Celebrate 25 Years of SMASH
Help students build computer science skills and prepare for college and careers. Donate and receive a SMASH25 Community Champion digital badge to share on LinkedIn.
ABOUT
SMASHing The Boundaries Of What’s Possible In STEM
Learn about SMASH’s approach to STEM education and mentorship, our history, and the people helping students prepare for college and technology careers.
OUR MISSION + VISION
At SMASH, we aim to build a strong STEM workforce through academic learning and experiential engagement for high school and college students.
We empower dedicated students in STEM fields through intensive education, rigorous coursework, and access to resources, aiming to cultivate success in college and careers. Our vision is to create a STEM ecosystem where every student can thrive in the global economy. By providing opportunities, we seek to enrich our communities and workplaces with well-prepared, competitive leaders.
OUR HISTORY
A Decades Long Legacy
SMASH was one of the earliest STEM education programs created in the United States as a way to prepare students for STEM college studies. The very first SMASH site program launched on the University of California, Berkeley campus in 2004.
Between 2002 and 2012, the IDEAL program helped students navigate higher education and work toward graduation through scholarships and mentorship.
SMASH Academy launched its first residential summer program at UC Berkeley in 2004, preparing Bay Area students for college through rigorous math and science learning. In 2006, the program expanded to include year-round academic programming in response to student requests. National expansion followed.
SMASH Academy and SMASH Rising moved to virtual programming as university and corporate partners closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. SMASH Virtual expanded the ways students could explore computer science, prepare for college, and learn about STEM careers.
Our Team
As CEO of SMASH, Jonathan Durfield oversees all organizational operations, including growth strategy, partnerships, and program development across the country. Jonathan believes that education is the greatest lever for change, especially for those furthest from opportunity, and has over 20 years of impact-driven outcomes within K-16 education.
Prior to joining SMASH, Jonathan founded VEER Ventures in 2020 to support disruptive educational technologies that benefit communities of color, served as vice president of development for the National Math + Science Initiative ($45 million annual budget), successfully launched Nord Anglia Education’s $100 million flagship campus, worked as an associate vice chancellor of Texas’ second largest higher education system, and was the founding director at the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. He obtained a master’s in public administration from Harvard University and a bachelor’s in political science from Pepperdine University.
Jonathan currently lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and two teenage sons. Having studied abroad in Europe and Africa while in college, he is passionate about traveling and experiencing new communities, cuisines, and cultures from all around the world.
Amanda serves as the Chief Development Officer, where she leads the design, implementation, and execution of the organization’s philanthropic development program. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit work across both the UK and USA, she has expertise in fields including education, domestic violence, economic mobility, place-based initiatives, and technology.
Before joining the organization, Amanda held leadership roles at AnitaB.org, Renaissance West Community Initiative, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, and KIPP Charlotte. A strategic leader, she has tackled complex fundraising challenges during unprecedented times, including growing individual giving, championing the use of blockchain donations, and revitalizing board engagement and support. Amanda is known for bringing innovative ideas to life when building major donor programs from the ground up and implementing trust-based philanthropy models. She excels at blending data, storytelling, and bold strategy to drive sustainable growth through successfully cultivating and stewarding individuals, foundations, corporations and other philanthropic entities.
Originally from the north east of England, Amanda holds a Masters Degree in Gender Studies from the University of Leeds and a Bachelor's Degree in Organization Studies, with Honors from the University of Bradford. Now based in the Charlotte, NC area, she enjoys spending time with her son and dog, mentoring women to become triathletes, exploring her creativity, weightlifting, skiing, and building Lego.
Cam Clay is the Director of Curriculum and Training at SMASH. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Cam has a passion for youth education, art, and design. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Ethnic Studies from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Prior to his time with SMASH, Cam served as Creative Director and Research Assistant with DMG Consulting. During this time, Cam created custom curriculum and designed and facilitated workshops for clients.
He’s a lifelong artist and received some formal training from California College of the Arts, but most of what he knows has been learned from workshops or self-taught. Cam also has over 20 years of experience working with his family business training dogs of all breeds. He’s excited to contribute to the development of the next generation of the tech workforce with SMASH. When Cam isn’t working, you can find him reading, making art, traveling, or hanging out with dogs.
Cindy Lora is the Chief Program Officer at SMASH, where she oversees the design and delivery of programs that equip students with skills, experiences, and support to thrive in STEM pathways. Before joining SMASH full-time, Cindy had worked on the Residential team for SMASH Berkeley before helping launch NAF Future Ready Scholars Berkeley during the summer of 2019. She has done work for Undocumented Student Rights throughout California since 2011 and continues to be a point of contact for those in her community. Cindy’s background is in English Composition and Rhetoric, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Sociology.
Cindy is originally from Nayarit, Mexico, and has lived in the Central Valley for the past 20 years. Cindy is passionate about building community and supporting students. In her free time, Cindy can be found with her toddler Joaquín, either at a park or in a library.
Ahna Zackery is the National Program Director for SMASH. She is originally from Newnan, Georgia, and graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia with a BS in Health Science and an MA in Professional Communication and Leadership.
Ahna began her career as a college and career advisor at Windsor Forest High School with the Savannah Graduates program and then transitioned to Clark Atlanta University as a Program Specialist with their TRiO Upward Bound program. Ahna helps students explore and pursue postsecondary education. Her mantra is “be who you needed when you were younger.” In her free time, Ahna enjoys reading, fitness, playing the piano, brunch, and traveling.
Elena Mateus is the Manager of Marketing and Communications for SMASH. She specializes in creative solutions that bring people and perspectives together and is passionate about using personal narratives to change minds and drive change.
Before coming to SMASH, Elena was a Researcher at TMZ where she not only broke exclusive worldwide stories, but she strengthened her ability to sniff out new angles and create content that breaks through a crowded media landscape.
While at UC Berkeley, Elena was the News Editor for San Quentin State Prison’s newspaper, where going behind bars weekly helped her realize her desire to use storytelling to inform audiences and share people’s experiences. Her short documentaries spotlight underserved communities, and they have been screened at festivals like the Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. She’s also worked on Shorty-award winning campaigns for Mark Zuckerberg’s nonprofit, FWD.us.
In her free time, she likes to play beach volleyball, watch anything Bravo or RuPaul-related, obsess over dogs and cook.
Eunice Afenkhena is the Data Analytics Manager for SMASH. She brings a wealth of experience from her tenure in analytics and research consultancy, including impactful roles at Deloitte Digital Consulting and Great Big Digital Agency. Eunice combines technical expertise with a strong commitment to making data accessible and actionable, ensuring insights lead to meaningful improvements in products and services. Her dedication to data analytics supports education programs and technology projects with lasting impact.
Holding a BA in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin, Eunice is passionate about harnessing the power of data to effect positive change within educational systems and beyond.
Outside work, she enjoys dedicating time to her well-being, family, and hobbies, such as DJing on weekends and reading compelling novels.
LaDana Reid is the Development Officer for SMASH. She brings over 20 years of invaluable experience to the nonprofit sector, boasting expertise in advocacy, program development, and fundraising. She is committed to raising awareness and funds to support educational and career opportunities.
Before joining SMASH, LaDana served as the Director of Development at Techbridge Girls, where she played a pivotal role in driving organizational sustainability and growth. In this capacity, she collaborated with the leadership team to spearhead fundraising and donor engagement strategies. Her innovative approaches to donor cultivation, grant acquisition, and stewardship ensured a steady flow of support, facilitating the organization’s expansion and impact.
Throughout her career, LaDana has consistently demonstrated her commitment to supporting young people and their communities. Notably, she led initiatives aimed at equipping young adults, parenting teens, and homeless youth, especially those transitioning from the foster care system, with essential educational and vocational skills to facilitate successful transitions into adulthood. Her collaborative efforts with community donors, coupled with her adept management of multiple grants, underscore her unwavering dedication to fostering positive and enduring change within vulnerable communities. LaDana holds a Master’s in Social Work from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. She actively participates in professional and civic organizations, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Blacks in Technology, NASW, and Junior League of Durham and Orange County.
In her leisure time, LaDana enjoys listening to true crime podcasts, trying new restaurants, exploring the outdoors with her dog, Chloe, and spending time with close friends and family.
As the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for SMASH, Zorel supports alignment across the organization. This includes leading functions critical to the organization’s success, including program operations, technology systems, data management, talent acquisition, employee experience, strategic planning and resource allocation. Her commitment to education and passion for SMASH's mission have been a driving force in her career.
Prior to SMASH, Zorel worked in various roles across school districts as a teacher, principal, and coach. Additionally, she has consulted for organizations supporting strategic initiatives and program sustainability.
Zorel was born in Venezuela, grew up in Chicago and now calls Oakland home. She loves to travel, bake desserts, and frequent coffee shops.
Lisha Yates is the VP of Finance at SMASH, supporting the organization's goals and activities through financial stewardship and strategic planning. She brings over 15 years of finance and accounting experience, with a focus on FP&A and insight-driven reporting. Her work streamlining accounting procedures, implementing budgeting and forecasting cycles, and building financial models has guided several high-growth tech companies through fundraising and acquisitions. Lisha is thrilled to support an organization that prepares students for college and careers in technology. A Virginia native, Lisha has lived in the Bay Area since 2014 and loves the Oakland community. When she’s not crunching numbers, you can find her teaching dance fitness at a local studio or baking for family and friends. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Spanish and Kinesiology.
Rudee Bagsby is the Director of Operations for SMASH. As a veteran in the HR and operations space, Rudee has over 15 years of experience working across industries from retail, advertising and tech. Known for her ability to streamline operations while fostering a supportive workplace, Rudee takes the time to understand employee experiences, ensuring that systems, processes and people practices work together seamlessly. Rudee combines strategic operational leadership with a people first approach, aligning business objectives with employee growth and success.
Holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources from the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Rudee is passionate about finding new ways of driving operational excellence and people initiatives.
Outside of work, she enjoys photography, live music, traveling and supporting her son in all his sports endeavors.
Beyonka Fulton is a philanthropy and fundraising operations professional with nearly a decade of experience supporting mission-driven organizations. She has served as the Philanthropy Specialist & Business Revenue Analyst at AnitaB.org, where she strengthened systems to deepen donor engagement. She also served as the Development Officer at Renaissance West Community Initiative, where she supported community-centered fundraising and programming.
A proud graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts, Beyonka is passionate about building systems and spaces that help people thrive. She is also the founder of Her Space, a Charlotte-based community that cultivates connection, wellness, and belonging for Black women.
Freada Kapor Klein is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of SMASH.
As a Founding Partner at Kapor Capital, Freada invests in seed-stage tech startups that create positive social impact by closing gaps of access, opportunity, or outcome for low-income communities and communities of color. The companies solve actual problems, aspiring to simultaneously generate economic value and positive social impact. Often the founders are drawing on their lived experiences to create businesses that address real needs.
She founded SMASH to provide rigorous STEM education, mentorship, and college and career preparation for high school students.
Freada’s initial job in tech was as the first head of Employee Relations, Organizational Development, and Management Training at Lotus Development Corporation. Her job description was to make Lotus the “most progressive employer in the U.S.” Lotus 1-2-3 is widely recognized as the “killer app” that made the personal computer ubiquitous in business.
In 1976, she co-founded the Alliance Against Sexual Coercion, the first organization in the U.S. to address sexual harassment. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Policy and Research from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University; and has conducted numerous large survey projects on perceptions and experiences of bias, harassment, and disrespectful treatment in workplaces.
Freada is a member of the Obama Foundation Tech Policy Council, the U.C. Berkeley Board of Visitors, and the council that formed the Hollywood Commission chaired by Anita Hill. She serves on the advisory boards of Twilio.org, Generation Investment Management, and Trident; is a board observer at Aclima.io, a tech startup focusing on hyperlocal air quality monitoring, and serves on the NAACP National Board of Directors.
Freada is an author and co-author of books on workplace culture and startup investing.
Allison Scott, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer of the Kapor Foundation. Previously, she served as Chief Research Officer and led research on education and the technology workforce. Her experience includes leadership at the National Institutes of Health and research and evaluation at the Level Playing Field Institute.
Dr. Scott led evaluations of pre-college STEM programs and research on computer science preparation in California. She holds a Ph.D. in Education, with a specialization in School Psychology, from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hampton University. Allison enjoys traveling, jogging, and drinking Diet Coke.
Steven Wolfe Pereira serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Encantos Media Studios, PBC (“Encantos”).
Named by Adweek as one of the “50 Most Indispensable Executives in Marketing, Media, and Tech, “and with more than two decades of experience growing brands at the intersection of technology, entertainment, advertising, media, and marketing, Mr. Wolfe Pereira is committed to building purpose-driven businesses and helping people discover their superpowers to ignite their true potential. Before joining Encantos, Mr. Wolfe Pereira was the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Quantcast, the leading AI-driven audience insights and measurement company. Previously, he also served as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Neustar and at Datalogix. Mr. Wolfe Pereira has also held executive roles at Publicis Groupe, Univision, and Akamai Technologies.
A passionate supporter of STEAM education, he also serves on the board of directors of the Ad Council, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF).
He earned a B.A. from Tufts University, was a Fulbright Scholar, and completed the Greater Boston Executive MBA Program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Eli Luberoff is the founder of Desmos Studio, a Public Benefit Corporation with the goal of helping everyone learn math, love math, and grow with math. Desmos's math tools are used by more than 100 million people around the world.
Christie Pang is the CEO and Co-founder of Lirvana Labs, a global AI lab developing safe and effective architecture for educators worldwide. Since founding in 2021, her team has delivered interoperable AI tools for NGOs and schools across four continents, grounded in cognitive development and learning efficacy. Lirvana Labs’ solutions have served refugee youth and graduate students in diverse global contexts, with sustained impact, through co-design and implementation partnerships with Sesame Workshop, TNTP, Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab, MIT Solve, the Urban Assembly, and global leaders on human-centered AI in across four continents.
Under her leadership, Lirvana Labs received the MIT Solve Global Learning Challenge Award, the Supes’ Choice Award by the Institute for Education Innovation, among other accolades for research-backed impact. Christie has been named a 2024 and 2025 Leading Woman in AI in Education by ASU+GSV, a Woman of Impact by Kapor Foundation, and a Leading Woman in AI for Education by the Australia National AI Centre and the Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
An advocate for AI in education, Christie is regularly invited to convene and speak as an AI thought partner—most recently by the Global Yidan Prize Summit, the National Association of State Leaders in Early Education, and by Departments of Education across New York City, ASEAN and Hong Kong.
She is a staunch advocate for SMASH and Lirvana Labs has continuously hired SMASH scholars and alumni across the nation.
Dr. Laura Lewis is a SMASH alumna from the 2011 cohort at UC Berkeley. It was during her time at SMASH that she discovered the world of biology and her love of scientific research. Dr. Lewis earned her B.S. in Evolutionary Anthropology and Biology from Duke University, and earned her Ph.D. in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University.
Today, Dr. Lewis’ lab at UC Santa Barbara specifically focuses on great apes’ abilities to form, build, and deepen social relationships and understand the minds of others. Laura is committed to scientific excellence and compassionate mentorship, and is passionate about creating a scientific world that is better for the people it serves.
Dr. Lewis believes in the power of SMASH and pays it forward. So much so, she has recently agreed to join the Board of Directors.
