SquashSmarts Staff

Stephen S. Gregg Executive Director 215-895-4963 e-mail

Steve joined SquashSmarts in May 2004 after spending four years at the United States Squash Racquets Association as its first Director of Junior Development. Prior to the USSRA, Steve gained valuable coaching, administrative and leadership experience as a teaching pro and NCCA Division I college athlete at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. “I consider myself fortunate to lead a program whose mission provides opportunities for children to become passionate about sports and education.” A four-year varsity squash player at Trinity, Steve is a founding director of the National Urban Squash Association, a former member of the USSRA Junior Committee and an active member the Philadelphia Squash Association, the Racquet Club of Philadelphia and various other civic organizations. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Steve’s credentials include: - U.S. Squash Racquets Association, Director of Junior Development - Bala Cynwyd, PA - New York Racquet & Tennis Club, Teaching Professional - New York, NY - U.S. National Skill Level Champion, Squash - 5.0 Division - New Haven Lawn Club, Head Squash Professional - New Haven, CT - Self-contained cross-country bicycling expedition - Virginia to Oregon - Trinity College - Hartford, CT - The Taft School - Watertown, CT

Tariem A. Burroughs Academic Director North Philadelphia 215-895-4964 e-mail

Tariem joined SquashSmarts in November 2006 after spending two years in Americorps as a service leader for City Year Greater Philadelphia. Prior to Americorps, Tariem worked as a co-kindergarten teacher and after school supervisor at Peak’s Little Angels. Tariem is a graduate of the University of Scranton and earned a bachelors degree in elementary education. In addition to counseling youth at various camps throughout his college career, Tariem has tutored low-income college-bound youth and organized SAT prep curses for 11th grade students. “I have seen how much the youth of this city need good, healthy role models and a chance to believe that they can achieve. I am lucky to be a part of a program whose goal is to provide opportunities for youth to become passionate about sports and education.” A native of Philadelphia, Tariem's credentials include: - Service Leader For City Year, Philadelphia, PA - Tutor/Counselor For TRIO Upward Bound, Philadelphia, PA - University of Scranton, Scranton, PA - Bodine High School for International Affairs, Philadelphia, PA

Jacob M. Greenbaum Squash Director West Philadelphia 215-895-4964 e-mail

Jake joined SquashSmarts in June 2006 after two years in media services and community relations with the Philadelphia Eagles. "Being around an NFL pro team was an exceptional opportunity for me as far learning about organization, motivation, fitness and team spirit... attributes that are key to SquashSmarts success.” Jake began playing squash locally at the Shipley School and Germantown Cricket Club. He went on to play varsity squash for four years at George Washington University where he graduated in 2002 with a degree in Middle Eastern & Religious Studies. Under Jake's leadership, G.W. squash gained varsity status and advanced from 34th to 20th in the nation. As captain, Jake was recognized for his outstanding ability, attitude and leadership skills. Jake was born in Philadelphia and is delighted to live in the city he loves while teaching young people the value of dedication through squash. - Varsity squash team member and captain at Shipley School - Bryn Mawr, PA - Varsity squash team member and captain at George Washington University - Washington, DC - 2002 Squash Team MVP, George Washington

Katie Bicknese, Academic Director West Philadelphia 215-895-4964 e-mail

Katie joined SquashSmarts in November of 2007 after spending two years with City Year Greater Philadelphia where she first served as a corps member at Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia providing classroom assistance and running after-school programs. She then worked in the Development Department raising money so that the next group of young idealists could continue to make a difference in Philadelphia’s communities. Katie discovered her passion for community involvement at Penn State where she served hundreds of hours with Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-educational service fraternity. Of all the community work she's done, Katie is most thrilled when she sees a student's face light up after learning something challenging. "After-school programming is what made me enjoy my childhood and find a place for myself. Nothing makes me happier than being able to give such an incredible opportunity to today's youth." Originally from Pittsburgh but most recently from Chester County, Katie's credentials include: - Development Associate and Corps Member for City Year, Philadelphia, PA - Community Service Instructor for Summer Study, University Park, PA - Member of Alpha Phi Omega National Co-Educational Service Fraternity - Penn State University, University Park, PA

Philip Spencer-Linzie Development Director 215-895-4963 e-mail

Phillip Spencer-Linzie joined SquashSmarts in June 2007 as the Director of Development. Phillip comes to SquashSmarts with over 20 years experience consulting with and working for not-for-profits often with a focus on urban youth development. He has worked in Newark, Manhattan, Brooklyn and South Jersey. He has lived and worked in Burundi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi and Namibia. Phillip is a graduate of Morehouse College and Drew Theological School. Phillip has coached basketball at elementary and middle school for 5 years. He is a member of the Associate of Fundraising Professionals, and taken extensive training from the Grantsmanship Center in Los Angeles. “I’m honored to be a part of SquashSmarts and raise funds for such a worthy cause as the young people of Philadelphia. This is a great program which helps young people develop academically, physically, and socially.”

Jeanie Shanahan Executive Assistant & Office Manager 215-895-4963 e-mail

Jeanie Shanahan joined SquashSmarts in July 2007after working for the United States Squash Racquets Association for six years as the Office Assistant and Office Manager. The USSRA introduced her to the game of squash. “I am honored to work with the students of SquashSmarts and interact and help with the growth of the SquashSmarts community” With a city wide high school dropout rate of over 50%, Jeanie feels strongly that “SquashSmarts will enhance the high school and college student graduation rates and help the students develop into solid citizens and community leaders in Philadelphia.” Jeanie resides in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, is a mother of five children and has five grandchildren.

The Grad Squad

Heather Green Allison Hart Kento Yasuhara Marilys Mazzara Puja Shahi Kathryn Wanderle

SquashSmarts and Drexel University’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program have partnered to launch a visionary new study that will help SquashSmarts engage its students and improve the effectiveness of its academic curriculum. Formed in June 2006, a graduate team (aka The Grad Squad) consisting of PhD doctoral candidates from Drexel University is helping SquashSmarts focus on two critical aspects of its after school academic program, specifically: 1. Developing a longitudinal study of SquashSmarts’ demographics and student population. Dating back to the program's inception, the study will survey participants and paint a broad but in depth picture of the teenage audience SquashSmarts has recruited and worked with since its beginnings in 2001; 2. Examining both the immediate and the long-term impacts of SquashSmarts’ academic model on each class of students. The goal is to provide insightful feedback on how SquashSmarts staff member can enhance, replicate and improve the academic standards, methods and overall programming. The Grad Squad is supervised by Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, a member of SquashSmarts’ Board of Directors and the head of Drexel’s Department of Psychology as well as by SquashSmarts’ Academic staff members. In June 2007, one year after the study launched, the Eckerd Family Foundation announced a three-year $141,000 grant in support of The Grad Squad’s academic evaluation program. The mission of the Eckerd Family Foundation involves promoting meaningful and lasting change in the lives of vulnerable youth and their families. The grant will further allow the Grad Squad to measure the progress of SquashSmarts participants in the areas of academic performance, academic achievement skills, academic engagement, social competence and self-esteem over a three-year period. The project will involve the recruitment and assessment of comparison participants who will be recruited from the surrounding community and given the same pre-post measures. Comparing SquashSmarts participants with this control group will allow the Grad Squad to gauge the effect of the program on its participants, as well as targeting outcome variables that other programs should consider.