Why Holistic?
At MAAC, we know that success isn’t just about getting good grades. That’s why we incorporate these three tenets into everything we do.
Millions of students are impacted by the shortage of school counselors and inequities in support services, so we've created a holistic college and career readiness program that ensures success for all.
Our Team
Our esteemed board members, staff, and Villagers share MAAC’s vision and make our good work possible.
Our environment fosters supportive interpersonal connections and offers every scholar the chance to feel heard and understood.
Intentional presence allows scholars to be fully engaged, enhancing their experience, learning, and interactions.
Connections with school and community leaders inspire and engage scholars and build confidence in their networking skills.
Mission
To provide holistic college and career readiness programming, incorporating mindfulness, social and emotional wellness, and community engagement.
Vision
To provide a safe space where students feel supported and empowered to achieve their academic, college, and career goals.
Values
Inclusion
MAAC believes in college and career readiness for all, especially those who have been held back from opportunities as a result of their ethnicity, poverty, homelessness, displacement, or other challenges.
Acceptance
Every person is different, and we embrace our scholars for who they are.
Stability
MAAC scholars can count on a safe, supportive, judgment-free environment in which to share, heal, grow, and flourish.
Trust
Every staff member, Villager, and engagement speaker stands behind our MAAC scholars to support, listen, and guide them through their academic journey.
Excellence
Through MAAC, our scholars build the skills and self-confidence to achieve goals they might never have thought possible.
What Set's Us Apart
Our History
In 2017, longtime educator Andrea Smith-Morgan was working as an in-class support teacher in an area high school when she realized that many bright students were not enrolled in advanced placement classes; particularly Black students. Frustrated by the disparity and wanting to bridge the academic gap for these students, Andrea rented a space and invited students of color to meet with her and work on honing their academic skills with a focus on advanced placement instruction in ELA and math.
Andrea took early retirement from her teaching position in 2022 to focus full-time on growing MAAC. As a result of the isolation and emotional instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, she chose to add two new components to the mission: social and emotional wellness and community engagement.
Since that time, MAAC has grown to offer tutoring, resource assistance, financial aid seminars, college workshops for homeless, refugee, and otherwise marginalized youth and families, and community speaking engagements, in addition to its hugely successful Summer College Readiness Boot Camp, its proprietary After-School Program, and the newest addition—an inspirational College Day event for homeless and displaced high school students.
To date, MAAC has helped more than 1,000 high school scholars succeed in college and career, many of whom have gone on to win full merit-based scholarships, attend prestigious universities, and build resumes filled with prolific and meaningful accomplishments. MAAC remains a grassroots organization with big dreams. Through the continued hard work and support of the organization’s board, staff, donors, partner organizations, and community engagement speakers, MAAC will continue to deliver innovative programming and services to ensure that every scholar gets the opportunity to succeed in college, career, and life.
ANDREA SMITH-MORGAN
MAAC Founder and
Executive Director
With over 30 years combined academic and professional experience in teaching, education, social and emotional wellness, mindfulness, community building, research, training, and curriculum design, Andrea created MAAC as a response to address disparities and inequities, focusing on reaching advanced levels of ELA and mathematics to students of color. After 27 years of teaching and completely wiped out, she searched for strategies to address burnout and discovered mindfulness. “The life I was building for myself is the life I wanted to build for my scholars.” ELA and mathematics quickly morphed into mindful practices for college readiness. As the first generation of parents who grew up in the Caribbean, Andrea understands two divergent elements of the immigrant spectrum in America: growing up with constant and pervasive racism as well as realizing her unique self-worth. Andrea is thrilled to lead an organization that is able to provide boundless opportunities for vulnerable youth to achieve their college and career dreams, while utilizing mindful practices, cultivating social and emotional wellness, and creating community engagement experiences. Andrea has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from West Virginia University and a master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is working toward her doctorate in teacher education and teacher development at Montclair State University. She is also a Certified Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant and Mindful Practitioner.
Our Board
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DR. ELEANOR GIL-KASHIWABARA
Psychologist
Dr. Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara is a licensed psychologist who earned her master’s degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University and doctorate in clinical psychology from Pacific University. She completed her predoctoral internship and residency training at Oregon Health & Science University. Eleanor’s training and professional experience focuses on children and families experiencing a variety of issues including trauma (including intergenerational trauma and historical loss), early-childhood attachment disruptions and maltreatment, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mood disorders. As a bilingual Latina psychologist of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, Eleanor is committed to providing culturally responsive services, including addressing service inequities and culturally specific service provisions in Latinx and American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Eleanor is the founder and CEO of Luminosa Psychological Services, LLC, where she provides training and consultation to organizations related to providing services from a trauma-informed lens that engages equity and inclusion. She is also a certified yoga instructor who embraces the positive benefits of yoga on mental health functioning. Eleanor is honored to serve on the board of MAAC.
TANYA ISLER-HORNE
Brand Developer
Tanya Isler-Horne has worked in brand development for over 25 years focused on accelerating the growth of fashion, lifestyle and entertainment brands through strategic partnerships. Brands she has worked for include Disney, Conde Nast and Martha Stewart. She currently leads Licensing + Publishing for US, Canada, Australia & New Zealand for Netflix Consumer Products, a role that includes identifying and managing key retail and consumer brand partnerships for Netflix acclaimed films and series. Tanya studied at Yale University where she majored in History. In addition to MAAC she is a Board Member of Licensing International the leading global trade association for the brand licensing industry. Tanya lives in New Jersey with her husband and four children and has traveled to over 70 countries for work and pleasure.
NADINE VERNA
College Administrator
Nadine Verna is a college administrator with over 20 years of experience, having worked at diverse institutions, including The New School, Duke University, Barnard College, Yale University, and Montclair State University. She is also an adjunct instructor and has taught courses such as College to Career: Preparing for the World of Work, Child Development II: Adolescence, New Student Seminar, and New Graduate International Student Seminar. In her spare time, Nadine enjoys brunching with her daughter, journaling, and traveling. She is the proud daughter of Haitian immigrants and has degrees from Mount Holyoke College and New York University.
TAMARA C. WILLIAMS
Composer & Advocate
Tamara C. Williams is a jazz vocalist and composer with extensive experience developing music programs with nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities. Prior to arts administration, Tamara volunteered with domestic violence and sexual assault organizations in the greater St. Louis area. Using spoken word poetry, she became a spokesperson and advocate for the prevention of violence against women, HIV/AIDS prevention, and recovery for substance abusers. In 2012, she was recognized for her work with arts programs, receiving an award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women as a Trailblazer in Arts and Culture. She received her associate’s degree in English from Southwestern Illinois College, her bachelor’s degree in music with an emphasis in classical and jazz voice from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and her master’s degree in jazz studies from Michigan State University. In 2013, Tamara founded Music Beyond Measure, where she promotes the arts as an aid in trauma recovery for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, and individuals suffering from PTSD.
Our Villagers
As community engagement speakers, our growing circle of MAAC Villagers support our mission and share their experiences and knowledge to educate and inspire MAAC scholars.
