Jake Weinfeld

Executive Director

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Jake originally got involved with MERIT, in 2012, as a volunteer Saturday teacher, while teaching science full time at KIPP Academy in Baltimore. Jake came to teach in Baltimore through Teach for America, teaching at his placement school for three years before joining the MERIT team full-time. He received his Masters in the Science of Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2014.

Stephanie Withey

Program Director

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Stephanie taught high school science as a Teach For America educator in Los Angeles after earning bachelors degrees in neuroscience and biology from USC. She furthered her interests in promoting education and health equity through graduate study in Urban Public Health at Charles Drew University and Educational Neuroscience at Harvard University. She has worked with several non-profit and education-based organizations dedicated to increasing diversity in professional STEM and health fields as an educator, volunteer, evaluator and advocate.

Megan Planchard

Data and Operations Manager

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Megan taught high school physics as a Teach For America educator in San Francisco after earning her bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University. Following her time as a classroom teacher, Megan has explored her personal passion for writing culturally relevant STEM curriculum—with a health care field focus—while working for a few education nonprofit organizations in both Minnesota and Maryland.

Senttra Snowden-Gregg

College Success Manager

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Senttra taught high school English in North Carolina, England and, most recently, at Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women in Baltimore City before joining MERIT as the College Success Manager. She is currently a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University School of Education in the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling program. 

Julian Walker

Program Manager

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In 2017, Julian started teaching public health lessons to MERIT scholars while earning his master’s degree in Health Science at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As a proponent of health equity in Baltimore City, he has mentored students all over the city and worked for the Baltimore City Health Department as acting Director for the chronic disease prevention sector. Julian also earned his bachelor’s degree from the illustrious Morgan State University.

Tamey Habtu

Program Coordinator

In 2019, Tamey received his Bachelor's degree in Public Health Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Having previously worked with MERIT as a summer teaching assistant, he is excited to return as the program coordinator. In 2020, Tamey will begin to pursue his Master's degree in Health Policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and aims to continue promoting equity at the policy level.

Gabriela Nisly

Program Coordinator

Gabriela received a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in December of 2018. After graduation, Gabriela moved to Brazil for 8 months to teach English, where she developed a passion for global health and healthcare equity. Gabriela will be attending medical school in the Fall of 2020 where she hopes to continue mentoring students with interests in the STEM fields.

Sachin Kuruvilla

Operations Coordinator

Sachin earned his Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Biology from Johns Hopkins University in 2019. As an undergrad, Sachin volunteered with MERIT as a teaching assistant for SAT Verbal classes. He plans to continue to support and mentor MERIT scholars before pursuing his own passion to become a physician.

Terry Yau

College Access Coordinator

Terry earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare from the University of California,
Berkeley in 2019. During that time, she developed a strong passion for educational equity and mentorship while working for the Hull Research Group, the Berkeley Early Learning Lab, and The Steppingstone Foundation.