Founded by a financial analyst and a teacher, SuitUp’s team and board bridges the world of urban education and corporate America.

Benjamin Pah

Executive Director

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Benjamin Pah is SuitUp's Executive Director. Previously, he has served as Atmosphere Academy’s Chief Program Officer. Vice Principal at Coney Island Prep and English teacher at Bronx High School for Law and Community Service. Benjamin holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from NYU. He is New York State Certified as a School Building leader and English teacher. Overall, Ben’s vision is to guide students to discover and achieve the careers of their dreams to uplift their families and communities. Finally, Ben "suits up" as Cookie Monster, King Triton, and other Halloween costumes he coordinates with his wife and 3 kids.

Email: ben@volunteersuitup.org

Kelsey English Smith

Chief Partnerships Officer

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Kelsey English Smith is the Chief Partnerships Officer of SuitUp, a leading education nonprofit dedicated to enhancing career readiness for students nationwide. A founding member of the Senior Leadership Team, Kelsey previously served as the Managing Director of Partnerships, where she played a pivotal role in expanding SuitUp's impact. Since joining SuitUp in 2020, Kelsey successfully secured over $3M in philanthropic support from companies across 30+ states, including organizations such as Forbes, Goldman Sachs, NBC Universal, Snap Inc., Salesforce, The TJX Companies, among others. Kelsey's dedication to education is deeply rooted in her experience as a Teach for America alum and former TFA New Jersey Board Member. Her commitment to ensuring all students have access to quality education has been a driving force in her career. Notable accolades include being a recipient of the Gratitude Network Fellowship, a testament to her innovative and impactful contributions to the education sector. Kelsey has been invited to share her insights at events such as ACCP's annual conference, Steelcase's Curious Minds Global Summit, SOCi's annual conference, TFA New York's annual retreat, and more.

Email: kelsey@volunteersuitup.org

Hananatu Tunis
Program Director

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Hananatu Tunis is a SuitUp’s New York Program Director. Hana organizes and facilitates SuitUp’s virtual and in-person business competitions. As a new team member of SuitUp, Hana is looking forward to hosting her first competition this Fall! Prior to SuitUp, Hana supported the social good initiatives of youth living in West Africa and Southeast Asia as a Program Coordinator at the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program. Hana is a St. John’s University alum, with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and a minor in Rhetoric. Hana is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals advocate with a passion for youth development and global change. Hana suits up for giving young people a platform to live at their fullest potential. In her spare time, Hana loves eating brunch with friends and admiring the NYC skyline!

Email: hana@volunteersuitup.org

Christina Castro
Director of Partnerships & Impact Events

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Christina Castro is a SuitUp’s Director of Impact Events. Before joining SuitUp, Christina spent over a decade in the media industry as a marketing, sales, and advertising executive. She worked with Fortune 500 brands at top luxury publications, creating and executing integrated marketing campaigns and events to enhance brand awareness. Most recently, Christina led the programs, business development, and operations at Portfolios with Purpose and served as a consultant for several education nonprofits. Christina graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has a Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University.

Christina enjoys hiking, yoga, and spending time with her two children in New Jersey.

Email: christina@volunteersuitup.org

Daniela Lebron
National Program Manager

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Daniela Lebron is a Program Manager for SuitUp, facilitating competitions. As a new member of the Programs Team she’s looking forward to hosting competitions and meeting the amazing students and coaches SuitUp works with! She is a recent graduate of Barnard College, with a degree in Political Science and American Studies with a minor in Environmental Humanities. Prior to SuitUp, Daniela worked with children and youth in various capacities and is passionate about changing the way in which we educate to allow students to take charge and shape the way they learn. Daniela suits up for bouldering, reading, and spending time with her friends, family, and pets!

Email: daniela@volunteersuitup.org

Seema Shah
National Youth Partnerships Manager

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Seema Shah is the National Youth Partnership Manager at Suitup and oversees our relations with schools and scholars across the country. While she is a tri-stater at heart, she recently relocated to Chicago and has been loving the Windy City. Prior to SuitUp, Seema taught 9th and 10th grade English with New Visions Charter High School in the South Bronx for 5 years and carries a deep passion for bringing equity into Education. Seema has a Bachelor's degree in English and Secondary Education from Manhattan College, and is finishing her MEd at Boston University. In her spare time, Seema loves walks with her dog, game nights with friends and picking out her next read at the local library!

Email: seema@volunteerSuitUp.org