Who We Are

Minds Matter DC empowers connected, driven, and determined students from low-income
families to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world.

Minds Matter DC is a chapter of the national Minds Matter organization and has been transforming the lives of DC area student since 1994. We connect motivated and capable high school students from low-income families with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed in college and beyond.

Through a three-year program of mentorship, academic support, and college preparation, we help students unlock their potential and build a future filled with possibilities.

100%
4-Year College
Acceptance

95%+
Alumni Graduate or Are
Currently Enrolled in College

76%
First-Generation
College Students

14
Minds Matter
Chapters Nationwide

The Minds Matter DC Program

Mentorship Academic Support SAT Prep Summer Programs College & Financial Aid Guidance

Mentorship

Each student is matched with two dedicated mentors who provide guidance and support throughout high school.

Academic Support

SAT Prep

Summer Programs

College & Financial Aid Guidance

Why Our Work Matters

Only 3% of students at the nation's top colleges are from low-resource backgrounds.
Higher lifetime earnings for college graduates compared to high school graduates.
Minds Matter DC helps students bridge the opportunity gap and reach their full potential.

Our Mission

We connect driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world.

We Could Not Exist Without Our Volunteers

Minds Matter could not exist without the dedication and commitment of over 1,900 volunteers nationwide. Many of our mentors are working professionals who devote their free time to enriching the lives of our deserving students. Our volunteers are a motivational powerhouse, always available to provide a listening ear and an encouraging word to the students they mentor.

Program Leadership

L'Toya Jones
Executive Director

As a first-generation college student, she has dedicated her career to supporting young people and connecting them to educational opportunities. L'Toya most recently served as the Director of Programs with Minds Matter NYC, where she played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding programs that empower students to achieve their academic and personal goals.

Prior to joining MMNYC, she served as Director of Middle School programming with the Harlem Educational Activities Fund.

L'Toya graduated from New York University.

Programs

Senior Program Directors
Diana Pournaras & Rachel Smilan-Goldstein

Junior Program Directors
Javier Rodriguez & Amie Guo

Sophomore Program Directors
Jaleah White & Katie McElroy

Alumni Support Director
Janet Lee

ELA Instructors

Haseeb Ali
Emilee Mcdonald
Cameron Sterling
Matthew Browne

Math Instructors

Ryan Lam
Audrey Sun
Kevin Swanson

Operations

Executive Assistant
Lakeshia Williams

Volunteer Engagement Director
Rithi Mulgaonker

Student Recruitment Director
Camille Bartsch

Board of Directors

Rachel Weissman
Board Chairman

About Rachel

Rachel grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Brandeis University with a double major in Biology and Health: Science, Society and Policy and double minored in Chemistry and Sculpture.

Upon graduation she completed an MBA in Healthcare Administration at Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business. She is currently a Director in the Research and Policy Department at PhRMA (a trade group that represents leading biopharmaceutical research companies).

Rachel has spent countless hours dedicated to Minds Matter and is passionate about helping students be more than they thought possible.

Thayer Surette Roberts
Board Member
(Fundraising)

About Thayer

Thayer Roberts is a senior vice president at Thorn Run Partners where she focuses on health policy. Previously she held roles at several national nonprofits including Research America, the National 4H Council and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She is a graduate of Boston College.

She believes strongly in Minds Matter's mission and served as a mentor and in leadership positions with Minds Matter Boston prior to moving to the Mid-Atlantic and joining Minds Matter DC.

Thomas Kramer
Board Member

About Thomas

Thomas Kramer is responsible for financial management, and administrative stewardship at energy efficiency software company Opower (NYSE: OPWR). Previously, he cofounded and served at CFO at Cvent (NYSE: CVT), the largest event-management technology company in the US, where he helped grow the organization from its wee beginnings to profitability and 850 employees.

Thomas was recently named CFO of the year in Washington, DC, by Washington Business Journal. A child of public school education, Thomas would like to see everybody have equal opportunities. He earned a Master's at the Norwegian School of Economics, and an MBA at Harvard Business School.

In his spare time he tries desperately to match his 5 and 7 year old boys' public school math knowledge, but keeps coming up short.

David R. Ford
Chair Emeritus

About David

David Ford is an advisor to and investor in the healthcare and seniors-housing industries, commercial real-estate ventures and start-up enterprises.

Until 2015, he was the Vice Chairman of Aegis Senior Communities LLC, a leading developer and operator of seniors-housing communities, and remains a principal in the company.

David previously served as the COO and General Counsel of a government contracting firm that provided IT consulting services to defense and other federal agencies. For the first two decades of his professional life, he was an attorney in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare, technology and government-contracting industries.

David is a member of the D.C. regional board of Teach for America, and was a founder of Kalorama Village, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping seniors "age in place."

Bill Mutryn
Board Member

About Bill

Bill Mutryn brings over 40 years of experience as a practicing attorney, most of which has been representing clients in merger and acquisition transactions in the aerospace, defense, government services, healthcare, consumer products, and staffing space.

Prior to joining Bluestone Investment Partners, Bill was a co-leader of Holland & Knight's Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group, and served as a member of Holland & Knight's Directors Committee for 6 years.

Bill is thrilled to be working with Minds Matter DC and looks forward to seeing the progress students make in their pursuit for higher education.

Rachelle Bernstecker
Secretary

About Rachelle

Rachelle Bernstecker worked in the seniors housing industry for more than 35 years. She served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Seniors Housing Association and Vice President of Corporate Compliance for the senior living division of Marriott International.

She is currently an active volunteer and docent at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and a passionate supporter of Minds Matter and various youth education programs in the DC and Baltimore metro area.

Mei Acuña
Board Member

About Mei

Mei Acuña is the Senior Director of HR Programs and Employee Experience at PhRMA. In this role, Mei is responsible for PhRMA’s internship and mentorship programs, supporting the growth and development of PhRMA’s employee resource groups, managing PhRMA’s annual Virtual STEM Career Expo, and overseeing other programs that drive employee engagement.

Before joining PhRMA, Mei was a college and corporate recruiter in variety of industries to include hospitality, higher education, and management consulting. She graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management.

During her time at JMU, Mei served as the first Asian American National Chairperson for the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH). It was through her work with NSMH that she developed a passion for nurturing young talent and creating pathways for their success.

Kris van Riper
Treasuer

About Kris

Jeff Kiderman
Board Member

About Jeff

Jeff is a Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he works across the private, public, and social sectors to drive meaningful impact. With over 15 years of experience in education and workforce development, he brings a deep understanding of the systems that shape opportunity for young people.

His background spans roles as a high school computer science teacher, nonprofit executive director, and private school CFO, giving him a unique, well-rounded perspective on education and access.

Jeff’s passion for expanding opportunity for high-potential students from low-income backgrounds aligns strongly with our mission, and we’re excited to have his leadership and insight as we continue to grow.

Who We Are

The Minds Matter DC Program

Our Mission

We Could Not Exist Without Our Volunteers

Program Leadership

Board of Directors

Our Mission

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