Team Members

Raymond Barash

Learning and Curriculum Specialist, Ray has been in the education field for over 8 years. He has a passion for creating effective and inclusive learning environments. His expertise includes creating engaging curriculum that caters to a diverse range of learners. He is adept at teaching both online and in-person and is thrilled to be modifying a drone pilot program for neurodiverse students. Ray is dedicated to helping all students become confident self-advocates. He holds a BA from NYU Gallatin School.

Haley Shibble

Education Director, Haley is an educator with over a decade of experience teaching and administering art and technology programs. She is a creative technologist who holds a BA in Digital Media from Duquesne University and an MFA in  Design + Technology from Parson School of Design. Her expertise includes overseeing an education staff along with curriculum. She enjoys giving professional development training on universal design for learning to educators in New York City and has presented at multiple national conferences. She is devoted to creating inclusive learning environments and designing programs that empower neurodiverse learners.

Halenur Komsul

Work-Based Learning Specialist,
Halenur focuses on teaching neurodiverse students career-ready skills and work-based learning. As a mentor and teacher, her main interests are aligned with self-advocacy and youth empowerment taught within the framework of design thinking. She has presented with students at multiple conferences in New York City and has been part of student-centered initiatives at JobsFirstNYC. With a Bachelor’s degree from NYU Tandon’s Integrated Design and Media program, Halenur brings an innovative and experimental perspective to working with students.

Beth Rosenberg

Founder/Executive Director, MS Ed Technology + Special Needs | MA Art History, has worked in education, tech and art for over 30 years—first in the Education Department,  Guggenheim Museum, then as Founding Education Director, Eyebeam and as a consultant for over 20 NYC museums and community organizations. She is a faculty member in the Department of Technology, Culture and Society at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She started tech workshops in 2009 for her neurodiverse son and is a passionate advocate for students with disabilities.

Savannah Jerome-Solbakken

Education & Research Coordinator,  Savannah’s passion for working with neurodiverse students stemmed from a 2019 summer stint as a TKU counselor. Since that time she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University. Her expertise includes working with students and their parents on program placement, data collection and evaluation surveys. She also coordinates parent and alumni lectures and teen social events. Her passion lies in interacting and engaging with neurodiverse students and families to support their success.

Laura Olivieri Robles 

Director of Operations, People and Culture, Laura has multiple years of experience working for various organizations, including being a news producer at a major television network. Armed with a master’s degree from the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism, she oversees day-to-day operations and is dedicated to ensuring that TKU runs over 15 programs efficiently. Hailing from a large family, her interest in people and their success is paramount to her philosophy of life.

Jack Rubin

Co-Creator of TKU, loves technology and was inspired to learn how to be a creator of tech back in 2009 when the very first TKU workshop was piloted. He enjoys playing video games, creating videos and watching funny shows. He studied film at Pace University. He has an interest in automobiles and currently works in a job with cars.

Ellen Goldstein

Development Strategist, Ellen has more than 25 years of experience fundraising for NYC nonprofit organizations.  She has a BA from Pomona College and an MSW from Columbia University.

Elijah Alvarez 

Technology Associate, is a writer, artist, and technological tinkerer. A 2023 graduate of NYU, he has a bachelors in Interactive Media Arts. He likes biking, climbing and philosophy.

Sofia Wheeler

Education Program Associate, holds a BS in Integrated Design and Media from NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Since joining TKU in 2021 as a counselor, she has rapidly advanced to her current role. Sofia skillfully utilizes her expertise in web design, video editing, and photography to create engaging informational content. Her deep understanding of neurodivergent students’ needs, developed through hands-on experience, allows her to effectively adapt and enrich TKU’s educational programs.

Alex McKay

President

VP, AI Labs, BlackRock

Ryan Linden

Vice President

CPA, Head of Solutions Delivery & CS Growth, MURAL

Joel Bencosme

Treasurer

Tax Partner, PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Erik Dykema

Of Counsel, Bochner IP, General Counsel BICMD

Roseanne Legrand

Speech/Language Pathologist & Learning Specialist. MA, The City University of New York.

Stephanie Borgman

Former Chief of Staff & Site Program Manager, Google, Sydney, Australia

Beth Rosenberg 

Founder and Executive Director, Tech Kids Unlimited & Adjunct Professor, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Luke Dubois

Ph.D. Composer and Director of the Integrated Digital Media Program, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Harrison Lung

Group Chief Strategy Officer (GCSO), e& Global Technology Group

Jean Kang

Director, 400 Capital Management LLC

Sheena Thomas

Managing Council, Adobe, Privacy & Cybersecurity Legal

David Rosenberg

Director of Strategy, Snap Inc. 

Hannah Kaplan-Cohen

Director, Special Needs Parenting, Professional & Support Programs, The JCC in Manhattan

Jeremy Louie

Software Engineer, inline Apps

Daniel Nadasi

Engineering Site Lead, Google Australia

Evan Schechtman

Chief Creative Technologist / Founder, The Cuttlefish

Dr. Jonathan Hill

DPS, Dean, Seidenberg School of Computer Science, Pace University

David Kearon

Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, Rangam

Amy Hurst 

Associate Professor, Director of the Ability Project at NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Jared Schick

is a college student and has taken classes at TKU for eight years. He is now giving back to the community as a counselor.

Jakim Poleon

is a college student and has taken classes at TKU for five years. He now works in TKU’s College Access Program.

Saleem Aknine

is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity at George Mason University. He enjoys playing video games, sports, and learning new things about the world of tech.

Michael Bashner

Oscar Reyes Jr.

Terrance Bobb

Previous TKU Student. Now works as a counselor for TKU programs.

Nolan Duarte

Previous TKU Student. Now works as a counselor for TKU programs.

Indira Ardolic

has a BS, Integrated Design & Media, NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

Weixiong Zhu

is an educator who loves figuring out ways to get all students to learn successfully. He has a BS at NYU Tandon in computer science.

Tina Mbiti

possesses a unique ability to create immersive technology, digital media and arts workshops tailored to neurodiverse youth. Armed with extensive expertise in Game Design and Coding, she infuses a multidisciplinary approach into her teaching.

Weixiong Zhu

is an educator who loves figuring out ways to get all students to learn successfully. He has a BS at NYU Tandon in computer science.

Natalya Brill 

is a multidisciplinary designer and creative technologist who loves all things art and tech. She is currently pursuing a M.S. for Integrated Design & Media at NYU Tandon.

Daniel Ryan Johnston

is a Brooklyn-based queer textile artist, accessibility researcher, and creative technologist.  Mixing a love of creepy puppets, wearable technology and machine embroidery sculpture, Daniel’s work explores personal experiences with managing mental health, body image and psoriatic arthritis.

Lindsey Falack

 has a BSC from University of Miami in Creative Advertising, pursuing a career as an Art Director. She is an artist, surfer, yogi, travel junkie, and photographer, bringing her love for creativity to TKU.

Rachel Schultz

is a Senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who holds a masters degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a Masters in Early Childhood and Special Education while simultaneously teaching three and four year olds at a preschool.

Steven Yoo

is an educator interested in bringing out the best in all students. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Interdisciplinary Engineering in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department.

Tonya Blazio-Licorish

Maria Cabezas

Loren Busby

Josephine Massop

Lessly Castillo

Amy Hochstein

Nirilla Anthonimuthu

Ruth Broyld

Karen Kirshenbaum

Jeanine McAdam

Brittany Banks

Social Work Intern Supervisor, LCSW, is a LMSW and SIFI certified School-Based Clinical Consultant with a focus on Clinical Practice with Families, Groups, and Individuals. In the last 5 years, she has worked to perform clinical counseling for children and their families.

Ellen Mullan-Jayes

Social Worker, Ellen is currently pursing her Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work.

Laura Zaugg

Social Worker, LMSW. Laura received her Master’s in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has spent her career working in a variety of educational spaces supporting students and families with counseling and social emotional support. 

Aliyah K. Harrell

Social Worker, has a Bachelors from Brooklyn College in TV/Radio Production, and is currently enrolled at NYU Silver School of Social Work working on her Masters. She’s very passionate about serving and empowering vulnerable communities. 

Hunter Soileau

Social Worker, Hunter is currently pursing his Master’s degree from Columbia University School of Social Work.

Harish A. 

Age 18

Justin M. 

Age 20

Patrick L.

Age 22

Sara C. 

Age 17

Saumya D.

Age 21

Tate B. 

Age 16

William G. 

Age 15

Aaron J.F.

Age 19

Christian S.

Age 16

Masghana S.

Age 22

Christal F.

Age 22

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