José Andre Iñiguez

Program Director, Alumni Impact | Surge Institute

Born in East LA and raised in the rural farm town of Tulare in California’s Central Valley, José M. Andre Iniguez has dedicated his professional career to developing students, young adults, and education leaders toward achieving their full potential. He currently serves at Program Director of Alumni Impact at Surge Institute. Prior to that, he served as Site Director for Year Up San Francisco, the Founding Director of High School Preparation and Alumni Programs at Equitas Academy Charter Schools, and Senior Program Manager at City Year Los Angeles. He has also led youth development and digital media efforts at MTV, Participant Media, and Swipe Out Hunger, among others. Raised by Mexican immigrant parents and the first to attend college in his family, Jose graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned a master’s degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education, earning a master’s degree in education leadership from The Broad Center. He is a proud member of the Beyhive, is inspired by Sonia Sotomayor and Paulo Freire, and enjoys creating memories with his eight nieces and nephews. He lives in Tulare with his husband, Rafael.

Carmita Seeman

Founder & CEO | Surge Institute

Carmita’s superpower is to be a mirror for others. She supports and elevates the genius of emerging and seasoned leaders and shines a light on the brilliance and ingenuity too often overlooked and untapped in solving systemic issues. After starting her career as an engineer and strategist for multiple Fortune 500 companies, corporate America could not contain Carmita’s desire to lead initiatives that benefit youth and revitalize communities – so she blazed a trail within the non-profit sector, primarily in K-12 education. Though an adopted Chicagoan, Carmita proudly hails from Birmingham, AL. Birmingham’s history has greatly shaped what she feels called to do and the hustle, horsepower, and heart she exhibits. 

Tiara Wheatley

VP, Alumni Impact | Surge Institute

Tiara Wheatley, an educator, mentor, equity advocate and lifelong Chicagoan, is the Vice President of Alumni Impact at the Surge Institute where she leads alumni programming and impact nationally. Tiara joined the Surge Institute in February 2022 after a successful career in school leadership, spending over ten years transforming teaching and learning at Chicago Tech Academy High School (ChiTech). In her former role, she served as the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Engagement where she led fundraising, real-world learning, and corporate engagement. Prior to that role, Tiara served as the Assistant Principal, where she was responsible for the school’s transition to Restorative Practices, the elimination of exclusionary discipline practices for students of color, and the organization of the school’s first Race & Equity Working Group. Tiara is also the creator, brains behind, and the founder of the Young Women’s Leadership Society (YWLS) and the annual Little Black Dress Night (LBDN). YWLS and LBDN bring together Chicago’s female STEM and business community members and celebrate women who are recognized as emerging women in tech and whose efforts are turning the tech industry on its heels and challenging the status quo! In honor of her work in the educational space in Chicago, Tiara was awarded the Ann Atwater “Best of Enemies” Award at the 2019 Chicago Premiere and was a 2023 Recipient of the ATHENA Young Professionals Award.