Meet the Team - Possip

Alyssa Collins

Customer Success and Impact Lead

Alyssa Collins graduated from Indiana University with a degree in marketing, but her passion for education led her to a high school math teaching position in New York City Public Schools. With a desire to impact education on a broader scale, she earned an MA in Education and Social Policy from New York University. Her role as an Assistant Principal deepened her understanding of educational dynamics and equipped her with the knowledge and tools to address intricate challenges. At Possip she looks forward to making a meaningful impact on the educational landscape by partnering with school and district leaders in engaging their stakeholders to strengthen community communication. Alyssa resides in the Bronx and in her spare time can be found trying out new recipes and cheering on her kids.

Kyle Sebastian

Revenue Operations & Business Manager

Kyle Sebastian joins Possip as Sales Operations Manager after working on local, state, national, and international programs at nonprofits based in the Bay Area, New York City, and Nashville. Kyle grew up in Chicago and is a product of Chicago Public Schools, going on to earn a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy just twenty minutes from where he grew up. Kyle is passionate about working on equitable solutions that reach diverse populations—especially for individuals and families that face systemic barriers to accessing resources, programs, and support. With Possip offering Pulse Checks in 100+ languages and providing the ability for families to provide feedback without internet access, it was a perfect fit! Outside Possip, you can find Kyle cheering on Chicago sports teams, playing or listening to music, eating at new restaurants and cooking new recipes, or enjoying time out in nature.

Kyle Pendergast

Senior Product Engineer

Kyle Pendergast is a product-focused engineer and entrepreneur known for his remarkable ability to navigate and thrive in the often ambiguous environments of startups. With a career distinguished by a profound passion for addressing and solving customer problems, Kyle has always been a fervent tinkerer and a continuous learner. He believes strongly that innovative solutions in the education space can significantly enhance learning outcomes across the board. This belief not only drives his professional endeavors but also underscores his commitment to making a substantial impact on educational access and quality for all.

Hailey Taylor

Marketing Coordinator

Hailey Taylor, Marketing Coordinator at Possip, graduated with her BA of Science in Design at the University of Cincinnati DAAP in April 2024. Hailey is from Ohio, and fell in love with design back in high school. Hailey has always had a passion for creativity and art. She also loves photography, going to fun themed festivals (especially her hometown Strawberry Festival), attending countless concerts, long boarding, collecting rocks, exercising and hiking, and spending lots of time with loved ones.

Erin Milligan-Mattes

Education Consultant

Erin Milligan-Mattes is excited to leverage her extensive background in education to improve schools and amplify the voices of students, families, and staff. Before becoming part of the Possip team, Erin served in pivotal education roles, including classroom teaching, school administration, and leadership at both district and state levels. She later dedicated her efforts to training and mentoring new teachers at an educator preparation program. With a Bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and a Master’s in Education Policy from Vanderbilt University, Erin now resides in St. Louis with her family. On weekends, you can often find her on Creve Coeur Lake, rowing with the St. Louis Rowing Club!

Ally Sanderson

Education Consultant

Ally brings a wealth of experience to Possip from her dynamic journey in education, spanning over a decade. With a background as a science teacher, instructional coach, and pandemic principal, she has spearheaded initiatives to promote high achievement and innovation in schools all for the benefit of building community and learning. Her passion for sustainable systems and outside-the-box thinking is reflected in her enthusiasm and “with-it-ness” to support school and district leaders in improving their school culture and communities. She is driven by hard-work and hungry for success. In her spare time, you can find her globe-trotting, growing her green thumb garden, and being outside with her dog.

Jordan Jones

Sales

Jordan Jones is a part of the Growth and District Partnerships Team at Possip. He is an Illinois native, growing up in Aurora before attending University of Pittsburgh. After graduating he moved to Miami, FL and taught middle school math. Jordan is passionate about helping people reach their full potential, especially students and young people. He strives to help schools and districts find creative solutions to engage parents. In his down time, Jordan enjoys reading, writing, and managing his clothing brand.

Lauren Mendoza

Marketing Manager

Lauren Mendoza is a highly skilled and passionate marketer who is driven by her dedication to shaping and enhancing product and service awareness efforts. After graduating from Auburn University of Montgomery in 2019, Lauren embarked on a new chapter in her career, choosing Nashville as her destination. In this vibrant city, she led marketing efforts for a 25-physician orthopedic practice, where her marketing application and vision flourished. Possip came next in her journey, a company that shared her vision of making the world a better place. Beyond her professional pursuits, Lauren finds solace in her personal life, reading, and spending time with her husband and their two pugs. As her journey continues, Lauren’s diligence, creativity, and ability to inspire others through her work serve as a testament to her professionalism and commitment to excellence.

Beverly Hamm

Reporting Manager

Beverly Hamm joined the Possip team initially as a reporter and later worked in supporting the delivery and reporting teams before taking the position as the Reporting Manager. She is a seasoned educator with 17 years of experience in Georgia public schools. Beverly began her teaching career as an 8th grade Science teacher. In 2007, she joined the inaugural team at Georgia Cyber Academy. While at GCA, she served as a teacher, trainer, and school leader at both the middle school and high school levels, took one final leadership role, and helped build a successful credit recovery program. Beverly has earned degrees from Allegheny College, Bachelors in environmental science, and Emory University, Masters of Arts in Teaching with a focus on both urban and science education. Ms. Hamm holds a clear renewable certificate in the State of Georgia in Broad Field Science 6-12.

Marcel Gutierrez

Sales Development Representative

Marcel Gutierrez is a former first- and second-year writing instructor at Appalachian State University where he also earned his BA in Creative Writing and MA in English with a concentration in Early Modern Literature. Marcel is a passionate advocate for inspiring confidence in students’ academic endeavors as they develop their voices and embrace their individual aspirations. In addition to his higher education background, Marcel has worked as an Account Manager in Transportation Management. Leveraging his classroom experience with his ability to navigate and solve complex issues, Marcel is committed to ensuring that your schools are provided with the care and support they deserve.

Jasmine Blue

Customer Relationship Manager

Jasmine Blue joined Possip’s Experience & Support team to strengthen Possip’s partnerships and connect customers to the solutions they need. The granddaughter of Civil Rights Movement activists and educators, Jasmine’s passion for education equity stems from her lived experiences and value for education. She’s worked with after-school programs, education advocacy, and policy nonprofits in Tennessee. More recently, she helped launch the TN Tutoring Corps in response to Covid-slide. In addition to education, Jasmine cares deeply about housing, gentrification, and social justice. As a self-proclaimed foodie, she founded Just Eats TN, a social media-based initiative that features BIPOC owned restaurants in Tennessee. Prior to starting at Possip, Jasmine completed a MS in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Political Science and English Minor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Juan Candia

Lead Full Stack Software Engineer

Juan Candia is a Lead Full Stack Software Engineer with business management experience. Juan worked for U-Haul for 25 years then decided to do a career change to pursue his passion in software development. He enjoys working with Ruby on Rails but is always willing to learn new platforms. When Juan is not coding, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Priyal Bamnikar

Data Engineer

Priyal Bamnikar has stepped into the role of Machine Learning and Data Engineer at Possip, bringing a rich background in data science and a commitment to innovation in a remote work environment. Tasked with leading machine learning projects and optimizing data transformation for analysis, Priyal‘s contributions are key to enhancing Possip’s web application and analytics capabilities. Their role involves a blend of developing algorithms, ensuring data integrity, and staying updated with the latest technological trends—all to support a platform that empowers meaningful parent-to-school communication.

Outside of their technical pursuits, Priyal is a passionate badminton player, an ardent anime fan, and a collector of international coins, reflecting a wide array of interests that infuse their work with creativity and global insight. In a company that seeks to integrate diverse parental perspectives into the educational system, Priyal‘s multifaceted approach is invaluable. Their ability to understand and navigate different communities underscores their crucial part in growing Possip’s service and fostering an environment where schools can learn and evolve through varied feedback.

Jonathan Nesta

Delivery Team Operations Manager

Jonathan Nesta joins the Possip Delivery Team, bringing a deep-seated passion for refining systems and streamlining processes. Growing up in Western PA as the son of two music educators, he was immersed in music and education from the get-go. He transitioned from a successful music career to become VP of Production at an EdTech company in Nashville, TN. There, he led transformative initiatives, introducing holistic curricula to K-8 schools. Jonathan is excited to join Possip’s team, leveraging his expertise to drive impactful collaboration and achievement.

Faith Hinchman

HR Operations Manager

Faith Hinchman has called San Antonio, TX home for over 20 years. She first came to the Alamo City for college and received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Human Resources from St. Mary’s University. She then attended University of Texas – San Antonio where she received her Master of Arts in Adult Education. Faith brings a wealth of Human Resources knowledge to the Possip team from past experience with non-profits and small businesses. She has a love of live music and traveling, and can often be found out on adventures with her two children.

Cassidy Beam

Sales and Partnerships

Cassidy Beam brings an award-winning sales and management background to her Growth and Partnerships role at Possip. Cassidy spent eight years at the nation’s largest medical aesthetic company and was formally awarded year after year for sales and leadership performance. The cosmetic industry gave Cassidy an invaluable appreciation for customer service, client experience, and building meaningful relationships. Cassidy has spent the past three years working in Education Technology, where she partnered with K-12 Administrators across the country on software solutions aimed at strengthening school district operations and solving the unique challenges that school districts often face. Improving upon the experience of school administrators, staff, families, and students has become a true passion for Cassidy. Naturally, this led her to Possip where she can effectively advocate for the people we serve each day! Cassidy is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the NC Scholar of Global Distinction program. Currently, she is completing her B.A. in Leadership in the Public Sector at North Carolina State University. She strives to lead with kindness, and compassion, and to never put an expiration date on your goals! Cassidy resides in North Carolina and in her spare time can be found cultivating her novice vegetable garden, cheering on the Carolina Panthers, spending time with family, and traveling as much as possible.

Rupam Rai

Full-Stack Software Engineer

Rupam Rai is a full-stack software engineer with a strong passion for problem-solving and a continuous drive to learn new web development technologies. Having completed his Master’s degree in Computer Science from UCM, he joined Possip as a Full Stack Software Engineer. Besides his professional pursuits, Rupam enjoys staying active with various sports activities and loves reading books, and watching real-life documentaries, and movies. With a strong desire to contribute significantly to the software engineering field, Rupam is motivated to pursue impactful opportunities and make a difference.

Hawo Ibrahim

Customer Analytics & Insights Associate

Hawo Ibrahim was born in Kenya and raised in Nashville. She graduated from Duke University with a BS in Psychology in 2021. Prior to Possip, she worked in media consulting and helped to manage and analyze client data while addressing specific client needs and industry trends. She is passionate about work that helps the world to understand human behavior and how all of our experiences help us to understand and connect to one another. Hawo has a passion for data and storytelling and joins our Customer Experience team with the hopes of working with customers to achieve their goals and better understand their community.

Sean Smith

Director of Sales and Partnerships

Sean Smith joins Possip as Director of Sales and Partnerships bringing with him a personal mission to always enrich the lives of students in the classroom. After moving to Nashville and successfully touring with multiple national country artists on guitar, he became the Director of Music at the Ensworth School. He was nominated as a Presidential Scholar’s “Most Influential Teacher” in 2016. Building on the value of mentoring students through music, he began his role as Sales Director for Quaver Music and focused on advocating for music programs in public schools throughout the USA and Internationally. Sean brings a creative approach and passion for supporting the entire school community to his work with Possip.

Mandy Wallace

Knowledge and Content Manager

Mandy Wallace is passionate about language, education, and promoting equity in schools. She has a BA from Vanderbilt and previously taught K and 1st grade in MS as part of Teach For America. In addition to teaching, Mandy also worked as a grant writer and, most recently, helped develop digital health and PE curriculums. Along with her husband and three children, Mandy traveled throughout North America while living in an RV, all while continuing to pursue her love of great books and taking on new adventures.

Shani Dowell

CEO

Shani Dowell is the founder and CEO of Possip. A product of Houston public schools and a public school teacher and parent, Shani loves supporting the work of schools. She started her career as a consultant at Bain & Co. and helped launch the Boston office of the Posse Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to increase student retention and engagement on college campuses. She has also worked for Houston Independent School District, KIPP Foundation—a national network of charter schools, Teach For America, Bridgespan Group, and Relay Graduate School of Education. Shani earned her BA at Howard University in Washington, DC, and her MBA at Stanford University. In starting Possip, Shani seeks to support schools by elevating the ideas of parents, teachers, and students.

Caitlin Churchill

Director of Community

Caitlin Churchill makes sure that the technology and relationships Possip develops help customers reach their goals. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in English and Creative Writing, Caitlin began a career in academic publishing, where she launched ebook publishing and distribution programs and developed resources for the Association of American University Presses. More recently, Caitlin managed a PubTech eCommerce business within Ingram Book Group. Caitlin also has experience through the Peace Corps helping teachers in the country of Georgia develop and share professional skills.

Prerna Gandhi

Data

Prerna Gandhi graduated from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati, where she double-majored in Business Analytics and Information Systems. Prerna’s passion for giving back to the community has led her to be a motivational speaker, a volunteer at TEDx Cincinnati, and a global guide volunteer at World Affairs Council in Cincinnati and Kentucky. Prerna joined Possip as a Data Specialist Intern because she strongly relates to all of the company’s values, especially transparency and trust, which she believes is essential for a school community to thrive.

Christine Fisher

Co Founder and COO

Christine Fisher, Possip’s Co Founder and Cheif Operations Officer, attended a STEM-focused public school in Montreal, Canada, and went on to earn her BA in Computer Engineering from Queen’s University, where she also served as student body president. At Procter & Gamble, her first job after college, she had the opportunity to work on some of the company’s biggest brands—including Tide, Charmin, and Bounty—during her ten years there. Christine, who sits on the Preschool Promise Board, Beech Acres Parenting Center Board, and Public Schools Audit Committee, is an active member of the education community in her current hometown of Cincinnati, OH. In 2020, the Cincinnati Business Courier named her one of the city’s “40 Under 40” in recognition of her contributions to both the business and education sectors.

Jenny Lee

Jenny Lee is a part-time Compliance Specialist at Possip. Prior to taking this role, Jenny worked in education on operations, finances, and team culture. She has a BA from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and now lives in California to be close to friends and family. During her off-time, she enjoys playing the ukulele, going out for walks, and watching movies. Her quarantine hobby is learning Japanese.

Michael Dyer

Marketing

Michael Dyer has always worked to promote social justice, including a stint in Jordan teaching ESL and helping run a distribution center for new refugee families crossing the border. More recently, Michael moved into sales and recruitment, where he found a passion for connecting people with new opportunities at organizations with missions that he believed in. Michael hopes to support local schools by enabling them to hear from parents more effectively and efficiently.

Amanda Richards

Reporting Lead

Amanda Richards began her education career with Teach For America Dallas-Fort Worth after graduating from Cornell University with minors in Education Studies, Inequality Studies, and Latino Studies. Following her corps experience, she received her EdM in Learning and Teaching at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Amanda moved back to Dallas to pursue an Assistant Principal role at a charter school network and became the Principal two years later. As an administrator, Amanda cared deeply about parent satisfaction and engagement, which was reflected by significant gains in parent survey results at her school. Her goal is to help other schools improve their own parent satisfaction rates and to further Possip’s mission of increasing parent engagement and amplifying parent voices.

Stephen Casey

Reporting and Partnership

Stephen Casey enjoyed a career in culinary arts before shifting to education. After attending the Culinary Institute of America, he worked as a chef at Augusta National Golf Club, The Broadmoor, and Walt Disney World. He then earned a BA in Nutrition from Arizona State University, where he is now a candidate for an MA in Health Informatics. He is also pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology at Valencia College. Stephen’s drive to motivate people to be the best versions of themselves propelled him to join Teach for America and subsequently to become a middle school math teacher at Wilson STEM Academy in Charlotte, NC. He is excited to join Possip in a role that blends his love of education, data, and technology. His other interests include furniture building, carpentry, and travel.

Nicholas Dixon

Nicholas Dixon is native North Carolinian and earned his BA from East Carolina University and EdM at Cumberland University. He began his teaching career in his hometown of Greensboro, NC, and from there went on to serve as a teacher and leadership fellow in public and private schools throughout Tennessee and North Carolina. Nicholas is currently a principal in Guilford County Schools. When he’s not at school, Nicholas enjoys reading John Grisham crime novels and spending time with his wife, Candice, and daughter, Londyn.

Stephanie Fuhs

Stephanie Fuhs received her BA in Sociology from UNC Asheville and started her career in education teaching in Hartford, CT, as a Teach For America corps member in 2008. She taught 6th grade, 2nd grade, and Kindergarten over five years in the classroom, where she focused on integrating technology into the reading and writing curriculum. Stephanie earned her EdM from Columbia University’s Teachers College, after which her commitment to ensuring that every child has qualified educators led her to Jacksonville, FL, to coach new teachers with TFA. She is currently an Assistant School Leader at KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy. As both a school administrator and a mother of two incredible kids, she is passionate about empowering parents to advocate for their children’s education.

Elizabeth Janca

Elizabeth Janca has a BA in Psychology from Texas A&M University and an MA in Counseling and Development from Texas Woman’s University. She did her graduate training at both a center providing ABA therapy for children with development disorders and a center for individuals impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Upon earning her degree, Elizabeth worked for three years as an Academic Counselor at a charter school in Dallas, TX, before relocating to El Paso with her husband and three dogs. She provides online counseling services through Sondermind and Global Teletherapy on top of working with Possip to promote equity in schools.

Thomas Jordan

Thomas Jordan graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo with a BA in Mathematics and has an MA in Education as well as nine years classroom experience in both middle and high school. A passion for peace, social justice, and education motivates his work to improve the education system and his involvement with the peace organization Friends Committee on National Legislation. Thomas lives in Nolensville, TN, with his wife, Leslie, and son, Judah. On any given day, if he’s not outside playing with Judah, you can find him tinkering on house projects, watching Celtics basketball, or—if it’s winter—wishing for warmer weather.

Megan Morgalis

Megan Morgalis earned her BA and EdM from Vanderbilt University. She began her teaching career with KIPP in Nashville, TN, and has since worked for KIPP Summit in San Francisco, CA, and KIPP Washington Heights Middle School in New York, NY, where she taught a range of subjects to middle school students. During her time in New York, she became a Dean of Instruction and trained teachers and other instructional coaches. Now that she has returned to Nashville, she is the Director of Literacy for the KIPP Nashville region. Megan is excited to empower schools and parents through her work with Possip.

Alyssa Patel

Alyssa Patel earned her BA from UNC Chapel Hill and her EdM from Lipscomb University. She began teaching in 2014 with Lead Public Schools, where she supported school operations and taught 6th, 8th, and Integrated Math classes. She has also worked at Teach for America’s Summer Institute as an Instructional Coach and a School Operations Director. Alyssa is now the Director of Service Learning at Ensworth High School, where she coordinates the school’s Service Learning Program and teaches Algebra I and Honors Algebra 2. A Nashville native, Alyssa is excited to amplify parent and family voices through her work at Possip.

Ruby Powell-Dennis

Ruby Powell-Dennis ran for the District 97 seat of the Tennessee State House of Representatives in the 2020 election. Previously, she served as National Deputy Director of the Leaders of Color Initiative at Education Reform Now (ERN). In the ten years prior to joining ERN, she worked in a variety of leadership roles in education reform. Ruby is a proud alumna of The University of Florida, where she studied Advertising and Political Science and minored in Secondary Education. She completed her MA in Organizational Communication at Southeastern Louisiana University and her MBA at The University of Memphis. Ruby is married and has two beautiful children.

Sara Peters

Sales

Sara Peters grew up in Austin, TX, and graduated from the University of Texas with a Plan II Honors History degree. She began her career in education in Houston, where she taught 1st grade as part of Teach For America. Following her time in the classroom, she was a founding site director for Clark Elementary’s Schools Uniting Neighborhoods Program in Portland, OR. Her commitment to expanding and improving educational opportunities for all children then brought Sara back to Teach For America as a campus and national recruitment team member. For many years now, she has been fortunate to focus on raising her three children while continuing to pursue her passion for education reform at several education-focused nonprofits, including Teach For America, Leadership for Educational Equity, and Little Bites Coaching. Sara currently lives in Denver, CO.

Carolyn (Cate) Reed

Carolyn (Cate) Reed is foremost a mom and lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, Doug, and their three children. She is herself a product of Pittsburgh public schools and is driven to improve the education system that has served many well, yet has let down countless others. In her professional career, she taught 3rd and 4th grade in DC Public Schools from 2000–2002; she also worked for Pittsburgh public schools for six years, during which she completed a Broad Residency in Urban Education—a two-year development program for leaders in urban school systems—and served as the Executive Director of Strategic Priorities for Superintendent Linda Lane. She is currently the Vice President of Regional Board Governance at Teach For America. Cate received her undergraduate degree in History from Loyola University, MD, her MA in Teaching from NYU, and her MPM from Carnegie Mellon University.

Kimberly Robinson

Kimberly Robinson has a BS in Education from the University of Memphis, a Tennessee teaching certification for grades K-6, and an MBA with a minor in Project Management from Trevecca Nazarene University. She currently works at Linden Waldorf School as the Director of Administration, where she oversees the school’s daily administrative operations. Working to support families and children throughout her career has given her a rich professional history in diverse educational settings. Apart from her service in schools, Kimberly enjoys being the mother of a fun and loving eleven year-old and going to brunch with her friends.

Adrienne Tate

Adrienne Tate earned her BA from the University of Denver and MA in Education Policy from Stanford University. Adie began her teaching career with Teach For America in Atlanta, GA, and taught elementary school for two years before moving to San Francisco and teaching middle school at KIPP Bayview Academy. A Denver resident since 2008, Adie has worked in a variety of roles in education at Teach For America, Denver Public Schools, and Tate Education Consulting. She has focused her work on growing teachers as leaders and helping schools use student data for strategic planning. As a mother of two students in Denver Public Schools, she is excited to help schools and parents work together to improve the education experience for all students.

Lauren Turpin

Lauren Turpin graduated from Stanford University with degrees in History and German Studies and a keen desire to explore the world. She taught ESL in Seoul for two years before returning home to continue teaching ESL at a private language school. Realizing that she wanted to focus on helping students in high-needs areas, she joined the Arizona Teaching Fellows program, then taught middle school English and History for six years in Phoenix and New York City public schools. She currently teaches English at the very high school she attended in San Diego and has the great fortune of counting as colleagues many former instructors who inspired her career in education. Lauren has an abiding love of theatre and attends as many plays and musicals as she possibly can.

Victoria Wimalarthna

Victoria Wimalarthna, who has a BA in English from Wake Forest University and an EdM from the University of Washington, is a medical student and mother of two. She enjoys working with Possip because it reconnects her to her previous work with Teach for America. She feels inspired when she sees how schools are creatively supporting their families. Victoria lives in North Carolina.

Joyce Wu

Joyce Wu has a BA in History from Princeton University, an MA in Education from Stanford University, and a Certificate in Professional Editing from UC Berkeley Extension. She began her career in education teaching English Conversation at the secondary school her grandfather founded in Taipei, Taiwan. As an American History and Economics teacher in California public schools, she looked forward every year to her favorite homework assignment—asking parents to write a letter introducing their child. She is excited to further Possip’s mission to help schools hear parent voices and better serve students’ needs. A native Marylander, Joyce now lives in Oakland, CA with her husband and identical twin boys.

Hannah Hall

Director of Sales and Partnerships

Hannah Hall moved to Nashville in 2012 with Teach for America. She spent four years teaching 3rd grade in Metro Nashville Public Schools while earning an EdM in Instructional Practice from Lipscomb University. She later began a career in technology, managing sales and business development for an IT recruiting company. Hannah joined Possip with a passion for technology and the ways that it can enhance opportunities for students and families.

Adam Thede

VP of Engineering

Adam Thede enjoys creating and using new technology. He is a consummate problem solver who is most at home exploring and creating solutions to technological puzzles through software development. Adam finds much gratification in furthering Possip’s vision of strengthening schools through the power of their communities. In his spare time, he unearths the past in his role of self-appointed family historian– digital archivist, maintaining a vast trove of family history. On evenings and weekends, you can find him digitizing photographic negatives, scanning old notes and journals from his ancestors, or curating his own photography and video archive.

Natalie Sessoms

Sales

Natalie Sessoms has been absorbing and executing equitable practices among multiracial, multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual, and economically diverse populations, for the past nine years. For which, she was recognized as a Teachers 4 Equity fellow. She graduated from The University of Tennessee with degrees in Art History and Urban Multicultural Elementary Education, and then a MS degree in Teacher Education. After college, she began her career in education as a lower elementary teacher with Metro Nashville Public Schools. She has focused her teaching on galvanizing her school community to create more equitable outcomes for students, and now continues that work in her role on the Sales team.

Chima Mbadugha

Chima Mbadugha is the Growth and Partnerships Lead at Possip. He is also the proud product of two Nigerian immigrants and DeKalb County’s public school system in Georgia. He started his career as a 6th-grade math teacher in Houston ISD and has since held roles at the school district level and Teach For America. Chima finds great energy and gratification from developing solutions that leverage the power of people individually and collectively to drive results. He earned a BS from the University of Georgia and his MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Go Blue! In his spare time, you can find Chima stimulating his creativity by curating dancefloor soundtracks for events as a deejay.

Drew Uhlmann

Software Developer

Drew Uhlmann, as of the current date of writing, is 217 days into her goal of a year of daily GitHub commits. She has been writing ruby for seven years and adores, in the words of the great Cynthia Lee, “experiencing the crystalline satisfaction of finding an elegant solution to an algorithmic challenge.” Outside of work, her interests include vying for violin versatility, attending to an absurd abundance of amaryllises, and sustaining a substantial sentiment for space operas.

Cora Stammen

Marketing Intern

Cora Stammen is a current student at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Communication Design, and she is our intern for the design and marketing team. Cora was raised in a small town, St. Henry, OH, but now lives in the Queen City, Cincinnati. She spends her free time listening to music, drawing, and reading.

Lucas Phillips

Product Operations

Lucas Phillips was born and raised in Kentucky and has called Tennessee home for the past 11 years. Graduating with degrees in Theater and Communications from Transylvania University and Information Technology from Trevecca Nazarene University, Lucas has gained a wealth of experience in various people-facing roles in the education and technology worlds. In his spare time, Lucas loves to hike, camp, kayak, and travel wherever he can! Favorite destinations include New York City, Italy, and Mexico. Canada and more European travel are next on the list! Other than that, he likes to spend time with a close-knit group of friends or enjoying downtime binge-watching whatever is streaming!

Isha Soni

Reporting and Marketing

Isha Soni is a senior at Emory University majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and International Studies. She started with Possip through the LaunchTN internship program, and since then, she has worked as a college reporter and social media team member. She has a passion for educational equity, especially for refugees and immigrants. In her free time, she likes to go on walks with her dog and take care of her plants.

Omar Mohamed

Data Intern

Omar Mohamed is a current student at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Computer Engineering. He was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. He has moved to the USA 4 years ago. He currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s an intern in Possip as Data Specialist. He Loves teamwork and leadership. He is down to teach and learn. His hobbies are playing soccer, watching shows, and listening to music.

Daniel Rowe

Data Analyst

Daniel Rowe lives in and is from Cincinnati, OH, a product of Cincinnati Public Schools and the University of Cincinnati. He graduated from UC in the Fall 2021 with degrees in Business Analytics and Business Economics after studying abroad on three continents and climbing a ton of rocks at the campus climbing wall and Red River Gorge in Kentucky. He is excited to combine his experience in data analytics, project management, and process improvement with his passion for education to deliver impactful insights to schools. Outside of work, getting outside is one of Daniel’s biggest priorities whether it be visiting new cities, hiking through National Parks, or walking around the block catching up with a friend.

Alice Rolli

VP, Sales and Marketing

Alice Rolli is thrilled to join team Possip as the VP of Sales and Marketing. Prior to Possip she held growth roles with education companies iteach, QuaverEd, and WorldStrides. She held both state and federal government positions including Assistant Commissioner for Tn-ECD and as a DC-based Special Assistant and later Campaign Manager for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander. She earned her BA at Stanford University and her MBA at the University of Virginia. Alice serves on the Board of Directors for WPLN-NPR Nashville Public Radio and served on the founding regional board of Teach for America – where she first worked with Shani! After more than a decade of frequent moves in support of her husband’s military service the couple and their two school-aged sons are glad to call Nashville home.

Shaun Smoot

DevOps Engineer

Shaun Smoot, with 20 plus years of experience from DevOps Engineering to team mentoring and leadership. His in-depth knowledge of systems automation, infrastructure and security and cloud technologies helps him successfully manage projects from end to end. Outside of work Shaun’s passions cover many domains from aviation, biohacking and Muay Thai striking and strength coach.

Atharva Chalke

Data Intern

Atharva Chalke is a major technology geek who is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati pursuing Information Technology, and specializing in Software Development. He is a Data Specialist intern who handles data imports and is also working on machine learning opportunities here at Possip. He is originally from Mumbai, India, the hometown of Bollywood, and enjoys watching movies and listening to music. Some of Atharva’s favorite activities include swimming, playing basketball, and trekking on the weekends.

Shardly Romelus

Full Stack Developer

Shardly Romelus is part of the development team at Possip. He enjoys designing and building complex user interfaces. He is constantly learning new things in software development. Shardly is also an avid listener of classic jazz music and enjoy watching the NBA games.

Jennifer Kehl

VP of Delivery

Jennifer Kehl is excited to bring her experience turning data-based insights into actionable strategies to support schools as they listen and engage with all voices. Prior to joining Possip, Jennifer held a variety of leadership positions with Nielsen IQ BASES, a global measurement and data analytics organization where she consulted with some of the world’s largest consumer goods companies to help them better meet the needs of their diverse consumers. She has a BA from Trinity College and an MBA from The Thunderbird School of Global Management. She lives in Brooklyn where you’ll find her on early morning runs through the city training for her next marathon!

Fernando Triguero

Junior Product Manager

Fernando Triguero enjoys working with new technology that is exciting, innovative and has a meaningful impact. He graduated from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. He began his career as a Public Accountant at a Big 4 firm, but ultimately transitioned into Product Management after attending a fully immersive coding bootcamp. Fernando is from Mexican descent and resides in Los Angeles, CA. He loves exploring new places, trying new foods, and living an active lifestyle in his spare time.

Bonnie Marschner

Customer Relationship Manager

Bonnie is thrilled to be joining the Deliverables team at Possip as a Customer Relationship Manager to provide top-notch service and support to partners. She resides in Nashville, TN, and received her BA in Spanish from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) and her MA in International Education from The George Washington University. Her experiences studying and living abroad in college led her to a career in education in order to promote and create those same opportunities for a diverse range of college students. She has spent the majority of her career in the higher education space focusing on student success across a broad range of roles related to studying abroad, supporting/advising international students studying in the US, and in academic advising. She is ready to enter a new chapter by serving schools and families in the K-12 arena which is personal for her as she has two young kids about to enter the formal education system. You can find her chasing her two young children around her house or local playgrounds during her free time, walking/cuddling her rescue dog Lola, or squeezing in time for an OrangeTheory workout.

Priya Tailor

Data Specialist Intern

Priya Tailor is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Computer Engineering, and a minor in Computer Science. She is our data specialist intern. Priya is from Mason, OH. In her free time, Priya is part of UC’s collegiate Bollywood fusion dance team and enjoys video editing, video games, and reading.

Lily Unterhaslberger

Marketing Intern

Lily Unterhaslberger is studying communication design at the University of Cincinnati and helps make marketing materials here at Possip. She is excited to use her skills in design to help better students’ everyday lives. She is from Cincinnati, Ohio. When she is not designing, Lily enjoys drawing, visiting art museums, and walking her dog Ruckus.

Our Team

Meet the people powering Possip.

We know your voice matters. We are here to help you be heard.

Alyssa Collins

Customer Success and Impact Lead

Shani Dowell

Founder and CEO

Hannah Hall

Director of Sales and Partnerships

Beverly Hamm

Reporting Manager

Bonnie Marschner

Customer Relationship Manager

Lauren Mendoza

Marketing Manager

Erin Milligan-Mattes

Education Consultant

Kyle Pendergast

Senior Product Engineer

Lucas Phillips

Product Operations

Natalie Sessoms

Sales

Hailey Taylor

Marketing Coordinator

Adam Thede

VP, Engineering

We know your voice matters.
We are here to help you be heard.