staff

Hagar Berlin, Executive Director
Joni Bissell, College Director Bay Area
Cazzie Brown, Outreach Director
Julia Matsudaira, Program Director
Barbara Deggelman, Program Coordinator
Lissa Healy, Bay Area Bridge Coordinator
Kyle Freeman, Program Associate
Mitch Herz, Program Associate
Lorin Jackson, Program Associate
Joshua Lauren, Program Associate
Melissa Mayes, Program Associate
Camille Sheffield, Program Associate
Lisa Walias, Program Associate
Jenny Wyron, Program Associate
Leslie Armell, Bay Area Events Specialist
Jaime Lockwood, Bay Area Grants Specialist
Lindsey Moriguchi, Bay Area Development Associate
Cristina Perez, Bay Area Alumni Coordinator
Alicia Reza, Bay Area Development Associate

Hagar Berlin, Executive Director
hberlin@summersearch.org
Hagar was born in Israel and lived in the Netherlands as a young child, but spent most of her youth growing up Queens, New York. Hagar attended college at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. After graduation, she returned to New York where she began her fundraising career at Urban Education Exchange, a non-profit that partners with inner city schools to improve reading instruction. In 2004, Hagar relocated to San Francisco where she joined the development team at Jumpstart for Young Children, a national early childhood education non-profit. Hagar served as Jumpstart’s Development Director, securing the organization's operating budget in California and Washington States and spearheading Jumpstart’s annual Read for the Record Campaign. In 2009, Hagar left Jumpstart to pursue a Masters of Education with a focus on Policy and Organization Leadership Studies at Stanford University. Upon graduating from Stanford, Hagar was thrilled to join Summer Search as the new Bay Area Director of Development, charged with supporting fundraising efforts in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and the North Bay.

Joni Bissell , College Director Bay Area
joni@summersearch.org
Joni has worked for Summer Search since 2002 and received her College Advisor and Career Planning Certification from University of California, Berkeley. She has worked as college advisor with all three Bay Area sites and became Director of College Counseling two years ago in the San Francisco office. She is passionately committed to introducing under served students to the privilege of post-secondary options and assisting them in what is often a complicated and confusing college process. Joni believes every student deserves not only access to higher education but the luxury of choices and that this opportunity provides a more equal and vibrant world for all.  Joni grew up in St Louis and earned a BA in Art History from Wells College.  She is the proud mother of three sons, all college graduates.

Cazzie Brown, Outreach Director
cbrown@summersearch.org
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.

Julia Matsudaira, Program Director
jmatsudaira@summersearch.org
Julia spent her childhood in upstate New York and North Carolina. She earned her B.A. from Wesleyan University, where she majored in East Asian Studies, with concentrations in Japan and Cultural Anthropology. During college, Julia kindled her passion for leadership development and experiential education by serving as a counselor at NCCJ’s Anytown – a social justice leadership program for teenagers – and volunteer teaching at a bilingual, bicultural school in Okinawa while studying abroad in Japan. Upon graduating, Julia spent four years supporting youth leaders and young educators through several nonprofit organizations in the Greater Boston area. Julia joined the Summer Search team as Program Associate after relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006. She remains excited by the challenge and opportunity of Summer Search’s unique leadership development methods to engender lasting, positive change in the lives of students and staff alike!

Barbara Deggelman, Program Coordinator
bdeggelman@summersearch.org
Barbara was born in the Bay Area, but grew up in Seattle. She was raised by a family who deeply valued education, as demonstrated by her parents’ involvement with Caritas Creek, a non-profit outdoor education and summer camp program. Barbara attended Caritas as a child. As she built relationships with children from diverse backgrounds, she began to truly understand the importance of diversity and educational opportunity. Barbara’s fascination with both human behavior and language led her to earn her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from the University of San Diego. She became inspired to work as an educator through her involvement with the Center for Community Service Learning. As a result of her strong desire to help close the achievement gap, Barbara joined Teach for America in 2006. She worked for two years as a special education teacher in San Jose, where she became dedicated to helping youth from disadvantaged backgrounds get on track to go to college. She witnessed her students’ potential, and realized how much they needed supportive, caring adults who would hold them accountable to high standards of achievement. Barbara was drawn to Summer Search’s commitment to inspire positive, lasting change in the lives of students from low-income communities.

Lissa Healy, Bay Area Bridge Coordinator
lissa@summersearch.org
Lissa was born and raised in Honolulu, HI, where she was introduced to the power of experiential education when she participated in a Peer Counseling program and completed her first high ropes course. She studied arts and cultures at Williams College, as well as in Viet Nam and parts of Europe. After graduating with a B.A. in Sociology, and engaging students in a variety of academic and adventure programs, she moved to San Francisco and worked at a youth arts and technology museum for two years. Lissa joined Summer Search National as an Office Manager in January of 2007, and became a Program Associate with the San Francisco office in September of 2007. She appreciates the growth and opportunity that come from all aspects of Summer Search's mission, and is thrilled to be involved with such an inspiring community.

Kyle Freeman, Program Associate
kfreeman@summersearch.org
Kyle was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida and just recently moved to the Bay Area. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in Linguistics and Spanish as well as a master’s in Linguistics. While in college, Kyle discovered a passion for traveling and the outdoors, leading him to complete study programs in several Spanish speaking countries. He also began leading outdoor adventure trips for college students. Seeing the transformative power of the outdoors, Kyle started instructing expeditions in Colorado for Outward Bound. It was on these trips that he first heard of Summer Search. He is excited for the opportunity to provide wilderness and international travel experiences to adolescents of all backgrounds.

Mitch Herz, Program Associate
mherz@summersearch.org
Mitch was born and raised in rural Nebraska as the oldest of four children. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Grinnell College in Iowa, where he ran cross country and track and worked in the admission office. His work giving tours and speaking with prospective students at Grinnell along with his background as a first-generation college student sparked an interest in college access among underrepresented populations. Upon graduating, he expanded on these interests by taking a position in the Connecticut College admission office. While working at Connecticut College, Mitch also became involved with College Horizons, an organization that helps prepare Native American students for the college application process. After three years in Connecticut, he then spent a year in Cleveland as a teacher, college counselor, and coach. Eventually, though, his desire to work with low-income youth and help address the socioeconomic gaps within the education system was too much to resist. He is excited about the work Summer Search does on a daily basis and is proud to join the close-knit team of mentors.

Lorin Jackson, Program Associate
ljackson@summersearch.org
Lorin Jackson is proudly from New York. She attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where she received her BA in Philosophy and Education. While in college, Lorin tutored students from Philadelphia and served as a Senior Writing Coordinator for the Mentors as Student Teachers (MAST) program. During her time at MAST, she taught how to create in-depth writing intervention plans for students, recruited qualified tutors, and led a team of writing coordinators. Most recently, she was a College Literacy Tutor, Instructional Aid, and Advisor at Envision Academy High School in Oakland.  One of her many achievements at Envision was helping 80 high school students at a 3rd grade reading level progress to at least 9th grade proficiency. As far as her personal interests, Lorin enjoys acting, is a DJ, singer, drummer, and loves to travel. She is excited to work with students and staff, as well as continue to strive to be a more responsible, altruistic leader.

Joshua Lauren, Program Associate
jlauren@summersearch.org
Joshua was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his B.A from Skidmore College, where he majored in American Studies and Government. During college, Joshua found a passion for education, leadership development, and mentoring. At Skidmore he played lacrosse, and worked as a peer mentor and tutor. Joshua also participated in a number of community service and social justice activities. Upon graduating from Skidmore Joshua spent two years with Teach For America, teaching Middle School English and Social Studies, and coaching basketball on the Navajo Nation. Having recently relocated to the Bay Area, Joshua is thrilled to join the Summer Search family and share his passion for education, youth leadership, and community development.

Melissa Mayes, Program Associate
mmayes@summersearch.org
Melissa Mayes is originally from Colorado. A mountain girl at heart, she has spent time enjoying the coasts as well-- for her undergraduate work, she went to Pepperdine University, in Malibu, California, where she became interested in social justice issues through work experiences as a Volunteer Coordinator with the Pepperdine Volunteer Center, as well as courses in a Social Action and Justice Colloquium in which she took part. Based on these experiences, she created her own major in Social Awareness and Activism. Being a first-generation college student, issues of access to education have been close to her heart, which is why she went back to work for federal college access TRIO programs in Colorado after graduating, and also, why she decided to go on to graduate school in Boston at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, in the Risk & Prevention program. She is excited to apply what she's learned in this program to continue to work with first-generation students in Summer Search on issues of educational access and social justice, and is excited to be moving somewhere where the weather (unlike in Boston) will allow her to enjoy being outside a little more-- biking, hiking, and going to farmer's markets.

Camille Sheffield, Program Associate
csheffield@summersearch.org
Camille grew up in a small town in rural Ohio. She attended Claremont McKenna College in southern California where she played varsity basketball, volunteered as an ESL teacher and on the Cultural Diversity Admissions Team before graduating with a degree in sociology. Her various international experiences volunteering and studying in Mexico and the Dominican Republic developed her belief in the value of experimental learning experiences and the importance of access to these opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds. Her work as a classroom tutor in Los Angeles public schools inspired her to pursue working with students.  Camille joins Summer Search after completing a Fulbright grant in Venezuela where she worked as an English teacher and college advisor.  She is excited to be living in San Francisco and to join such a unique team of passionate and motivated individuals.

Lisa Walias, Program Associate
lwalias@summersearch.org
Lisa is a Bay Area native and is delighted to be working in San Francisco. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine, where she facilitated a research project studying the correlation between parental conflict and adolescent stress for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. During that time, Lisa also worked as a residential house counselor for homeless youth, where she had the opportunity to connect with young people through leading yoga and anger management exercises. In an effort to better serve traditionally underrepresented populations, Lisa earned her M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the University of San Francisco. During her graduate work, she interned as a College Advisor for first-generation high school students where she deepened her passion for expanding the horizons of young people. As a first generation college student herself, the mission of Summer Search resonates deeply with her personal convictions. She’s excited to work with students and help them realize their full potential as young adults in the city that she loves.

Jenny Wyron, Program Associate
jwyron@summersearch.org
Jenny grew up in Rockville, Maryland, where she first felt the transformative effects of experiential learning. As a high school student, she traveled through Ecuador and performed spoken word poetry as a participant in summer programs.  Interests in language, culture, and identity led her to study Comparative Literature with an emphasis on Literary Translation at Brown University.  While in college, Jenny became interested in peer education and issues of educational equity.  She served as a peer counselor in a first-year residence hall and facilitated health classes at a Providence charter high school.  Prior to joining the Summer Search team, Jenny worked as a Teaching Partner in a sixth grade English and Social Studies classroom at a Rhode Island charter school.  She believes that Summer Search’s unique and comprehensive approach to mentoring helps students tap their deepest strengths, and she is excited to be engaged in such dynamic work.

Jaime Lockwood, Bay Area Grants Specialist
jlockwood@summersearch.org
Jaime grew up in a small town in West Virginia but has spent her adult life city-hopping between Washington, DC, New York City, and Philadelphia before moving to the Bay Area. Originally working in politics when she first graduated, she made the transition into education a few years later, teaching history and social studies in the middle and upper schools at Friends Select School in Philadelphia. Being in the classroom was very gratifying but Jaime also felt the urge to combine her passion for helping others through politics with her desire to work in the education realm. In 2010 she completed her Master’s in Politics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University and simultaneously began to run a farm education program at Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia.  The farm program opened her eyes to the world of education for social justice and she became passionate about working with at-risk students, reaching them through innovative programming that could expand their world perspective and keep them engaged in positive activities and off the street. Farming, advocating for urban agriculture programs, and running farmers’ markets helped Jaime become well-rooted in the communities in which she worked, and she continues to be involved in food justice work now that she is in the Bay Area. Jaime became Bay Area Grants Specialist for Summer Search in June 2011 and is excited to be contributing to the ongoing success and efforts of such a transformative program for young adults.

Cristina Perez, Bay Area Alumni Coordinator
cristina@summersearch.org
Cristina has a BA in Psychology and an Ethnic studies certificate from University of San Francisco, and a Masters in Social Work from San Jose State, with an emphasis in schools and special education. Before joining Summer Search, she worked as a clinical social worker in the community-based agency, La Clinica de la Raza, with children, youth, adults, and their families. She first learned about the strength and uniqueness of Summer Search through her brother’s experiences as a Summer Search student. Cristina joined the San Francisco office in 2002 as a Program Associate and within two years became the Program Director. She continued to mentor students, and managed and trained staff to ensure program quality. In 2007, Cristina became the Associate Director of Summer Search North Bay, partnering with the Executive Director to hire and train mentors to increase student capacity. Under Cristina’s leadership they doubled mentors, implemented training structures that have allowed staff to learn the mentoring in a third of the time as in the past. Cristina also helped increase second year student retention rates from 80% to over 90% each year. Fall 2009 Cristina transitioned to a new role as the Bay Area Alumni Coordinator and is excited to oversee the success of the Alumni Program

Alicia Reza, Bay Area Development Associate
alicia@summersearch.org
Alicia was born and raised in Orange, California. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Sociology and a focus on the evolution and reform of the juvenile justice system. During her time in Santa Cruz, Alicia developed a passion for non-profits after working and volunteering for a variety of medical and community organizations. She came to Summer Search in January 2008 and has enjoyed growing into a fundraising role that allows her to work with the larger community in support of our students. The child of two educators, Alicia was raised to value education but also to understand the inequalities in the system. She was initially drawn to Summer Search because of the unique way the program helps young people create opportunities for themselves. She continues to be inspired daily by Summer Search students.