Director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program | Brandeis University | She/Her

Kathryn has worked for over 20 years in higher education in multiple positions to promote and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion for our most marginalized and disenfranchised populations. Currently, she serves as the director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program (MKTYP) at Brandeis University for the past six years. Kathryn holds a B.A. in psychology and Africana studies from the University of Notre Dame, an Ed.M. in human development and psychology at Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Ph.D. in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education. Kathryn’s work and passion directly aligns with the vision of the Catalyst Innovation Lab at OneGoal Massachusetts and she’s really excited about this opportunity to have great dialogue and to be a part of this collaborative engagement!

AVP of Student Financial Assistance & Enrollment Management | Bridgewater State University | She\Her

First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?

“I can bring the insight of 18 years of being in the field of enrollment management and college as a business in the state of MA. I have worked for Private non-profit and public colleges. I also have a passion for clearly communicating and navigating

Director of Undergraduate Admissions | Framingham State University | She/Her

Shayna Eddy is currently Associate Dean of Admissions/Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Framingham State University. She has 22 years of experience at Framingham State University, with 21 of those in the admissions office. Previously, she worked for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Middlesex, Inc. as a case manager. Shayna holds a BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and an MA in Public Administration, both from Framingham State University. Shayna joined this lab to continue to build professional relationships and provide higher educational opportunities to all students.

Supervisor of Counselors | Lawrence High School | She, Her

First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ I am looking to learn from and become re-energized by thinking about how education can be reimagined.”

Assistant Director of Postsecondary Placement | Mastery Charter School | She/Her |First Generation Student

What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ My journey into reimagining education began at this point as I grieved the loss of my brother… I had also wondered about the man who took my brother’s life and I learned that his brother had been previously arrested for homicide. I thought about what their relationship was with their school community and whether there was something that could have been done to change their trajectories. I think often about how closely our lived experiences in our communities are directly related to our school experiences. I thought about how all of our experiences connected to our school experiences and what actions schools could take to be more intentional about the messages we send our students.”

Assistant Director of Multicultural Outreach | University of Massachusetts Lowell | She/ Her
First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?

” I am a first generation Latina graduate with roots in Lawrence, MA and Dominican Republic. Growing up, education was not a choice for me- it was mandatory! My first job after college was as a Program coordinator and college advisor for TRIO Upward Bound at Lawrence High School. This experience was the catalyst to my transition into Undergraduate Admissions as Admissions Counselor here at UMass Lowell. My experience on “”both sides of the desk”” has allowed me to create pathways, spaces and support systems for underrepresented student populations. Higher education is not always the goal for many youths and there is a need to reassure ALL students that there are many paths that can lead to college and a career. “

Principal | Milford High School | He/Him

What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ Through all of these [professional experiences] experiences (and through my undergraduate and graduate studies), I have come to understand both the strengths and weaknesses of our current system and have an insiders’ perspectives on the practical/legal/political factors that make our schools what they are and that make our schools so hard to change. While I recognize the urgent need to radically overhaul and reimagine our schools, I have chosen to work within the system and to try to be a change-agent from within.”

Academic Advisor | Northeastern University | She/Her

First Generation College Student
What perspectives/ lived experiences will you bring to the Catalyst Innovation Lab ? How do these perspectives shape your passion to reimagine education?
“ I have experienced higher education as a student and now as a professional and I am constantly aware of the gap that makes it difficult for students with similar identities to succeed in college. We are academically skilled but lack the cultural capital that is needed for college success. I constantly believe it is up to the institutions to be prepared to not only have initiatives and policies to help students succeed, but also make sure they have a staff that is implementing these initiatives to be equitable and effective. Now that I am a professional, I want to do what I can to make sure students who have similar experiences to me, have the knowledge and resources needed so they can succeed in college and beyond.”

UAspire | Massachusetts Policy Director | She/ Her

Femi Stoltz is the Massachusetts Policy Director for uAspire. Prior to joining uAspire Femi spent several years working in various roles in higher education and in nonprofit organizations that focus on higher education. Femi has seen firsthand the positive impact that postsecondary educational attainment can have on students and families and she is committed to making higher education more accessible to the students who need it most. Femi joined the lab because she believes that making postsecondary education more accessible will undoubtedly help combat some of the other systemic disparities that exist in various areas such as wealth accumulation, home ownership, and various other factors that contribute to an individual’s overall quality of life. Femi looks forward to meeting with peers who are also committed to seeing meaningful progress and change.