We are beyond thrilled to welcome back a true Surge pioneer—Connie Casson—as our new Interim Chief Operating Officer! Connie isn’t just a familiar face; she was Surge’s very first COO and has been an integral part of our journey from the very beginning.
From helping to design our initial strategy and write our very first business plan, to rolling up her sleeves to work on everything from printing name cards to handling financial reporting, to facilitating two cohorts of Surge Angels, Connie has truly done it all at Surge Institute. And now she’s excited to be back on the Surge team to help us prepare for our next full-time COO.

Connie grew up on an Iowa farm and was a first generation college student. She spent her mid-20s in Chicago before living in both Austin and Denver. She has now been back in Iowa for a decade, where her 87-year-old mom, Nancy, is known to make guest appearances in morning meetings. Connie is working on a couple of juicy volunteer projects (capital campaign! bike trail!), and she loves national parks, especially Zion and Glacier.

Connie’s generosity of time and spirit have been a constant for Surge, and we are so grateful that she has answered the call to guide us through this transition. We’re excited to have her back in the driver’s seat as we prepare for the next phase of our journey as an organization.

William (Will) Collins is an educator and senior non-profit executive serving as the Chief External Affairs Officer for the Surge Institute. The Surge Institute strengthens the diverse talent pipeline and ensures the next wave of leaders represents the populations that education reform and equity efforts seek to serve. As CAO, William is a key leadership team member and owner of developing and leading strategies that drive Surge’s revenue and growth. Since 2018, William has raised over $25M to support Surge’s programming and expansion.

Will’s career started in Corporate America. His relationship-building strengths, business acumen, faith, and commitment to developing others quickly advanced him through global retail merchandise planning assignments for Fortune 500 companies, including Target and The Home Depot. Despite his corporate success, he surrendered to his lifelong call to be an educator. With this career pivot, he entered the classroom and taught economics in the Chicago Public Schools for six years. During this time, he explored opportunities to lead high-impact initiatives that benefit urban youth and transform urban communities, and so began his journey into the non-profit sector.

William holds degrees from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, DePaul University and an executive certificate from Georgetown University. In 2021, he was named one of Chicago’s Top African American Leaders by Crain’s Chicago Business, and in 2022 he was named as one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Community Development. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Leadership Development program, Education Pioneers Fellowship, and the Allstate Foundation’s Nonprofit Leadership Center Executive Leadership Program. He serves on the boards of Hopebound, Open Books Chicago, the national board of Democracy Prep Public Schools, and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. William is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and 100 Black Men of Chicago. He resides in the greater Chicago metropolitan area with his wife, Alicia.

Janaia is a seasoned professional with experience leading teams, developing strategy, and overseeing program implementation and expansion. Before Surge, she served as the Chief Program Officer for Travis Manion Foundation, national veteran nonprofit, championing causes that amplified the military and veteran community. As a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a combat veteran, she found renewed purpose in continued service in the nonprofit space to affect change and support marginalized communities.

A civil servant at heart, Janaia’s passion to give back extends outside of her professional career where she mentors BIPOC youth to guide and assist them to live up to their fullest potential. In 2020, as the United States faced a racial reckoning, Janaia felt compelled to do more for people of color. She spearheaded the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts for her previous organization with a goal to build and shape a community focused on belonging through the training, educating, and empowering of staff and volunteers. Her innate passion for youth and desire to disrupt the system led her to Surge Institute.

Janaia is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Do More Together (West Point’s Black Alumni Association), Chief (network supporting women executive leaders), and volunteers with various non-profit organizations. She holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from Webster University. She spends her free time visiting and traveling with family and friends and trying to make the world a better place by living out the ethos of “If Not Me, Then Who”.

Carmita Semaan is founder and CEO of The Surge Institute. After starting her career as an engineer and strategist for multiple Fortune 500 companies including Procter & Gamble and Danaher, corporate America could not contain Carmita’s desire to lead initiatives that benefit youth and transform urban communities – so she blazed a trail within the non-profit sector, primarily in K-12 urban education. Carmita’s commitment to empowering our country’s most under-served young people led her to over a decade of executive service, driving results for visionary leaders including Alma Powell, Gen. Colin Powell and Arne Duncan, the former US Secretary of Education.

Carmita’s expertise is supporting and elevating the genius of emerging and seasoned leaders - particularly women and people of color - and shining a light on the brilliance and ingenuity that is too often overlooked and untapped in solving systemic issues. Her guiding principle is the connection of head, heart, and soul in leadership to drive sustainable impact and lasting partnerships.
Though an adopted Chicagoan after 18 years, Carmita was raised in Birmingham, AL and proudly professes that her hometown made her who she has become. Birmingham’s history has greatly shaped what she feels called to do and the hustle, horsepower and heart she exhibits.

Carmita holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. She received a 2016 Chicago Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award, was recognized as a “40 Under 40” Procter & Gamble alumnus and was selected as a 2013 Marshall Memorial Fellow by the German Marshall Fund. She was also a 2010 Pahara Aspen Fellow, a 2009 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and is a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education.

Yvonne started her education as a first generation, re-entry student with three children. Back then, she had dreams of becoming a world-famous Chicana poet. Instead, she ended up with a doctorate degree in physics. Although trained as a physicist, Yvonne has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and programming and is committed to creating pathways for advancement for People of Color that are free of obstacles and full of support

Yvonne chose to join Surge in its commitment to strengthening the educational leadership landscape by supporting Leaders of Color from the community. She is happy to work with Surge Fellows and Alumni as they take their skills to the next level on behalf of the youth of Oakland and the Bay area.

Sol Garcia Jones (she/they) is the Academy Program Director at Surge Institute. Her passion for education equity developed when she was an undergrad at Dartmouth College. The experience of going from a majority Latinx community to an Ivy League in New Hampshire made them realize the deep structural inequities in their own education. This experience led her to education and justice work. Sol has spent 10 years working in various educational settings from supporting after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Club in her hometown of Oxnard to most recently leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at KIPP Northern California. Along with a passion for K-12 education, they are a lifelong learner, recently earning their MA from the Graduate Theological Union. Their research focuses on how Black sci-fi literature offers radical lessons for dreaming justice movement work.

Elham Mohaba is the National Programs Coordinator at the Surge Institute, where she oversees the recruitment, application, and selection processes for Surge programs to ensure excellence and consistency across all program sites. Elham is a proud DMV native, and previously worked as the Associate of Program at CityBridge Education in Washington D.C. prior to joining the Surge team. Elham has experience in education, policy, and the nonprofit sector, where she has utilized her superpower of creating systems and processes that further programmatic capacity for equity-centered results.

Elham received her B.A. in Government and International Politics from George Mason University as a first-generation college student, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Social Justice and Human Rights. Elham is currently working on her graduate thesis, which is about the experiences of Black women in Higher Education and explores how trauma is often at the center of these experiences. Elham’s dedication to furthering equity in education stems from her belief that education is a powerful space and tool where marginalization can either be reproduced or reimagined.

Ulric currently serves as the Executive Director at Surge Chicago, drawing on more than 15 years of leadership in education management. His career in education began as a Chicago Public School teacher, and most recently, he held the position of Director of Purpose at LiberatED Way (AUSL). In this role, he led initiatives to dismantle systemic barriers, working towards providing equitable opportunities for K-12 students. Ulric's commitment to mission-driven leadership is evident in his efforts to develop and manage strategic partnerships on both local and national levels.

As an alum of the Surge Institute (Class of 2020), Impact Fellow at the Chicago Urban League, Posse Scholar through the Posse Foundation, and Civic Leadership Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ulric has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to fostering positive collective impact. Chicago Scholars recognized his contributions, honoring him as one of the city's impactful professionals under 35. Academically, Ulric holds three Master’s Degrees in Political Science, Education, and Business Administration from the University of Illinois and National Louis University, showcasing his multidimensional expertise.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Ulric embraces the spirit of Chicago, savoring the city's tavern-style pizza and upholding culinary traditions—no ketchup on hot dogs. He also immerses himself in the local dance scene, enjoying stepping and footworking. During moments of relaxation, Ulric's adventurous spirit comes to life through global travel and culinary explorations, complemented by the simple joys of Law and Order: SVU marathons. Ulric's impactful journey is defined by his dedication to education and a zest for life's diverse experiences.

With a 20+ year career in education, Janeen Lee (she/her) has developed expertise in culturally sustaining curriculum design and instruction, designing and leading large-scale professional development, and managing high-impact teams. Prior to Surge, Janeen was the K-12 Social Science Manager for Chicago Public Schools and led the team that provided culturally relevant instructional coaching, professional learning and curriculum design support to all Social Science teachers across the nation’s third-largest district. Janeen’s experience extends to the out-of-school time space. While working at the Digital Youth Network, she designed and facilitated a virtual exchange program for students in Chicago and Morocco. Janeen views her 10 years as a high school history teacher as her most important work to date.

A proud Afro-Latina from California, Janeen is also an avid reader, loves tv, and finds that laughter and community make the world go round. She resides on the South Side of Chicago with her children (Xiomara, Stokely) and husband (Akili).

Janeen received a B.A. in African American Studies and Sociology from UCLA and holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Michigan. Janeen firmly believes that for youth and adults alike, “education is releasing what is already within” and actively leads with the love for the “babies” in all she does.

Andrea is a former school principal of a high-performing elementary school in the city of Chicago. Andrea worked to create a strong instructional environment that supported the growth of a Golden Apple Award winner. Her career began in Atlanta, GA, as a Teach for America corps member. Her content knowledge, instructional aptitude, leadership dexterity, and commitment to excellence for all scholars, regardless of perceived deficits, quickly led her to aspirations beyond the classroom. When she started as a school leader it was classified as an underperforming school. Her efforts changed the school’s rating from Underperforming to Good Standing, brought in over $1 million of grant monies for campus beautification, and moved the 5essentials standings from Not Well Organized to Well-Organized.

Andrea holds a Master of Education degree from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University. She was selected as a TFA/Harvard Leadership Fellow via a partnership with Teach for America and Chicago Public Schools. Andrea values learning and professional growth, and sought our personal learning opportunities to continue to grow via fellowships with the Surge Institute, Cambiar, and Accelerate Institute. Her leadership mantra is, “If you base your decisions on what’s best for kids, you will never have to question your decision.”

Tiara Wheatley, an educator, mentor, equity advocate and lifelong Chicagoan, is the Vice President of Alumni Impact at the Surge Institute where she leads all alumni programming and is responsible for developing the strategy and ensuring the successful execution and measurement of alumni programming.

Tiara joined the Surge Institute in February 2022 after a successful career in school leadership, spending ten years transforming teaching and learning at Chicago Tech Academy High School (ChiTech). In her former role she served as the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Engagement at ChiTech where she was a key member of the school’s leadership team and led fundraising, real world learning, and corporate engagement. Prior to that role Tiara served as the Assistant Principal where she led the school’s transition to Restorative Practices and led the school’s elimination of exclusionary discipline practices for students of color and organized the school’s first Race & Equity Working Group. It was at ChiTech and through this work that Tiara developed her first professional passion – serving Chicago’s youth at one of the city’s most dynamic schools.

Tiara is also the creator of and brains behind the Young Women’s Leadership Society (YWLS) and the annual Little Black Dress Night (LBDN). YWLS and LBDN bring together Chicago’s female STEM and business community members and celebrate women who are recognized as emerging women in tech and whose efforts are turning the tech industry on its heels and challenging the status quo!

Tiara is a Chicago native and a proud product of the Chicago Public School system. Tiara completed her undergraduate degree in Business Management at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), received her Master’s Degree in Educational Policy Studies from UIC as well and holds a certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Loyola University. Tiara is also a 2020 Alumna of the Surge Institute Fellowship (Chicago).

In her free time, she enjoys baking, shopping, traveling, and spending time with her parents, four sisters, and two nieces.

Born in East LA and raised in the rural farm town of Tulare in California’s Central Valley, Jose M. Andre Iniguez has dedicated his professional career to developing students and young adults toward achieving their full potential in and out of the classroom. Before consulting, he most recently served as Site Director for Year Up San Francisco where he oversaw the site’s programmatic and operational efforts toward bridging the opportunity divide for talented young adults by training and then matching them for internships at top finance and tech companies in the Bay Area. Previously, he served as the Director of High School Preparation and Alumni Programs at Equitas Academy Charter Schools, where he oversaw the strategy development, implementation, and evaluation of the inaugural alumni program providing the network’s scholars and families with support through pathways toward college and career success.

As Senior Program Manager at City Year Los Angeles, he led and implemented school transformation efforts inside K-5th grade classrooms that empowered students to get back on track to graduate high school. He has also led youth development and digital media efforts at MTV, Participant Media, and Swipe Out Hunger, among others. Raised by Mexican immigrant parents and the first to attend college in his family, Jose graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned a master’s degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education, earning a master’s degree in education leadership from The Broad Center. He is a proud member of the Beyhive, is inspired by Sonia Sotomayor and Paulo Freire, and enjoys creating memories with his eight nieces and nephews. He lives in Tulare with his husband, Rafael.

Autumn joins Surge Institute as the Alumni Program Manager where she will work with the Alumni Impact team to support and fuel alumni programming. Prior to joining Surge, she served as a Career & Alumni Program Coordinator for Kauffman Scholars, Inc. where she worked to re-engage their alumni community. She was a key asset to their team creating two new programs and building a connection with the alumni community based on her affinity as an alum of the Program.

Beyond the labels of professional titles, Autumn is a mother, daughter, honorable friend, and an advocate for self-healing. She enjoys journaling, car rides with the windows down, and being around good people.

An alumnus of Chicago Public Schools from K-12 grade and a first-generation college graduate with a BBA from Tennessee State University, TaraShaun has always known the important role that education plays in shaping the minds and opportunities of the youth. While working in the business field, TaraShaun’s most enriching experiences came from her volunteer work with various community organizations including her work as a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. Her commitment to service led her to leave corporate America and follow her passion to serve students by joining Chicago Teaching Fellows as a middle school math teacher. Driven by her commitment to personal growth and excellence, Ms. Cain achieved National Board Certification in Math, Masters of Arts in Teaching from Dominican University, and a second Master of Arts in Education from National-Louis University. Her systems thinking and ability to build a professional culture of collaboration made her a natural match for educational leadership where she served as a math lead, TAP mentor teacher, assistant principal, and principal in CPS.

TaraShaun is committed to securing enriching opportunities that expand the educational experiences of the communities she serves with a heavy focus on climate, culture, and student agency. This is evident by her work with LEAP innovations in personalized learning, the Fund, the Middle School Project, and various other community-based organizations. Her work has focused on building the capacity of teachers, leaders, and students around high-quality instruction, student advocacy and engagement, personalized learning, student-centered design, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Her passion for liberatory and equitable learning conditions in schools led her to apply for the Surge fellowship in 2020. Empowered by her experiences and growth, TaraShaun continued to work to create affirming, learner-centered experiences within her school community. TaraShaun is a servant leader that is committed to excellence and assisting others in connecting to their own personal greatness through passion, press, productivity, and positivity.

Angia Kincey uses her background in social work to execute big-picture thinking and innovation. She joined the Surge Institute as The Black Principals Network Program Manager where she is dedicated to member engagement and program expansion. Her passion lies in intervening at state, local, and national levels of social injustices through grant writing, nonprofit management, and data analysis. Angia received her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Houston in order to cultivate soft and technical skills for a heart-centered leadership practice.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento in Psychology, she became increasingly interested in personal development and metaphysics. As a result, she enjoys intellectual texts and books on spirituality. Angia’s spirituality is what guides her professional and personal life. She spends her free time outdoors exploring Houston, trying different foods, visiting art exhibits, and open mic nights.

Kelsey Scott is the National Operations Coordinator at Surge. She has worked in Affinity Program Building, Development, and Event Management. When she was released from her previous work experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the abrupt transition led her to explore what it meant to feel fulfilled and how she could cultivate that professionally and personally.

During that time of reflection, she became curious about how art and media could be powerful tools for exploring and celebrating black excellence across the diaspora. Following an art residency, she began embracing the power of education and entertainment to foster intergenerational healing and encourage self-exploration and acceptance within her community through art and immersive events. She is excited to continue this work at Surge, where she could learn from educators, activists, and community leaders looking to increase educational equity. She believes that working at Surge will do more than help her hone her professional skill set. It’s the opportunity for her to grow personally, expand her understanding, and be exposed to not just issues around educational equity but to intersectional approaches and methodologies that can create a lasting impact and positive change in her life, community, and the world.

Brittany Veal is a powerhouse in Higher Education administration with over 15 years of experience. Brittany's expertise extends to developing processes, ensuring compliance, conducting data analysis, and overseeing operations.
Brittany's commitment to excellence is evident in her diverse certifications. Her wide range of qualifications reflects her dedication to continuous learning and her passion for serving her community.
Brittany holds a Master of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science from Indiana University Bloomington. Her academic achievements demonstrate her strong foundation in management, healthcare, and education, which she seamlessly integrates into her professional endeavors.
Brittany is deeply involved in community organizations, demonstrating her dedication to making a positive impact in her community. She is an active member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, The Indianapolis Urban League, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. Brittany's contributions extend beyond her professional and educational pursuits, reflecting her passion for fostering unity, empowerment, and well-being in her community.
Brittany Veal is a remarkable leader, educator, and community advocate who has dedicated her career to enriching the lives of others.

With 20+ years of experience in Advertising, Marketing Communications, and Brand Management, Gregory Johnson is a seasoned marketing executive. His expertise and proven track record have helped build some of the most successful and identifiable brands in the world. He is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Orbital Socket, a brand engagement company that creates captivating brands, igniting business growth by building relationships between brands and people. He was formerly the President of Boone Oakley Advertising, where he helped the agency become one of the most sought otter advertising and digital communication agencies in the southeast working with brands like Bojangles; the Charlotte Hornets, Wells Fargo Golf Championship, State Farm, Cheerwine, Autobell, and Levine Properties. Mr. Johnson spent a large part of his career at Nike and was previously the marketing director and a founding team member of the Jordon Brand.

Mr. Johnson began his career at J. Wolter Thompson as a media planner. He was also in Account Management at Sootchi & Sootchi on the Tide. Other brands he hos worked on include Kodak, Johnson & Johnson, Reynolds Metals, and Worner-Lambert (now Pfizer). A gitted notional speaker, Mr. Johnson hos spoken at the Harvard Business School, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the Congressional Black Caucus, Hampton University, Florido A&M, and various other organizations. Mr. Johnson earned a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as on MA in Theology from Western Seminary. He is married to Carole Hedgepeth Johnson, also a UNC Alumnus. The couple has four children, Benjamin, Mycah, Meyoh, and Carolina.

Yaseen Abdus-Saboor is a designer, storyteller and overall creative with a range of graphic design, visual arts and fashion design. After completing his Bachelor’s of Arts in graphic design at DePaul University in 2019, Yaseen has worked in the nonprofit space with Thrive Chicago and the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative developing and executing strategies to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color. Yaseen also has experience leading an education program focusing on youth media literacy and community engagement as the Education Program Manager and Storyteller with the nonprofit Public Narrative. His passion for equity for Black and Brown communities has led him to bring his creativity and skill set to organizations and initiatives that provide those resources and strategies.

David Henry serves as the Vice President of Development for Surge Institue. Firmly rooted in his commitment to service and equity for marginalized communities, David brings over 15 years of fundraising and leadership experience in the non-profit sector.

As a fundraising leader, David draws from his own lived experience coming from a Mexican immigrant family to catalyze and frame his priorities and contributions at Surge. Before joining Surge, David worked as a fundraising leader in anti-trafficking, climate-resilient job creation, and equitable education organizations.

David lives with his wife, and two daughters, in New Haven, CT. He is an alumnus of Fordham University, with a certificate in Connected Leadership from Yale University. He also serves on the Board of Directors at his local United Way.

Divinity Pittman is the Director of Development for the Surge Institute. With over a decade of experience fundraising on behalf of young people, Divinity’s mission-driven approach is shaped by her time in government at the New York State Assembly Committee on Children and Families, as well as conducting IRB approved qualitative research on child abuse at Syracuse University.

During her fundraising tenure she has generated and stewarded funds through grant-writing; individual donor cultivation and board management; event management; direct mail campaigns; and development operations. With a lens toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), she applies a strengths-based approach to donor communications.

Divinity is a proud Syracuse University graduate, holding a B.A. in sociology with a minor in African American Studies, as well as an MPA with a concentration in nonprofit management. Divinity was named a Syracuse University Graduate Scholar, as well as an African American Studies External Fellow.

Before deciding to bring her expertise to the nonprofit sector, Sandra held numerous management positions, both in academia and at Fortune 500 companies, gaining valuable experience in talent acquisition, project management, training and development, compliance and governance, and management and supervision in human resources.

As a project manager at BMO Financial Group, where she was a senior advisor in Diversity and Inclusion, she developed new start-up guidelines for Employee Resource Groups. Her coaching of BMO emerging leaders and committees, from seven corporate groups, led to the development of highly successful enterprise-wide sponsored events and programs to highlight, recognize, celebrate and engage the diverse employee workforce.

Prior to BMO, as a talent acquisition manager at AT&T and its spin-off companies, she developed and implemented new employee recruiting strategies and designed databases, utilized by a team Recruiters and Researchers, as well as process improvement and territory management tools. She led multiple cross-functional teams on organizational initiatives, resulting in implementation and standardization of team’s quality improvement recommendations.

Her contributions to the community include leading a Professional Women’s Network committee that culminated in annual 5K scholarship awards to female high school seniors; a former Firman Community Services board member and committee chair; and Chicago Chamber of Commerce, Youth Motivation Program, Corporate liaison and facilitator for CPS High Schools.

Sandra holds a master of science degree in education from Chicago State University. She is a Chicago native, avid jazz lover and a collector of African sculpture, African-American art and literature.

Sam is the Special Projects Analyst at Surge Institute. His four years of working in Diversity & Inclusion in Chicago made him curious about the underlying causes of gaps in representation in leadership in major corporations in the US. This curiosity led him back to school where he majored in Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego in order to gain a better understanding of the histories and ongoing effects of racism in this country. Until 2019, Sam served as the Development Database Manager at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. Sam is passionate about overturning the status quo in public education and is so excited about getting to do work that does just that at Surge.