Rachael founded College Next Door with the vision to support and improve public education. She is focused on creating sustainable mentorships through College Next Door with her past experiences in working with DC public and charter schools and mentoring students through other organizations. Originally from Georgia, she is a director in the Medicaid space for a healthcare company and an alumni of Vanderbilt University, where she received a B.A. in Health Policies and Economies with minors in Corporate Strategy and French.

Giancarlo has several years of accounting and finance experience working in non-profits and government. He additionally served as a Community Relations Director for a DC nonprofit focused on student mentorships. Originally from New York, he is the CFO for a Latin America media firm and holds multiple degrees from the George Washington University, where he received a Masters of Accountancy and a dual-B.B.A. in Accounting and International Business.

Allie develops and sustains our partnerships with schools, primarily focusing on community outreach in the DC area. She has years of experience working on new initiatives and marketing/PR strategies with different nonprofits. Originally from New York, she is a strategy consultant for a multinational consulting firm and an alumni of Vanderbilt University, where she received a B.A. in Health Behaviors and Science with a minor in Communication Studies.

Alexander develops our strategy into action. He connects our directors and student chapters' efforts and guides effective execution. He holds a background in identifying the intersection between quantitative and qualitative processes through machine learning and robotic process automation (RPA). Originally from Massachusetts, he is a data science lead for a DC-based consulting firm and an alumni of Harvard University, where he received a B.S. in Math and Computer Science.

Sebastian advises our program development for both mentorship and recruitment. He brings in years of experience as a mental performance coach for a variety of schools and athletic teams across the country, specializing in the cross-section of sports psychology, culture, leadership, and emotional intelligence and how they drive performance. Originally from Connecticut, he owns his own coaching business and is an alumni of Yale University, where he received a B.A. in Psychology and played Tight-End on Yale's Varsity Football team.

Sophia oversees the organizational operations within College Next Door and the communications between the directors and the university chapters. A mentor herself of four middle school students in the DC area, Sophia has experience working within the DC public education system and is passionate about the power of long-term mentorship in guiding the potential that all students hold. Originally from Georgia, she is currently pursuing a dual-degree in Economics and International Affairs at The George Washington University.

Escadar Alemayehu grew up in Denver, Colorado and attended a public high school where she was involved in peer tutoring, speech and debate, and mentorship programs. Escadar is passionate about creating future leaders who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to create impact. She is excited to work with CND to build up the DC public school community and foster lasting relationships among college students and their high school mentees. Currently, Escadar is a junior at Georgetown University majoring in global health with minors in women’s and gender studies and Spanish.

Elizabeth believes wholeheartedly in the potential for mentorship to encourage and empower all parties involved, and is excited to help CND's impact grow. She is double majoring in Computer Science and Psychology with a minor in Science, Technology, and International Affairs at Georgetown University. Elizabeth is passionate about education policy and has experience working and volunteering as a tutor, peer mentor, and teaching assistant, both during her time at Georgetown and in her beloved hometown of Lake Bluff, Illinois.

Daniella aids College Next Door’s GW chapter create and maintain strong, beneficial mentorships. Having to figure out high school and the college application process as a first generation college student, she hopes to use her experiences to uplift and support D.C. students. Originally from Queens, New York, she is currently studying Political Communication and Economics at the George Washington University.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Andrea is studying International Affairs and Philosophy at the George Washington University. She helps College Next Door’s GW chapter with outreach, looking for opportunities for involvement within the greater DC community. Having previously interned for Common App, Andrea has experience with mentorship as well as higher education. She joined College Next Door because she is aware of how difficult and complicated high school can be, hoping to support and inspire students. Being a first-generation college student, she hopes to share her own experiences while building meaningful relationships with DC students.

Hannah keeps track of the funds and budget of the GW chapter of College Next Door. She ensures that all mentees have access to the resources they need to succeed in school or applying for college. She joined CND in hopes to take her experiences and what she has learned throughout her high school journey to help guide and build a strong mentorship. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences on a pre-dental track.