Our Team

In her role as director of Strong Start to Finish, Maxine elevates effective practices and processes for reforming developmental education in university systems. She has dedicated her career to advancing system-changing, equity-focused initiatives that promote access, persistence and completion for minoritized students in higher education. Prior to joining Education Commission of the States, Maxine directed youth-based programs in urban areas, worked with community college faculty to improve their course outcomes and conducted research on the factors that contribute to success and progress for Black and Latinx students in community college developmental math courses.

As Associate Director of Strong Start to Finish, Victoria works with team members, funders, and postsecondary leaders to advance proven developmental education reforms. She has over 16 years of experience in higher education policy, practice, and research through various roles in government, postsecondary institutions, and policy research organizations. She earned her PhD in Higher and Postsecondary Education from New York University. Victoria is dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities for students who have been historically and systematically excluded from unjust systems. 

As the Site Strategist for Strong Start to Finish, Julie provides support to higher education systems and institutions implementing developmental education reforms, and identifies opportunities for shared learning across the network. Julie comes with experience in education policy and implementation science research, and has focused much of her work on equitable systems change at the intersection of K-12 and higher education. Julie is dedicated to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students of color, students from lower-income communities and adults; and is passionate about working alongside educators and students to collaboratively develop solutions.

As a project manager, Alina is responsible for daily operations and providing project support for the Strong Start to Finish initiative. She brings experience relating to finance, public policy and administration, as well as the implementation of Colorado law and regulation. Alina is dedicated to the mission of Strong Start to Finish and believes that through informed leadership and sustained commitment, we can better serve our communities and contribute to an educational system that provides equal opportunities for all. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, making memories with her family and spending time outdoors.

As an Administrative Assistant, Miaja works across teams to support Strong Start to Finish, Convene and HR/Operations in such areas as scheduling, daily operations and project support. Miaja has a variety of operational and administrative support experiences in various industries and is excited to be back in the world of education. When Miaja is not working, she can be found hiking and exploring nature with her husband or curled up with a good book.

As chief financial officer, Matt leads the finance, human resources and information technology operations for Education Commission of the States. Matt has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, primarily in operations and leadership roles. When Matt is not at work, he can be found volunteering for nonprofit boards or enjoying the great Colorado mountains.

In his role, Will supports the Senior Financial Analyst with month-end and day-to-day tasks. Prior to joining ECS, Will graduated from Transylvania University in 2021. After graduation, he worked for a labeling company in Denver as a bookkeeper in their human resources department. Will loves supporting the Cubs, Heat and Titans. He also enjoys playing basketball, baseball and hitting the slopes