PSCCN - Key Persons


Adam Kay

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Interim Director, Postsecondary Readiness

Christian Granlund

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team

Clarence Dancer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Postsecondary Advisor, City of Seattle

David Larsen

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Dean of Enrollment and Completion, Green River College

Dinda Davis

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team

Hailey Karcher

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team
Role: Ph.D. Research Fellow, Puget Sound College and Career Network Background: Hailey originally hails from New Jersey but has lived in Seattle for over three years.. What do you do at PSESD: She works mainly on King County Promise doing research and providing technical assistance with the various moving pieces of the project. Prior Experience: Hailey has several years of experience in education, having taught middle-school English and writing curriculum for several years. Education: She earned her M.Ed. from the University of Washington in the College of Education. She is currently a doctoral student in the Education Policy, Organizations, and Leadership program. Her research interests include the racial politics of schools, including how housing and education policies interact and the implications for racial equity. How do you spend your free time: Hailey enjoys spending time outside, ideally on the water. She also enjoys reading and handing out with her two dogs. Favorite quote: "If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." -- Lilla Watson, Aboriginal rights activist

Jenny Walden

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Stability Senior Program Manager, United Way of King County

Jonathan Joseph

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team
Role: Director of Postsecondary Strategic Development

Keith Spier-Van Essen

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Program Director, College Success Foundation

Leila Crist

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team
Role: Program Coordinator for PSCCN and CINRE Background: Leila is originally from Southern California, but considers Kansas City, MO her hometown after living there for many years. She now lives in Puyallup with her husband and children. What do you do at PSESD: Leila works with two different teams at PSESD helping to coordinate projects, budgets, events and support the work PSESD does with students, families, and the community. Prior Experience: Leila has previously worked in multiple community colleges in both Continuing Education and Student Engagement and Leadership. In addition, she has also worked in public and university libraries in Kansas and Washington. Education: Leila has a graduate certificate in Community College Leadership from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, a Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry from San Diego State University, and a Bachelor's Degree in English with a Creative Writing minor from the University of California, Riverside. How do you spend your free time: Leila spends her free time hanging out with her family and friends, reading, baking, thrift store shopping, and spending time outdoors. Favorite quote: "Be curious, not judgmental." - possibly Walt Whitman, definitely Ted Lasso

Mollee Shultz

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team
Role: Director of Postsecondary Data and Impact Background: Mollee was born in China, grew up in Washington, and lived for significant periods of time in California and Michigan. What do you do at PSESD: She works to gather postsecondary data and facilitate its access and use among community partners. Her initial focus is collecting data on and evaluating the impact of the King County Promise. Prior Experience: Mollee taught and tutored math at the K-12 and postsecondary level for several years. She then worked as a research assistant in mathematics education for 5 years for a lab at the University of Michigan, and spent 2 years as a postdoctoral researcher for the STEM Equity project at Texas State. Education: She earned her B.A. in math at Whitman College, her M.S. in math at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, and her Ph.D. in math education at the University of Michigan. How do you spend your free time: Mollee loves exploring new places with her partner Michael and kids Ben and Charlie. Whenever she gets the chance, she likes to run with good friends or good music. Favorite quote: "The only person you should try to impress is your 5-yr-old self and your 85-yr-old self." - Unknown

Naveed Badri

Job Titles:
  • Member of the PSCCN Team
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Puget Sound College and Career Network Manager
Role: Puget Sound College and Career Network Manager Background: Naveed grew up in South King County and currently lives in Tacoma. What do you do at PSESD: Naveed works to embed youth leadership and continuous improvement in PSCCN, build regional capacity, and increase collective action around equitable postsecondary opportunities for students across the PSESD region. Prior Experience: Naveed has a background in community public health, college access, and youth leadership. He has worked at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) where he led health equity efforts in COVID-19 community engagement, participatory budgeting & planning, and youth leadership/advocacy. Prior to his work at TPCHD, Naveed worked at The College Success Foundation-Tacoma as a College Prep Advisor supporting 11th and 12th grade students, as well as admin with college and career planning support. Education: Naveed earned his Bachelor or Science in Microbiology and Master of Public Health in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice from UW-Seattle. How do you spend your free time: Naveed enjoys cooking/grilling, biking, and playing guitar. Favorite quote: "Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets." -W. Edwards Deming

Rashad Norris

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Director of Community Engagement, Highline College

Sarah Weiss

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Associate Director of College Access and Support, Washington Student Achievement Council

Sativah Jones

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • College Access Manager, Highline Public Schools

Ted Dezember

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Senior Resident Services Manager for Educational Initiatives, King County Housing Authority

Therese Williams

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Director of Post - Secondary Access & Success, Summer Search

Vanessa Calonzo

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Steering Committee
  • Director of New Student Services, South Seattle College

Washington Schools

Job Titles:
  • Management

Washington STEM

Job Titles:
  • WA Student Achievement Council / White River School