Kazeem Adediran
Jorge Alvarez High School
Kazeem Adediran, a former Crusader, graduated from Hope High School in 2004. He then attended Rhode Island College, where he earned a B.A. in Communications in 2011. Prior to joining The College Crusade, Kazeem worked as Program Coordinator/Direct Care Staff at Turning the Corner in Providence.

Nazeli Avagyan
Mobile Advisor for High School
Nazeli Avagyan, originally from Armenia, graduated from Cranston High School East in 2004. She attended Rhode Island College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2008 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Public Administration. Nazeli then went on to earn an M.A. in International Relations from the University of San Diego in 2011.

Melanie Borges
Times2 Academy
Nathan Bishop Middle School
Melanie Borges graduated from East Providence High School in 2006. She earned a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island in 2011. Before joining The College Crusade, Melanie served as Assistant Programs Manager and Childcare Supervisor at the Southside Boys & Girls Club and was a Camp Counselor for the City of East Providence.

Jamie Bucknell
Charles E. Shea High School
Jamie Bucknell graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School, in Syracuse, New York, in 2005. He graduated from Brown University in 2009 with a B.A. in History. Before joining the College Crusade Jamie taught at Providence Summerbridge and worked in the Boston Public Schools.

Tempestt Burrell
E-Cubed Academy
William M. Davies Jr. Career Tech High
Tempestt Burrell, a former Crusader, graduated from Woonsocket High School in 2005. She then attended St. John’s University, graduating in 2009 with a B.A. in Public Administration and a minor in Philosophy of Law.

Eric Calogianes
Classical High School
Eric Calogianes graduated from Mesquite High School, in Arizona, in 2003. In 2008 he received a B.A. in English from SUNY Stony Brook and moved to Rhode Island, where he became active within Providence’s public schools. Prior to joining The College Crusade, Eric served two terms as a City Year corps member.

James Diossa
Woonsocket Middle School
James Diossa, a former Crusader, graduated from Central Falls High School in 2003. He then attended Becker College, earning a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2009. Before joining the Crusade, James worked in customer service for CVS Corporation.

Jennifer Erilus
Paul Cuffee High School
Providence Career & Technical Academy
Jennifer graduated from St. Mary Academy Bay View in 2006. She attended Bryant University for two years and then transferred to Rhode Island College, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology in 2011. Prior to joining the Crusade, Jennifer worked as a Residential Caseworker at the Key Program.

Thomas Evans
Tolman High School
Blackstone Academy
Thomas Evans, a former Crusader, graduated from Central Falls High School in 2005. He earned a B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island in 2011. Thomas has worked for the Crusade as an instructor in our Ways to A’s and Saturday Cru Club programs. He has also been a Residential Case Worker for the Key Program, and he runs his own martial arts business.

David Miya
Nathanael Greene Middle School

David Miya, a former Crusader, graduated from Classical High School in 2006. He then earned a B.S. in General Business Management from Rhode Island College in 2010. Prior to joining our Advisory staff, David worked as an instructor in our Ways to A’s and Saturday Cru Club programs.

Robert Perry
Juanita Sanchez Complex
Textron Chamber of Commerce Academy
Robert Perry graduated from East Providence High School in 2007. He then attended Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., where he earned a B.A. in American History with a minor in English in 2011.

Jenniffer Rivera
Joseph Jenks Junior High School
Samuel Slater Junior High School
Jenniffer graduated from Central High School and then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 2004. She has worked as a Youth Camp Counselor and an Afterschool Program Assistant.

Ralph, a former Crusader, graduated from Central High School in 2003. He attended the University of Rhode Island, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Textile, Merchandising & Design in 2007. Ralph has served as an intern at the McGrath Judicial Complex Adult Parole and Probation Department. Previously he worked for the Crusade as an instructor in the Ways to A’s summer study-skills program.