Who We Are
In an ideal world, every young person would have the opportunity to achieve a complete education and build a fruitful life. The truth is that many of the young people in our community will never get the chance to go to college and achieve their dreams. That is, unless people who can make a difference step in and change that reality.
Poverty and homelessness profoundly limit the lives of thousands of young people in King County. Seattle Education Access assists marginalized youth and young adults in gaining entry into colleges and completing degrees. We provide them with the resources they need to transition successfully to college, so that they can finish their educations, leave poverty behind, and contribute to society.
If you have the will and the determination to go to college but don’t know how to get there, click here. If someone you know has been living on the edge and lacks the resources needed to get back into school click here to make a referral. Our doors are open to any low-income person under the age of 30 no matter their legal issues, parenting status, sexual orientation or immigration status. We offer a FREE, welcoming, non-judgmental approach to helping young people living in poverty get the education they need to thrive.
Our Board of Directors
Cristina Gonzalez — Board President, currently works as deputy finance manager for the King County Parks Division and teaches a graduate economics course at Seattle University’s Institute of Public Service. She previously worked as the Regional Labor Economist for Seattle-King County with the state's Employment Security Department and earned her master’s degree in economics from Washington State University. Her past volunteer experience includes work with Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, and an organization at Texas A&M University committed to increasing compassion and understanding across diverse cultures. Cris is so proud to work for SEA's outstanding and brilliant students!
Heather Cope — Board Vice-President, is a policy analyst at the League of Education Voters, a statewide advocacy nonprofit dedicated engaging citizens in the effort to provide a quality education for all children in Washington — from preschool through postsecondary. She also volunteers as a mentor through the state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration. Previously, Heather worked at an education reform think tank in Washington D.C. and taught middle school social studies in the Bronx, NY. She has a master's in teaching from Pace University in New York, and a bachelor's in communications and political science from the University of Washington.
Greg Ernst — Board Treasurer is the Director of Finance for Free & Clear, Inc. He began his career as a financial analyst with the Investment Banking firm Morgan Stanley Inc. For the past 10 years Greg has served as a financial manager for a variety of biotechnology and other health care related companies both public and private. Greg holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington.
Irena Netik — Board Secretary, is a Manager of Renewable Resources Integration at Puget Sound Energy. Prior to her current work in wind integration, she has a background in water resources planning and hydro operations. She earned her Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia, Canada. She has been engaged with the PSE corporate United Way campaign, serving once as a United Way Loaned Executive and as the chair of the campaign for two consecutive years prior to her current position of campaign advisor. Irena has volunteered as a mentor at the Seattle Girls School and currently chairs the Development Committee and the Annual Fundraising Breakfast.
Kate Baber is a Community Organizer for the Statewide Poverty Action Network where she works to build political power in low-income communities and forward statewide public policy campaigns. Kate currently serves as SEA's Advocacy Committee Chair and first became interested in education advocacy while volunteering as a tutor at King County Jail. Through this experience, she witnessed structural inequalities and policy barriers preventing low-income, incarcerated young adults from accessing higher education. Kate believes that policy advocacy is a key strategy in making post-secondary education more accessible to low-income students and is excited to address these issues by working with SEA. Kate holds a Masters in Social Work Degree and Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health from the University of Washington.
Tania Boster currently works as a consultant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the Global Development Program. She earned her PhD in history, and studies individuals and groups who, as social critics and through direct action, have tried to create a better, more equitable world. She is equally concerned with the practical application of these interests in the community and in the classroom.
Charlie Laroux Bettis is a graduate of the SEA College Success Program and received an undergraduate degree from the Evergreen State College. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from the University of Washington. Charlie was recently voted onto the Board of Directors. Her description is not yet available.
Leesa Manionis the Chief of Staff for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, where some of her responsibilities include overseeing a new truancy intervention program designed to divert truant youth from the court system and into community-based interventions intended to get kids back in school. Leesa earned her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. She enjoys entertaining, reading, and spending time with her two young children.
Sean McGillowayhas served on the board of directors at Seattle Education Access for over 5 years. Sean is a firm believer in providing access to higher education for Seattle young adults. Sean also has 12 years experience consulting small- and mid-size organizations through growth stages. Sean works for ISOutsource, a consulting firm based in Seattle with offices in Tacoma and Portland supporting businesses across the Western United States. Sean, and his team, facilitates the planning and implementation of forward-looking technology solutions to meet business needs. Sean was educated at the University of Washington and received his undergraduate degree in Business.
Matthew Norman is Relationship Manager with Wells Fargo & Company, managing a portfolio of middle market clients. In his eleven years with Wells Fargo, Matthew has worked in a variety of capacities in Alaska, Orange County, and Washington. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Chapman University. Matthew volunteers with a number of organizations, including Lambert House, a GLBT youth center, as well as the GSBA Scholarship Selection Committee and AIDS Lifecycle. He also teaches financial services/literacy through a half-day seminar that educates people on the steps to starting their own non-profits. His community involvement is focused on organizations that fight homelessness, empower youth, and promote education.
Kathleen Porch is the Development Manager for Real Change Homeless Empowerment project, a street newspaper and advocacy project for homeless and low-income people. Kathleen is a product of a very low-income family and is the first person in her mother’s family to attend and graduate from high school and college. This experience connects her strongly to the mission of SEA, having struggled to start her own college education. In addition to SEA she volunteers as a group leader for PEPS, the Program for Early Parent Support and serves on the board of directors for The North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA), the professional organization for street newspapers across the US and Canada. She holds certificates from the University of Washington in both Non-profit Management and Fundraising Management.
Edilia Ruiz is a graduate of the SEA College Success Program. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Washington. Edilia was recently voted onto the Board of Directors. Her description is not yet available.
Dr. Thomas Staigeris the Medical Director of the University of Washington Medical Center and is a general internist at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is active in the Society of General Internal Medicine and chairs the society’s Clinical Practice Committee. His academic interests include the evaluation of low back pain, physician-patient communication, and educating physicians regarding leadership and quality improvement. He is married, has 3 children, and enjoys sailing, skiing, hiking, and music.
William Wiggins works in Human Resources at Group Health. William was recently voted onto the Board of Director. His description is not yet available.
Jennifer Wootenis a Teen Librarian at the Renton and Renton Highlands branches of the King County Library System. She has a Master’s Degree in Information Studies from Florida State University and a B.A. in History from the University of Washington. Jennifer is passionate about literacy and lifelong learning. Jennifer volunteered as the SEA Book Access Coordinator for over six years before joining the Board and Scholarship Committee.
Gennifer Zentz currently works as a Research Analyst for Group Health, and is a Teacher and Historian. She holds an M.Ed from University of Minnesota and Master of History/Archaeology where she studied early Celtic Literature. She is passionate about fostering equality in education and community partnerships through storytelling and networking.
Advisory Board
Kirk Adams is President of the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind, a $37,500,000 a year social enterprise employing 190 people who are blind and Deaf-Blind. He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from Whitman College and a Master's degree in Not-For-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. His affiliations include CityClub, the Executive Alliance, Greater Spokane Inc., the Seattle and Rainier Chambers of Commerce and downtown Seattle Rotary. Kirk says, "Our clearly focused mission, commitment to best practices, and above all the incalculable impact on young people's lives make Seattle Education Access a truly exciting organization to be involved with."
Staff & Key Volunteers
Anthon Smith — Executive Director, has over thirteen years of non-profit experience, including seven years of international non-profit work. He graduated with bachelor's degrees in both Sociology and Comparative Religions from the University of Malta, and attended Seattle University for graduate studies in Non-Profit Leadership. In addition to his work with SEA, Anthon is active in the community as an artist, activist, and band manager.
Polly Trout, Ph.D. — Director of Advocacy & Outreach, founded SEA in 2002. Polly has a B.A. from The Evergreen State College, an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. She lectured in Religious Studies for three years at San Diego State University, and is the author of Eastern Seeds, Western Soil: Three Gurus in America. In addition to her work with SEA, Polly is an educator, activist, writer, and mother.
Melissa Collett — Development Director, graduated from the University of La Verne before studying Fundraising Management at the University of Washington. She has over has eleven years of experience in nonprofit development. Her focus has been in organizations serving teen and family homelessness. Melissa is also active in the community with volunteer roles at KEXP 90.3FM, Fremont Abbey Arts Center, and Flash Volunteer.
Brittney Ferara — Education Advocate. Prior to attending school Brittney lived on the streets in Seattle for the majority of her adolescent life. She accessed many of the services provided for homeless youth including the Zine Project, Barista Training and Education Program, Teen Feed, and other homeless youth drop-in centers. Brittney recently graduated with honors and received an AAS in Social and Human Services. Currently she is working on her Bachelors in Applied Behavioral Science at Seattle Central Community College. After she gets her BAS she plans to attend graduate school either in Seattle, Portland or Las Vegas. Eventually she would like to move to a different country to specifically work with At-Risk youth populations providing case management and higher education. In addition to her work at SEA Brittney is also an activist, a mother, and practices photography.
Kelli Wilharm is our bookkeeper.
Guy Boster is our Volunteer Newsletter & Creative Designer.
Our Scholarship Review Committee
Committee Chair: Jennifer Wooten
Jennifer Wooten is a Teen Librarian at the Renton and Renton Highlands branches of the King County Library System. She has a Master’s Degree in Information Studies from Florida State University and a B.A. in History from the University of Washington. Jennifer is passionate about literacy and lifelong learning. Jennifer volunteered as the SEA Book Access Coordinator for over six years before joining the Board and Scholarship Committee.
Tania Boster currently works as a consultant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the Global Development Program. She earned her PhD in history, and studies individuals and groups who, as social critics and through direct action, have tried to create a better, more equitable world. She is equally concerned with the practical application of these interests in the community and in the classroom.
Matthew Evans is currently a graduate student at the University of Washington, earning a Masters degree in education, focusing on language, literacy, and culture. I've been a volunteer with SEA since 2008 and I am passionate about education access and opportunity, and I am honored to work with such an incredible organization.
Moira Fulton is on the faculty at Highline Community College, where she teaches reading and study skill courses for pre-college and college students. She holds a BA in English from the University of Iowa, an M.Ed from the University of Vermont, and has since completed post-graduate coursework at Harvard University, Landmark College, and the Institute of Humane Education.
Leon M. Holloway. After graduating in 2004, with a Bachelors of Architecture and a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Design, I wanted to pursue my further exploration of architecture in Seattle. Since being out here I have worked for NAC| Architecture, designing schools for the local school districts. I have been actively involved in several American Institute committees such as; the Seattle Honor Awards, the Diversity Roundtable, the Committee on Design, and the Young Architect’s Forum. I am currently the President of the National Organization for Minority Architects’ North West chapter. I have also been involved in Habitat For Humanity South King County either working on a site or creating workshops for future house owners. This is my first year of working with SEA and I’m very excited to provide whatever help and resources I can.
Fred Kingston has been working in the fields of education and social work since 2004 when he started teaching High School English in Gallup, New Mexico, through the Teach For America program. In 2006 he moved to Seattle to attend the School of Social work at the University of Washington. After earning his MSW, he went on to work for the City of Seattle's youth employment program, and he presently is an education and employment case manager through the Metrocenter YMCA.
Kathleen Lynch is a Professor Emeritus at Shoreline Community College where she taught communication and multicultural issues for fifteen years. She received her M.A. in ethnography of communication at the University of Washington and completed her Ph.D. coursework. She was a core member of the curriculum transformation project at her institution; helped developed the multicultural education graduation criteria; attended the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity seven times, presented twice; attended intensive immigration institutes; was part of a mixed-race, mixed-gender diversity training team; led an institution wide, year-long series of diversity dialogues; works often and closely with Aaron Dixon (former captain of the Seattle chapter of the Black Panthers) on social justice curriculum; completed workshops on working with Deaf people; developed anti-heterosexist and anti-homophobic curriculum; worked closely with Native faculty and the First Nations club; and was advisor to several diverse student clubs, most memorably the S.C.C Hip Hop Elements Club. She is fluent in American Sign Language, is an activist in a patient-driven major medical paradigm shift, and is writing a book on her adventure travels around the world. She decided not to pursue her helicopter pilot’s license after her first flight.
Adam Mohr was a former teacher at Metrocenter YMCAs Career Academy and is currently working to revamp SEAs Compass Test Prep & Tutoring program.
Katy Terry serves as the Deputy Director for King County Parks. She has over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, and has been involved with education for marginalized populations, from tutoring high school students in Harlem to working with a nonprofit teaching vocational skills to young adults aging out of the Romanian orphanage system. Katy holds master's degrees in International Studies and Public Administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in Russian from Columbia University. She is thrilled to help students access scholarships, having been helped by scholarships so much herself.
College Access Advocacy Committee
To be announced.
