SquashSmartsStaff |
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Nabilla Ariffin
Nabilla joined SquashSmarts in September of 2016 and brings passion, energy and focus to her job every day. Her incredibly unique background and skill set are perfectly suited to help drive the program's presence, visibility and story of impact within the community. Her credentials include: top-level international junior squash player; graduate and urban studies major at The University of Pennsylvania; market and research analyst with U3 Advisors, Athenian Razak and The City of Philadelphia. Building partnerships at every level and in every arena -- from corporate to civic, squash to education -- she is a central spokesperson and ambassador for the organization. In addition, Nabilla manages SquashSmarts volunteer recruitment efforts as well as its group volunteer engagements including hallmark outings like Squash Night @ The Phillies and our partnership with the US Open Squash Championships at Drexel University. |
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Ross Bolling
Ross joined SquashSmarts in May 2017 first a volunteer and then after a few short months as a member of the full-time staff. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Ross majored in Entrepreneurial Studies & Business Marketing. Ross grew up playing squash in Wilmington, DE and was the former #1 squash player at the Westminster School. During his squash career, Ross served as a brand ambassador for Prince Sports and Black Knight while playing competitive amateur-level squash. His enthusiasm, leadership and charismatic personality combine to drive our students to the top of their game. As the leader of SquashSmarts' North Philadelphia middle school squash and fitness program, he organizes daily student instruction, assists with high school placement, and helps maintain strong relationships with our families and partner schools in the Hunting Park neighborhood. |
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Quinetta Bowden
Quinetta is a seven year graduate of both the SquashSmarts middle school and high school programs. She is also a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where she was a member of the English Honor Society’s. Quinetta joined SquashSmarts after completing an intensive two-year educational training program with City Year Philadelphia. Her understanding of the culture and traditions of the program as well as the challenges and opportunities present by the neighborhoods and schools that SquashSmarts partners with are valuable assets to building a successful, intentional middle school education program. As the leader of SquashSmarts' West Philadelphia middle school academic program, she organizes daily student instruction, manages high school placement, and helps maintain a strong relationship with Drexel University and it's faculty and undergraduate resources. |
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Tempest Bowden
Tempest is a seven year graduate of the SquashSmarts middle and high school programs. She is a graduate of Simon Gratz High School, the Wolfeboro Summer Boarding School in New Hampshire, and of Mercersburg Academy (PG year). She has completed an intensive one-year training course through City Year Philadelphia and Up2Us before joining SquashSmarts staff in 2015. Like her sister, Quinetta, she is a seven-year graduate of both the middle school and high school SquashSmarts programs and served as captain her senior year. As the leader of SquashSmarts West Philadelphia squash and fitness program, she organizes daily student instruction in court to develop squash-playing ability as well as the basic fundamentals of physical literacy. In 2016, Tempest was humbled to be named Philadelphia Youth Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Coaches Conference as well as 2016 National Coach of the Year by Up2Us Sports. |
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Alix Cummin
Alix joined SquashSmarts in 2016 after serving as lead instructor for Tech Impact, a nonprofit empowering communities and nonprofits to use technology to better serve the world. She also founded a consulting and volunteerism service that helped families in Greater Philadelphia navigate the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and implement appropriate Learning Disability (LD) services for students in area public schools. Her straight-forward, organized approach to developing both group and individual curricula for our high school team members engages, excites and challenges our 9th-12th graders. At the same time, she coordinates SquashSmarts college guidance process. From research, to tours, interviews, to applications, essays to financial aid, Alix tailors each 11th and 12th graders process to their strengths and weaknesses and their family's interests and needs. |
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Debby Dowlin
Debby joined SquashSmarts' development team in October 2019 as Director of Development for Institutional Giving after serving as North Philadelphia Middle School Academic Director since September 2017. Debby brings her experience in academics to her role in development to engage foundations and corporations in our program, meet students, and help sustain our work into the future. Prior to SquashSmarts, Debby worked for the Boston-based Tenacity youth program. Debby earned her Bachelor's in Sociology & Spanish from Wellesley College and a Master's in Education from Temple University. A West Philadelphia native and K-12 graduate of Philly public schools, Debby is well-versed in the strengths and challenges of the local school system. Notably, Debby spent time as a Spanish teacher with the School District and as a scholarship and teacher development researcher with the Philadelphia Education Fund. Debby is excited to combine her experience as an educator and non-profit advocate to advance SquashSmarts’ mission through strong institutional partnerships. |
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Stephen Gregg
Steve joined SquashSmarts in 2004 after four years with the United States Squash Racquets Association as its first Director of National Junior Development. Prior to the USSRA, Steve gained valuable coaching, administrative and leadership experience as a teaching professional 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 graduate and four-year varsity squash player at both Trinity and The Taft School in Connecticut, Steve's civic engagement and leadership include: co-founder of The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative; co-founder of The National Urban Squash & Education Association; member of the Board of Governors & Squash Chair of The Philadelphia Cricket Club; speaker and host delegate for the Beyond Sports Summit & Awards; former co-President of The Trinity College Alumni Club of Philadelphia. Steve is an active singles and doubles squash player and a member of the US Squash and the Philadelphia Squash Association. |
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Raphael Mercado
Raphael is a seven year graduate of SquashSmarts middle and High School program. He is currently in his first year as a Coach Mentor with SquashSmarts through Up2Us, an intense two-year training program, where he will coach and mentor students from our West Philadelphia middle and high school programs. |
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Joe Millman
Joe joined SquashSmarts in 2017 after serving as Assistant Squash Professional at Berwyn Squash & Fitness, the oldest squash club in the United States open to public membership. Joe hails from rural England and first discovered squash at the relatively late age of 15 years old. After immersing himself for three years in junior squash, Joe spent five years traveling and competing on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tour. Coaching and junior development have been his passion and full-time career for the past 10 years, and he is thrilled to be working with girls and boys of all levels and ages from Philadelphia's public schools. As the Director of High School Squash & Fitness, Joe instructs 9th-12th students who have graduated from SquashSmarts Middle School Programs, plays a lead role in the squash curriculum development, assists with college placement, and plays a lead role in in developing well-rounded student-athletes who are prepared for college and career. |
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Abby Pierson
Abby joined SquashSmarts in 2017, first as an intern, then a few months later as a part-time staff member, Abby is a Junior at Drexel University, where she is working hard towards a Bachelors in Psychology. Abby has been rowing on Drexel's Women's Crew team since Freshman year and has a passion for athletics as well as academics. She has been a positive addition to the team since her internship began in 2017 and continues to be so in her position as Donor and Data Management Coordinator. |
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Kareem Price
Kareem is a seven year graduate of the SquashSmarts middle and high school programs. He is also a gradate of the Community College of Philadelphia, where he received his Associate Degree in Business. He returned to SquashSmarts, shortly, as a coach mentor through Up2Us where he coached and mentored students from both the North and West Philadelphia middle and high school programs. He then returned to SquashSmarts to work as the Director of Transportation. |
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Shaniqua Rudd
Shaniqua joined SquashSmarts in October 2019. Despite being new to squash, she’s no stranger to Philadelphia having worked in the non-profit and education sectors to expand opportunities for inner city youth. A West Philadelphia native and graduate of Parkway Center City High School, Shaniqua holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing, a Master of Science in Organizational Development & Leadership both from Saint Joseph's University as well as a Certificate of Fundraising from Villanova University. A Certified Nonprofit Professional, Shaniqua served as the Individual Giving Manager at Mission First Housing Group and the Director of Advancement in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Her first passion for development came through roles in Development and Alumni Relations at Philadelphia Academies and Saint Joseph's University. Shaniqua is eager to use her experience to engage donors and build a network of individuals who can make a lasting impact on SquashSmarts students. |
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Jose Rubert-Zayas
Jose is a seven-year SquashSmarts graduate who joined the staff in 2019. As an alum, Jose believes that it is expected to "own your impact". As a Coach Mentor with SquashSmarts through the Up2Us two-year training program, Jose will use his own personal positive youth sports experience to contribute to the youth development of students from our West and North Philadelphia Middle and High School programs. Jose's daily focus is on daily in-school programming, primarily during gym session, with the goal of bringing SquashSmarts' culture of sport + academics + family directly to children in our partner elementary and middle schools. Jose's role earned the attention of the Aspen Institute which named his in-school engagement activities as 1 of 20 national-recognized "Project Play Champions" |
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Megan Douglas
Megan joined SquashSmarts in 2019, after teaching 5th-8th grades at Memphis Street Academy Charter School in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia for 3 years. Megan earned her bachelor’s degree in Middle Level Education from Eastern University, with concentrations in math and science. While at Memphis, she also piloted a GED program for adults in the community. Megan enjoys hiking, swimming, and is excited to learn how to play squash! Megan has strived to be an educator from a young age and recognizes the value of providing equitable educational opportunities for all people. As the Director of SquashSmarts' North Philadelphia Middle School Academic Program, she organizes daily student instruction, manages high school placement, and helps maintain strong relationships with our families and partner schools in the Hunting Park neighborhood. |
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Jeanie Shanahan
Jeanie Shanahan joined SquashSmarts in 2007 after working with the United States Squash Racquets Association for six years as its 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 nine grandchildren. In every way, Jeanie is the heart-and-soul of SquashSmarts. She embodies the core values of honesty, compassion, integrity and hard work. She build personal, meaningful relationships with every member of the program, taking time to greet every child who enters SquashSmarts with a smile and a hug. |
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Ashley Trawick
Ashley joined SquashSmarts in 2018 after receiving her Masters in Educational Leadership and Management from Temple University. Prior to, Ashley graduated from Gettysburg College in 2016 where she self-designed her major, “Social Development of At-Risk Youth”. Throughout high school and college, Ashley was fortunate enough to have been a member and intern of the nonprofit organization, Philadelphia Futures, whose mission is to help bridge the gap between students who attend schools within the School District of Philadelphia to provide them with access and success to and throughout college. As an alumna of a program that helps inner-city children succeed, Ashley is very passionate in mentoring and supporting at-risk youth to provide them with resources needed to succeed. As the Director of High School Academics, Ashley’s focused creative skills and energy as well as her experience and knowledge in education and Philadelphia will help SquashSmarts' mission to improve the lives of underserved youth. |
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Myles Young
Myles is a seven year graduate of SquashSmarts middle and High School program. He is currently in his first year as a Coach Mentor with SquashSmarts through Up2Us, an intense two-year training program, where he will coach and mentor students from both our North and West Philadelphia middle and high school programs. |