Staff

Chymeka Olfonse, Executive Director

Chymeka Olfonse was recently named Executive Director of Minds Matter  National Inc. and Minds Matter of NYC, Inc. Having spent her entire post-college  career in the non-profit sector, she joins the organization with a wealth of  experience. Chymeka has dedicated her entire professional career to empowering  individuals through education. She brings to Minds Matter an entrepreneurial  spirit, volunteer management expertise and significant leadership experience in  the education sector. She has worked in both programming and management  capacities at the New York City Department of Education and more recently at The  After-School Corporation (TASC). In her role at TASC, Chymeka oversaw the  development and implementation of the Center’s college credit-bearing  certificate programs and continuing-education courses. She also built  relationships with local colleges and community-based organizations, leading the  Center’s recruitment and marketing efforts.  As a Program Manager in the Office  of Strategic Partnerships at the New York City Department of Education, she  oversaw a number of large efforts to bring private-sector philanthropy into the  public schools. Prior to that, Chymeka was Deputy Director for the Mid-Atlantic  region of Jumpstart for Young Children, a national non-profit serving  disadvantaged pre-schoolers.  Chymeka is a graduate of Yale University where she  earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with Economic Policy and African  and African-American History. She completed her Masters in Public Administration  with a focus in Public and Nonprofit Management at The Wagner School of Public  Service at New York University.

Kate Hayes, Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives

Kate Hayes is the Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives Minds Matter of NYC, Inc and Minds Matter National, Inc. She graduated with honors from Northeastern University, where she earned a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience.  She is currently the Chair of the Young Alumni Committee of Northfield Mount Hermon School, and serves on the Executive Committee.  She is also developing an Alumni Initiative in NYC for Strong Women, Strong Girls, a non-profit based in Boston. She previously taught an advanced course in physics at a private boarding school summer program, where she also functioned as a student advisor. She has also volunteered as a high-school health education teacher in the Boston public school system, and as a direct service provider at a Harvard Medical School clinic. She currently serves as a Gift Chair and on the Reunion Committee of the Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Ashley Medlar, Program and Development Assistant

Ashley Medlar is the Program and Development Assistant for Minds Matter of NYC, Inc.  Prior to joining Minds Matter, Ashley worked at Cradles to Crayons, a Boston-based nonprofit organization, implementing service-leadership programs for teenagers, college students, and adults.  Previously, she coordinated Boston College volunteers at the West End House Boys and Girls Club as a councilperson for 4Boston, one of the largest weekly service organizations in the country.  Ashley has also been involved in weekly service with other nonprofit organizations including Rosie’s Place, Haley House, and the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry. She graduated from Boston College in May 2011, where she earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Sociology.