Get to Know The DCPS Persists Team
Looking for your coach? You’re in the right place!
Our coaches are assigned to specific regions across the US, so they can become experts in specific college resources.
Students looking to schedule time with a coach should select the person assigned to your college’s region.
Asheley Sylvestre is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has spent the past four years living in Maryland. Regarding her educational and professional background, she attended SUNY Albany during her undergraduate…
Brianna Neal is originally from Oakland, CA. She is a first-generation college graduate, earning her Bachelor’s from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Political Science and Communications. She recently…
Cait learned the difficulties of pursuing a college degree while watching her father pursue his Associate’s over the course of seven years. Her own journey to and through college was…
Damaria Joyner is a dedicated professional from Boston, Massachusetts. She is a first-generation college student, with a BA in Criminal Justice from Delaware State University and a Masters in Educational…
Deborah P. Bitanga grew up in the Philippines and immigrated to Kodiak, Alaska at age 12. She is a first-generation master’s graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University in Sociology and…
Ertrell Harris boasts nearly a decade of dedicated service in the realm of higher education and college access. Hailing from South Carolina, Ertrell’s journey began at Howard University, where she…
Francis is a native of Washington, D.C. and first-generation college student. Previously he worked at DCCAP where he served high school students with college advising, financial aid, program management and…
Karime Naime is the Director of College Prep and Persistence Programs at DCPS. As a first generation college graduate Karime’s professional career has been focused on providing access, choice, and…
Niara Webb is originally from Harlem and spent her adolescence in Asheville, NC and North Carolina’s Research Triangle region. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration…
Nichole is a recent D.C. transplant from Brooklyn, New York. On the Persists team, she serves as the College-Facing Specialist. Before joining Persists, Nichole served as the Alumni Engagement Manager…
Octavian Moten was born and raised in Houston, TX. He is a first generation college graduate, earning his B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin where he studied African/African…
Taylor Green comes from Dallas, TX where she was born and raised. She came to Washington D.C. to attend Georgetown University, as a first-generation college student, where she majored in…
Thairy Echevarria is from Ponce, Puerto Rico. She moved to the United States ten years ago to attend college as a first-generation student. She earned both her Bachelor’s in English…
Willa Reinhard is a proud DC native and product of DCPS, attending elementary through high school, graduating from School Without Walls. She attended New York University for undergraduate, earning a…
