Team

Maisy Page

Maisy Page, a former She’s the First intern, is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in international affairs. She is continuing her education at Florida Gulf Coast University in the Masters of Public Administration Program. In 2008, she created the philanthropic arm of the Offshore Super Series, OSS Cares. She’s had the honor of partnering with the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Make-A-Wish foundation. She’s the first in her family to go to graduate school, start her own philanthropic organization, and speak a second language. maisy@shesthefirst.org, @maisypage

Elizabeth Stoltz

Elizabeth Stoltz, a sophomore at Ithaca College, founded Food for Thought, Inc., a not-for-profit dedicated to serving children who are denied access to basic living necessities, quality education, and proper nutrition. Food for Thought has saved more than 700 children in Ethiopia. In 2009, Elizabeth traveled to Ethiopia to work with young children and HIV/AIDS patients. She’s the first sophomore to serve on the Ithaca College Board of Trustees. elizabeth@shesthefirst.org, @liz_stoltz

Sarah Vandiver

Sarah first discovered her passion for helping people at a young age while volunteering at a local nursing home. Sarah continued volunteering while working with refugees at the African Community Center in Denver. That passion took her to Uganda in 2009, where she witnessed the many challenges facing girls and women living in poverty. Sarah then founded Sis Hope, an online campaign to keep girls in school every day of the month. Her efforts provided over 600 reusable menstrual pads to teen girls in rural Uganda. She’s the first in her family to complete her bachelor’s degree in two years and travel to Africa. sarah@shesthefirst.org, @mrssarahjoy

Brianne Riviello

A 2011 graduate of Ithaca College, Brianne moved to New York fresh from receiving her bachelor’s degree in video production, jumping at the chance to make her way in the entertainment industry. She discovered the power of using media to open the eyes of an audience as an intern, and now a freelancer, for the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival. She is currently working for a film distribution company in Manhattan, and is thrilled to be helping connect more girls around the world through the She’s the First Penpal program. She is the first in her family to move to both Los Angeles and New York City. brianne@shesthefirst.org, @bmriviello

{Assistant Coordinator} Lauren Strupp

A graduate of New York University, Lauren came to the city that never sleeps from the DC metro area to study journalism and never looked back. While spending several months in Paris, France, she developed a great appreciation for other countries and cultures. She spends her time blogging about television and volunteering to further other girls’ education globally, as well as freelancing on various media projects. She’s the first in her family to attend a study abroad program and travel the world. lauren@shesthefirst.org, @struppster

Genevieve Tabios

Genevieve is an instructional designer at Ithaca Content Architecture and Design and a graphics freelancer. She is studying Graphic Design and Policy Studies at Syracuse University. She is constantly looking for projects that utilize both of her majors, whether it’s designing for non-profit agencies like United Way or writing a grant for a local IT organization. Genevieve appreciates all her creative opportunities, and she wants all girls to have that same chance. She’s the first in her family to be a graphic designer. genevieve@shesthefirst.org, @gogenny

Sonya Elefante

Sonya is a graphic designer who graduated from the University of Maryland in December 2010. She thoroughly enjoys typography, as well as many other forms of print and web design. In her spare time, she attends concerts and other art performances and loves to paint. Lastly, she is an avid University of Maryland Basketball fan and will defend her Terrapins on any occasion! She’s the the first in her family to go away to college. sonya@shesthefirst.org

Conor Harrington

Conor Harrington is a junior Integrated Marketing Communications major at Ithaca College. At school, Conor is involved with Food for Thought, a non-profit organization started by fellow STF team member Elizabeth Stoltz. Working with Food for Thought gave Conor a better understanding of the world and the chance to make a difference, no matter how big or small. He will be the first in his family to study abroad in Ireland, this January. conor@shesthefirst.org, @conorharrington

Marissa Calhoun

{Chapter Mentor} A 2010 graduate of Bucknell University, Marissa is a News Associate at CBS News, 48 Hours in NYC. In college, Marissa interned at MTV Networks, The Discovery Channel, PBS, and Voice of America. Marissa is the recipient of the Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership and Merit Scholarship. She’s the first in her family to graduate from college and become a journalist. marissa@shesthefirst.org, @Marissa_CBSNews

Lauren Goodwin

{Campus Coordinator} Lauren graduated from Marist College in 2008 with a degree in Communications. After a career in corporate public relations, Lauren realized that she preferred the non-profit world and currently works as the Communications Associate for the New York Junior League. Lauren serves as the New York City Alumni Education Chair and Marist College Advisory Board Chair for Kappa Kappa Gamma. She’s the first in her family to live and work in New York City. laurengoodwin@shesthefirst.org @LaurGood

Casey Kraft

{Campus Coordinator} Casey is a junior at the University of Notre Dame, where he is majoring in pre-med with the hopes of attending medical school in the future. He is interested in global health and medicine, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries. Casey believes girls’ education is a human rights issue in addition to being a women’s rights issue. He’s the first male to be a member of the She’s the First leadership team. casey@shesthefirst.org, @CaseyKraft1

Katie Riley

{Campus Mentor} Katie is a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, pursing a degree in Global Studies with a concentration in global politics & economics. She found her passion for helping others while volunteering for the Haiti Outreach Program and has visited Boucan Carre, Haiti three times since 2007. She is the founder and president of the Haiti Outreach Program’s first college campus club, Give Haiti Hope, and also serves as the Philanthropy Director of the University of Tennessee Panhellenic Council. She’s the first in her family to volunteer in a third-world country. katie@shesthefirst.org, @katherineriley

Monica Townsend

{Campus Coordinator} Monica is a junior at the University of Notre Dame who aspires to a career in international public health. She has attended several global health forums, including the International Low Vision Conference in Montreal, Canada, which emphasized the importance of children’s education in disease awareness and prevention. Monica is particularly interested in mobilizing college dorm life behind education sponsorship. She’s the first in her family to get involved with international non-profit work. monica@shesthefirst.org @monicatownsend

Lisa Travnik

{Campus Community Activator} Lisa’s appreciation for the power of education started in her teens when she began volunteering with at-risk kids at summer camps near her home in Metro Detroit. It wasn’t until wanderlust landed her a teaching position in rural Thailand that she realized how access to education could dictate a girl’s future. Now she’s back in NYC, working in corporate communications and excited to work with STF to help girls in the U.S. and abroad realize their full potential. She’s the first in her family to graduate from college, study/live abroad, and learn a second language. lisa@shesthefirst.org, @lltrav

Brittany Brothers

{Videographer} Brittany recently graduated with a BFA in Film and Video from the School of Visual Arts in New York where she received the National Board of Review’s Human Spirit Award for a documentary short she directed. She works in the equipment department at Zero Point Zero Productions, a television and multimedia production company. She’s the first in her family to graduate from an art school and work in the television industry. brittany@shesthefirst.org @beeebro

Kate Lord

{Photographer} Kate is a photographer and multimedia producer based in New York, where she works as a photo editor for The Wall Street Journal. Her career in visual storytelling has sent her around the world, from covering the Special Olympic World Summer Games to reporting on a small cloister of nuns in Peru. Kate became involved with She’s the First because she feels passionately that educating girls is the first step from poverty to prosperity. She’s the first professional photographer in her family. kate@shesthefirst.org, @katelordphoto

Hannah Brencher

{Director} Hannah is a 2010 graduate from Assumption College with a dual degree in journalism and sociology. She is a Communications Associate at Save the Children, the world’s leading organization for children in need. Hannah recently spent eight months in a full-time volunteer program, living and working with people experiencing poverty in the Bronx, New York, while serving as the liaison to a human rights NGO at the United Nations. She is a member of the UNICEF Working Group on Girls. She’s the first in her family to dedicate a year after college to a volunteer program. hannah@shesthefirst.org, @hannahkatyb

{Host} Azure Antoinette, @azureantoinette
{Associate Editor} Samantha Neugebauer, @oysterconcept

Carla Blumenthal

Carla first discovered her passion for mentoring and education as a ‘Big Sister’ in Boston. From her experience, she realized her mission to empower young girls to pursue their dreams through education. As an Account Executive at the social marketing agency Mr Youth, Carla has managed word of mouth and social media campaigns for clients such as Pepperidge Farm and Microsoft. Carla is a ’08 graduate of James Madison University and ’09 MA graduate of Emerson College. She’s the first in her family to run half- marathons and move to New York City. carla@shesthefirst.org, @carlablumenthal

Jeff Boodie

Jeff is a social entrepreneur who started his career in New York City, working for Hearst Corporation the summer before his senior year at Eastern Mennonite University in 2006. After working in accounting for Hearst Newspapers, Jeff landed a position in finance and advertising with O, The Oprah Magazine, working closely with the editing, marketing, and advertising sales team. He now works in production with Dream Works Animation studios, enjoying more creative freedom than ever before. He’s the first in his family to travel to five of the seven continents, exploring vast regions and learning what motivates others. jeff@shesthefirst.org, @jboodie

Sarah Bruning

Sarah is the associate features editor for Time Out New York. Her passion for education extends back to high school and college, when she served as an adviser/tutor to elementary school students in the Los Angeles area. Magazines and mentoring aside, she also harbors a deep love of baking and an insatiable wanderlust. She’s the first in her family to study abroad (Spain), travel to Asia (India) and live in New York City. sarahbruning@shesthefirst.org @sarahbruning

Ale Foresto

Ale is the contributing assistant beauty editor at O, the Oprah Magazine. She graduated from Hofstra University (one of the first schools to start a campus chapter for She’s the First), with a double major in Mass Media and Political Science. A native from Lima, Peru who left to pursue a college degree in New York, she truly believes education is your most valued possession. She’s the first in her family to get a full-tuition scholarship to college, become a journalist and editor, and work at a national women’s magazine. ale@shesthefirst.org, @AleForesto

Jill Irvin

Jill is originally from the Chicago area and graduated from DePauw University with a degree in Communications in 2009. During college, her work with students in Belize and Peru solidified her interest in women’s education on an international level. Jillian works as the Assistant Production Coordinator at The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She’s the first in her family to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and move to the West Coast. jill@shesthefirst.org, @jirvin16

Stephanie Scott

{Chair} Stephanie has been in the beauty and style industry for over 15 years.  Determined to give a personalized voice to niche brands large and small, she began her own public relations and strategic marketing consulting business that specializes in traditional and social media marketing. A graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Stephanie also serves as the Vice-President for the Northern New Jersey Chapter of National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. stephanie@shesthefirst.org, @StephScottRocks

{Members} Andrea Bartz, Cassandra Bianco, Stephanie Florence, Kristen Healey, Paulina Jones, Erin Leigh Patterson

Laura Simion

{Co-Chair} Laura graduated from the University of Richmond with a dual-degree in International Economics and Spanish in 2009. She is currently a Client Associate on the Account Management team at Coleman Research Group, an expert network consulting firm. A native of Romania, Laura enjoys traveling, volunteering, yoga, and is an active member of the Tri Delta alumnae chapter of New York City where she helps fundraise for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. laura@shesthefirst.org

Tom Somerville

{Co-Chair} Tom Somerville currently serves as a Corporate Business Development Coordinator at the law firm Cravath, Swaine and Moore. He is an alumnus of Haverford College where he majored in Urban Planning, minored in Political Science and was also a member of the Men’s Varsity Squash Team. In his free time, Tom enjoys photography, automobile mechanics and fishing. tom@shesthefirst.org