Cassie Williams

“The Fellowship experience has been awesome for me both professionally and personally: Professionally, I have deepened my understanding of both technical and adaptive skills. I have become a stronger, more…

LeShonne Segura

“The Surge Fellowship rejuvenated my passion for social justice. By challenging me to think critically about my leadership, the Fellowship empowered me to take more ownership of my development and…

TaMikka Sykes

“Before Surge I focused on executing someone else’s vision for change; now I am shifting to developing my own solutions to problems I encounter as a practitioner. The Surge Fellowship…

DuJuan Smith

“My Surge Fellowship has been an amazing journey!  I have learned so much about myself, my cohort members, and about the educational landscape in the United States. The lessons ranged…

Khair Sadrud-Din

“The Surge Institute Fellowship has immensely impacted my leadership. It has taught me the importance of intentionality, self-reflection, and active listening. I have already found these skills to be useful…

Marilyn Rhames

“Surge has had a profound impact on my professional development, highlighting the value of my perspective as a Black female educator in the mostly white, privileged education reform world. I…

Bianca Paiz

“The Surge Fellowship provided me with a perspective of success I had not yet dreamed of as a person of color working in education. As an applicant I wanted to…

Nche Onyema

“Through the Surge Fellowship, I’ve come to understand my worth and value and now have the power and the tools to settle for nothing less than greatness. I’m ready to…

Grisel Maldonado

Grisel Maldonado is the Director of College Success at UChicago Impact at the Urban Education Institute (UEI). Maldonado oversees 6to16, UChicago Impact’s college success curriculum, and leads the development and…

Ana Martinez

“There are experiences in life that have the power to shape our forever, and Surge is one of those for me.  I’ve spent my entire life and professional career noticing…