2025 Summit

8:00 am     Registration | Campus Center Terrace

8:00 am - 9:00 am   Resource Fair | Campus Center Terrace 

9:15 am - 9:30 am   Welcome | Campus Center Ballroom 

• Marsha Inniss-Mitchell, Executive Director of Postsecondary Initiatives, Boston Public Schools

• Joseph Berger, Provost, University of Massachusetts Boston 

• Marinell Rousmaniere, CEO, EdVestors 

9:30 am - 9:50 am   Keynote and Q&A | Campus Center Ballroom

• Patrick Tutwiler, Ph.D., Massachusetts Secretary of Education 

9:50 am - 10:15 am   Fireside Chat | Campus Center Ballroom

• Jason Mai, Student, University of Massachusetts Boston

• Sugeily Santos, Curley K-8 School, MA School Counselor of the Year

• Jasmine Shul, Student, Simmons University

• Ashley Toney, Student, University of Massachusetts Boston 

• LaVonia Montouté, Senior Director, EdVestors (Moderator) 

10:25 am - 11:25 am   Workshops - Session 1 

11:35 am - 12:35 pm     Lunch | Campus Center Ballroom

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm   Workshops - Session 2 

1:55 pm - 2:55 pm   Workshops - Session 3

3:05 pm - 3:30 pm   Closing & Dessert Reception | Campus Center Ballroom 

Additional session materials will be added.

Workshop Session 1

(10:25 pm - 11:25 pm) 

Advising Through Federal Programs: Updates on Policy and Practice

Raul Fernandez, Boston University I Sara Boxell Hoang, University of Massachusetts Boston I Lorena Fuentes Lopez, University of  Massachusetts Boston I Maria Puente, Bunker Hill Community College 

This workshop will provide participants with an update on the current policies related to federal education programs. The session will provide an opportunity for attendees to deepen their understanding of the policy shifts and explore strategies that educators can employ to continue to affirm and support students’ cultural identities and resources they can leverage to support this work. 

AI, Education, and the Workforce

Kerry McKittrick, The Project on Workforce, Harvard University 

This session will explore the intersection of generative artificial intelligence (genAI), education, and the labor market, focusing on how emerging technologies will impact student success in a changing landscape. Participants will gain insights into the early impacts and applications of genAI in education and work, the latest research on career navigation in the world of AI, and how to improve connections between education and workforce success.

Math Pathways 

Anjali Deshpande, EdVestors I  Stephen Garschina-Bobrow, Boston Public Schools 

This session will explore high school and postsecondary mathematics pathway options and the impacts of mathematics course-taking on student outcomes. The session will feature updates on current work to increase equity and relevance in course content as well as access and equip advisors with information to better support student decision-making.

MyCAP Training for Community-Based Organizations and Higher Education 

Erin Jaques, Boston Public Schools I Miriam Rubin, Ezmay Consulting 

This session is intended for higher education and CBO staff. Resource fair participants are encouraged to join. The session will focus on how community-based organizations and higher education institutions can support MyCAP implementation. Each partner contributes to the overall MyCAP experience for BPS students. This session will provide an overview of MyCAP, a core tool and experience that BPS students use to plan for their futures. The conversation will also amplify how cross-sector partners can directly plug into the MyCAP experience and how we can offer more coordinated and seamless support for students as a community.

Pathways to Higher Education for Students

Maryam Atlaf, University of Massachusetts Boston | Angela Chang, Bunker Hill Community College 

This session will provide resources and insights for supporting students at the K-12 level and within the postsecondary space. Participants will explore state and federal options for supporting students through the college process and gain deeper insights into eligibility criteria. This will be an interactive session with opportunities for question and answer.

Postsecondary Access & Success: Policy Context and Opportunities

Juan Cantu, United Way of Massachusetts Bay (Moderator) I Jorge Fanjul, Massachusetts Latinos for Education I  James Mikolowsky, Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education I Femi Stoltz, UAspire I Jennie Williamson, EdTrust 

2024 was a year of significant policy change and advancement related to postsecondary access and success. 2025 presents both unique challenges and opportunities to build on progress. In this session, state policy experts will share insights on our current policy context and developments at the state level that inform local work.

STEM Career Pathways and Work-Based Learning 

Alexis Lian, Rennie Center for Education Research (Moderator) | Erik Miller, Boston Public Schools I Tania Baez, Boston Public Schools  I Panelist TBD 

This session will highlight insights from the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy report on work-based learning (WBL) in STEM education. It will also feature a panel conversation with local leaders advancing STEM WBL initiatives in schools, sharing strategies and best practices for success.

Unlocking Career Exploration in Middle School: Real-World Case Studies & Practical Strategies

Jing Cox-Orrell, American Student Assistance I Jay Galbraith, MATCH Education I Vanessa Haerle, Sutton Public Schools I Zaida Ismatul Oliva, Chica Project

This engaging, hands-on session explores how to effectively implement Career Exploration in the Middle Grades: A Workbook for Students, a resource to empower young learners. Participants will learn through real-world case examples and gain insight into strategies that help students understand themselves, their education, and career options. Join us for an interactive workshop featuring two lesson plans, facilitation techniques, and thought-provoking discussion questions designed to help middle school students connect with their identities, explore values, and make informed decisions about their futures. 

Workshop Session 2

(12:45 pm -1:45 pm) 

Existing and Emerging Policies in Financial Aid: A State & Federal Overview

Femi Stoltz, UAspire I Samantha Shroll, University of  Massachusetts Boston I Lisa Bower, City of Boston | Eli Pimentel, DUET I Herman Perez-Sostre, Bunker Hill Community College 

Over the past few years, Massachusetts has drastically changed its state financial aid system, and federal financial aid has also shifted. This session will discuss these policies' implications and support attendees to plan for the path ahead.

Facilitating A Warm Hand-Off

Caitlin Gilligan, Boston Public Schools I Miriam Rubin, Ezmay Consulting I Augusta Davis, Boston Opportunity Agenda

This session will focus on how we can best support students through key transitions in K-12 and during their postsecondary journey, including middle school to high school, high school to postsecondary plans, and transfers across postsecondary institutions. Participants will learn about strategies and tools that student-facing practitioners can use at each transition point. They will also have the opportunity to share their own strategies and tools in small groups and brainstorm with peers about additional approaches they want to try.

Introduction to Dual Enrollment in BPS

Gretta Schaaf, Boston Public Schools

This workshop is designed for high school educators, administrators, and counselors, as well as college/university staff involved in admissions, academic advising, and program development. It aims to provide insights into the benefits, processes, and best practices of dual enrollment programs, helping both secondary and postsecondary institutions create seamless partnerships to support student success. Consider attending Dual Enrollment Advising on Course Selection during session 3 for an in-depth exploration of dual enrollment, from foundational understanding to advanced advising strategies.

Labor Market Insights and Advising Students on Healthcare Internship Opportunities and Career Paths

Joseph McLaughlin, Boston Private Industry Council I Laila Jalilian, Boston Private Industry Council I Anthony Contreras, Boston Private Industry Council 

This session will give participants an overview of key industry and occupation job growth trends in Greater Boston and the top in-demand skills. Using the healthcare industry as an example, participants will learn how to advise students on opportunities in healthcare and strategies for engaging employers in career development activities with students.

Seamless Advising: Perspectives from Non-Profit Organizations

Heang Ly, The Boston Foundation (Moderator) I Brittney Lewer, Hyde Square Task Force I Erica Telisnor, Boston HERC I Portsha Franklin, West End House I Karla Pérez Garza, Bottom Line  

Each partner has a role in seamless advising. This session will uplift the perspectives of nonprofits and how they support advising for students’ college and career success. Attendees will walk away with practical examples and strategies for supporting students from a community-based lens.

Supporting Students with Disabilities in Postsecondary Readiness and Success 

Marcia Fitzpatrick, Boston Public Schools | Hannah K. Huynh, UMass Boston I Jennifer Lillis, Boston University 

This session will outline the differences in access to disability services as students move from K-12 to postsecondary. Presenters will highlight how these differences play out for students and share strategies and steps that student-facing practitioners can take to create seamless support experiences for students with disabilities at every level.

Using Data Systems to Support College and Career Outcomes 

Sam Ribnick, Education to Career Hub I NJ Rees, Education to Career Hub

This interactive session will demonstrate how to find and use publicly available data and resources for college and career readiness, postsecondary outcomes, and career options. Bring your data questions, and learn how the Massachusetts Education-to-Career Research and Data Hub can help advisors and student support organizations inform student advising and decision-making.

Work-Based Learning and the Middle Grades 

Letta Neely, Apprentice Learning | Students 

This session will provide insights on work-based learning through the lens of middle school apprenticeships. The conversation will highlight strategies for connecting work-based learning to core academic experiences creating inclusive work environments. It will also feature student reflections on how their work-based learning experiences informed their choices.

Workshop Session 3

(1:55 pm - 2:55 pm)

Advising & Joint Admissions

Anne McDonough, University of Massachusetts Boston  I Sara Rodrigues, Bunker Hill Community College

This session will provide practical strategies for advising students through the BHCC - UMB joint admissions program, focusing on seamless transitions between institutions. Attendees will gain insights into navigating transfer pathways, ensuring academic success, and supporting students throughout the transfer process.

Community Connections: Peer Roundtables

This session offers an opportunity to process and reflect on the Summit content with peers through structured roundtable discussions. Participants will engage in meaningful conversations, share insights, and collaborate on how to apply Summit takeaways to their own work.

Dual Enrollment Advising on Course Selection

Katie Mai, Bunker Hill Community College | Gretta Schaaf, Boston Public Schools

This workshop is intended for high school counselors, college advisors, and dual enrollment coordinators who are already familiar with the basics of dual enrollment. It focuses on advanced strategies for advising students on course selection, ensuring they make informed choices that align with both their academic goals and postsecondary requirements. This session is ideal for those looking to refine their advising approach and optimize the dual enrollment experience for students. Consider attending An Introduction to Dual Enrollment in BPS in session 2 for an in-depth exploration of dual enrollment, from foundational understanding to advanced advising strategies.

Exploring and Expanding Postsecondary Pathway Options for Students (Progressive Pathways)

Adam Seidel, One Goal I Ainsley Robles, One Goal I Norma Rey Alicea, NextGen Talent

This session will highlight postsecondary options beyond college and provide advising strategies to help students explore these potential paths. It will address common misconceptions and realities and equip practitioners with tools and resources to support student planning and post-high school graduation planning and decision-making.

Focusing on Career: Helping Students Talk About Career Readiness Across Spaces

Christina Hannon, Bunker Hill Community College I Charles Klemmer, University of Massachusetts Boston 

This session will focus on developing a shared language for career advising and student communication to help students highlight their transferable skills as they transition through educational and career spaces. Participants will explore the NACE competencies and examples of practices from various institutions, focusing on applying these insights to their own work.

Future of Work in In-Demand Fields

David Fields, Northeastern University I Jenny Nguyen, Isenberg Projects

This session will feature employers from multiple industry sectors sharing their perspectives on future opportunities and emerging trends within their fields. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the skills and qualifications needed to thrive in these fields and how to prepare students for success.

Navigating the Modernized Career Clusters Framework

Kate Kreamer, Advance CTE

For the first time in over 20 years, the National Career Clusters Framework has been updated to better reflect the needs of learners and industry. This session will explore the changes and how they can be leveraged to support students of all ages.

Using Data Systems to Support College and Career Outcomes 

Sam Ribnick, Education to Career Hub I NJ Rees, Education to Career Hub

This interactive session will demonstrate how to find and use publicly available data and resources for college and career readiness, postsecondary outcomes, and career options. Bring your data questions, and learn how the Massachusetts Education-to-Career Research and Data Hub can help advisors and student support organizations inform student advising and decision-making.

For a full list of speakers, please click here.