History

Summer Search Silicon Valley launched in September 2005 with the support of many individuals. We especially thank our founding board members, Magdalena Paul and Ken Olivier, for leading the charge to make the Silicon Valley site a reality.

In 2006 we climbed new heights in making Summer Search Silicon Valley a reality:

• 18 students from 10 Peninsula and San Jose schools joined us in our first year.
  
• 100% completed their challenging summer programs!

In 2007 we plan to expand our program into more schools and reach more deserving students.

• Our goal in the coming three years is to serve 125 students annually.
  
• Like our sister offices, we will help our students graduate high school and go to college.
  

Staff

Kamba Tshionyi, Executive Director
Joni Bissell, College and Financial Aid Advisor
Haddie Lyons, Program Associate
Meghan Kirkpatrick, Program Associate
Cazzie Brown, Outreach Coordinator
Xuan-Vu Nguyen, Regional Alumni Coordinator

Kamba Tshionyi, Executive Director
Kamba received an AB in Human Biology from Stanford University and an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. He also played basketball at Stanford and was captain of the Final Four team his senior year. Before joining Summer Search, Kamba was a Peace Corps health education volunteer in the central African country of Gabon, as well as later working with an information technology company in London for two years. Having grown up in a family of educators, mentoring during college, coaching, and spending one year as a Program Associate in the San Francisco office, Kamba is excited and honored to be the Executive Director and grow the new Silicon Valley site.

Joni Bissell, College and Financial Aid Advisor
Joni was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Wells College, New York with a BA in Art History. After graduation, she went to Arizona to work at Arcosanti, Paolo Soleri's architectural experiment in planned communities. For the past twenty-six years, Joni has lived with her husband, Ted, in Mill Valley, where they have raised three sons--Owen, Evan, and Eric. She has served on local boards, as well as volunteered extensively for Marin schools and the community. Joni has been involved with Summer Search as a volunteer for almost nine years. She joined the staff as college advisor in 2003, recently earning her College Advisor and Career Planning Certification from University of California, Berkeley. In addition to advising students on college applications and financial aid, she is also learning the complex process of mentoring.

Haddie Lyons, Program Associate
Haddie was born and raised in Zig Zag, Oregon. She graduated from Montana State University in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education. Growing up among the Cascade Mountains, and later the Rockies, Haddie developed a love of the outdoors. Her final semester of college was spent in New Zealand student teaching where her passion for travel began. Haddie has worked as a River Guide for canoe trips on the Missouri River, participated in Americorps *NCCC as a corps member in 2004, and spent 2 years as a Counselor and Teacher at a wilderness therapeutic program. Her combined love of travel and the outdoors sparked her interest in Summer Search, where she is thrilled to have the opportunity to help send students on their own life-changing summer experiences.

Meghan Kirkpatrick, Program Associate
Meghan grew up in San Jose, California.  She received a BA in American Literature and Culture from University of California, Los Angeles and an MA in English Literature from San Jose State University.  During college, Meghan spent a year studying Spanish Literature in Granada, Spain.  She loved living abroad and decided to join the Peace Corps after college, where she served as an Environmental Education volunteer in Bolivia.  Before joining Summer Search, Meghan taught in various settings, including Dahl Elementary School, Almaden Tutoring Club, and San Jose State University.  She is excited to join Summer Search and help students develop their leadership abilities.   

Cazzie Brown, Outreach Coordinator
Cazzie Brown has a long history with Summer Search. In 1997, she was accepted into the program as a high-school student and traveled to Minnesota for a Russian Language Program, and to Ukraine for community service and a host-family stay. In 2004, Cazzie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Redlands, as a first-generation college graduate. She studied within the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies where she developed her own major in Cultural Studies and Psychology with an emphasis in creating structures for social change and personal growth. As the first Outreach Coordinator for Summer Search in the Bay Area, Cazzie brings a background in social justice work and in the non-profit community. Before joining Summer Search, Cazzie worked as a Senior Case Manager at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking in Los Angeles, and most recently at the Fulfillment Fund, a college access and mentoring organization for inner city youth also in Los Angeles.

Xuan-Vu Nguyen, Regional Alumni Coordinator
Xuan-Vu was born in Viet Nam and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Her passion for stories and language led her to Amherst College where she earned a BA in English with a focus on American Ethnic Literature. Thereafter, she pursued a Master in Secondary English Teaching and Curriculum from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Xuan-Vu moved to the Bay Area after graduate school to teach English at a reform high school in Fremont. Most recently, she taught English Language and civic participation skills to Bay Area immigrant adults. Throughout her life, Xuan-Vu has cared deeply about and worked closely with disenfranchised youth and adults to enable them to take full advantage of their rights and responsibilities as well as tap into their personal identities for strength. Xuan-Vu joined Summer Search in May 2007 as the Regional Alumni Coordinator for the San Francisco, North Bay, and Silicon Valley offices.