Meet Our Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER,
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Sydney Montgomery is the Executive Director and Founder of Barrier Breakers®. She was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2024 and is a TEDx Speaker.

As the first lawyer in her family, the first person from her high school to attend Princeton University, and a Harvard Law School graduate, Sydney has used her platform since 2012 to help students break down generational barriers and step confidently into their future.

As the daughter of military and immigrant parents and as a lower-income college student, Sydney battled insecurities, financial challenges, and debilitating chronic illnesses to defy societal labels and expectations. Now, as a TEDx Speaker and Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur Sydney inspires others to believe in themselves, find their voice, and confidently pursue their goals no matter their background or obstacles. Sydney holds a B.A. in English from Princeton University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, a Masters of Theological Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from UC Irvine, and a Certificate in Anti-Racism in Urban Education from UNC Charlotte. Sydney is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and has been featured in Inc., Forbes, US News, Medium, CNBC and others.

Her TEDx talk, “First-Generation Graduates Drive Business Success,” has over 137,000 views.

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS & ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Dr. Nadia Castriota is a seasoned higher education administrator with over 20 years of experience in professional and graduate school admissions, student development, and academic leadership. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to student success, diversity, and access, with a particular focus on law school enrollment and support services. She has held progressive leadership roles at a variety of institutions, where she has developed and executed strategic enrollment plans, led scholarship and financial aid initiatives, overseen holistic admissions practices, and collaborated closely with faculty and university leadership. Her previous positions include Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Florida International University College of Law, Director of Admissions at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Services at Albany Law School, and Director of Admissions at St. Thomas University School of Law.
In addition to her expertise in admissions and enrollment management, Dr. Castriota has extensive experience in student affairs, academic advising, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming. She has successfully built pipelines for underrepresented students, spearheaded student success initiatives, and mentored countless individuals pursuing careers in law and public service. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Florida International University, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Ethical Leadership from St. Thomas University.

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AND ACCOUNTS

Dr. Paul Patterson has over two decades of experience in higher education and advising. Throughout his career, he has lectured and published on a variety of topics, from the history of race in the Middle Ages to the present day to the psychology of fear in horror films. In his current role as Professor of English and Faculty Pre-Law Advisor at Saint Joseph's University, he assists students on their path to law school. He is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals. In his community, he has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for a non-profit that assisted former foster youth with employment and professional training and has volunteered with unhoused communities in Philadelphia.

COLLEGE ACCESS COUNSELOR
Michelle Gbelama-Okore is a seasoned Youth Development Specialist and Professional Tennis Coach with over 18 years of experience, having positively impacted the lives of more than 5,000 young people across the New Jersey and New York regions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Drew University.

She is the Founder and Executive Director of WE Lead Sports Inc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable tennis, soccer, leadership development, and college readiness programs to youth in Mercer County, New Jersey. Through this work, Michelle is committed to expanding access, opportunity, and equity for young athletes in communities that have traditionally lacked access to these resources. Michelle is also the Founder of She Leads Sports LLC, a mission-driven enterprise offering elite tennis training to girls preparing to compete at the high school and collegiate levels.

She has also held leadership roles with several organizations, including New York Junior Tennis and Learning, Play Rugby USA, HomeWorks Trenton, and others. She has also held board positions with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) New Jersey District Council ,the USTA Middle States Board and Capital Harmony Works.

Beyond her professional work, Michelle is a proud wife to Pastor James Okore and a devoted mother of two daughters.

COLLEGE ACCESS COUNSELOR

Rose Ellen’s passion for college planning was ignited through her own family’s experience. As a homeschooling parent, she guided both of her children through the college application process – a journey filled with challenges, but also remarkable achievements. Her eldest son was recruited to play baseball at two prestigious military academies, while her younger son was recruited as a diver and Geoffrey Canada Scholar to Bowdoin College, a renowned liberal arts school.

Inspired by her children’s journeys, Rose embarked on an educational journey of her own, earning certifications and credentials to become a professional educational consultant.

Rose Ellen holds a BA in Education from Colgate College and a MSEd from the University of Pittsburgh. A member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), she ensures that students are placed in appropriate learning environments where they are challenged to think about their assumptions and engage as problem solvers in their community and beyond.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ADVISOR,
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Arturo Hodgson has over 20 years of experience in higher education admissions and student affairs. He previously served as the Director of Admissions and Recruitment at Ave Maria School of Law, the Associate Director of Admissions at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, the Associate Director of Admissions at Lynn University, and the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Undergraduate Studies. While these roles and their responsibilities have differed, Arturo believes the most important common denominator was that of student success. Arturo earned his BS from Florida Atlantic University, MS from Nova Southeastern University, and is currently earning his PhD in Ethical Leadership at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ADVISOR,
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Glenn E. Bell is a strong advocate for diversity in higher education, and his career has spanned many disciplines. Born and raised in Northern New Jersey, he has been a frequent lecturer on issues related to the African American community including Negro Leagues Baseball, Blacks in the Military, and Black activist thought.

Glenn received a Bachelor of English degree at Hampton University, and a Master of Education degree from Northeastern University. He served in the Language Arts staff at Prentice Hall publishers as the only African American editor in any of the four major disciplines. He joined the staff of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, where he worked with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Community Colleges to build their International Affairs curriculum and Model United Nations programs.

Glenn later joined the staff of the Law School Admission Council, where he served as a key member of the Diversity Initiatives team. He also served as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial aid at New York Law School, and the liaison for recruiting diverse students to the law school.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Patricia Kinney has two decades of experience in legal education administration at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Starting as a first-generation law student and lawyer, she practiced in various fields before returning to her alma mater. She served as Assistant Dean of Admissions for 15 years and is now the inaugural Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion. Patricia advances diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and is a frequent panelist on these topics. Her community involvement includes roles in local organizations and the Indiana Supreme Court’s Coalition for Court Access, highlighting her commitment to legal accessibility and service.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Gabriela Amador (Gaby) earned her undergraduate degree in English at Northwestern University and her Masters in Public Administration from the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Tech. Gaby has over 10 years of experience as a law school admissions director and more than 15 years of experience in law school admissions advising.

Gaby has also worked closely with prospective law students on financial aid and scholarship matters. As a first-generation college graduate, Gaby enjoys helping prospective students demystify the law school admissions process in pursuit of increasing access to higher education.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Dean Butts serves as the Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Community Engagement Officer at a law school in Washington, D.C.  Assistant Dean Butts received her B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University and her J.D. from Catholic Law. During law school, Assistant Dean Butts served in leadership roles with the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the Black Law Student Association, and the Student Bar Association and was one of two student members on the Admissions Committee.

Shani serves in a variety of volunteer leadership roles with the Law School Admissions Council including serving as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, chairing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research and Data Workgroup from June 2021 to May 2023. She currently serves on the LSAC Board of Trustees chairing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Shani is also a founding member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Legal Profession Chapter.

Shani is licensed to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Deborah Rosa is a Miami native with a passion for empowering students in their educational journeys. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida International University and a master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from NOVA Southeastern University. Deborah's own experiences with the college admissions process inspired her to shift careers and become the Assistant Director of Admission at St. Thomas University, where she focused on helping others navigate the challenges she faced. After two years, she transitioned to an Academic Advisor role for Early College learners at Dayspring Academy. There, she channeled her dedication to college admissions by organizing the school's first-ever College Fair, connecting students with colleges across Florida and fostering their academic aspirations.

ESSAY EDITOR

Nana Koranteng is the Assistant Director, Public Administration, Government, & Law at Suffolk University Center for Career Equity, Development & Success. She received her B.A. from Pomona College in Southern California and her M.A. from Harvard University. After completing a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Manama, Bahrain, she spent two years as an education consultant in Dubai. Throughout her professional journey, she has enjoyed supporting applicants in putting forth their most authentic selves in essays.

BOOT CAMP INSTRUCTOR; ESSAY EDITOR

Sulaiman Jenkins is an academic scholar and currently serves as the Director of Academic Programs at Johns Hopkins' Institute for NanoBioTechnology. He has extensive experience in college counseling and admissions, having worked with students to prepare them for undergraduate/graduate matriculation at the world's leading academic institutions. As a testament to his efforts, some of his students have been accepted to top-tier universities such as MIT, Cornell, UNC, University of Chicago, and NYU. His commitment to students is unmatched and he endeavors to create effective roadmaps to help students before and during the important admissions process.

BOOT CAMP INSTRUCTOR

Jasmeene Burton is a graduate of Princeton University (A.B., Sociology) and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (J.D.), and is an incoming associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis. Jasmeene is passionate about educational equity, and has helped hundreds to cultivate confidence and conquer educational obstacles as a private LSAT and academic skills coach, and as a writing coach and 1L teaching assistant at Northwestern. Throughout her journey, Jasmeene has worked extensively with neurodiverse students, nontraditional students, students of color, and English-language learners. She is passionate about furthering educational equity by helping students become the best learners and lawyers that they can be—starting before law school begins. A proud Barrier Breakers® alum herself, Jasmeene is excited to serve the next generation of future lawyers as a Boot Camp Instructor.

BOOT CAMP INSTRUCTOR; ESSAY EDITOR

Howard Manuel, a lawyer based in Washington, D.C., serves as a senior advisor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His career has been dedicated to collaborating with Congressional and White House stakeholders to enhance government modernization and efficiency. A Columbus, Ohio native, Howard completed his undergraduate studies at Ohio University and received his legal education at Cleveland State University. His federal policy career commenced in 2012 when he was appointed as a Presidential Fellow. Howard is on the Board of Directors of No One Left Behind, a 501(c)(3) organization aiding the resettlement of Afghan nationals who have worked with U.S. and NATO forces. He also actively contributes to Ohio University, serving on the Scripps College of Communication's board and as the D.C. Chapter President of the Ohio University Alumni Association.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DATA & SYSTEMS

Shiela finished her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Operations Management in the Philippines. She also took up teaching units because of her passion to teach and help students in the public college in her community. It has always been in her heart to be part of the training and development of the next generation. For over 7 years now, she has been actively helping people around her through various community outreaches and volunteer work in church, where she plays drums and leads a study group for young professionals.

OUTREACH & WELLNESS COORDINATOR

LoVetta is a Multimedia Journalist with a Master's Degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. LoVetta also works as a radio personality and podcast host. She loves to read, talk to new people and to learn. She's most passionate about sharing knowledge with others and being a champion for positivity.

WORKFLOW, AUTOMATION, AND DATABASE LEAD

Neil Patrick Elison graduated from AMA Computer College Olongapo Inc., finishing his B.S. in Information Technology course in 2016. Since then, he has started working as a Software Engineer and has worked in the field for about 7 years. His expertise lies in backend programming particularly using Python. He also has experience in Data Analytics, Workflow Automations, API Integrations, Web Scraping, Web Development, Database Management, Version Control, and a bit in the cloud. Neil is someone who enjoys working with data/programs no matter how stressful it can be as he worked with clients both locally and abroad contributing to different companies and causes.