MEET THE TEAM

In carrying out the work of its mission, HEAF draws on a breadth of experience and dedication to the core values that inform its unique approach to academic enrichment, youth development, and career preparation. HEAF’s staff is comprised of diverse individuals working diligently and collaboratively to carry out its mission of empowering students from underserved communities through a comprehensive array of educational programming and learning opportunities.

Jacqueline Adorno

Chief Human Resources Officer

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Jacqueline Adorno brings to Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Inc. (HEAF) a record of 30+ years of Human Resources experience in organizations across business sectors. Ms. Adorno has extensive experience in various functional areas of Human Resources, including but not limited to recruitment, talent management, union and non-union employee relations, compensation, benefits, employee development, training, and workers’ compensation. She is a prominent pioneer in engaging in proactive outreach and engagement to mitigate the escalation of employee relations and employee engagement matters as well as meticulous in safeguarding compliance with company policies and procedures. Prior to joining us at HEAF, Jacquie was the Director of Human Resources at Savvy Intrapreneur. A strategic and prominent visionary with a proven track record in developing positive business relationship outcomes with employees and key stakeholders. Jacqueline’s hallmark is ensuring employee issues are addressed in a comprehensive and collaborative manner. Ms. Adorno earned her bachelor’s degree from DeVry University and her master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

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Natalie Baez

Senior Director of Programs

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Natalie was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and emigrated to the United States at the age of eleven where she resided in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. While in high school, Natalie became an activist for college access and community development by creating opportunities for upward mobility through college access. Natalie has since guided over 4,000 students from low-income communities through the college application process. She is passionate about giving back to her community and helping to foster positive mentorship for disadvantaged youth. She holds a BA in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and is currently working on her Masters in School Counseling from Alfred University.

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Deirdre Bennett

Chief Finance & Administrative Officer

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Deirdre Bennett comes to HEAF with several years of nonprofit experience. Before coming to HEAF as Director of Finance and Administration she worked at several nonprofits offering healthcare and educational services. Ms. Bennett brings expertise in all aspects of not for profit accounting. She has a lifelong dedication for helping others and feels working with nonprofits allows her to fuel this passion. Ms. Bennett earned her BBA at Baruch College.

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Kai Bush

Admissions Director

Pronouns: He Series
[email protected]

Kai Bush was born and raised in New York, a native to the neighborhood of Harlem and is a HEAF Alumnus. During his childhood, Kai participated in many sports from basketball and martial arts to soccer and track. He developed an interest in music when he transferred high schools, and joined the school’s marching band. Kai began his college career at Delaware State University and is currently finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Purdue University Global. He began working in the after-school field as a group leader and Youth Development facilitator and has progressed to supervising 6 after-school programs across Manhattan and Brooklyn before joining the HEAF team. In his downtime, Kai likes to cook, travel, develop his photography skills, and spend time with family.

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Nick Heim

Finance & Administration Manager

Pronouns: He Series
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Nick was born in England and moved to the US when he was very young. He grew up in a small town in Connecticut not far from New York City. Nick earned his degree at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, graduating with a BS in Finance. Nick has previously worked in a variety of different roles including Finance, Retail, Customer Service and Landscaping. Outside of work he enjoys skiing, soccer, cooking, and travel. Nick has a passion for work that brings meaningful change to people and always tries to contribute as much as he can.

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Marie Hu

Director of Career Connections

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Marie Hu is originally from Connecticut and moved to the New York City Area a few years ago. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Connecticut and is currently pursuing her master’s in management with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. Marie comes to HEAF with several years of experience in the nonprofit sector, especially in program and workforce development. In the last two years, Marie managed a career service department for a grant-funded program in the South Bronx, where her department was able to get over 200 students employed in the healthcare sector.

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Michael Johnson

President & CEO

Pronouns: He Series
[email protected]

Michael was named President & CEO of HEAF in August 2022. He is responsible for end-to-end leadership of the organization, from setting the vision to direct oversight of day-to-day education program execution, development, and operations.

Prior to leading HEAF, Michael was Director of Community Life at The Community Builders (TCB), a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on affordable and mixed-income residential and commercial properties. Before that, he was Vice President, Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he led the Community Development portfolio for the New York Metropolitan area, and a national portfolio involving seed capital and data driven solutions for neighborhoods through Partnership for Raising Opportunities (PRO) Neighborhoods.

Earlier in his career, Michael was Chief of Staff to the General Manager and Director of Customer Operations at the New York City Housing Authority, and he held leadership roles in both New York City and Newark, New Jersey focused on creating economic opportunities and growth, while improving the quality of life for children and families in neighborhoods.

Michael holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the CUNY Graduate Center, a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

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Vicky Liburd

Director, High Expectations

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Born and raised in St. Kitts and Nevis, Vicky considers herself to be a true Caribbean girl. Her love for traveling, learning about cultures, and helping others propelled her towards obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography and a Master’s of Education in School Counseling. Since migrating to the U.S a decade ago, Vicky planted her feet in education and is a fierce advocate for education equity and college and career access for students in the NYC area. She firmly believes that all students have the potential to create, define and achieve success when equipped with the resources they need to succeed. She brings with her an extensive background in college and career access and is ready to serve the HEAF community. Vicky is passionate about being part of an organization that focuses on every student’s academic, socioemotional, college, and career success.

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Calvin Luo

Assistant Controller

Pronouns: He Series
[email protected]

Calvin Luo is a New York State Registered CPA. He has an MBA in Accounting from SUNY New Paltz in upstate New York. Prior to joining HEAF, he worked at PwC, a Big 4 public accounting firm, where his focus was for-profit taxes and accounting. Subsequently he worked at Lighthouse Partners, a private hedge fund with $8 billion in Assets Under Management. He worked at Citco Financial Services as a supervisor. He started out at HEAF in the Finance department as a volunteer. His goal is to use his talents and skills to help underserved youth and communities.

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Christabel Martinez

College Quest Director

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Christabel has over 7 years of experience working in secondary, higher education and youth development. She has a background designing and implementing curriculum, curating workshops and events, supporting Spanish-speaking and transitioning students as well as managing partnerships.

Christabel was born and raised in Harlem and although she has worked in different boroughs and went away for college, she believes that returning to where it all began happened for a reason. “Fall is a time of transition and new beginnings. With that being said, I am listening and I am engaged. We are all one of a kind, but we are also here because our visions align. I strongly believe that collaborating as a team creates a force & leads to a bigger impact”.

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Yoheidy Moya Peguero

Queens Program Manager

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Yoheidy was born in the Dominican Republic and migrated to the United States at age 9 and has been living in NYC since. Over the years, she has obtained extensive experience working with children and their families, in both schools and private settings, in the roles of Childcare Provider, Teacher, Camp Director, and Nanny Referral Specialist. She is experienced in designing programs and activities to cater to the development of individual children and their families and providing educational and emotional support. Yoheidy comes with a wealth of knowledge in parent and student engagement.

She is very passionate about being a part of a support system that caters to the educational and personal growth of young children and their families. She’s currently enrolled in CUNY School of Professional Studies for Psychology.

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Raven Satterfield

Brooklyn Program Manager

Pronouns: She Series
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Raven is Brooklyn Program Manager. She originally joined HEAF as Program Coordinator for our Brooklyn programs.

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Stefin Woolever

Director of Fund Development & Events

Pronouns: He Series
[email protected]

Stefin Woolever is a native Coloradan and a graduate of the University of Denver with a B.A. in Theatre. Stefin has pursued a career in acting, in Denver and now here in NYC, while accidentally stumbling into the world of Educational Nonprofits and development work. Prior to HEAF, Stefin was the Executive Assistant and Development and Communications Coordinator at Family Star Montessori in Denver, CO. Stefin brings with him a passion for education and for elevating students to be better and strive for more. Stefin loves to learn and brings with him a passion for HEAF, charisma and theatricality, and a daily smile!

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Cianell Ynoa

Program Coordinator, Harlem

Pronouns: She Series
[email protected]

Cianell was born in Rhode Island, raised in Florida, and moved to NYC her senior year of high school. Cianell went to college to pursue her associates degree at Laguardia Community College and transferred to Hunter College for her BA, where she studied sociology and psychology. Cianell worked with children and families throughout her transition between schools and now has the privilege to work with kids again, which brings her joy saying, “I can’t wait to continue growing as an individual, spreading positivity, and encouraging students and staff to be their best selves every day.”

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