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Bridget Terry Long, PhD
Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor,
Saris Professor of Education and Economics

Bridget Terry Long is a Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor and the Saris Professor of Education and Economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). She is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Education. Long is an economist whose work focuses on improving educational opportunities and student success with a focus on the transition to higher education and beyond. Her work has provided evidence on financial aid policies, postsecondary remedial education, and college support programs.  She has also developed and evaluated interventions that help students complete financial aid forms, save for college, and persist in higher education.

Dr. Corey Alexander
Former Two-Sport Collegiate Athlete, U.S. Army National Guard Soldier, and Transformational Healthcare Executive

Dr. Corey Alexander is a former two-sport collegiate athlete, a soldier in the U.S. Army National Guard, and a transformational healthcare executive. Throughout his career, he has built mission-driven organizations that blend operational excellence with compassion and culture. In his current role with DaVita Kidney Care, he oversees multiple dialysis centers in New York City, ensuring regulatory compliance and clinical excellence while nurturing a values-based, mission-driven team.

Earlier executive roles at Ross Health Group and other healthcare organizations highlight his talent for cultivating inclusive environments, supporting staff development and guiding organizations through change. As the founder and Executive Director of College Bound Athletics, Alexander created a nonprofit that mentors student athletes, championing their��wellbeing and academic success.

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Rachel Painter
PMC Family Nurse Practitioner

Rachel Painter, a Pittsburgh area resident, has been a bedside registered nurse for over six years. She has spent the majority of her career as an internal traveler for the system working on units with the greatest staffing needs.��

Recognizing the need for competent care and understandable explanations of that care, Rachel decided to further her education and become a nurse practitioner to better care for the patients in her area.��

While pursuing her degree, Rachel found out she was expecting and gave birth to twin daughters. She has spent her time at ����TV balancing her job, coursework, pregnancy, and new motherhood. Rachel credits her amazing husband, family, and support system at home for helping her navigate her return to school. In her very limited free time, Rachel enjoys live music and spending time on her family's sheep farm.  

Ping Yan
M.Ed. Education Technology and Instructional Design

Growing up in New York City, Ping Yan navigated the fast-paced streets and cultural intersections of immigrant life. 30 years after graduating high school, Ping decided to go back to school to complete her bachelor’s degree at ����TV. Her new degree opened new job opportunities almost immediately and helped her overcome long-standing career barriers. As a first-generation college graduate and career changer, she transitioned from a diverse freelance career into academia and now works at Princeton University’s School of Engineering as a Faculty Assistant. Thanks to Princeton’s tuition benefit, Ping pursued her M.Ed. in Learning Technology and Instructional Design at ����TV. She pursued this degree to deepen her understanding of how people learn, and to bridge the gap between content creation and impactful instructional design.��

Ping now supports faculty and researchers in one of the world’s leading academic institutions, continuing to advocate for accessible, effective learning design. In her free time, she puts her culinary degree to good use by making leftovers delicious and strives to be a useful human under the judgmental gaze of her Scottish Fold cat, Mila.��

Devon Briganti
M.S. Cybersecurity & Information Assurance

Devon Briganti, a South Florida resident, was raised by his grandmother after both of his parents fell victim to addiction and the criminal justice system. From six months old, Devon grew up relying on government assistance while his grandmother worked two jobs to make ends meet. With grit and gratitude—and the support of an unexpected and diverse community—he became a licensed paramedic with dreams of becoming a career firefighter. His dream was cut short by a physically debilitating car accident. With no financial safety net, Devon pivoted to his other long-held passion, cybersecurity.

While working overnight shifts as a paramedic, Devon continued studying emergency medicine and began his journey into the world of cybersecurity. He earned his Bachelor of Science and later his Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from ����TV. Devon now works in his county’s Network Services Department, where he continues his lifelong commitment to public service. He remains passionate about helping underserved communities—whether through technology, or grassroots advocacy.

Asia Proctor-Abron
B.S. Business Administration - Management

First-generation college graduate, Asia Proctor-Abron, worked in federal government service for over a decade where she developed a passion for administration and project management. Currently, Asia collaborates on the development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAi) at Amazon and is pursuing her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

In addition to her professional work, Asia is a natural organizer and has coordinated numerous weddings and events for both friends and clients. Asia also serves as a minister, striving to bring compassion, structure, and purpose to every endeavor.��

Asia resides in a suburb of her hometown of Washington, DC, though she is no stranger to the Boston area and visits regularly with her husband, Ryan, a native Bostonian. Together, they share two beloved cats.

Rilyn Celeste Gardner
B.A. Educational Studies - Mild to Moderate Exceptionalities Special Education

Rilyn Celeste Gardner is an educator and actor in Boston, Massachusetts. After working as an actor, choreographer, and paraeducator, Rilyn made the switch from majoring in musical theatre to education. Whether it be on stage or in the classroom, she has found a love in guiding others to identify and fulfill their potential.

Rilyn was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020. Prior to being diagnosed, she struggled to accomplish her educational goals at a traditional university. The competency-based education model at ����TV granted her the ability to work with her ADHD, not against it.��

Rilyn would like to thank her husband McKay, mentor Taj, incredible friends, family, coworkers, and, of course, her dogs, Charlie and Penny, for their unwavering encouragement and love. She is excited to continue her career this fall as an 8th-grade Mathematics teacher.

Christy Michelle Hotard
B.S. Business Administration - Management

Christy Michelle Hotard made her way to Memphis, Tennessee, by way of Northern California and Louisiana. What began as a temporary career shift into Human Resources gradually evolved into a permanent and fulfilling career path at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She pursued a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Management to build strong leadership and strategic planning skills for today's global business environment. Balancing full-time studies with part-time work taught her resilience, time management, and a deep appreciation for education.��

Outside of work, Christy Michelle enjoys traveling, learning about wine and viticulture, and volunteering in the community.