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

Phil Poekert, Ph.D.
Director
Executive Leadership

Cathy Cavanaugh, Ph.D.
Chief Experience Officer

Zandra de Araujo, Ph.D.
Chief Equity Officer
Mathematics Principal

Shaunté Duggins, Ph.D.
Associate Director
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Julie Henderson
Interim Assistant Director
Communications

Leland Hill, M.I.B.
Assistant Director
Business Services

Paige Pullen, Ph.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Literacy Principal

Lisa Sutter
Assistant Director
Products
Management Team

Pam Alfaro. M. Ed.
Manager
Literacy Implementation

Mary Bratsch-Hines, Ph.D.
Senior Manager
Research and Evaluation

Pamela Chalfant, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Academics

José De León Alejandro, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Strategic Initiatives: Mathematics

Raquel Diaz, Ed.D.
Senior Manager
Leadership and Early Learning Partnerships

Erika Fritz-Ochs, M.Ed.
Manager
New Worlds Reading Intiative District Engagement

Dayna Galganski, M.A.
Coordinator
Experience, Design and Development

Luiz Franco Giovanini, Ph.D.
Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative

John-Michael Gonzales, MPH
Manager
External Affairs and Communications

Robin Gregory, MSM
Manager
New Worlds Reading Initiative Operations

Bryn Humphrey, M.B.A.
Senior Manager
Product Development and Marketing

Ginno Kelley
Assistant Director
Learning Design

Nadeige King
Manager
Finance

Bryan Lutz
Product Manager
Technology

Alex Prinstein, M.Ed.
Product Manager
Coaching

Kyra Purvis, Ed.S.
Manager
New Worlds Reading Content Development

Spencer Still
Manager
AV Production

Jessica Richards, M.Ed.
Manager
Language and Literacy Partnerships

Ellen Zinzeleta
Manager
Hillsborough Early Learning Network
Associates

Eva Andrade
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Taylor Bainter, Ph.D.
Specialist
Mathematics Content Development and Implementation

Marissa Balbuena
Specialist
Design

Julianna Banks, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Research

Leah Benn, MS
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Melissa Brown
Specialist
Implementation Support

David Bryant
Coordinator
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Juliana Bunn
Coordinator
Technology

Adrienne Campbell
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Jennifer Cao, MS
Specialist
Implementation Support

Anna Clark
Specialist
Content Design

Fernando Franco Crespo
Specialist
Help Desk

Nasseeka S. Denis
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Dulcy Dillinger
Specialist
Learning Services

Ana Lantigua Duran, M.Ed.
Specialist
Implementation Support

America El Sheikh
Graduate Assistant
IES Goal 2 DIAL

Diane Evans, MS
Specialist
Business Services – New Worlds Reading Initative

Matthew Faiello
Graduate Assistant
Research and Evaluation

Megan Fields
Specialist
Communications – New Worlds Reading Initaitive

Deza Free
Specialist
Learning Services

John Fuller
Specialist
Business Services

Maggie Gardner, Ed.D.
Coordinator
Coaching

Hannah Goble
Coordinator
Early Learning Product Development

Angie Gomez, M.Ed.
Coordinator
Learning Enrichment

Brittany Gonzalez, MBA
Coordinator
Business Services

Rebecca Gonzalez, Ed.S.
Coordinator
Network Support

Lucianna Grasso, MS
Coordinator
Client Services

Jamie Greenspan
Coordinator
Graphic Design

Matthew Griffin
Specialist
Business Services

Natasha Hall
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Jamie Harmon
Specialist
Academics

Rosie John-Baptiste
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Lindsey Johnson
Specialist
Academics

Marie Johnson
Specialist
Business Services

Liza Leonard, MSW, LCSW
Coordinator
Community of Practice Implementation

Gabriel Lipartito, MS
Coordinator
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Theresa Loch, M.Ed.
Specialist
Implementation Support

Ash Long
Production Assistant

Erica Lopez
Specialist
Business Services

Marielle Matheus, MA
Coordinator
Early Language & Literacy

Nemir Matos-Cintron
Specialist
Instructional Design

Elizabeth McConney
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Y. Michelle McGriff, MBA
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Danielle McMaster
Coordinator
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Ryan Meador
Coordinator
IT Analyst

Jordan Miles
Coordinator
Communications

Karen Molinario
Coordinator
Implementation Support

Marianela Morán, M.Ed.
Specialist
Content Design

Laura Morton, MS
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Tim Mosunich
Coordinator
Technology

Emily Moya
Specialist
Learning Services

Monica O’Dea, M.Ed.
Coordinator
Literacy Implementation

Karen Osarenkhoe
Specialist
Implementation Support

Amanda Pate
Specialist
Lead Literacy Navigator

Hema Patel
Coordinator
Business Services

Shelli Payne
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Tammy Perez-Njezic
Specialist
Client Services

Susan Phan
Coordinator
Business Services

Danielle Pico, M.Ed.
Graduate Assistant
Literacy Implementation and Research and Evaluation

Takeshia Pierre
Graduate Assistant
Math Matrix and Leadership for Professional Learning

Jennifer Reed
Specialist
Business Services

Matthew Richmond
Specialist
Content Design

Karina Rivera
Specialist
Academics

Michele (Shell) Romano
Research Administrator
College of Education Post Award Services

Christine Salama, M.Ed.
Coordinator
Learning Sciences

Lourdes Salgado, MS
Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Lourdes Santiago-Poventud, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Content Design

Donny Shrum, MS
Coordinator
Data Sciences

Stephanie Snidarich, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Research

Tiffany Taylor-Jones, M.Ed.
Coordinator
Instruction

Ana Valdes, M.Ed.
Specialist
Implementation Support

Ron Viafore, Ed.S.
Coordinator
Early Learning Implementation

Betsy Westra
Administrative Specialist
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Brendan Williams
Coordinator
New Worlds Reading Initiative

Catesby Willis
Specialist
Instructional Design

Amanda Wilson, MA
Specialist
Content Design

Paul Wonsavage
Post Doctoral Associate
Mathematics
Affiliate Faculty

Alyson Adams, Ph.D.
Clinical Professor, Associate Director for Teaching and Teacher Education
School of Teaching and Learning

Anthony F. Botelho, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Taryrn Brown, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Chonika Coleman-King, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

F. Christopher Curran, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Anne Corinne Huggins-Manley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Research and Evaluation Methodology
Associate Director of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

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

Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D.
Research Professor of Public Policy and the Founding Director of the Equity Research Action Coalition at FPG Child Development Institute at University of North Carolina

Hyunyi Jung, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

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

Kathrin Maki, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies

Rob Moore, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Educational Technology, School of Teaching and Learning

Matthew Ohlson, Ph.D.
Dir Taylor Leadership Inst | Associate Professor
Taylor Leadership Institute | Academic Affairs Division
University of North Florida

Yuxi Qiu, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology

Seyedahmad (Ahmad) Rahimi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Educational Technology, School of Teaching and Learning

Jinnie Shin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Research and Evaluation Methodology Program
School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Wanli Xing, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning

Pengfei Zhao, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education