Our Staff
Gregory Chery
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Gregory Chery serves as Minds Matter Boston’s Executive Director. A native of Haiti, Gregory has dedicated his career to furthering educational equity. He brings over a decade of experience in higher education, most recently as the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Dartmouth College and the President of the Northeast Consortium Bridging Access to College. Gregory began his career in undergraduate admissions at his alma mater, Centre College. After five years, Gregory transitioned to student affairs serving as the Director of the Bonner Scholars Program, which provides diverse and low-income students with access to education and an opportunity to serve. After Centre, Gregory served as the Associate Dean of Multicultural Recruitment at Providence College, overseeing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr Scholarship. A first-generation college student and Boston Public Schools alumnus, Gregory returns home to Boston and brings a deep personal connection to MMB’s mission. He received his M.Ed. in Higher Education from Providence College and his BA in Philosophy from Centre College.
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Lindsey Alves
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Lindsey serves as Minds Matter Boston’s Senior Director of Programs. Her career is rooted in being an educator, both as a bilingual high teacher and as a school leader bringing experience and passion to work in curriculum writing, culture building, and program design. She has served students and families in Zacatecas, Mexico, Lynn, MA, and Denver, CO. She returned home to the Boston area to support MMB’s work to build a sustainable, intentional, and culturally responsive program for and with our communities. She received her M.Ed from Boston University with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction and her BA from the University of Richmond where she majored in Sociology and Spanish.
John Morytko
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John Morytko serves as Minds Matter Boston’s Director of Development. His career has been rooted in the education nonprofit sector, with experience at BUILD, Citizen Schools, and Pencils of Promise, where he supported initiatives designed to help young people thrive academically and beyond. Most recently, John served as Director of Institutional Giving at Bottom Line, partnering with foundations and corporations to advance college access and success for students from under-resourced backgrounds.
John earned his undergraduate degree from Xavier University and holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Northeastern University. He is driven by a belief that every student deserves access to opportunity and is committed to advancing work that creates more equitable pathways to success.
Yanille Baez
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Yanille Baez serves as the Associate Director of College and Career Success at Minds Matter Boston. Originally from Lawrence, Massachusetts, Yanille draws deep inspiration from her immigrant parents’ sacrifices to provide her with a quality education, which fuels her passion for promoting educational equity. As a first-generation college graduate, she is committed to expanding access and fostering success in low-income communities. Prior to joining Minds Matter, Yanille forged impactful partnerships in education and corporate sectors at Junior Achievement of Greater Boston, where she led initiatives like the JA Summer Institute to empower students in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Beyond the non-profit sector, Yanille spent five years at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business as an academic advisor and instructor, specializing in courses integrating career exploration, financial education, and cultural awareness. Her professional path also encompasses teaching in K-12 education and an enriching experience as an English Teaching Assistant in Madrid, Spain. She holds an Ed.M. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from Boston University and a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross.
MaeAnna Edwards
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MaeAnna Edwards (she/her) serves as Minds Matter Boston's Associate Director of College Access. A New York Native transplanted to New Hampshire, MaeAnna ("May" like the month, "Anna" like Elsa's sister), has over a decade of experience in college access work - through her own experiences and working with thousands of students and families in the Northeast. An AmeriCorps alumna, she served two years at Dartmouth College, serving as VISTA Leader in her second term. In 2015, MaeAnna graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology, minor in Psychology, and concentrations in Social Work and Criminology. Five years later, MaeAnna earned her Masters of Science in Education at the University of Pennsylvania in Education, Culture, and Society with a concentration in Community Action and Social Change. During her time at Penn, MaeAnna's research was focused on the intersection where Black males, student-athletes, meritocracy, and college access/admissions meet. MaeAnna loves meaningful conversations, avocado toast, her 100+ houseplants, and one of a kind Irish (or Scottish) Terrier, Tucker.
Alex Barbat
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Alex Barbat serves as Minds Matter Boston's Development Manager. Originally from Florida, Alex moved to Massachusetts in 2021 and quickly decided to stay. A first-generation student herself, Alex studied Political Science at New College of Florida, where she found her passion for community building and advocacy. Previously at the Kendall Square Association, Alex fostered connection between leading life-sciences organizations and local nonprofits, inspiring her career in nonprofit development. She joined the Community Action Agency of Somerville, helping to establish their development and communications to fund advocacy for housing access and early education programs. Currently Co-Chair of the Somerville Commission for Women, Alex is dedicated to lowering barriers to financial success for students and families.
Rhea Bennett
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Rhea Bennett serves as Minds Matter Boston’s Manager of Volunteers. As a native of the Greater Boston area, she started working in college admissions as a student recruitment coordinator in Harvard University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office during her undergraduate tenure at Harvard where she received a B.A. in Anthropology. Rhea is a proud AmeriCorps alum, beginning her professional career as a College and Career Advisor in the Boston Public School system through the College Advising Corps at Boston University. Most recently she served as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Clark University for three years. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, ensuring that students from historically underrepresented backgrounds are supported through the college process.
Katrina Carter
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Katrina Carter (she/her) serves as Minds Matter Boston’s College Access Program Manager for our 12th grade programing. Originally from Oregon, Katrina now considers Boston home after moving to serve with City Year Boston as a Student Success Coach and then Team Leader in Boston Public Schools. She then worked at uAspire, a non-profit organization focused on increasing access to financial aid and postsecondary pathways for underrepresented students as a College Affordability Advisor. There she supported high school seniors in Boston Public Schools and their families through the financial aid process, motivated by her own experience with the barriers and challenges of navigating this as a low-income student. She is excited to join the MMB team to continue working with and supporting Boston students. Katrina graduated from Willamette University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
Lordania Lopez
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Lordania Lopez is a proud first-generation college graduate, born and raised in Boston, with a deep commitment to education, equity, and public service. As a Latina and daughter of immigrant parents, she often served as the bridge for her family—interpreting conversations, navigating documents, and helping them access opportunities. These early experiences shaped her passion for supporting others and inspired her to pursue work that uplifts underrepresented communities. She earned her B.A. in Political Science, an M.A. in Public Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy, all from the University of Massachusetts Boston. While this is her first role working directly with students, she brings extensive experience working with people and communities across diverse settings. She is eager to guide and empower young people—especially those who share her background and experiences—to reach their goals, unlock their potential, and succeed.
Magnoly Maria
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Magnoly serves as Minds Matter Boston’s College & Career Success Manager. A native of Lawrence, Massachusetts, her experiences as a first-generation low-income college student have inspired her passion for accessibility in higher education. Prior to joining the MMB team, Magnoly sat on admission teams at Merrimack College, Wheaton College, and most recently Providence College, where she worked to empower students on the path to college success. She received a B.S. in Business Management & Finance from Providence College in 2019 and M. Ed. in Higher Education, Student Affairs from Merrimack College in 2020.
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Alexander Torres Morales
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Alexander serves as Minds Matter Boston’s College Access Program Manager for the 10th and 11th grade programs. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Alex moved to Massachusetts to study theater and communications. Upon graduating in 2022, he started working in the admission office at American International College, his alma mater. There he developed a passion for college access work, which he carried over to his work at Providence College’s admission office as a Senior Admission Counselor. A first-generation student himself, his work at AIC and PC focused on college access opportunities, event programing, and recruitment. Now, he’s excited to continue bridging the gap to higher education as part of MMB’s team while also volunteering at organizations like the Northeast Consortium Bridging Access to College and New England Association of College Admission Counseling. Alex is fluent in Spanish and English and is always happy to connect with Spanish-speaking students and their families.