Betsy Corcoran
CEO & Co-Founder
Past: Writer and editor at Scientific American, The Washington Post, Forbes
And: Fellow with the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellows Program; named a “Rock Star” of education; advises several charter schools & the AT&T Aspire edtech accelerator
Asking about: How can we help learners and educators figure out when technology makes a difference and why?
Tony Wan
Managing Editor
Past: Co-founder of Luckybird Games, still recovering from an aborted attempt to pursue academia in East Asian history
And: Forbes “30 Under 30” in Education in 2014, wannabe golfer, quiet drummer, former video game binger
Asking about: Why do people have such a hard time agreeing to disagree?
Amy McHugh
Director of Customer Success
Past: Business Manager for EdSurge and Odyssey School. Sales and business development for Citibank, Reuters, and various internet start-ups.
And: San Mateo Union High School District Board Member raising funds; tennis player and baking enthusiast
Asking about: How can we make education more equitable?
Alice Myerhoff
VP of Sales
Past: Producer and Sales/Sales Leadership Roles at games & niche media companies such as Electronic Arts (pogo.com), Inman News, Total Entertainment Network, and the Pivot Conference.
And: First job after college was working on an ESL Software product; Taught English while studying abroad in Bordeaux, France; Mentor for AT&T Aspire edtech accelerator; fluent in German & French;
Believes: If more Americans studied abroad, we'd see a greater tolerance for cultural differences.
Helen Resor
Director of Jobs
Past: Ran Business Development for Eatwise Rx / ABC Diabetes, a diabetes education company. Cross Asset Sales Analyst at Morgan Stanley. History and Political Science degree from Yale University. Spent three years in New Haven classrooms teaching students about sex education as part of Community Health Educators.
And: Won a bronze medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics as a member of the United States Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team; a gold medal at the 2005 and 2009 World Championships.
Madelyn Mock
Manager, Fusion
Past: 19 years of experience in events and the hospitality industry, working for the Hilton, Inman New, Tomorrow Project as an executive producer, senior conventions manager and Content & Strategies VP.
And: Loves cutting things up, experimenting, wants to 3-d print just about anything and dreams up things to hack.
Believes: Creating a space for young makers that celebrates tinkering and encourage playfulness.
Brian Simmons
Head of Product
Meg Hamel
Director of Research
Past: English Teacher (10th, 11AP, SAT); Tech Leader, and English Dept Chair for Henrico County PS in Virginia; Development and Advancement Associate for Virginia Commonwealth University; Analyst for Polo Ralph Lauren Home
And: Won an Henrico21 Tech Award for Research and Innovation; Former member of Henrico's Technology Advisory; art history enthusiast, music and movie lover, avid reader, and a lifelong fan of the Legend of Zelda.
Asking about: How might the educational system both support innovation and equity?
Tory Loeb
Sales Manager
Past: Project management and marketing for edtech and education non-profits over past 7 years
And: Big on scenic hikes, dystopian novels, and Instagram stalking animal celebrities
Wondering about: Education's role in solving economic issues our country is facing today
Nancy McGovern
Sr. Accountant
Past: 20+ years of Accounting and Bookkeeping experience - First Republic Bank, The Little School, Garnick LLC, SugarSync - in the public, non-profit and private sectors.
And:Is a cycling enthusiast.
Marisa Kaplan
R & D Manager
Past: Instructional coach with Cooke Center for Learning and Development helping administrators and educators build and strengthen literacy and special education programs in K-8 schools; special education teacher and ELA teacher in Pre-K-8 classrooms across NYC.
And: NYC Teaching Fellow, Worldwide Orphans Foundation Ranger, lover of children’s books and mother of twins
Asking about: How are schools changing to prepare learners to be curious, flexible, resourceful individuals that will be able to adapt to a future we can’t yet imagine?
Jeffrey R. Young
Sr. Editor, Higher Ed
Past: Editor and writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education for 20 years.
And: Adjunct journalism professor, 2014 Nieman Fellow for journalism at Harvard
Asking about: How the roles of students and professors are changing in the digital age.
Shelby Adkisson
Sales Operations and Account Manager
Past: Educator (informal and formal) with a knack for organization and streamlining processes. University of Oregon Alumna - Sko Ducks!
And: Youth mentor, lazy cyclist, and avid audiobook/podcast listener.
Wondering about: What can community involvement bring to the table to ensure the success of all students?
Michael Sano
Higher Ed Community Manager
Past: Most recently, Michael was an Associate Dean of Students and previously directed experiential education and academic support initiatives, and worked with students with disabilities.
And: He writes nonfiction and fiction around issues of queer identity, culture and place. He is in search of the best pizza in San Francisco.
Wondering about: How can we innovate to meet the diversity of student needs in a more affordable way?
Aneesa Davenport
Senior Marketing Manager
Past: Editor and Marketer for K-12 and Higher & Adult Education at Jossey-Bass, a Wiley imprint
And: Poet
Thinking about: How can we make public education equitable and exceptional?
Megan McMahon
K12 Events Manager
Past: Teacher Resident with the Teachers Guild out of IDEO, 10 year Art Educator in SFUSD, Peace Corps Education Volunteer, Bolivia, Designer and Art Director with Anderson & Lembke Advertising
And: Co-founder Beyond Borders Storytelling, artist, and always seeking that elusive San Francisco sun
Believes that: Changes in education will come from inside school communities from the ground up.
Stephen Noonoo
K-12 Editor
Past: Editor of eSchool News; education editor at THE Journal and SmartBrief.
And: Consultant for CUE, California's ISTE affiliate. Moderated sessions or spoken at FETC, ISTE, CoSN and other professional development events.
Wondering about: Is it really still easier to move a graveyard than change a school?
Emily Tate
K-12 Reporter
Past: Technology editor and reporter at EdScoop; wrote about digital learning for Inside Higher Ed. Other bylines in HuffPost and The Columbus Dispatch.
And: Runner, yoga practitioner and lover of all things outdoors. Prefers podcasts to music. Believes jalapeños belong on everything.
Wondering about: How can we help educators parse the transient classroom technology from the truly transformational?
Arati Nagaraj
Director of Learning Events
Past: Instructional Designer - Philips, Apple, Google, Facebook, Uber; Curriculum Specialist - Pearson, Houghton Mifflin; Montessori Teacher.
And: School Board Member since 2010, loves to travel off-the beaten path, photography, volunteering in the community, quiet moments.
Wondering about: How to connect dots and reduce inefficiencies.
Rachel Burstein
Research Associate
Past: Curriculum designer at IXL, civic innovation researcher at New America, college instructor at Brooklyn College, researcher at Ithaka.
And: PhD labor historian; mom to two daughters; lover of palindromes, public transit and Earl Grey tea with milk.
Wondering about: Teaching is incredibly hard work and educators deserve respect, support and a seat at the decision-making table.
Sam Peterson
Digital Content Project Manager
Past: Spent 11 years in the classroom as a high school Spanish teacher in the Bronx, NY and Richmond, VA before moving to San Francisco to become the Community Manager at music streaming service 8tracks. After a stint as contributing writer for various editorial projects, joined EdSurge as Digital Content Project Manager in 2019
And: Committed to finding new ways to combine fitness and philanthropy.
Martha Karmali
Social Media Specialist
Past: Spent time teaching in East Texas before moving to Denver, Colorado to pursue a Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration. Joined the EdSurge team in 2018 as a Social Media Contractor.
And: I'm passionate about global education and continuing my journey to understand and learn about education around the world.
Wondering about: What would education look like if it became more culturally, ethically and historically charged?
Tanya Salcido
Digital Advertising & Social Media Manager
Past: 15 years of broad integrated marketing experience in various industries, including technology, healthcare and nonprofit. I was part of a team that won best educational video for a livestreamed colonoscopy.
And: I’m an Orange County native and co-founder of #LatinaGeeks, a nonprofit that supports adult continuing education through tech-related workshops and community events. I’m also an avid baseball fan, which once led to scoring an Ultimate Fan grand prize from the Angels.
Believes that: Affordable, skills-based training is the future of education.
Wade Tyler Millward
Business Reporter
Past: Business reporter for Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gaston Gazette, Tampa Bay Business Journal
And: Proud University of Florida alumni. Go Gators!
Asking about: Edtech investment and financing
Liana Gamber-Thompson
Digital Project and Operations Manager
Past: Researcher on youth and politics at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC, Community Manager at Connected Camps, and Program Associate at the National Writing Project
And: Published author and Ph.D. in Sociology. Enjoys crocheting and unironically watching Antiques Roadshow.
Believes that: Students and teachers are among the most important, innovative, and radical agents of change.
Kris Hattori
Director of Sponsored Content
Past: Director of Ecomm at Undefeated Inc. and USC Film/Interactive Media MA
And: Weekend game developer, product designer, and Simpsons fan
Believes in: Learning by doing
Rebecca Koenig
Senior Reporter
Past: Reporter for U.S. News & World Report, The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Chronicle of Philanthropy
And: Also pens prose about history and food
Seeking: True tales to tell that combine evidence with human interest