Raymond Barash

Learning and Curriculum Specialist, Ray has been in the education field for over 8 years. He has a passion for creating effective and inclusive learning environments. His expertise includes creating engaging curriculum that caters to a diverse range of learners. He is adept at teaching both online and in-person and is thrilled to be modifying a drone pilot program for neurodiverse students. Ray is dedicated to helping all students become confident self-advocates. He holds a BA from NYU Gallatin School.

Haley Shibble

Education Director, Haley is an educator with over a decade of experience teaching and administering art and technology programs. She is a creative technologist who holds a BA in Digital Media from Duquesne University and an MFA in  Design + Technology from Parson School of Design. Her expertise includes overseeing an education staff along with curriculum. She enjoys giving professional development training on universal design for learning to educators in New York City and has presented at multiple national conferences. She is devoted to creating inclusive learning environments and designing programs that empower neurodiverse learners.

Ellen Goldstein

Development Strategist, Ellen has more than 25 years of experience fundraising for NYC nonprofit organizations.  She has a BA from Pomona College and an MSW from Columbia University.

Beth Rosenberg

Founder/Executive Director, MS Ed Technology + Special Needs | MA Art History, has worked in education, tech and art for over 30 years—first in the Education Department,  Guggenheim Museum, then as Founding Education Director, Eyebeam and as a consultant for over 20 NYC museums and community organizations. She is a faculty member in the Department of Technology, Culture and Society at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She started tech workshops in 2009 for her neurodiverse son and is a passionate advocate for students with disabilities.

Sofia Wheeler

Education Program Associate, holds a BS in Integrated Design and Media from NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Since joining TKU in 2021 as a counselor, she has rapidly advanced to her current role. Sofia skillfully utilizes her expertise in web design, video editing, and photography to create engaging informational content. Her deep understanding of neurodivergent students’ needs, developed through hands-on experience, allows her to effectively adapt and enrich TKU’s educational programs.

Laura Olivieri Robles 

Director of Operations, People and Culture, Laura has multiple years of experience working for various organizations, including being a news producer at a major television network. Armed with a master’s degree from the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism, she oversees day-to-day operations and is dedicated to ensuring that TKU runs over 15 programs efficiently. Hailing from a large family, her interest in people and their success is paramount to her philosophy of life.

Jack Rubin

Co-Creator of TKU, loves technology and was inspired to learn how to be a creator of tech back in 2009 when the very first TKU workshop was piloted. He enjoys playing video games, creating videos and watching funny shows. He studied film at Pace University. He has an interest in automobiles and currently works in a job with cars.

Alex McKay

VP, AI Labs, BlackRock

Ryan Linden

Interim President

CPA, Head of Solutions Delivery & CS Growth, MURAL

Joel Bencosme

Treasurer

Tax Partner, PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Erik Dykema

Of Counsel, Bochner IP, General Counsel BICMD

Roseanne Legrand

Speech/Language Pathologist & Learning Specialist. MA, The City University of New York.

Stephanie Borgman

Former Chief of Staff & Site Program Manager, Google, Sydney, Australia

Beth Rosenberg 

Founder and Executive Director, Tech Kids Unlimited & Adjunct Professor, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Luke Dubois

Ph.D. Composer and Director of the Integrated Digital Media Program, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Harrison Lung

Interim Secretary

Group Chief Strategy Officer (GCSO), e& Global Technology Group

Jean Kang

Director, 400 Capital Management LLC

Sheena Thomas

Managing Counsel, Adobe, Privacy & Cybersecurity Legal

Paul Jeruchimowitz

Senior Managing Director, Accenture 

Aaron Chu

Senior Software Developer, Apple

David Rosenberg

VP BD, Strategy + Ops,
Polymarket

Hannah Kaplan-Cohen

Director, Special Needs Parenting, Professional & Support Programs, The JCC in Manhattan

Jeremy Louie

Head of Software Development, inline Apps

Daniel Nadasi

Engineering Director, Office of Cross-Google Engineering,
Google Australia

Evan Schechtman

Chief Creative Technologist / Founder, The Cuttlefish

Dr. Jonathan Hill

Interim Provost and EVP for Academic Affairs,
Pace University

David Kearon

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead, Impact Consulting LLC

Amy Hurst 

Associate Professor, Director of the Ability Project at NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Roman Jackson

VP Community & Policy, JobsFirstNYC

Sam Forster

is a tech counselor in TKU who has a 2023 bachelor’s in Computer Science, with a minor in Game Design from Adelphi University. He looks to make sure everyone is in a comfortable teaching environment that can accommodate their wants and needs, while still making the learning progress fun. He’s passionate about video games and art, and how they can be used together in different kinds of projects.

Michaela Lee

enjoys supporting students in their tech education journey. She likes to do ceramics and read. She has a BA in computer science and math.

Loulou Viemeister

obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political studies at Pitzer College. She is an artist born and raised in New York City, who focuses on ceramics and painting. She loves working with children, watching reality TV, and vintage shopping.

Michael Bashner

has a BA in computer science from the University of Rochester. They are a passionate educator who cares about improving accessibility and finding ways to effectively engage any and everyone in learning. Michael plans to pursue a Masters in Education with the aim to teach computer science and/or continue to teach students with disabilities. In their free time, Michael loves to sing, play guitar, and participate in community theater.

Jared Schick

is a college student and has taken classes at TKU for eight years. He is now giving back to the community as a counselor.

Jakim Poleon

is a college student and has taken classes at TKU for five years. He now works in TKU’s College Access Program.

Saleem Aknine

is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity at George Mason University. He enjoys playing video games, sports, and learning new things about the world of tech.

Nolan Duarte

Previous TKU Student. Now works as a counselor for TKU programs.

Elijah Alvarez

is a designer and instructor of many types. Apart from teaching and assisting at TKU, he does youth climbing, and cycling instruction. He holds a BFA from NYU in interactive media arts and is currently pursuing an Interior Design degree from Pratt.

Indira Ardolic

is an interdisciplinary media artist. She is passionate about teaching creative tools that allow others to express themselves in new ways. Indira is pursuing her Masters at Hunter College.

Anna Boyarko

is a Multimedia and social media specialist passionate about children’s book illustration, graphic design, and the arts. Currently working part-time as a direct support professional, she’s all about community engagement and understanding her students’ needs.

Bridget Daugherty

is an educator and freelance motion graphics designer. She recently graduated with an M.S. in Integrated Design & Media at NYU Tandon. She likes morning coffee, rainy days, video editing, house plants, and baking.

Gage Delprete

is an educator with over eight years of experience split between teaching art, community programs, and formal gaming in NYC. He received an MFA at Tufts University with a focus on contemporary art and narrative painting. He is also focused on gamemastering Dungeons & Dragons— a new social skills initiative taught within a TKU workplace learning program.

Leah Gauthier

is a studio artist, designer and educator. She’s a founder and member of Life Forms a collective of Maine women sculptors, and and owns Moon Food Studio, a full service design shop dedicated to amplifying the creativity of artists, arts organizations, and craftspersons; the voices of under-represented communities; and the brilliant ideas of others-centered, everyday visionaries making local and global positive change.

Daniel Ryan Johnston

is a Brooklyn-based queer textile artist, accessibility researcher, and creative technologist.  Mixing a love of creepy puppets, wearable technology and machine embroidery sculpture, Daniel’s work explores personal experiences with managing mental health, body image and psoriatic arthritis.

Tina Mbiti

possesses a unique ability to create immersive technology, digital media and arts workshops tailored to neurodiverse youth. Armed with extensive expertise in Game Design and Coding, she infuses a multidisciplinary approach into her teaching.

Sevan Mujukian

is an interdisciplinary designer, artist, and educator based in Los Angeles. With an MFA in Game Design from New York University, she has taught game design and digital media art at Fitchburg State University and the City University of New York. At TKU, Sevan has contributed to several innovative projects, including an NSF-funded game development workshop and a specialized course designed to help students earn their drone pilot licenses.

Fran Rojo

is an educator and programmer. They teach at various universities in New York. Before that, they worked as a software engineer at Google. They are excited to share what they know with anyone who wants to listen.

David Sainté

is a Haitian American multimedia artist and educator based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. As an educator, David teaches both contemporary art and digital media, empowering his students to explore creativity through physical art making, film, 3D design, and immersive technology. His teaching emphasizes the intersection of culture, identity, and community, encouraging students to tell their own stories through innovative artistic practices.

Dana Sy-Ching

holds a BS in Integrated Design and Media. She enjoys being able to share an appreciation for technology and design in an accessible and inclusive manner through TKU. In both teaching and learning, she values being experimental, making things fun, and allowing room for expression.

Matthew Toups

is a current BS/MS student in Integrated Design & Media, focused on creative technology and architectural installation work, interested in teaching students how to express their creativity and think about space / composition with their work!

Steven Yoo

is an educator dedicated to bringing out the best in all students. He passionately inspires students to create and share technology in a supportive, individualized environment. His teaching pedagogy focuses on three primary goals: Active Learning, Continuous Improvement & Adaptation, and Inclusive Learning. By addressing gaps in accessible educational experiences, he aims to change the paradigm for education and employment for neurodiverse students.

Weixiong Zhu

is a multi-disciplined programmer who has done work with web and game development with a Bachelors in Computer Science from NYU Tandon School of Engineering. He is currently pursuing his Masters of Arts in Teaching at the NYU Steinhardt to bridge the gaps between tech and underrepresented students.

Tonya Blazio-Licorish

Maria Cabezas

Loren Busby

Josephine Massop

Lessly Castillo

Amy Hochstein

Nirilla Anthonimuthu

Ruth Broyld

Karen Kirshenbaum

Jeanine McAdam

Aafia Alladin

Social Work Intern, is a second-year student pursuing a master’s in Social Work at Columbia University in the Clinical track. She enjoys poetry and spending time with family & friends.

Brittany Banks

Social Work Intern Supervisor, LCSW, is a LMSW and SIFI certified School-Based Clinical Consultant with a focus on Clinical Practice with Families, Groups, and Individuals. In the last 5 years, she has worked to perform clinical counseling for children and their families.

Ellen Mullan-Jayes

Social Worker, LMSW. Ellen earned her Master’s of Social Work from Columbia University, where she built a foundation in advanced generalist practice and school-based social work. With years of experience, she is dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and families in areas such as social-emotional learning, education, and advocacy.

Aliyah K. Harrell

Social Worker, has a Bachelors from Brooklyn College in TV/Radio Production, and is currently enrolled at NYU Silver School of Social Work working on her Masters. She’s very passionate about serving and empowering vulnerable communities. 

Ria Sarkar

LMSW, is a dedicated Forensic Social Worker at Comprehensive Family Services and Queens Defenders, where she provides comprehensive support and intervention for court-involved children and families, including those who are neurodivergent. With a Master of Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work and extensive experience in crisis intervention and case management, Ria excels in advocating for clients within legal and social service systems.

Amita Sekhon

LMHC-LP, has a bachelors in Psychology and Education and a masters in Mental Health Counseling from Palo Alto University. She has worked extensively with students and families in educational settings as both a teacher and a counselor. She loves learning and trying new things and is enjoying supporting TKU and their students! 

Hunter Soileau

is a licensed social worker and therapist. Hunter has worked with TKU since 2021 as both a graduate intern and a staff member. Hunter is a passionate supporter of TKU’s work readiness programs that offer participants combined skills based learning, professional mentoring, and added social-emotional support. 

Laura Zaugg

Social Worker, LMSW. Laura received her Master’s in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has spent her career working in a variety of educational spaces supporting students and families with counseling and social emotional support. 

Hunter Soileau

Social Worker, Hunter is currently pursing his Master’s degree from Columbia University School of Social Work.

Harish A. 

Age 18

Justin M. 

Age 20

Patrick L.

Age 22

Sara C. 

Age 17

Saumya D.

Age 21

Tate B. 

Age 16

William G. 

Age 15

Aaron J.F.

Age 19

Christian S.

Age 16

Masghana S.

Age 22

Christal F.

Age 22