Staff

Makeda received her B.A. in the History of Science, with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy from Harvard College in 2019. Prior to working for Steppingstone, Makeda was a scholar of the Foundation (Class of 2009!), and a volunteer and programming coordinator for The Phillips Brooks House Association, a student-lead nonprofit organization in Cambridge. Outside of work, Makeda is probably listening to music, and is the Special Projects Coordinator for Harvard’s HipHop Archive & Research Institute.

Phil received his B.A. in Spanish and French along with a minor in Communication. Prior to joining Steppingstone, he was a Youth Development Counselor at the Boys and Girls Club of Plymouth dedicated to helping young people realize their full potential. Outside of work, you can find him running through the streets training for his next marathon.

Halle enthusiastically joined Steppingstone in June 2019 to embrace a dynamic equity & access support services role. Ms. Katz is a Brown University graduate who worked as a college admissions officer at Bentley University; her work with Steppingstone scholars is informed by her time spent with prospective college students as well as her experience teaching dance to teens. Halle values individualized learning and the opportunity to cultivate challenging yet warm spaces for growth.

Thai was born in Vietnam and immigrated to Oahu, Honolulu at the age of six. He is a recently graduated with his Masters in English from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2019. Besides being an advocate for higher education, Thai is a die-hard Lakers fan. He also loves spending time with his dog, Hero.

Thanh received his BA in English from The University of Massachusetts Boston. He is an alumni of John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science. Prior to joining Steppingstone, he worked as the Youth Program Director at The Vietnamese-American Initiative for Development in Dorchester, MA. Outside of work, Thanh enjoys rooting for his Boston sports team, playing basketball, eating good food, watching movies, listening to K-pop and traveling with his family.

Katie graduated from Bowdoin College with a BA in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, and Francophone Studies. Originally from Chicago, she has also lived in France for a couple years-- first as a student and later as an English Language Lecturer at the University of Lyon. Outside of work you might find her listening to a variety of podcasts or finding new TV shows to watch.

Elena earned her BA in psychology from Clark University and her MEd in school counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Being a Boston native herself, Elena’s related experiences include teaching and counseling throughout various school programs in the city. Outside of work, you might find her playing soccer, trying out new places to eat in different neighborhoods, attending a dance class, or hanging with her niece and nephew!

Hieu recently received his Master's degree in Education at Lesley University. Hieu comes to Steppingstone from teaching in Boston Public Schools and working in a non-profit in Dorchester called Viet-AID. He is passionate in working with youth and helping them navigate the education system through an equitable and social emotional lens. In his free time, Hieu likes to play basketball with his friends, go hiking, eat new food, and play video games.

Annie earned her BS in elementary education from Boston University's School of Education. Despite receiving her initial teaching license, Annie knew she wanted to work with youth beyond the classroom setting. After graduating, she worked at a local non-profit organization coordinating and developing academic and enrichment programs for high school youth. She also worked at Boston University where she assisted undergraduate students in understanding the curriculum and academic policies, and assisted students in finding appropriate resources across campus. Outside of work, she enjoys playing with her dog (Milo), watching the Food Network, or planning for her next travel adventure.