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Our Team

The Lastinger Center team leverages extensive educational experience, research, and policy expertise to lead the design, production and delivery of strategic educational initiatives across the nation.

Join our team!

We’re always seeking talented professionals to work with us.

Director

A headshot of Phil Poekert
Phil Poekert, Ph.D.

Director

Executive Leadership

A headshot of Tyran Butler
Tyran W. Butler, Ph.D.

Literacy & Early Learning Principal

A headshot of Cathy Cavanaugh
Cathy Cavanaugh, Ph.D.

Technology Principal

a heashot of Zandra de Araujo
Zandra de Araujo, Ph.D.

Mathematics Principal

Shaunte Duggins headshot
Shaunté Duggins, Ph.D.

Associate Director
New Worlds Reading Initiative

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Henderson
Julie Henderson

Assistant Director
Communications

A headshot of Leland Hill
Leland Hill, M.I.B.

Associate Director
Business Services

A headshot of Lisa Sutter
Lisa Sutter

Assistant Director
Products

Management Team

A headshot of Pam Alfaro
Pam Alfaro. M. Ed.

Manager
Literacy Implementation

A headshot of Mary Bratsch-Hines
Mary Bratsch-Hines, Ph.D.

Senior Manager
Research and Evaluation

A headshot of Maya Brown
Maya Brown

Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Pam Chalfant
Pamela Chalfant, Ph.D.

Assistant Director
Academics

A headshot of Jose De Leon Alejandro
José De León Alejandro, Ph.D.

Coordinator
Strategic Initiatives: Mathematics

A headshot of Erika Fritz-Ochs
Erika Fritz-Ochs, M.Ed.

Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative 

A headshot of Luiz Franco Giovanini
Luiz Franco Giovanini, Ph.D.

Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative

 

A headshot of Angie Gomez
Angie Gomez, M.Ed.

Manager
Learning Experience Design

A headshot of Brittany Gonzalez
Brittany Gonzalez, MBA

Manager
Administrative Services

A headshot of John-Michael Gonzales
John-Michael Gonzales, MPH

Manager
External Affairs and Communications 

A headshot of Robin Gregory
Robin Gregory, MSM

Senior Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Mary Beth Head
Mary Beth Head

Manager
Projects

A headshot of John Houder
John Houder

Manager
Experience Design

A headshot of Bryn Humphrey
Bryn Humphrey, M.B.A.

Senior Manager
Product Development and Marketing

A headshot of Ginno Kelley
Ginno Kelley, Ed.D.

Assistant Director
Learning Design

A headshot of Nadeige King
Nadeige King

Senior Manager
Finance

A headshot of Jordon Koziol
Jordan Koziol

Manager
Communications

A headshot of Bryan Lutz
Bryan Lutz

Senior Manager
Technology

A headshot of Y. Michelle McGriff
Y. Michelle McGriff, MBA

Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Joe Nicholson
Joe Nicholson, MA

Senior Manager
Experience Design

A headshot of Alex Prinstein
Alex Prinstein, M.Ed.

Senior Manager
Product Development

A headshot of Kyra Purvis
Kyra Purvis, Ed.S.

Manager
New Worlds Reading 

A headshot of Jessica Richards
Jessica Richards, M.Ed.

Manager
Language and Literacy Partnerships

A headshot of Spencer Still
Jesse Steif

Manager
Literacy Implementation

A headshot of Spencer Still
Spencer Still

Manager
AV Production

A headshot of Tiffany Taylor-Jones
Tiffany Taylor-Jones, M.Ed.

Manager
Instruction

A headshot of Ron Viafore
Ron Viafore, Ed.S.

Manager
Early Learning Implementation

A headshot of Ellen Zinzeleta
Mallori Wojcik

Manager, Learning Services

Associates

A headshot of Eva Andrade
Eva Andrade

Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Eva Andrade
Rachael Aming-Attai, Ph.D.

Specialist
Math Content and Implementation

A headshot of Whitney Augustine
Whitney Augustine

Specialist
Literacy Implementation

Taylor Bainter headshot
Taylor Bainter, Ph.D.

Specialist
Mathematics Content Development and Implementation

Taylor Bainter headshot
Donelle Bagley

Specialist
Administration

A headshot of Marissa Balbuena
Marissa Balbuena, MS

Specialist
Graphic Design

A headshot of Julianna Banks
Julianna Banks, Ph.D.

Coordinator
Research

A headshot of Leah Benn
Leah Benn, MS

Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Melissa Brown
Melissa Brown

Coordinator
Product Development

A headshot of Melissa Brown
Priscilla Brown

Specialist
Literacy Support

A headshot of Shaneh Brown
Shaneh Brown

Specialist
Finance

A headshot of David Bryant
David Bryant

Development Director
New Worlds Reading Initiative 

A headshot of David Bryant
Kenneth Buchanan, M.Ed.

Coordinator
Early Learning Partnerships

A headshot of Juliana Bunn
Juliana Bunn

Coordinator
Technology

A headshot of Adrienne Campbell
Adrienne Campbell

Senior Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Jennifer Cao
Sarah Carmichael

Specialist
Animation

A headshot of Rachel Chastain-Gross
Rachel Chastain-Gross

Specialist
Early Learning Implementation Support

A headshot of Jennifer Cao
James CiChewicz

Specialist
Finance Data Management

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Anna Clark

Coordinator
Graphic Design

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Cheryl Cook

Specialist
Stipend Processing 

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Ashlyn Comiskey

Specialist
Web Development

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Rosa Cortez

Specialist
Motion Graphics

A headshot of Stephani Cugini
Stephanie Cugini, M.Ed.

Director
Development

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Jameson Cunningham

Specialist
Project Planning

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Jeanine Davis, M.Div

Specialist
Family & Community Engagement, New Worlds Reading Initiative

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Nasseeka S. Denis

Coordinator
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Dulcy Dillinger
Dulcy Dillinger

Specialist
Learning Services

A headshot of Evan Dolsak
Evan Dolsak

Specialist
Production

A headshot of Ana Lantigua Pascual
Ana Lantigua Pascual, M.Ed.

Specialist
Implementation Support

A headshot of Brittany Duquaine
Brittany Duquaine

Specialist
Literacy Implementation

A headshot of Christopher Engledowl
Chris Engledowl, Ph.D.

Coordinator
Math Content Development & Implementation

A headshot of Diane Evans
Diane Evans, MS

Specialist
Human Resources

A headshot of Ronnie Evans
Ronnie Evans

Coordinator
Stipend Processing

A headshot of Kendra Fields
Kendra Fields

Specialist
Literacy Content

A headshot of Kendra Fields
Kara Feed

Specialist
Human Resources

A headshot of Megan Fields
Megan Fields

Coordinator
Communications
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Fernando Franco Crespo
Fernando Franco Crespo

Senior Specialist
Help Desk

A headshot of Deza Free
Deza Free

Specialist
Learning Services

A headshot of Dayna Galganski
Dayna Galganski, M.A.

Coordinator
Experience, Design and Development

A headshot of Maggie Gardener
Maggie Gardner, Ed.D.

Senior Coordinator
Coaching

A headshot of Hannah Goble
Hannah Goble

Coordinator
Early Learning Product Development

A headshot of Luciana Grasso
Lucianna Grasso, MS

Coordinator
Learning Services

A headshot of Jamie Greenspan
Fatima Greene

Specialist
Helpdesk Support

A headshot of Jamie Greenspan
Jamie Greenspan

Coordinator
Graphic Design

A headshot of Matthew Griffin
Matthew Griffin

Coordinator 
Processing

Matthew Griffin headshot
Estelle Gyimah

Specialist
Success Enablement 

A headshot of Deborah Habora
Deborah Habora

Specialist
Purchasing

A headshot of Shanita Hairston
Shanita Hairston

Coordinator
New Worlds Reading, Regional Partners Program

A headshot of James Hamlin
James Hamlin

Specialist
Studio & Editor

A headshot of Lindsey Harker
Lindsey Harker, M. Ed.

Specialist
Academics

A headshot of Jamie Harmon
Jamie Harmon

Specialist
Academics

A headshot of Alexander Kirkpatrick
Preksha Jagtap

Coordinator
Workflow Application Development

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Rosie John-Baptiste

Literacy Content Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

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Amanda Kelecy

Office Management

A headshot of Alexander Kirkpatrick
Alexander Kirkpatrick

Specialist
Production

A headshot of Liza Leonard
Janette Labrador, M.A.

Specialist
Instructional Design

A headshot of Liza Leonard
Liza Leonard, MSW, LCSW

Coordinator
Community of Practice Implementation

A headshot of Gabriel Lipartito
Gabriel Lipartito, MS

Coordinator
Database and Systems

A headshot of Savina Lipartito
Savina Lipartito, M.Ed

Specialist
Literacy Content 

A headshot of Theresa Loch
Theresa Loch, M.Ed.

Specialist
Implementation Support

A headshot of Erica Lopez
Angelica Long-Diaz, MS

Specialist
English Language Learner Content

A headshot of Erica Lopez
Erica Lopez

Senior Specialist
Human Resources

A headshot of Zach Lukasik
Zach Lukasik

Specialist
Studio

A headshot of Nemir Matos-Cintron
Nemir Matos-Cintron, Ed.D.

Coordinator
Instructional Design

A headshot of Elizabeth McConney
Elizabeth McConney

Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative 

A headshot of Danielle McMaster
Danielle McMaster

Coordinator
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Nick Mendez
Nick Mendez

Specialist
Business Services 

A headshot of Eris Meredith
Eris Meredith

Specialist
Production

A headshot of Karen Molinario
Karen Molinario

Coordinator
Implementation Support

A headshot of Mel Moller
Mel Moller

Specialist
Social Media

A headshot of Marianela Moran
Marianela Morán, M.Ed.

Coordinator
Content Design

A headshot of Tim Mosunich
Tim Mosunich

Senior Coordinator
Technology

A headshot of Laura Morton
Laura Morton, MS

Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Emily Moya
Erin Mowry

Specialist
Research Data Management

A headshot of Emily Moya
Emily Moya

Specialist
Finance Data Management

A headshot of Ben Murphy
Benjamin(Ben) Murphy

Purchasing Specialist

A headshot of Anthony Nappi
Anthony Nappi

Specialist 
Instructional Design

A headshot of Shalah Newsome
Shalah Newsome

Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Monica Odea
Monica O’Dea, M.Ed.

Senior Coordinator
Literacy Implementation 

A headshot of Karen Osarenkhoe
Karen Osarenkhoe

Specialist
Implementation Support

A headshot of Amanda Pate
Amanda Pate, Ed.D.

Specialist
Lead Literacy Navigator

A headshot of Hema Patel
Hema Patel

Senior Coordinator
Finance

A headshot of Shelli Payne
Shelli Payne

Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Alyssa Pearson
Alyssa Pearson

Web Designer
Communications

Tammy Perez-Njezic headshot
Jennifer Perez

Coordinator
New Worlds Reading

A headshot of Ryan Perez
Ryan Perez

Specalist
Events

A headshot of Tammy Perez-Njezic
Tammy Perez-Njezic

Specialist
Learning Services

Susan Phan headshot
Susan Phan

Coordinator
Business Services

A headshot of Danielle Pico
Danielle Pico, Ph.D.

Research Coordinator
Literacy Implementation and Research and Evaluation

A headshot of Kerry Pirrone
Kerry Pirrone

Coordinator
New Worlds Reading, Regional Partners Program

A headshot of Hannah Puckett
Hannah Puckett

Specialist
Literacy Product Development

A headshot of Mireya Ramirez
Mireya Ramirez

Graphic Design Specialist

A headshot of Jennifer
Jennifer Reed

Specialist
Business Services

A headshot of Lexi Reyes
Lexi Reyes

Specialist
Interactive Media

A headshot of Matthew Richmond
Matthew Richmond

Coordinator
Content Design

A headshot of Michele (Shell) Romano
Michele (Shell) Romano

Research Administrator
College of Education Post Award Services

A headshot of Mercedes Ryan
Mercedes Ryan

Specialist
Family & Community Engagement
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Christine Salama
Christine Salama, M.Ed.

Coordinator
Learning Sciences

A headshot of Lourdes Santiago Poventud
Lourdes Santiago-Poventud, Ph.D.

Coordinator
Content Design

A headshot of Lourdes Santiago Poventud
Karmen Santiago

Specialist
Email Marketing & Recruitment

Person Not Pictured
America El Sheikh

Graduate Assistant
IES Goal 2 DIAL

A headshot of Donny Shrum
Donny Shrum, MS

Senior Coordinator
Data Sciences

A headshot of Courtney Smith
Emily Simmons

Specialist
Project Planning

A headshot of Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith

Specialist
Finances

A headshot of Stephany Snidarich
Stephanie Snidarich, Ph.D.

Coordinator
Research

A headshot of Stephany Snidarich
Amy Shockley, M.Ed.

Specialist
Advanced Literacy Support

A headshot of Jesse Sullivan
Jesse Sullivan

Specialist
Editing

A headshot of Christian Tang
Christian Tang, MS

Coordinator
IT Analyst

A headshot of Christian Tang
Renell Test

OPS
Animator

A headshot of Ana Valdes
Ana Valdes, M.Ed.

Specialist
Implementation Support

A headshot of Matthew Vonesh
Matthew Vonesh

Specialist
Editing

A headshot of Aliyah Waters
Aliyah Walters

Specialist
Stipend Processing 

A headshot of Tamara Weber
Tamara Weber

Specialist
Project Management

A headshot of Betsy Westra
Betsy Westra

Administrative Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

A headshot of Brendan Williams
Brendan Williams

Coordinator
Finance

A headshot of Catesby Willis
Catesby Willis

Specialist
Instructional Design

A headshot of Amanda Wilson
Amanda Wilson, MA

Senior Coordinator
Literacy Content

A headshot of Paul Wonsavage
Paul Wonsavage, Ph.D.

Product Manager
Mathematics

A headshot of Kimberly Youmans
Kimberly Youmans

Specialist
Literacy Implementation

A headshot of Steve Zill
Steve Zill

Coordinator
Video Production

Affiliate Faculty

Alyson Adams, Ph.D.

Clinical Professor, Associate Director for Teaching and Teacher Education
School of Teaching and Learning

Person Not Pictured
Anthony F. Botelho, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Taryn Brown
Taryrn Brown, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Chonika Coleman-King
Chonika Coleman-King, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Christopher Curran
F. Christopher Curran, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Christopher Curran
Dorothy Espelage, Ph.D.

William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education
University of North Carolina

Corinne Huggins-Manley
Anne Corinne Huggins-Manley, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Research and Evaluation Methodology
Associate Director of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Fiona King headshot
Fiona King, Ed.D.

Associate Professor
School of Inclusive and Special Education, Dublin City University

Walter Leite, Ph.D.

Professor, Research and Evaluation Methodology Program
School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Ashley MacSuga-Gage
Ashley S. MacSuga-Gage, Ph.D.

Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education and Special Education Program Area Leader
School of Special Education, School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies

Kathrin Maki, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies

Rob Moore headshot<br />
Rob Moore, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Educational Technology, School of Teaching and Learning

Rob Moore headshot<br />
Nigel Newbutt, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Advanced Learning Technologies;
Director of the Equitable Learning Technology Lab (ELTL), Institute for Advanced Learning Technologies

Matthew Ohlson, Ph.D.

Dir Taylor Leadership Inst | Associate Professor
Taylor Leadership Institute | Academic Affairs Division
University of North Florida

Yuxi Qiu, Ph.D.

Florida International University

Seyedahmad Rahimi headshot<br />
Seyedahmad (Ahmad) Rahimi, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Educational Technology, School of Teaching and Learning

Seyedahmad Rahimi headshot<br />
Chad Rose, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri, and the Director of the Mizzou Ed Bully Prevention Lab

Person Not Pictured
Jinnie Shin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Research and Evaluation Methodology Program
School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Wanli Xing, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Pengfei Zhao, Ph.D.

McGill University, Montreal