Our Team
Grace Appiah
Program Coordinator
Ms. Appiah holds a B.A in Public Administration and African American and African Studies with a Social Justice Concentration at Rutgers University Newark. In college, Ms. Appiah served as a Peer Mentor, Senator of the Student Government, BOLD Women’s Leadership Scholar and member of the Honors Living and Learning Community. Ms. Appiah has invested in the Newark community by mentoring high school students and representing youth on the Mayor’s Newark Youth Ambassadors board. Upon graduation, she served as the Black Youth Coalition Organizer at Salvation and Social Justice where she equipped and mentored Black and Brown youth in public policy advocacy. She has had cross-cultural as well as educational experiences in Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, India, Cuba, Curacao, and South Africa. Ms. Appiah is passionate about disrupting oppressive systems, policies and laws that harm Black, Brown and underprivileged communities. She is also committed to creating opportunities where marginalized communities, especially young people have the knowledge and tools to advocate for themselves in every aspect of their lives. Ms. Appiah is excited to join the NJLEEP family and contribute to its work through the Legal Education Program.
Email: gappiah@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-856-2901
Phillip Beard
College Student Success Manager
Mr. Beard holds a B.A. in English from Bowdoin College and an MPA from the City College of New York. Prior to joining NJ LEEP, he has acquired extensive program management experience at various education nonprofits, specifically working with underserved communities. Mr. Beard is passionate about educational equity and creating sustainable programmatic infrastructure to support students’ educational and professional goals.
Email: pbeard@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-868-1197
Onaje Crawford
College Access and Success Coordinator
Mr. Crawford holds a B.S. in Political Science from Boston University. He has worked in multi-faceted administrative and educational roles for a charter school in Newark, NJ. He has extensive leadership experience with many organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has also worked for a math empowerment program and a mentoring program for urban youth as well as a mentoring program for juvenile offenders in Boston. Mr. Crawford has been with NJ LEEP since the beginning of its College Bound Program in 2007, and he has been an anchoring presence in the community since its inception.
Email: onajecrawford@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 617-970-3964
Briana Dismukes
Event & Communications Coordinator
Ms. Dismukes graduated from Kean University where she earned her B.A in English. After graduation she decided she wanted to do work that would give back to her community, and serve students and families from Newark. She started her work in school operations for a public/charter school which solidified her passion for equity in education. After working in a school environment for 5 years, she discovered NJ LEEP and an opportunity to make an impact for students and families in a different way. She is excited to be a part of the amazing opportunities NJ LEEP offers to its students and to continue her work in Newark.
Email: bdismukes@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-951-0920
Ana Dopazo
Managing Director of Programs
Ms. Dopazo holds a BA in Psychology from New Jersey City University and has close to 20 years experience working in the Social Services, Educational, and Criminal Justice field. She has served a wide range of different age groups throughout her career to provide multiple services that varied from case management, educational, crisis management, career development, and post secondary education. She has had experience working with youth and families in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia. As a first generation college student herself, she is excited to join NJ LEEP to help our youth reach their goals for success.
Email: adopazo@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 862-390-1199
Matthew Feinstein
Executive Director
Mr. Feinstein has been involved with NJ LEEP from its inception and became Executive Director in 2014. He holds a B.A. from The University of Maryland at College Park and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a Chancellor Scholar and a member of the Legislative Journal. He is also a graduate of the Rutgers Business School Institute for Ethical Leadership, Nonprofit Executive and Emerging Leader, and Executive Fellows Certificate Programs. He has also completed coursework in non-profit management at Harvard Business School.
Email: mfeinstein@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-494-6541
Marissa Geraghty
Director of College Access and Success
Ms. Geraghty served as a Jesuit Volunteer Corps member with NJ LEEP in 2012 and we are thrilled to have welcomed her back to NJ LEEP! She has a B.A. in Psychology from The College of the Holy Cross and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Email: mgeraghty@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-508-2488
Meghan Howard-Noveck
Managing Director of Operations
Ms. Howard-Noveck holds a B.A. in economics from Princeton University. Prior to joining NJ LEEP, she spent a decade at an economics research lab at Harvard University, where she managed the lab’s portfolio of education projects, partnering with urban school districts across the country. Before that, Ms. Howard-Noveck began her career teaching high school math in Newark. She is passionate about educational equity and is thrilled to be back in NJ and have the opportunity to support the amazing people and programming at NJ LEEP.
Email: mhowardnoveck@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-715-7615
Le’Nae Jenkins
Development Operations Coordinator
Ms. Jenkins holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health from Southern New Hampshire University. Her passion for closing the achievement gap, ending the school-to-prison pipeline, and empowering youth through education is fueled by over 4 years of experience driving operational excellence in non-profit organizations. She is excited to intertwine her skills and passion for education to make a difference at NJ LEEP.
Email: ljenkins@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-951-5099
Krystal Marte
Instructional Program Manager
Ms. Marte holds a B.A. in History with a minor in Russian Studies from Bryn Mawr College and a M.A.T from Relay Graduate School of Education. Ms. Marte went into the education sector to serve her hometown of Newark, NJ and has done so for the last 7 years. She has served in various roles while working in education, including a grade level liaison, a curriculum writer, and a department chair. Her primary role was as a Spanish teacher in various schools in Newark, including KIPP and Uncommon Schools. Ms. Marte believes in the transformative power of a great education, with the understanding that you learn inside and outside of the classroom.
Email: kmarte@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 862-240-3258
Jeehae Park
Student Data Coordinator
Ms. Park holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Law, Justice, and Society from Drew University. Within the discipline of Political Science, she has researched topics from the political participation of second-generation immigrants to the democratization of South Korea using both quantitative and qualitative data. As a first-generation college graduate, she is excited to contribute to NJ LEEP through a data lens and help the team work towards equitable access to education and other resources.
Email: jpark@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-715-4782
Razeya Rahman
Operations and Program Manager
Ms. Rahman is a recent graduate of The College of New Jersey, where she received a B.A. in English. She is also a graduate of NJ LEEP’s Class of 2012. During her summer breaks from college, she interned at NJ LEEP in different capacities in order to learn more about non-profits. She is now NJ LEEP’s full-time Operations and Program Manager, and she is thankful for the opportunity to work at and give back to an amazing program that has helped her with her social and professional development.
Email: rrahman@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-715-7492
Silvana Romero
Recruitment Coordinator
Ms. Romero graduated from Amherst College in 2019 with a B.A. in Latinx and Latin American Studies and Psychology with honors. As a Colombian immigrant, she is passionate about the intersections between ethnicity, mental health, and social inequities. After graduation, she relocated from Florida to New Jersey to work as a Care Manager supporting youth in Hudson County experiencing mental health crises. Ms. Romero is excited to join NJ LEEP to grow the community and support students in achieving their goals.
Email: sromero@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-856-9950
Sergio Seijas
Managing Director of Students
Mr. Seijas holds a B.S. in Biology from Seton Hall University. Upon graduation he enrolled at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he served as Co-Director of the Urban Health Initiative Clinic at Cooper University Hospital and developed programming that helped to address the unmet healthcare needs of the local community. He went on to pursue his interest in community programming at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America where he served as Regional Education and Support Manager for the Greater New York area. A lifelong resident of Newark, he is committed to building bridges in the community and dedicated to providing the students and families of NJ LEEP with the tools and resources they need to thrive and succeed.
Email: sseijas@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-699-6579
Caryn Tomljanovich
Managing Director of Development
Ms. Tomljanovich holds a B.A. in Economics from Connecticut College and a MPP with a concentration in community development from SUNY Albany, Rockefeller College, as well as a certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She brings with her vast experience in the nonprofit sector including work in development, strategic planning, programming and communications, arts, environmental preservation, community/economic development, civic engagement and higher education. She most recently spent 9 years at Princeton AlumniCorps where she completed her tenure there as Executive Director. Ms. Tomljanovich is delighted to join the team at NJ LEEP and excited to support the programs that help students learn, grow and reach their full potential.
Email: ctomljanovich@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 862-390-1283
Amanda Travers
Legal Education Manager
Ms. Travers holds a B.A. from Oberlin College, where she majored in History, minored in Politics and Law & Society, competed in varsity athletics, and was on The Oberlin Review’s editorial board. She has experience working in the field of educational test assessments, and she also holds a J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where she was a Dorothy Day Pro Bono Award Recipient and a member of the Clinic for Asylum, Refugee, and Emigrant Services (“CARES”). Ms. Travers is looking forward to helping students reach their potential and fulfill their educational aspirations.
Email: atravers@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-274-5488
Elyssa Wright
Middle School Program Manager
Ms. Wright holds a BA in Human Services from George Washington University and an MA in Counseling from Montclair State University. She has over 10 years experience working with elementary and middle school students in both formal and informal education contexts, most recently as a school counselor. Ms. Wright loves working with middle school students and is excited to see the Middle School Program grow!
Email: ewright@njleep.org
Cell Phone: 973-985-2083
Grace Appiah
Program Coordinator
Phillip Beard
College Student Success Manager
Onaje Crawford
College Access Coordinator & Writing Instructor
Briana Dismukes
Events & Communications Coordinator
Ana Dopazo
Managing Director of Programs
Matthew Feinstein
Executive Director
Marissa Geraghty
Director of College Access and Success
Meghan Howard-Noveck
Managing Director of Operations
Le’Nae Jenkins
Development Operations Coordinator
Krystal Marte
Instructional Program Manager
Jeehae Park
Student Data Coordinator
Razeya Rahman
Operations and Program Manager
Silvana Romero
Recruitment Coordinator
Sergio Seijas
Managing Director of Students
Caryn Tomljanovich
Managing Director of Development
Amanda Travers
Legal Education Manager
Elyssa Wright
Middle School Program Manager