Meet our team - DCPS Persists

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…

BFA from Arcadia University/MEd from the University of Vermont/MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus

Cait Belney is the Manager of the DCPS Persists Program. Prior to joining DCPS, Cait was a Program Director with a college access organization serving first generation, low-income, immigrant, and…

BS in Human Resource Management from SUNY Oswego / MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from SUNY Buffalo State

Elaine J. Flowers is from Brooklyn, NY. As a first-generation student, Elaine quickly developed a passion for helping students reach their academic goals and navigate their college journey. Before joining…

BA Criminal Justice from Delaware State University / MA Strategic Communications & Public Relations

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…

BA in Communications from California State University, Monterrey Bay

Griselda was raised in California and is a proud 1st generation CSU Monterey Bay alumna. She previously worked in Stockton, CA as the Manager of College Access for a scholarship…

B.A in Business Administration and Communications / M.A in Strategic Communications & Public Relations from Trinity Washington University

Jessica Stamp previously served as the Director of Admissions for the College of Arts and Sciences at Trinity Washington University, where she also holds a dual bachelor’s in Business Administration…

BA from Texas Wesleyan University / MA from the University of Rochester

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…

BS in Exercise Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore / MA in Kinesiology from Temple University

Lynsey Jackson was born and raised right outside D.C. in Takoma Park, MD. She has spent the majority of the last 5 years working with various universities in a student…

BA Sociology from American University / MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University

Before joining the DCPS Persists team, Monica lived and worked in New York where she was a College Advisor with NYU College Advising Corps. As a College Advisor, she managed…

BA in Communications and MSEd in School Counseling from Alfred University

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…

BA in African and African Diaspora Studies from University of Texas - Austin / MA in Sociology from The University of Memphis

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…

Get to Know The DCPS Persists Team