Our Team
Elementary School Team
Hema Harinarine-Ramotar
PS 124 Program Director
Hema has been with SAYA for a decade, beginning her journey as a Mentor at PS 124. She holds a BA in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Public Administration from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Hema is passionate about helping students fulfill their dreams and become tomorrow’s leaders. In her spare time, she likes to read, work on her postcard scrapbook, go to football games, binge-watch TV, and cook.
Kalawatie Nathoo
Central Queens Academy Elementary Program Director
Kalawatie joined SAYA in 2013, after participating in our programming as a Richmond Hill High School student. During her tenure, she has worked with elementary, middle, and high school youth. Kalawatie holds a BA in Early Childhood and Psychology from CUNY Queens College. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, exploring New York City, and spending time with her nephew.
Anu Rajagopal
PS 124 Program Coordinator
Anu brings to SAYA a decade of experience in the fields of community advocacy and youth education, as well as a passion for empowering communities. They are grateful to SAYA for the opportunity to work with their own community in their lifelong home of Queens. Anu holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology, minoring in the arts, and is also a practicing visual and performing artist who loves to paint, crochet, and dance in her free time.
ZebunNesa Kamal
PS 230 Program Director
ZebunNesa first joined SAYA as a Visual Art Activity Specialist, after receiving her Masters in Fine Art. Zebun is a practicing visual artist, and continues to take part in exhibitions regularly at home and abroad. She is the proud mother of two teenage daughters.
Middle School Team
Remy Almarante
JHS 202 Program Coordinator
Remy graduated from The College of St. Rose with a major in Computer Science. As a former afterschool student, he has a passion for youth development and aims to further support students’ growth. He loves playing basketball and joining the youth on the court during program time. Outside of work, Remy enjoys going to the gym and playing baseball.
Rachel Rodriguez
Director of Middle School Initiatives
Before joining SAYA, Rachel was a part of the team at Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, New York University, BronxWorks, and Bottom Line. She also served as Executive Director for ¡MUEVETE!, which she still works with as a member of the board. Rachel earned her BA at Wesleyan University majoring in Political Science and Latin American Studies. She enjoys working with communities to create synergy between culture and institutional education systems to best support the academic and personal empowerment of young people.
Lissette Quinones
JHS 202 Program Director
Lissette joined SAYA in 2018 and has grown within the organization since then. She obtained her BA in Forensic Psychology from CUNY John Jay and is currently working on obtaining her Masters in the field. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family and getting her nails done.
High School and College Team
Thierry Ankoue
Young Men’s Leadership Program Coordinator
Thierry possesses a diverse background in youth development and education, dedicated to empowering and inspiring young individuals. He previously served as a Coding Instructor, where he integrated his passion for technology with educational practices, and as a Health Educator, providing vital health education to high school students. As a proud graduate of Pursuit, he trained as a full-stack developer, enhancing his ability to engage with and mentor youth through innovative approaches. Outside of his professional endeavors, Thierry is passionate about basketball, anime, music, and sneakers—interests that keep him connected to the dynamic cultures that influence his work.
Marwa Elnagar
Leadership and College Access Program Coordinator
Marwa is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College, where she received her Master's in Social Work with a focus on community organizing. She is passionate about social justice and student success and is excited to help create a more inclusive community for all. In her free time, Marwa enjoys trying new food, working out, traveling, and learning about different cultures and languages.
Leonora Martelly
Richmond Hill High School Mentorship and Afterschool Manager
Leonora holds over 10 years of experience in education, youth development, program management, and organizing across the areas of art, social justice, identity and wellness. Before joining SAYA, she worked at Quality Services for the Autism Community and Excellence Girls Charter School, facilitated poetry & creative writing classes, and mentored college students at Sirius XM Radio. She received her BA in Speech Pathology at CUNY Queens College, and her Masters of Science at Manhattan College. In her free time, Leonora writes and performs poetry, curates open mics, and enjoys music, basketball, and reading.
Amanda Seecharan
Leadership and Mentorship Program and Events Manager
Amanda began her time at SAYA in 2008 as a participant in our Richmond Hill High School (RHHS) programming. During her senior year of high school, she joined our team as an Americorp Community Work Intern before being hired to work on the RHHS program. Throughout her time at SAYA, she has held several roles and worked with youth in middle and high school. Outside of work, Amanda loves baking, travel, photography, and film.
Dedunu Suraweera
Richmond Hill High School Community School Director
Dedunu brings over 10 years of experience working in youth development and organizing across the intersections of cultural identity, labor, and education. She received her BA in Psychology from Stony Brook University & MSSW from Columbia University. In her free time, she performs theatre, plays percussion, and does woodworking.
Mahfuzza Begum
Program Coordinator
With nearly a decade in nonprofit and youth development, Mahfuzza has shaped her career journey through impactful roles at the Harlem Educational Activities Fund, Breakthrough New York, Let’s Get Ready, and Blue Engine. Most recently, she served as a mentor at South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) for three years. It allowed her to create nurturing spaces where young people feel empowered, heard, and valued, reflecting her commitment to building inclusive communities.
A graduate of Hunter College with a BA in Human Biology, Mahfuzza’s journey reflects a blend of her dedication to educational equity and her love for the sciences. Her experience as a Bottom Line and Basta alum further emphasizes her belief in creating pathways for others, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
In her free time, she finds joy in crafting, reading, baking, and spending time with her family and cherished cats—small reflections of her creativity and warmth.
Loviena Garcia
Program Coordinator
Loviena originally joined SAYA’s programming during their sophomore year at Richmond Hill High School. Prior to joining our team, Loviena tutored youth and held a position as Director of Student Services at the Dominico American Society of Queens. They received a BA in Environmental Studies from CUNY Hunter College. In their free time, Loviena enjoys bird watching, coloring, hiking, and being a cat mom.
Aaron Montgomery
Co-Director of High School and College Programs
Aaron joined SAYA with three years of high school teaching experience in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has a passion for helping students with social-emotional growth, and assisting with the pathway to higher education opportunities. Aaron received her Bachelor’s in English from UC Berkeley, and her Master’s in Education from UCLA. In her free time, she is an avid reader and writer.
Anjali Seegobin
Young Women's Leadership Program Coordinator
Anjali began her journey with SAYA as a high school youth in the Young Women's Leadership Program, and is an alumna of the College Success Program. She graduated from the City College of New York (CCNY) with a BA in Political Science and Anthropology. As an undergrad, she was a part of the Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies and the Ed Koch Scholarship Program in Public Service. Anjali found her passion in uplifting the voices of her community and advocating for social justice through community organizing. Outside of work, you can find her dancing at community events, writing for Brown Girl Magazine, and sipping on salted caramel cold brews.
Ahladini Veerina
College Access and Success Coordinator
Ahladini graduated from Occidental College with a BA in Sociology and Politics and a minor in Education. She has a strong interest in working with young people, which led her to the nonprofit education space where she has worked closely with middle school and college students. In her free time, Ahladini loves going to the park and reading, exploring and cooking new foods, and traveling with friends and family.
Seema Choudhary
Co-Director of High School and College Programs
Seema holds more than 12 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, with a focus on education and youth development. Prior to joining SAYA as our Program Manager, she worked at the Queens Public Library, The School District of Philadelphia, Spain’s Ministry of Education, and our own program at Richmond Hill High School. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Queens College and an MPA from Baruch College through the National Urban Fellowship. Outside of SAYA, Seema is a visual artist and has traveled to over 30 countries spanning 5 continents.
Raymond Huang
College Access & Success Program Manager
Raymond graduated from SUNY Stony Brook University with a BA in Asian and Asian American Studies. Prior to joining SAYA, he spent four years teaching English in South Korea. It was there that he discovered his passion for guiding students in their path towards higher education, combined with his experience as a first-generation college graduate. In his free time, Raymond likes to travel and discover new kinds of food.
Maisha Samiha
Richmond Hill High School Success Mentor & Facilitator
In her previous roles, Maisha gained mentorship experience working for Breakthrough New York, Let's Get Ready, and Mamun's Tutorial. She also held roles at the New York City Department of Correction, City Sounds of New York, and Chiefs for Change. She holds a BA ijn History and Adolescent Education from CUNY Hunter College, and is currently pursuing her Master's degree at New York University Steinhardt in Social Studies and Special Education. In her free time, Maisha loves writing poetry, reading, and television.
Priya Singh
Associate Director of High School and College Programs
Before her current role, Priya was previously a member of our team at Our World Neighborhood Charter School. She holds 10 years of experience in the field of youth development, and holds a BA in Psychology. Priya recently received her MA in Youth Studies from the CUNY School of Professional Studies. In her free time, she loves to complete DIY projects, read, and travel.
Administrative Team
Sonia B. Sisodia
Executive Director
Sonia is SAYA’s Executive Director. Since joining the organization in 2014, she has spearheaded the enhancement and expansion of our core program offerings. Prior to SAYA, Sonia spent close to a decade at Educational Alliance where she led the design, implementation, growth and evaluation efforts of their college prep programming. She has a Master’s of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Outside of work, Sonia enjoys visiting parks with her toddler, taking weekend afternoon naps, and finding consumer brands with ethical practices. She is known to go way out of her way for good vegan food and quality coffee.
Monica Chiang
Data and Impact Program Manager
Monica is a graduate of Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Hunter College, where she received a BA in Biological Sciences and Sociology. Prior to joining SAYA, she worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she worked collaboratively with non-profits on program evaluation for chronic diseases. She is passionate about utilizing data to enact change and supporting efforts to better social and health equity. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two cats and being a plant mom.
Saphia Najafee
Chief Development Officer
With 15+ years in the public sector, Saphia has diverse experience and is passionate about collaborative projects that make a positive impact on the world. Prior to joining SAYA, she held multiple roles at Columbia Business School, working in the Office of the Dean and on the External Relations and Development team. Earlier in her career, she worked in Washington D.C. for an appeals court focused on unemployment law. She holds a BA from Northeastern University and an MPA and MS from Columbia University. In pre-pandemic times, she spent her free moments traveling abroad, with recent journeys spanning Melbourne to Mongolia.
Suhail Ahmed
Chief Program Officer
Suhail has been a member of SAYA since the organization’s early years when he was an active program participant in our community center program. Over the past 10+ years, he has held several leadership positions at the organization. He is a graduate of CUNY Queens College and an avid basketball and football fan - often joining our youth on the basketball court. He is a proud father of three incredible kids, all of whom will definitely be in SAYA programs when they are of age!
Griselda Estevez
Senior Director of Programs
For over 20 years, Griselda has been a passionate advocate of afterschool programming, committed to providing youth with opportunities that expose them to new challenges and experiences. She first joined SAYA as the Director of Elementary and Middle School Programs, supervising five programs that served over 500 participants. Griselda received her BA from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Outside of work, she loves crafting, creating, and decorating, but her favorite project is being a mom to her two sons.
Anesh Patel
Finance and HR Associate
Anesh has been a part of SAYA for over nine years, beginning his journey as a participant in the organization’s community center programming. He graduated from CUNY Baruch College with a bachelor’s degree in finance and has since applied his expertise to support the mission of SAYA. Outside of work, Anesh enjoys spending time playing board games and following a variety of sports, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and football. His long standing connection to SAYA and passion for youth development continue to drive his contributions to the organization.
Georgia Schoonmaker
Associate Director of Institutional Giving
Prior to joining the organization in 2018, Georgia worked in the development departments of The Sikh Coalition, The Animal Medical Center, Grameen PrimaCare, and Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children. Georgia is an experienced grant writer, and brings her passion for writing and editing to her work. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where she received her BA in Literature and Film History. In her free time she is an avid reader, and enjoys baking, film, and theater.
Jasmine Blaney
Chief Financial Officer
Jasmine is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, and holds 10 years of nonprofit experience in the education sector. She is passionate about improving the lives of children. In her free time, Jasmine is a fan of water sports, and loves to cook - she has recently started catering events for family and friends.
Tara Kola
Director of Education and Partnerships
Tara has worked in classroom, afterschool, and summer education for over 10 years. She previously was a researcher at Adobe Education, and a product manager at Rebel Girls, an educational media organization. She also founded Camp Kahani, a summer camp for South Asian girls and women in Northern California. She has an MA in South Asian History and a BS in Computer Science from Tufts University. Outside work, she dabbles in hiking, writing, dance, and interior design.
Yeshi Samkhang
Finance and Grants Manager
Yeshi has now been a part of SAYA for over 10 years, having started as a participant in our community center programming. Yeshi is a graduate of SUNY University of Albany and CUNY Baruch College, where he received his BA in Finance. Outside of work, he loves playing and watching basketball, hiking, and dedicating himself to the efforts to combat climate change.