna is a Promise Alumna and former Promise Ambassador and Promise Executive Scholar. She graduated from Pittsburgh CAPA in 2015. Following graduation, she attended Penn State Behrend and receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2019. During college and through her early professional experiences, Marna worked to ensure the growth and well-being of students in Pennsylvania. She is currently attending the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, to earn her master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration.
Danny joins The Promise team after working with Pittsburgh Public Schools seniors on college and career preparation through the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from the University of Notre Dame, the latter of which was completed while teaching 5th-grade students for two years in South Central Los Angeles, California. He is driven to provide all students with the resources needed for post-secondary success and beyond.
