History

Summer Search New York City was founded in 2003 by Eden Werring, the former Executive Director of the North San Francisco Bay office and National Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Stacey Thompson, an alumna of the San Francisco office and currently the National Program Director. Janice Yang joined the Summer Search team soon afterward and became Executive Director in 2006.

In 2008, Summer Search will celebrate the fifth anniversary as an organization in New York City. In accordance with this milestone, we are planning a major program expansion over the next three years that will enable us to triple the number of deserving students served throughout New York City. 

Staff

Karina Kirsch, Executive Director
Iliza Bershad, Program Associate
Kathleen Dawson, Program Associate
Emily FitzGerald, Program Associate
Caitlin Hinz, Program Associate
Jill Kantrowitz, Program Associate
Megan McKinstry, Special Events & Development Associate

Karina Kirsch, Executive Director
Karina received a B.A. in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies from Brown University. After graduating from Brown, Karina went on to the New York City Teaching Fellows Program where she taught 3rd and 4th grade in the South Bronx while also receiving an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Lehman College. After completing the Fellows program, Karina joined the Summer Search team as a Program Associate. She became the Program Director in 2006 and stepped into the role of Executive Director in May 2008. She is excited to be a part of such a terrific organization

Iliza Bershad, Program Associate
Iliza received her B.A. in Journalism from New York University in 2007. While seeking her degree, she taught health education in New York City public high schools through Peer Health Exchange. She also managed 60 Peer Health Exchange volunteers at NYU, and in June 2007, she helped launch their new volunteer site at Northwestern University in Chicago. Iliza has organized special programming with an office at NYU's Steinhardt School, and worked with a women's rights NGO in rural Peru. Iliza enthusiastically joined Summer Search as a Program Associate in September of 2007.

Kathleen Dawson, Program Associate
Kathleen received a B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Family Studies from Miami University. While working on her degree, she helped create a program that mentored low-income junior high and high school youth in the area. She also worked part-time as a low and high ropes course facilitator for Miami University’s Outdoor Pursuit Center. After graduation, Kathleen worked part-time as a mentor and a director of mentorship for the same program while teaching pre-school. Following her time in Ohio, Kathleen worked for two years as a Classroom Facilitator for Project SUCCESS, a youth development non-profit organization based in Minneapolis. Kathleen’s love of exploring other cultures and the outdoors has taken her to multiple European countries, Mexico, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Canada, and an Outward Bound trip to Colorado. Through her multiple experiences with a diverse population of youth, Kathleen has realized her passion for working with young people. Kathleen joined the Summer Search team in June, 2007 and is excited to be a part of such an amazing organization.

Emily FitzGerald, Program Associate
Emily received a B.A. in Classical Languages from Hamilton College in 2000. After graduating, she served in AmeriCorps as a Literacy Tutor at an elementary school in Oakland, CA. During her year of service, she taught environmental education and helped start an after-school program. Her love of languages and curiosity led her to the jungle town of Iquitos, Peru, where she taught English in two schools along the Amazon River. Prior to joining Summer Search in 2007, Emily spent five years with NYC Audubon as the Membership Director and Development Associate. In her spare time, she volunteers as a trip leader for the Sierra Club's Inner City Outings. As a native New Yorker, Emily is excited to be working with students in her hometown.

Caitlin Hinz, Program Associate
Caitlin was born in Wyoming and raised in Iowa. She attended Skidmore College in upstate New York, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Literature. While in college, Caitlin worked in the curatorial and education departments at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum. With a desire to share her love of art, she developed several projects which facilitated rich and interactive experiences in the museum for a diverse public. In college, Caitlin discovered a love of learning languages and exploring different cultures, and had the opportunity to live and study abroad in India, Italy, Argentina, and Peru. In the summer of 2005, Caitlin worked at Longacre Leadership, a program in which young people work and play on a farm while developing their leadership and communication skills. Here, Caitlin learned of Summer Search and realized her passion for creating positive change in the lives of young people. Caitlin joined Summer Search in October of 2007 as a Program Associate and is thrilled to be a part of the team.

Jill Kantrowitz, Program Associate
Jill received a B.A. in Psychology-Sociology from Wesleyan University in 1998 and a M.A. in Public Health in Health Behavior from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in 2005. Following Wesleyan, Jill worked as a Health Educator, and then the Director of Education and Training both at the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. In graduate school, Jill worked in the North Carolina Department of Correction providing medication adherence counseling to prisoners living with HIV/AIDS. Jill joined Summer Search as a Program Associate in 2006. In 1994 Jill completed a NOLS semester course in Mexico and has previously lived in Greece, Israel and Spain.

Megan McKinstry, Special Events & Development Associate
Megan was born and raised in Colorado. She then moved to Seattle where she attended the University of Washington and earned degrees in Speech Communications and Communication Media Studies. During college, Megan participated on the University’s women’s soccer team which led to many opportunities to work with kids as a soccer coach. She also worked for a radio station doing promotions and marketing. Following graduation, Megan moved to London where she worked as an Event Organizer for a marine based non-profit organization, the IMarEST. Living abroad gave her the great opportunity to travel and explore other cultures. Megan joined Summer Search in February 2008 and is excited to be part of such an inspiring organization.