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Our STAFF

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Casey DePasquale

Executive Director

Casey worked for the NYC Department of Education for 12 years before joining GCSA. Casey taught high school science for 10 years, which included serving as a founding staff member at the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management, one of GCSA's partner schools. As a '07 Teach for America Alumnus, Casey spent summers working for TFANY's summer institute, leading science instruction for new teachers. A Pittsburgh native, Casey attended Cornell University and has lived in NYC ever since. She is committed to serving NYC students and the mission of achieving greater educational equity in the largest school district in the country.

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Charmain Walkin 

Program Director

Charmain is an experienced College and Career Access professional with a demonstrated history of working in the education industry. A graduate of the State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook University, Charmain holds a Masters of Arts in Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration. With 17 years of experience, she is dedicated to providing access to post-secondary opportunities for all students. Prior to joining GCSA, she served as the Director of College Access Success and Alumni Support at a non-profit organization in Newark. She is also an active member of the College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY). Charmain enjoys sewing, bowling, and learning from her students.

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Phurbu Dolma

Mentorship Facilitator

Dolma received her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services at the New York City College of Technology. She worked as a chess tournament director at a chess program called Chess in the Schools, and also as camp counselor at a camp called Ramapo for Children and Dorothy P Flint 4-H Camp. She enjoys working with youth and hopes to continue to do so as a Human Service Professional. Dolma is a proud alumni of the GCSA program, completing the program in 2018. 

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Dahee Lee

Program Coordinator

Dahee is a researcher and youth worker based in New York City. She has extensive experience working with students in community-based settings to develop their educational, professional, and personal goals. She has a Master of Arts in Sociology of Education from NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Dahee Loves building communities and fostering safe spaces through programming, resource creating, and mentoring. 

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Anne Marie Santoro

Communications and Curriculum Consultant

Anne Marie has a national reputation as an innovative educator who designs multi-media programs that nourish the best in the human spirit. Through her company, From the Heart Communications, she helps profit and non-profit companies and individuals define their cherished dreams and find the drive and the daring to make them come alive in the world. 

Anne Marie uses her experience as a writer and visual storyteller to help GCSA students creatively express themselves with clarity and confidence through engaging activities and one-on-one sessions. By helping them find, feel and focus on the people and experiences that make them happy, students begin to imagine and create a life that brings them joy. 

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