Staff Directory
Philadelphia Education Fund Staff
Our dedicated and experienced team of professionals is best in class. They drive results for students by leveraging one another’s talents and working collaboratively to deliver a comprehensive and effective suite of college and career programming.
Leadership
Madeline Birkner
Senior Manager, Persistence and College PartnershipsMadeline serves as the Senior Manager of Persistence at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she coordinates college persistence efforts, designing outreach strategies and supportive interventions to help up to 450 College Access seniors per year find their footing after graduation. She also manages PEF’s paid college prep summer program, called Scholars Advantage, as well the Fostering College Readiness initiative, which helps connect young Philadelphians with foster care histories to their financial aid entitlements.
Prior to joining PEF in 2014, Madeline worked in Bryn Mawr College Admissions as the primary reviewer of applications from New English, Pakistan, Turkey, and the Middle East
She earned and A.B. in Spanish Literature and Sociology from Bryn Mawr College in 2010. Madeline lives in West Philadelphia with her husband, children, two fig trees, and really excellent Franklinia (look it up!). She is a passionate believer that every student deserves quality college counseling and that the chicken maroosh from Saad’s Halal is the best sandwich in the city.
Isabella Bowker
Senior Program Manager for the Philadelphia Postsecondary Success Program (PPSP)ibowker@philaedfund.orgIsabella Bowker
Senior Program Manager for the Philadelphia Postsecondary Success Program (PPSP)Isabella Bowker is the Senior Program Manager for Insight at PEF, where she works alongside school leaders, counselors and staff, and community-based partners to build stronger college and career readiness systems from the inside out.
Prior to joining PEF, Isabella lived in Baltimore City, where she taught students from elementary through college through her work as a fourth-grade teacher, curriculum writer, and college retention program director.
Isabella received both her Bachelors in the Writing Seminars and Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University and worked as a student research assistant at JHU’s Everyone Graduates Center, a frequent collaborator of PEF. Originally from Rhode Island, Isabella can often be found cheering loudly for the Boston Celtics.
Bryan DeFoney
Vice President, ProgramsBryan DeFoney serves as the Vice President of Programs at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where he oversees all secondary and postsecondary programming. In this role, Bryan aims to strengthen PEF’s data collection through informed practices that help define the organization’s program throughline from middle grades programming to college and career success.
Prior to joining PEF in 2021 as Director of the College Access Program, Bryan served as Program Manager at College Possible Philadelphia, a national nonprofit focused on college access and success. There, he led a program serving more than 500 students across three area school districts, overseeing SAT prep programming and driving outcomes in student matriculation and persistence. He got his start in the field as a middle school English teacher in North Philadelphia.
Bryan earned his bachelor’s degree from Neumann University, where, as a first-generation college student himself, he developed a love for higher education. Bryan recently served as President of the Executive Alumni Board at Neumann University. He has also been a FAFSA coach for the School District of Philadelphia, and a member and presenter with PACAC and the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable.
David Garbe
Director, McKinney Center for STEM EducationDr. David Garbe has a wealth of experience in the academic, nonprofit, and corporate domains. Prior to joining Philadelphia Education Fund in November of 2024, Dave was the Director of Outreach and Education for The Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR). During his eight years with PSBR, he strategically extended the scope, reach, and mission of the organization to educate the public about the importance of biomedical research and its significance to human and animal health. In this role he also conceived, developed, and deployed the mobile SPARC Science program that expanded to serve over 18,000 students in 2023. Additionally, he developed numerous Teacher Professional Development Programs, Science Fairs, Career Workshops, and Public Community Outreach initiatives.
Prior to PSBR, Dr. Garbe was a scientist that performed research focused on cancer, nervous system development, circadian biology, and sleep in the academic setting and the treatment of mood disorders in the biopharma arena. He was also an adjunct professor at various universities and colleges around the Philadelphia area. During his professional career, Dave has served on many boards for professional organizations.
Farah Jimenez
President and CEOFarah Jimenez is the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF), a nonprofit committed to tackling the city’s talent pipeline challenge, by ensuring Philadelphia students are supported in fulfilling their fullest college and career ambitions. It is her belief – in the power of an education to transform lives – that drives Ms. Jimenez’ efforts at the Philadelphia Education Fund. At PEF,
Ms. Jimenez is responsible for supporting, leading, and resourcing the work of the City’s most talented and experienced team of college and career professionals. In her role, she also works to foster the corporate and civic partnerships that enable PEF to serve more than 3,000 students year, award $900,000 in scholarships annually, support 750 teachers and embed college advising in six Philadelphia public high schools. During her tenure, Ms. Jimenez expanded PEF’s advising services to four middle schools; rebooted PhillyGoes2College.org, PEF’s online college access portal; launched PEF’s McKinney Center for STEM Education; established three collective impact initiatives in partnership with industry and the School District of Philadelphia; and built PEF’s successful education consulting practice.
Prior to her tenure at PEF, Ms. Jimenez served four years as a gubernatorial appointee to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission – formerly, the governing body of the School District of Philadelphia. And, her nonprofit leadership experience spans 20 years, including tenures as President and CEO of the People’s Emergency Center and Executive Director of Mt. Airy USA.
Ms. Jimenez holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She also holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Chestnut Hill College and a certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School.
A frequent commentator on civic matters in Philadelphia, Ms. Jimenez has enjoyed brief stints as a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer; is on the board of Broad+Liberty, a digital media platform offering balance to local news and editorial coverage; and can be seen Sundays on Inside Story, a current affairs television show that airs weekly on WPVI, Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate.
Emily Jordan
Director of DevelopmentEmily Jordan serves as the Director of Development at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she leads the organization’s fundraising strategy, corporate and foundation partnerships, individual giving, special events, and revenue diversification efforts. She works closely with colleagues, board members, and community partners to secure the resources that expand educational opportunities for Philadelphia students and strengthen PEF’s impact across the city.
Prior to joining PEF in 2025, Emily served as Vice President of Development at Philadelphia Youth Basketball, where she led fundraising, strategic partnerships, and communications initiatives in support of sports-based youth development programming. She began her career as a Philadelphia public school teacher at the Academy at Palumbo, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to educational equity and opportunity.
A first-generation college graduate, Emily earned a B.S. in Secondary Education from Temple University (Go Owls!) and a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Holy Family University.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Children Can Shape the Future, the Temple University College of Education and Human Development Alumni Board, and Let’s Get Ready’s Associates Council. She is also a member of Leadership Philadelphia’s CORE Class of 2026 and volunteers with New Leash on Life USA. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, cheering on Philadelphia sports teams, and spending time with her husband, two dogs, and family and friends.
Allison Kelsey, M.Ed.
Senior Manager, Philadelphia Scholars ProgramAllison directs PEF’s Last Dollar college scholarship, develops and manages private and corporate scholarships, delivers student workshops, and helps Philadelphia Scholars navigate college — from financial aid to academic choices to commuter issues. Her research interest is in equity-based success supports for limited income, first gen students. A first gen college graduate herself, Allison has a master’s in higher education from Temple University and a bachelor’s from Brown University. She serves on CareerSpring’s Regional Advisory Board and was president of the board of trustees of Independence Charter School, a K-8 public charter in Philadelphia.
Contact her about financial giving to the Scholars Program, laptop and tablet donation, and creating your organization’s or family’s scholarship.
Mike Noel
Director, Data and EvaluationMike Noel serves as the Director, Data and Evaluation at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where he oversees the design, collection, analysis and evaluation of PEF’s program data. A former guidance counselor and case manager, he prizes his ability to design systems that center the needs of educators and better support student success.
Prior to joining PEF in 2022, Mike worked at YouthBuild Philly, where he served as the organization’s first Program Outcomes and Evaluation Manager, leading a re-design of the school’s information system and overseeing internal evaluation functions for its programs.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from La Salle University, where he was a member of the Honors Program and co-editor of its literary magazine, The Grimoire. Mike enjoys reading old detective novels, writing poetry, noodling on his guitars in his spare time–and, above all, traveling across country playing sandlot baseball.
Erica Perez
College Access Program DirectorErica serves as the Director of the TRIO College Access Program at PEF. In this role, she supports a team of College Access Coordinators as they advise and advocate for 1700+ high school students at six Philadelphia neighborhood high schools.
Erica is a Philly native, a proud first-generation college student, and is passionate about empowering young people through their postsecondary pursuits. Erica earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her masters in Organization Leadership from Cabrini University.
Erica’s career has been dedicated to college access work. Prior to joining PEF, she worked at Girard College, where she educated students in grades 9-12 about postsecondary opportunities through seminar classes, 1-1 advising, trips, and workshops. She also spent several years in higher education as an Assistant Director of Admissions, where she focused on multicultural recruitment and worked closely with students that identified as first-generation and/or low-income.
Outside of work, Erica loves spending time with her family, reading, and traveling
River Rangel
Senior Program Manager, Middle Grades InitiativesRiver Rangel is the Senior Program Manager at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where they oversee all middle grades programming for 7th and 8th grade students. This includes managing the Middle Years initiative at the North 10 community center as well as the Spark after school program, which currently serves seven Philadelphia public schools.
Through Spark, River builds partnerships with local companies to provide students with hands-on career exploration opportunities. By coordinating corporate volunteer engagement and job-site field trips, they ensure students gain early exposure to college and career pathways while also strengthening their social-emotional learning skills.
Previously, River served as the Lead College Access Coordinator at Frankford High School through PEF’s College Access Program/TRIO. Their background also includes teaching English and Spanish to 7th and 8th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia, as well as working in graduate admissions at Penn Law.
River holds a B.S. in English Education from New York University and an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, River enjoys visiting national parks and pursuing their passion for film photography, both shooting and working in a darkroom.
Ellen Ridyard
Director, Collaborations and PartnershipsEllen Ridyard serves as the Director of Collaborations and Partnerships at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she serves as the inaugural leader of the backbone organization for CASE, the college access and success ecosystem. CASE is a citywide, 100+ organization collective impact effort aimed at strengthening college graduation rates for all Philly students.
Prior to joining PEF in 2023, Ellen worked at Heights, where she led admissions and advising strategy, university partnerships, and a college access program. Ellen’s career has always centered on collaborating with Philadelphia public school students, educators, universities, and communities.
She earned a Bachelors degree from Vassar College, a Masters degree from the University of Edinburgh, and a teaching certification from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves on the PACAC Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee, and is a member of the Heights Systems, Equity and Change Board Committee. Outside of work, Ellen is an avid reader, runner, and beagle walker. She lives with her family in South Philadelphia and is the proud parent of two SDP students.
LaToya Winkfield
Vice President, OperationsLaToya Winkfield serves as Vice President of Administration, Finance, and Operations at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she leads finance, administration, and operations to strengthen organizational effectiveness, optimize resources, and support the successful delivery of PEF’s programs and services.
Before joining PEF in 2026, LaToya worked at Delaware State University, where she oversaw finance and operations and helped ensure that resources, systems, and processes were managed effectively in support of the organization’s mission and impact.
LaToya earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from Temple University and a Master of Business Administration from La Salle University. She currently serves on the executive board of the La Salle University Alumni Association, as President of the HSA at St. Thomas Aquinas, and on the leadership team of St. Joseph’s Prep High School’s Onyx Club. Outside of her professional and community work, LaToya enjoys tap dancing, baking, and traveling.
Middle Grades Initiatives
River Rangel
Senior Program Manager, Middle Grades InitiativesRiver Rangel is the Senior Program Manager at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where they oversee all middle grades programming for 7th and 8th grade students. This includes managing the Middle Years initiative at the North 10 community center as well as the Spark after school program, which currently serves seven Philadelphia public schools.
Through Spark, River builds partnerships with local companies to provide students with hands-on career exploration opportunities. By coordinating corporate volunteer engagement and job-site field trips, they ensure students gain early exposure to college and career pathways while also strengthening their social-emotional learning skills.
Previously, River served as the Lead College Access Coordinator at Frankford High School through PEF’s College Access Program/TRIO. Their background also includes teaching English and Spanish to 7th and 8th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia, as well as working in graduate admissions at Penn Law.
River holds a B.S. in English Education from New York University and an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, River enjoys visiting national parks and pursuing their passion for film photography, both shooting and working in a darkroom.
Stacey Sandle
Program Manager, SparkStacey Sandle serves as the Program Manager for Spark Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Education Fund where she provides middle school students with college and career readiness opportunities along with engagement with corporate partners and working professionals
Prior to joining PEF in 2021, Stacey worked at the Lincoln Center for Family and Youth where she curated college and career experiences for students within the Norristown Area School District in addition to building corporate partnerships to further the mission of the organization.
She earned a Master’s degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Youth Development from Eastern University. She also earned a Certificate in Theological Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary. She currently serves as a board member for the non-profit organization Haircutz 4 Homelesss. She is a member of the Young Professionals Council within The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Nilah Swan
Program Coordinator, SparkPrior to joining PEF in February of 2026, Nilah served as a long-term substitute in the Philadelphia School District teaching seventh-grade English. She earned her BA in Secondary English Education at Temple University. Nilah has experience in afterschool programming as she takes that experience into her new position with Spark.
In her free time, she loves to travel and frequently visits Barcelona—the city where she studied abroad during her undergrad.
College Access Program & High School Initiatives
Brandi Ashley
Manager of College Access Program Operations and ComplianceBrandi Ashley serves as the College Access Program Manager of Operations and Compliance at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she leads planning and implementation of high quality college readiness services, manages grant reporting and fiscal oversight, and build strategic partnerships that expand opportunities and improve postsecondary outcomes for more than 1,700 students across 6 Philadelphia high schools.
Prior to joining PEF in 2019, Brandi worked with elementary and middle school students in Philadelphia as a tutor, mentor, support teacher and out-of-school time coordinator with City Year, Spark Philadelphia and charter schools.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master’s of Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She was recently one of the Data and Evaluation Co-Chairs of CASE (College Access and Success Ecosystem) and now serves as a member. She enjoys having game nights and trying new restaurants with friends and family.
Isabella Bowker
Senior Program Manager for the Philadelphia Postsecondary Success Program (PPSP)ibowker@philaedfund.orgIsabella Bowker
Senior Program Manager for the Philadelphia Postsecondary Success Program (PPSP)Isabella Bowker is the Senior Program Manager for Insight at PEF, where she works alongside school leaders, counselors and staff, and community-based partners to build stronger college and career readiness systems from the inside out.
Prior to joining PEF, Isabella lived in Baltimore City, where she taught students from elementary through college through her work as a fourth-grade teacher, curriculum writer, and college retention program director.
Isabella received both her Bachelors in the Writing Seminars and Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University and worked as a student research assistant at JHU’s Everyone Graduates Center, a frequent collaborator of PEF. Originally from Rhode Island, Isabella can often be found cheering loudly for the Boston Celtics.
Bryan DeFoney
Vice President, ProgramsBryan DeFoney serves as the Vice President of Programs at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where he oversees all secondary and postsecondary programming. In this role, Bryan aims to strengthen PEF’s data collection through informed practices that help define the organization’s program throughline from middle grades programming to college and career success.
Prior to joining PEF in 2021 as Director of the College Access Program, Bryan served as Program Manager at College Possible Philadelphia, a national nonprofit focused on college access and success. There, he led a program serving more than 500 students across three area school districts, overseeing SAT prep programming and driving outcomes in student matriculation and persistence. He got his start in the field as a middle school English teacher in North Philadelphia.
Bryan earned his bachelor’s degree from Neumann University, where, as a first-generation college student himself, he developed a love for higher education. Bryan recently served as President of the Executive Alumni Board at Neumann University. He has also been a FAFSA coach for the School District of Philadelphia, and a member and presenter with PACAC and the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable.
Toria McLeod
College Access Program Coordinator, Olney High SchoolToria joined the PEF team in April of 2026 as a College Access Program Coordinator at Olney High School. Most recently, Toria served as a Graduate Admissions Coordinator at Temple University, where she led recruitment efforts, facilitated information sessions, analyzed enrollment data, and supported students throughout the admissions process.
She also has experience as an Academic Advisor supporting CCP’s Catto Scholarship recipients, as well as a Student Success Coach at West Chester University, where she developed individualized success plans, facilitated group sessions, and collaborated with campus partners to promote student retention and completion. Toria is a proud U.S. Army veteran, bringing leadership, organization, and adaptability to her work, along with a deep commitment to serving diverse student populations.
Toria holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs from West Chester University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University, and she is passionate about expanding access to higher education and helping students navigate their college pathways successfully. Toria enjoys traveling the globe, has a pet cat, is fitness focused, loves music and is a self-proclaimed foodie.
Mike Noel
Director, Data and EvaluationMike Noel serves as the Director, Data and Evaluation at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where he oversees the design, collection, analysis and evaluation of PEF’s program data. A former guidance counselor and case manager, he prizes his ability to design systems that center the needs of educators and better support student success.
Prior to joining PEF in 2022, Mike worked at YouthBuild Philly, where he served as the organization’s first Program Outcomes and Evaluation Manager, leading a re-design of the school’s information system and overseeing internal evaluation functions for its programs.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from La Salle University, where he was a member of the Honors Program and co-editor of its literary magazine, The Grimoire. Mike enjoys reading old detective novels, writing poetry, noodling on his guitars in his spare time–and, above all, traveling across country playing sandlot baseball.
Erica Perez
College Access Program DirectorErica serves as the Director of the TRIO College Access Program at PEF. In this role, she supports a team of College Access Coordinators as they advise and advocate for 1700+ high school students at six Philadelphia neighborhood high schools.
Erica is a Philly native, a proud first-generation college student, and is passionate about empowering young people through their postsecondary pursuits. Erica earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her masters in Organization Leadership from Cabrini University.
Erica’s career has been dedicated to college access work. Prior to joining PEF, she worked at Girard College, where she educated students in grades 9-12 about postsecondary opportunities through seminar classes, 1-1 advising, trips, and workshops. She also spent several years in higher education as an Assistant Director of Admissions, where she focused on multicultural recruitment and worked closely with students that identified as first-generation and/or low-income.
Outside of work, Erica loves spending time with her family, reading, and traveling
Teri Roberts
College Access Coordinator, Frankford High SchoolTeri Roberts was born in Manhattan and raised in Philadelphia, where she is a proud graduate of the School of the Future in West Philly. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. There she was very active in the community; she served as Senior Class Representative, Student Ambassador, Resident Assistant and Team Manager of Women’s Lacrosse, Field Hockey, and Basketball.
Before joining TRIO in 2022, Teri served with City Year at Frankford High School, an experience that deepened her mission to bridge the gap between what student need to succeed and what schools can provide. She’s passionate about fostering curiosity and helping students see their full potential.
Outside of work, you can find her at the gym, doomscrolling, or rewatching her favorite movies. She’s also a Philly sports fan – Go Birds!
Kelsey Smith
College Access Coordinator, Furness High SchoolKelsey Smith has lived and worked in Florida, Illinois, and Arizona before settling down in Philadelphia. She loves working with students toward their goals and is currently stationed at Furness High School. Kelsey earned her BA from University of Central in Orlando and gained college access experience in many evolving roles at College Depot in Phoenix. After implementing an education program in public housing through a HUD grant, Kelsey relocated to Philly where she resides with her husband and cat.
Emmanuel Sofolawe
Digital Projects & Content Manager, PhillyGoes2College (PG2C)esofolawe@philaedfund.orgEmmanuel Sofolawe
Digital Projects & Content Manager, PhillyGoes2College (PG2C)Emmanuel Sofolawe serves as the Senior Digital Project and Content Manager at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where he leads PhillyGoes2College, the organization’s college access and financial literacy platform, and I AM PHL, a citywide creative youth development program now in its fifth year. His work centers on making sure Philadelphia students can see every option available to them after high school and understand how to pay for the one they choose.
Prior to joining PEF in 2023, Emmanuel was the Communications Coordinator at Project HOME, where he managed content and outreach for the organization’s education and community programs.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Emmanuel is a graphic artist and a lifelong music fan, with jazz and rap at the center of it. He enjoys spending time with his wife, son, dog, and cat, and is the type of Philly sports fan who still believes the Sixers will win a championship in his lifetime.
Postsecondary Persistence Programs
Madeline Birkner
Senior Manager, Persistence and College PartnershipsMadeline serves as the Senior Manager of Persistence at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she coordinates college persistence efforts, designing outreach strategies and supportive interventions to help up to 450 College Access seniors per year find their footing after graduation. She also manages PEF’s paid college prep summer program, called Scholars Advantage, as well the Fostering College Readiness initiative, which helps connect young Philadelphians with foster care histories to their financial aid entitlements.
Prior to joining PEF in 2014, Madeline worked in Bryn Mawr College Admissions as the primary reviewer of applications from New English, Pakistan, Turkey, and the Middle East
She earned and A.B. in Spanish Literature and Sociology from Bryn Mawr College in 2010. Madeline lives in West Philadelphia with her husband, children, two fig trees, and really excellent Franklinia (look it up!). She is a passionate believer that every student deserves quality college counseling and that the chicken maroosh from Saad’s Halal is the best sandwich in the city.
Allison Kelsey, M.Ed.
Senior Manager, Philadelphia Scholars ProgramAllison directs PEF’s Last Dollar college scholarship, develops and manages private and corporate scholarships, delivers student workshops, and helps Philadelphia Scholars navigate college — from financial aid to academic choices to commuter issues. Her research interest is in equity-based success supports for limited income, first gen students. A first gen college graduate herself, Allison has a master’s in higher education from Temple University and a bachelor’s from Brown University. She serves on CareerSpring’s Regional Advisory Board and was president of the board of trustees of Independence Charter School, a K-8 public charter in Philadelphia.
Contact her about financial giving to the Scholars Program, laptop and tablet donation, and creating your organization’s or family’s scholarship.
STEM Education Initiatives
Barbara Cousar
STEM Workforce Development ManagerBarbara joined PEF as the STEM Workforce Development Manager, where she designs and executes programs that expose students to STEM career pathways. She manages the day-to-day operations and budgets of these programs.
Before this role, Barbara’s background includes serving as College and Career Readiness Manager, Marketing Specialist, Director of a multimillion-dollar scholarship program, and 21st Century Program Director, overseeing federally and state-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) programs. Her accomplishments include developing and implementing a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum that was later adopted by other organizations, as well as managing budgets for Out-of-School Time (OST) programs.
Barbara earned her Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She holds leadership roles with an international organization and enjoys learning new things—especially technology—and having fun with family and friends.
David Garbe
Director, McKinney Center for STEM EducationDr. David Garbe has a wealth of experience in the academic, nonprofit, and corporate domains. Prior to joining Philadelphia Education Fund in November of 2024, Dave was the Director of Outreach and Education for The Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR). During his eight years with PSBR, he strategically extended the scope, reach, and mission of the organization to educate the public about the importance of biomedical research and its significance to human and animal health. In this role he also conceived, developed, and deployed the mobile SPARC Science program that expanded to serve over 18,000 students in 2023. Additionally, he developed numerous Teacher Professional Development Programs, Science Fairs, Career Workshops, and Public Community Outreach initiatives.
Prior to PSBR, Dr. Garbe was a scientist that performed research focused on cancer, nervous system development, circadian biology, and sleep in the academic setting and the treatment of mood disorders in the biopharma arena. He was also an adjunct professor at various universities and colleges around the Philadelphia area. During his professional career, Dave has served on many boards for professional organizations.
Susan (Betsy) Payne
Manager, Philadelphia STEM EcosystemWorking for equity and diversity in education has been Betsy’s lifelong pursuit. As Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem Manager, Betsy coordinates PEF’s backbone organization responsibilities and relationships as well as works with the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective, a 10-year initiative in partnership with GSK.
Before joining PEF, she managed the Women In Natural Sciences (WINS) program at the Academy of Natural Sciences for more than 11 years, where she worked closely with a cohort of 60+ high school girls annually. As part of WINS, Betsy traveled with them as close as the Philadelphia Waterworks and as far as Mongolia. Betsy previously worked as the Garden Educator for the Camden Children’s Garden, Interpretive Specialist at El Yunque National Forest, Manager of Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve in Puerto Rico, and as a biologist with the Institute of Neurobiology of the University of Puerto Rico.
Administration
Jessica Hanson
Finance ManagerJessica is an accomplished finance professional with over 15 years of experience across both the private and nonprofit sectors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Rowan University, where she graduated magna cum laude, and brings a comprehensive background in financial strategy, operational oversight, and regulatory compliance.
At PEF, Jessica supports the organization’s financial management, including budgeting, reporting, audits, and planning. She works closely with the team to help align financial practices with organizational goals and ensure resources are managed responsibly in support of mission-driven programs.
Before joining PEF, Jessica spent more than a decade in senior finance roles within private companies, where she developed a strong foundation in managing complex budgets, streamlining processes, and supporting executive decision-making. Her transition into the nonprofit space was fueled by a desire to apply her expertise toward causes that create meaningful community impact.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, analytical acumen, and commitment to excellence, Jessica is a vital member of PEF’s leadership team.
Farah Jimenez
President and CEOFarah Jimenez is the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF), a nonprofit committed to tackling the city’s talent pipeline challenge, by ensuring Philadelphia students are supported in fulfilling their fullest college and career ambitions. It is her belief – in the power of an education to transform lives – that drives Ms. Jimenez’ efforts at the Philadelphia Education Fund. At PEF,
Ms. Jimenez is responsible for supporting, leading, and resourcing the work of the City’s most talented and experienced team of college and career professionals. In her role, she also works to foster the corporate and civic partnerships that enable PEF to serve more than 3,000 students year, award $900,000 in scholarships annually, support 750 teachers and embed college advising in six Philadelphia public high schools. During her tenure, Ms. Jimenez expanded PEF’s advising services to four middle schools; rebooted PhillyGoes2College.org, PEF’s online college access portal; launched PEF’s McKinney Center for STEM Education; established three collective impact initiatives in partnership with industry and the School District of Philadelphia; and built PEF’s successful education consulting practice.
Prior to her tenure at PEF, Ms. Jimenez served four years as a gubernatorial appointee to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission – formerly, the governing body of the School District of Philadelphia. And, her nonprofit leadership experience spans 20 years, including tenures as President and CEO of the People’s Emergency Center and Executive Director of Mt. Airy USA.
Ms. Jimenez holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She also holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Chestnut Hill College and a certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School.
A frequent commentator on civic matters in Philadelphia, Ms. Jimenez has enjoyed brief stints as a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer; is on the board of Broad+Liberty, a digital media platform offering balance to local news and editorial coverage; and can be seen Sundays on Inside Story, a current affairs television show that airs weekly on WPVI, Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate.
LaToya Winkfield
Vice President, OperationsLaToya Winkfield serves as Vice President of Administration, Finance, and Operations at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she leads finance, administration, and operations to strengthen organizational effectiveness, optimize resources, and support the successful delivery of PEF’s programs and services.
Before joining PEF in 2026, LaToya worked at Delaware State University, where she oversaw finance and operations and helped ensure that resources, systems, and processes were managed effectively in support of the organization’s mission and impact.
LaToya earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from Temple University and a Master of Business Administration from La Salle University. She currently serves on the executive board of the La Salle University Alumni Association, as President of the HSA at St. Thomas Aquinas, and on the leadership team of St. Joseph’s Prep High School’s Onyx Club. Outside of her professional and community work, LaToya enjoys tap dancing, baking, and traveling.
Capacity Building & Partnership Cultivation
Elizabeth Isanuk
Communications ManagerElizabeth Isanuk joined the PEF team in December of 2023 as Communications Manager. Prior to joining the organization, Liz spent five years at an area independent school driving marketing, communications and development strategies and activities. Before relocating back to Philadelphia, where she was born and raised, Liz spent 13 years advancing the marketing efforts at Chelsea Piers in both New York and Connecticut. Liz earned a B.A. in economics from Amherst College and lives with her family in Center City.
Emily Jordan
Director of DevelopmentEmily Jordan serves as the Director of Development at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she leads the organization’s fundraising strategy, corporate and foundation partnerships, individual giving, special events, and revenue diversification efforts. She works closely with colleagues, board members, and community partners to secure the resources that expand educational opportunities for Philadelphia students and strengthen PEF’s impact across the city.
Prior to joining PEF in 2025, Emily served as Vice President of Development at Philadelphia Youth Basketball, where she led fundraising, strategic partnerships, and communications initiatives in support of sports-based youth development programming. She began her career as a Philadelphia public school teacher at the Academy at Palumbo, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to educational equity and opportunity.
A first-generation college graduate, Emily earned a B.S. in Secondary Education from Temple University (Go Owls!) and a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Holy Family University.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Children Can Shape the Future, the Temple University College of Education and Human Development Alumni Board, and Let’s Get Ready’s Associates Council. She is also a member of Leadership Philadelphia’s CORE Class of 2026 and volunteers with New Leash on Life USA. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, cheering on Philadelphia sports teams, and spending time with her husband, two dogs, and family and friends.
Ellen Ridyard
Director, Collaborations and PartnershipsEllen Ridyard serves as the Director of Collaborations and Partnerships at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she serves as the inaugural leader of the backbone organization for CASE, the college access and success ecosystem. CASE is a citywide, 100+ organization collective impact effort aimed at strengthening college graduation rates for all Philly students.
Prior to joining PEF in 2023, Ellen worked at Heights, where she led admissions and advising strategy, university partnerships, and a college access program. Ellen’s career has always centered on collaborating with Philadelphia public school students, educators, universities, and communities.
She earned a Bachelors degree from Vassar College, a Masters degree from the University of Edinburgh, and a teaching certification from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves on the PACAC Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee, and is a member of the Heights Systems, Equity and Change Board Committee. Outside of work, Ellen is an avid reader, runner, and beagle walker. She lives with her family in South Philadelphia and is the proud parent of two SDP students.
