Staff
Sam Aleinikoff
Founder & Executive Director
Sam began his career in education teaching math at Towers High School in 2011. His students mastered academic content, but too often they graduated from high school without postsecondary plans. In partnership school faculty, Sam founded College AIM in 2013 to help his students forge paths to and through college.
College AIM has now grown to support more than 2,500 incredible students each year. As the Executive Director of the organization, Sam works with community partners to expand College AIM's reach and direct the vision of the organization. Simultaneously, Sam leads College AIM's operations, communications and advocacy work.
Sam holds a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University. He was a 2019 Civic Innovation Resident and 2018 Civic Innovation Fellow at the Center for Civic Innovation, was named to the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta's 30 under 30 in 2018, was a member of the Class of 2016 with New Leaders Council in Atlanta and was named Towers High School Teacher of the Year in 2015.
Dr. Corey Sheffield
Program Director, Postsecondary Access (McNair High School)
Dr. Sheffield leads College AIM's Access Program, which supports students on their paths to college.
Prior to joining College AIM, Dr. Sheffield served the College Success Project Manager for Atlanta Public Schools, Director of College Advisement at KIPP Through College (Atlanta) and College Access Program Manager at The Scholarship Academy. He also serves as Associate Director of the 5 Strong Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit leadership organization that helps mold and produce leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and sits on the Board for a local charter school in Atlanta.
Dr. Sheffield received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Voorhees College and shortly thereafter entered the field of education. He started in the classroom as a science teacher, and after several years moved into college counseling. Dr. Sheffield also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University, a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, and certificates from Cornell University and Columbia University.
Amy Stokes
Postsecondary Access Coach (Stone Mountain High School)
Amy serves as College AIM’s Postsecondary Access Coach at Stone Mountain High School. In this role, she guides students, grades 9-12, through their college selection, application, admission, and financial aid processes.
Prior to joining College AIM, Amy worked in a variety of education spaces. She has led K-12 after school programs, supported high school and community college students in their journey through the Tennessee Promise scholarship, and provided undergraduate student support and programming for underrepresented student populations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While at UMass Amherst, she maintained an academic focus in college access and success for undocumented students.
Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Carson-Newman University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Dewona Bridges
Postsecondary Access Coach (Towers High School)
Dewona has been in College Access for over 10 years. She is an independent, enthusiastic, and initiative-taking professional skilled in educating students and parents about the college readiness and college admissions process.
She is committed and dedicated to college access, attendance, and graduation. Dewona provides support and resources to students and their families throughout the transition from high school to higher education. She excels in coaching students and their families to consider realistic and financially feasible college goals through individual and group meetings to discuss college and career options.
Prior to her role at College Aim she was Executive Director and College and Career Coordinator for Scholar Works Enterprises of GA, College Counselor KIPP Atlanta, Team Lead - College Bound FAFSA Initiative- The Scholarship Academy and is a current member of College Prep Roundtable.
Dewona received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. After college, Dewona began a career in Tax Accounting working for Internal Revenue Service, KPMG, and AT&T.
Jamesia Craig
Program Director, Postsecondary Success
Jamesia leads College AIM's Success Program, which supports students during their college years. She designs and implements programming to support College AIM's students through college graduation. Currently, she provides direct, intensive support to nearly 200 of College AIM's Collegians, who attend technical, two-year and four-year institutions across the state of Georgia and across the country.
Prior to joining the College AIM team, Jamesia worked as a Leadership Development Trainer with The Posse Foundation to help students develop the skills to succeed in college and beyond. Jamesia has also worked with new student and transition programs at Bethune-Cookman University, Florida International University and Kennesaw State University, where she helped increase retention and developed campus-wide programming for students to find their place in college.
Jamesia graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelors in Communication, and from Florida International University with a Masters in Higher Education Administration.
Nyresha Robertson
Senior Postsecondary Success Coach
Nyresha serves as College AIM's Postsecondary Success Coach. In this role, she helps students thrive on campus at technical, two and four-year colleges. Nyresha works as a close advisor to her students, ensuring that they have the academic, financial and social support and resources they need to persist and graduate.
Prior to joining the College AIM team, Nyresha served as a Professional Development Specialist for Michael's Angels, LLC to motivate youth to reach their full potential through scholarship, mentorship, and professional development resources and forums. She is also a mentor with Just Us Girls, Incorporated, where she provides guidance, emotional support, and encouragement to teen girls, empowering them as they transition to adulthood.
Nyresha received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Talladega College, where she served as SGA president. She knows how to navigate collegiate systems and has an ever-growing passion for student advocacy.
Mishana Carson
Postsecondary Success Coach
Mishana Carson serves as a Postsecondary Success Coach with College AIM. In this role, she helps students thrive on campus within bachelor's degree programs in- and outide of Georgia. She is on a mission to empower and uplift the next generation of change-makers.
Drawing from a diverse background, Mishana's journey has been a tapestry woven with threads of advocacy, finance, and compassion. She has a heart dedicated to social justice and has championed the rights of the marginalized, fought for equality, and worked tirelessly to dismantle barriers hindering access to education and opportunity with organizations like 9to5 Georgia.
Mishana is a College AIM alum and received a degree in Financial Planning from the University of Georgia. She utilizes her experience in the financial services sector as a catalyst for social transformation by assisting the students with financial tools for success. Mishana firmly believes in the potential of financial literacy to drive economic empowerment and bridge the gap between dreams and reality especially in the college process.
Joanne Santivasci
Program Director, CAPS Scholarship
Database Administrator
Joanne leads College AIM's CAPS Scholarship and mentorship program. This includes the awarding process and supplemental programming for our CAPS Scholarship recipients and the recruitment, matching and training of our volunteer mentors. Joanne also manages student and program data for our organization via Salesforce.
Prior to this role, Joanne served as College AIM's Associate Director and was responsible for managing operations, communications and data, while establishing systems and procedures to help us grow. She also played a key role in fundraising and events management. Joanne brings 20+ years of experience in the education and nonprofit sectors to this work and is committed to ensuring all students have access to the knowledge, support and resources needed to achieve their goals.
Joanne holds a BA in English from Boston University, MS in English Education from Nova Southeastern University, MBA from Florida International University and a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA Extension.
Board of Directors
Alicia Allen
College AIM Alumnus
Grade Level Chair
The Kindezi Schools
Anna Kamerow
Board Secretary
Engagement Manager
Oliver Wyman
Bharath Parthasarathy
Senior Director
Slalom
Emani Fenton
Executive Search and Asssessment Consultant
Russell Reynolds Associates
Esohe Galbreath
Board Treasurer
Owner & Chief Executive Consultant
Sohé Solutions
Hernán Gallegos
Board President and College AIM Alumnus
Manual Quality Assurance Engineer
Onshape, a PTC Business
Jay Steele
Outgoing Board Chair
Owner
Steele Consulting LLC
Michael Rosenzweig
Former President and CEO
Multiple Non-Profit Organizations
Sam Aleinikoff
Founder & Executive Director
College AIM
Sandra Barnhill
Founder & CEO
Foreverfamily Inc.
