OUR STAFF
Erika Halstead
Erika Halstead is the CEO of Minds Matter. Her career traverses the whole educational cycle, from bilingual elementary school teacher to university lecturer in literature, from curriculum development to delivery to evaluation. She has been part of the Minds Matter community since 2009, first as a volunteer, then a Board member, and later as Executive Director for the NYC chapter from 2015 to 2023. Previously, she served as the Senior Program Officer at Humanities New York where she directed youth and community engagement initiatives, including award-winning programming for Latine and American Muslim communities. Erika is also an expert facilitator and master trainer, with experience teaching hundreds of people to lead meaningful dialogue in their organizations and communities. Erika holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and a EdM from Teachers College, Columbia University. A proud Colombian-American, she was named a “40 Under 40 Rising Star” by the Hispanic Coalition of New York in 2018 and an inaugural member of the Pinkerton Advanced Leadership Network for nonprofit leaders of color in 2020.
Colin P. Delaney
Abdulwahid Duso
Abdulwahid Duso comes to Minds Matter with a career dedicated to social justice, including equitable access to educational and economic opportunities. Prior to joining Minds Matter, he served as Founding Executive Director at AssistHub, an impact-driven organization committed to ending basic-needs insecurity and ensuring equitable access to economic mobility opportunities for thousands of families across California.
Abdulwahid brings to Minds Matter over 15 years of experience in educational leadership and student success, having served as a college counselor, public high school teacher, program designer, and organizational leader. At College Track, a nationally-recognized college completion program, he led the Student Life department as National Program Director, leading the design and implementation of student-centered college access and completion programming.
As a child of Muslim, Cham immigrant-parents from Vietnam, Abdulwahid experienced firsthand the challenges of both poverty and navigating college as a first-generation student. His lived experiences have informed his values and deep belief in the transformative power of higher education. Based in Long Beach, CA, but born and raised in East San Jose, he is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and received his M.A. from Columbia University. He also serves on the board of directors of the Global Livingston Institute, which facilitates meaningful cultural exchanges between youth in the United States and Africa.
Rachel Geller
Rachel Geller is a trained social worker with over 15 years of experience working across the corporate, public, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining Minds Matter National, Rachel served in leadership positions at Minds Matter NYC where she oversaw corporate partnerships, volunteer engagement, and career readiness programming. Her previous roles span programming and policy in the sexual violence prevention space, corporate social responsibility at NBCUniversal, and in municipal innovation at Cities of Service. Rachel graduated from Colgate University and holds a Master in Social Work from Columbia University. She lives in Brooklyn New York with her husband and two children. When she isn't spending time with her family, she enjoys coaching skating to young girls with the nonprofit Figure Skating in Harlem, discovering new neighborhoods, and catching up with friends.
Rachel Kanter
Rachel Kanter has dedicated her career to advancing educational equity, from teaching in low-income schools to leading Minds Matter Boston as Executive Director for eight years. She now serves as Chief Network Officer at Minds Matter National, where she supports chapters across the country in expanding access and impact. Rachel graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University and holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
Correne Reyes
Stef Walker
Ariel Ackermann
Ariel Ackermann (she/her) has forged her career at the intersection of student success and sustainable development. Prior to joining Minds Matter, she facilitated career development for undergraduate students at MIT, Millennium Campus Network, and Lehigh University. Ariel holds a master’s degree in Intercultural Theology from the University of Goettingen (Germany) and a bachelor’s degree in Culture & Communication from Ithaca College (New York).
Ariel loves connecting with new people and building community. A native of Pennsylvania, Ariel has lived and worked in Europe & the Middle East and is passionate about supporting first-gen and impact-oriented students! When she’s not working, you can find her designing ecological gardens, baking sourdough, or learning foreign languages.
Casey Gotcher
Lilah Herbert-Lewis
Lilah Herbert-Lewis is the Development Associate at Minds Matter National. Lilah joined us from Everytown for Gun Safety, where she spent her time as a Donor Database Associate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with double minors in American Studies and History, from George Washington University. Outside of work, Lilah enjoys cooking, is a loyal New York Liberty fan, and is a self-proclaimed Bravoholic.
Melisa Vallovera
Melisa began her career working with nonprofits in 2019 after many years of providing administrative support in various industries. She holds a BFA in Illustration/Animation from Montclair State University and an MA in Arts Administration from Baruch College. Melisa is passionate about data, systems, and expressing gratitude to the volunteers and donors who drive meaningful change in our communities. In 2024, she graduated from PASE and CCNY's "Emerging Leaders in Nonprofit Management" program, a course for youth program professionals in New York City. She is based in New Jersey and enjoys going to estate sales, playing video games, and trying to keep up with her book clubs.