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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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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Ciara Coleman Ciera joined SquashSmarts in 2021 after working with City Charter High School as a Learning Support Teaching Associate where she served in several roles developing and supporting both educational and social-emotional curricula, from the school's annual Black Excellence week to a monthly Student Voice discussion. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, her passion for children and education began at age 12 with her first job volunteering at a summer camp. Ciara specializes in building strong trusting relationships with SquashSmarts North Philadelphia high school students, helping each of them to realize their voices matter and to reach their fullest potential while establishing positive relationships and self-advocacy. |
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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 addressing the group and individual needs of our graduates engages, excites and supports them. At the same time, Alix helps coordinate SquashSmarts college guidance process. From research, to tours, interviews, to applications, essays to financial aid, Alix tailors each student and graduates support to specific their strengths and weaknesses. |
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Monisha Das Monisha is a seven year graduate of SquashSmarts who joined the staff in April 2020 -- at the start of the global pandemic -- to support projects related to the COVID-19 focusing specifically on government, health care and employment benefits and opportunities for student and families. As a SquashSmarts students, Monisha earned a coveted Squash & Education Alliance fellowship at the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. studying the impacts of international aviation. Monisha graduated from Drexel University, with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy. |
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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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Iliana Matos Iliana joined SquashSmarts in December 2021 as the Director of Middle School Academics for North Philadelphia. A Rhode Island native who has called Philadelphia home for the past 11 years, Iliana holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Temple University. Prior to SquashSmarts, Iliana had the wonderful opportunity of teaching English in Madrid, Spain. Her non-profit career launched in undergrad where she focused on education policy and fair-funding formulas. She later transitioned into teaching, developing curriculums, providing bilingual personalized workshops, and managing programs for students and families. Children ignite her passion because there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing kids feel motivated, safe and supported. |
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Tate Miller Tate joined SquashSmarts in August 2021 as the Director of Community Programs focusing on introducing hundreds of elementary school girls and boys from our partner schools to the joy of squash. Hailing from Northwest Philadelphia, Tate is a squash-playing graduated of William Penn Charter and Haverford College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in International Studies in 2021. He brings his love of squash, his knowledge of event planning, and his experiences as a tutor and squash coach to help expand the SquashSmarts community network to more children and families through programming in schools and at the Lenfest Center and Specter Center. |
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Joshua Morales Joshua is a seven year team member and alumni of SquashSmarts Middle School and High School Program. He graduated from Northeast High School in 2018 where he focused on Sports Marketing & Management, a three-year Career & Technical Education Program. Since then, Josh worked for PNC Bank where he gained valuable experience in financial management and customer-relations, helping clients manage their personal finances. Joshua returned to SquashSmarts in 2021 to pursue his passion for helping others succeed and give back to the community. As the Director of Squash & Fitness for West Philadelphia High School students, he will be coaching our high school team will developing each student-athlete through positive coaching and daily instruction both on and off the squash court. |
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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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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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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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Domingo Tejada-Genao Domingo is a seven year graduate of the 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. Before joining the SquashSmarts staff, Domingo held an assistant squash coach position at Chestnut Hill Academy where he helped with their Middle and High School programs. Domingo joins the team seeking to help strengthen the squash side of the program. Believing that through hard work and dedication, “coaches can instill a mentality in the students that will make them succeed on and off the court.” |
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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. |