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  Primo Lasana

  Executive director, New York

  Primo Lasana is honored to become the executive director of Reading Partners NYC. Primo joins Reading Partners after eight years with iMentor, a national college access program that leverages volunteers for student success. At iMentor, he held leadership roles in program implementation, volunteer recruitment, fundraising and national program expansion. He started his career at City Year Chicago, where he completed two years of service in Chicago Public Schools as an AmeriCorps member. Primo is proudly born and raised in New York City. Outside of work, he serves on Brooklyn Community Board 9 as the co-chair of the Youth Services Committee. In 2021, Primo graduated from NYU Wagner with an executive master’s in public administration and completed his bachelor's degree at CUNY Hunter College.

• Kimberly De Jesus

  Senior program manager

  Kimberly De Jesus considers herself a lifelong learner. She is a recent graduate from the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where she received a Master's in Public Administration with a specialization in Management and Leadership. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Culture with a minor in Spanish from Howard University. Her journey as an educator began as an afterschool step coach for elementary-aged children in Washington D.C. She later joined Teach For America (TFA), serving two years as an elementary school teacher for the Greater New Orleans region. After her TFA commitment, she continued teaching, focusing on differentiating instruction for English Language Learners and children with exceptionalities. As a program manager, she continues to pursue her passion for educational equity by designing and implementing educational opportunities for students and families across the NYC region.

• Carly Elliott

  Program director

  Carly firmly believes that literacy is a human right and is passionate about the role early intervention plays in closing the literacy gap. Before joining the Reading Partners team, Carly served as a Program Manager at The Literacy Lab in Washington, DC. Prior to shifting to the nonprofit space, Carly spent six years as an elementary Special Education teacher and a second-grade teacher in the District of Columbia. Carly is an alumna of Teach For America and completed two years as a Corps Member in Washington, DC. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from George Mason University and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, Carly enjoys cooking and playing with her rescue dog, Lemon.

• Diego Fellows

  Development manager

  Diego Fellows has been the development manager at Reading Partners since October 2022. Prior to Reading Partners, Diego was the development & communications manger at Salem Academy Charter School (MA). He joined the staff at Salem Academy after working as a teacher in the Salem Public Schools (MA) where he began his career. Diego holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in education from Boston University. He is a proud Eagle Scout and enjoys spending his free time on the mountains hiking or hitting the pavement running.

• Ashley Gayle

  Program manager

  Ashley Gayle joined the Reading Partners New York City team determined to work for an impact-oriented organization closing the opportunity gap in literacy. She was born in Jamaica but spent her early adulthood in the Bronx. Ashley is a first-generation high school and college graduate who started a successful career in education management. She is an advocate for youth development and equitable access to education, developed through her service years as an Americorps member with Citizen Schools and as a program manager with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City

• Sariba Levin

  Program manager

  Sariba Levin started her work in educational advocacy six years ago. She moved to Miami in 2016 where she served as an AmeriCorps member for City Year Miami. She spent the next three years working in Miami-Dade County Public Schools building relationships with students and community leaders. During that time, she helped elementary school students with significant literacy gaps make learning gains. Sariba provided academic intervention to high school students who were classified as English Language Learners. Upon her return to New York City, Sariba continued her work in education. She managed special education at a charter school and engaged with parents and external stakeholders such as the Committee on Special Education. She collaborated with her entire school community to create goals and provide support for students with special needs. Since joining the Reading Partners NY team, Sariba has continued to work with school partners to close learning gaps and water the seeds of the future generation. Her work with Reading Partners is rooted in advocacy, educational equity, and equal opportunity for all.

• Clara Monk

  Community engagement manager

  Clara Monk is thrilled to join the team permanently as Community Engagement Manager following her recent graduation from the FAO Schwarz Fellowship in social impact at Reading Partners NY. Clara graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Economics and Education Studies and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Baruch College. In addition to her work at Reading Partners, Clara is a dancer and repetiteur, standardized test tutor, and avid foodie.

• Louisa Moyse

  Development director

  Louisa Moyse is the development director at Reading Partners NY. Before joining the team in September 2021, Louisa lead development and external relations efforts at Public Prep Network, a single-sex charter school network in NYC. In her role at Reading Partners, Louisa is responsible for leading the strategy and execution of the short- and long-term development goals. Louisa has a Bachelor's Degree in international studies from SUNY Cortland. She is thrilled to be on the Reading Partners New York team where she can continue her commitment to providing equitable access to high-quality educational experiences.

• Thara Nugues

  Community engagement associate

  Thara Nugues was born in France and has been calling New York City her home for almost ten years. Before joining the team, she completed one AmeriCorps service term as a volunteer coordinator with Reading Partners NY at P.S.38 and P.S.171. Thara is excited to work once again with individuals who are passionate about educational equity and thrilled to be joining the team as a community engagement associate. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Languages, a Master’s Degree in International Studies and volunteered with New York Cares for over seven years. Thara is a certified scuba-diver and in her spare time she loves trying out new restaurants, baking and wood-working.

• Rhea Quinones

  Community Engagement Director

  Rhea is honored to join Reading Partners as the community engagement manager for the New York region. Rhea spent three years with Achievement First Charter School Network where she developed community partnerships in Brooklyn, ensured strong family engagement, and managed community outreach for student recruitment efforts. Prior to her work with Achievement First, Mrs. Quinones worked as a community organizer for a decade, supporting grassroots education, housing, and transit organizing in Mammoth Lakes, CA, Chicago, IL, Manhattan, NY, and Patterson, NJ. Rhea is committed to giving all students access to an amazing education and is passionate about using volunteers to help address critical problems facing our country.

• Megan Ross

  Senior major gifts officer

  Megan joined the Reading Partners New York team in 2015 as the first senior major gifts officer in the network. Prior to Reading Partners, Megan served for six years in a similar role at City Year New York. Megan's experiences focus primarily on individual and corporate giving, major gifts programs, and relationship development on all levels. Megan lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children and has seen firsthand the importance of developing strong literacy skills at a young age. Outside of work, Megan serves on the Annual Fund Advisory Board at Duke University where she double majored in Public Policy and Spanish. You can reach Megan at megan.ross@readingpartners.org.

• Elisabeth Renikoff

  Senior program manager

  Elisabeth grew up in Maryland and DC and attended Boston University, studying Theatre Arts and African American Studies. She has previously worked in youth development focused on art and mentorship. Elisabeth loves dancing, cooking, and painting. Her favorite author is Elif Shafak.

Advisory board

Kerri Bartlett, Reading Partners tutor

David Berg, corporate partner, Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel, LLP 

James Hobson, chief executive officer, Attune Insurance

Elizabeth John, Reading Partners tutor

Ramyata Joshi, vice president, Goldman Sachs

David Levine, co-head – Americas acquisitions, Blackstone Group

Andrea London, senior VP, Lincoln Land Services

Eliberty Lopez, associate general counsel, Meta

Brandon Lower, head of financial sponsors group, William Blair & Company

Melissa Magner, director, BlackRock Solutions

Peter Martelli, partner, mergers and acquisitions, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Elise Rosenberg, managing director, Seven Bridges Advisors

Erika Stallings, senior product counsel, Bandcamp/Epic Games

Alexis Strongin, retired neurodevelopmental pediatrician

Steve Tomlinson, P.C., partner, real estate, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Daniel Zarkowsky, managing principal, Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC

Associate board

Mackenzie Berman, principal, The Blackstone Group

Zack Coleman, vice president, Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC

Joe Fiorie, program manager, ION

Andrew Gothelf, associate board chair, director, Salesforce

Raquel Grazi Fischer, vice president at Mousse Partners

Heather Heinz, investment analyst, Real Estate, Kemnay Advisory

Sam Zaretsky, associate board vice chair, Real Estate Associate, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Lauren Zhao, senior consultant, IQVIA

Tutor advisory council

Joan Stamler, Tutor Advisory Council Chair

Christina Auriana

Devi Ramchandran

Gerald Simpkins

Mary Gherty

Sophia Trugerman

Thomas Wornom

Iris Keitel