Strive Staff
Michael J. Carter - President, Founder and CEO
As President, Founder and CEO, Michael sets the vision for the Strive for College Collaborative. He oversees all parts of the Collaborative and serves on the Board of Directors.
Michael J. Carter is sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, where he is an Annika Rodriguez Scholar. He majors in history and is a member of the Praxis Program, and has been a consistent member of the Dean's List. Michael's dedication to volunteerism stems from his childhood, when he would volunteer with his mother at Sacred Heart Community Center in San Jose, helping to distribute food. In high school, Michael was a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) camp counselor, cabin leader, recruiter, and later a fundraising and marketing intern; he also worked as a camp counselor for at-risk middle school youth and served as a homework center mentor.
During his freshman year in college, Michael created and founded the Strive for College model through the Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program, later creating a second chapter with the Lock and Chain Sophomore Honorary, of which he is a member. Michael has interned at Breakthrough Collaborative and with QuestBridge, where he created a College Counseling Manual and traveled to Rice University, Stanford University and Pomona College to assist in college prep conferences. Currently, Michael counsels five QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship recipients, as well as five students through Strive for College at Washington University. Michael has won numerous awards for his commitment to social change, including: the Best Buy Children's Foundation Scholarship for exemplary service to the community; Muscular Dystrophy Association Most Valuable Camp Counselor; MDA Volunteer of the Quarter; Optimist International Service Award.
Christopher K. Sopher - Founding Vice President & Director of Public Relations and Fundraising
As Founding Vice President and Director of PR and Fundraising, Christopher directs public relations, fundraising, marketing and media efforts for the Collaborative.
Christopher K. Sopher is a sophomore Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Political Science and Public Policy Analysis. Christopher brings a wide range of communications and policy skills to the Collaborative. He comes from a background in journalism and political communications, especially in writing and new media.
From 2006 to September 2007 he served as the Multimedia Editor of UNC's daily student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, which was recently ranked #1 by the Princeton Review. In 2006 Christopher was named the Al Neuharth National Free Spirit Scholar of the Year, an award and scholarship given by the Freedom Forum to one outstanding male and one outstanding female student journalist every year. In 2006 he was named runner-up for the Journalism Education Association's National Student Journalist of the Year, and was named Virginia Student Journalist of the Year by both the Journalism Education Association and the Virginia High School League. Christopher has a wide range of public speaking experience, including a speech to the Freedom Forum in 2007 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He has received two National Gold Key awards from the JEA for his opinion writing, and is currently authoring a book on young people and the media.
Ryan Winograd - Founding Vice President & Director of Operations
As Director of Operations, Ryan oversees the development, implementation and operation of all Strive chapters. He also directs the production and operation of the Strive for College website and database, Strive Online.
Ryan Winograd is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, pursuing a major in political science and minors in computer science and economics. He is a member of the Praxis Program and a consistent member of the Dean's List. Ryan worked with a team of programmers for McVaugh Homes in the creation of their online management software and led his own team when he was contracted by Judwin Properties to build their management software. These two jobs, combined with several projects that he has taken on in his own time as both a means of enjoyment and helping others, have provided Ryan with ample experience to lead a team of five Washington University computer science students in the creation of the Collaborative's own online management system.
Ryan gained experience as a volunteer employee for Houston's Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). As an HCD volunteer, Ryan provided the framework for a Housing Assistance Program procedures manual, performed a market analysis for the Mayor's Office, and worked closely with the Houston Fire Department's Senior Inspector in the creation of a proposed Houston City Council habitability ordinance.
Regis Murayi - Co-Chief Financial Officer
As Co-Chief Financial Officer, Regis works with Neehar Garg to manage Strive for College Collaborative's finances and financial operation. He oversees financial accountability, spending and expense management, financial sustainability, and accounting in conjunction with Strive for College's pro-bono accounting firm, Kiefer & Bonfanti & Co. LLP.
Neehar Garg - Co-Chief Financial Officer
As Co-Chief Financial Officer, Neehar works with Regis Murayi to manage Strive for College Collaborative's finances and financial operation. He oversees financial accountability, spending and expense management, financial sustainability, and accounting in conjunction with Strive for College's pro-bono accounting firm, Kiefer & Bonfanti & Co. LLP.
Christine Roberts - Deputy Director of Public Relations and Fundraising
As Deputy Director of Public Relations and Fundraising, Christine works with Christopher Sopher on public relations, marketing and fundraising for Strive for College Collaborative.
Scott Friedman - Director of Curriculum
As Director of Curriculum, Scott works with a dedicated team of professional guidance conselours and college admissions experts, who serve on the Collaborative's Board of Advisors, to build a comprehensive and effective national curriculum that can be distributed to and used by mentors across the country.
Scott Friedman is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, pursuing majors in French and Political Science and a minor in Arabic. As an entering freshman, Scott was named a John B. Ervin Scholar, a program that recognizes outstanding high school students for their achievement and commitment to academics, community service, diversity, and leadership. Selected as a member of Washington University's sophomore honorary, Lock and Chain, Scott currently counsels high school students through the Strive chapter there. In addition to his role as a Strive for College Collaborative mentor, Scott participates in service projects with the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and is involved with the Latino Empowerment Team, a student group focused on presenting college as a viable option to all students, especially Latinos.
As a freshman, Scott assisted with the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse research project. The Clearinghouse maintains the content of an online Web site for policymakers, scholars, and the general public to learn more about civil rights cases. This semester-long experience prepared him with the necessary critical thinking, research, and writing skills to lead our curriculum efforts. Finally, Scott serves as the Missouri representative on the National Youth Council of the U.S. Public Service Academy. In this endeavor, Scott promotes the creation of this national university, one designed to develop leaders dedicated to public service.
Caitlin Astrue - Assistant Director of Curriculum
As Assistant Director of Curriculum, Caitlin works with Scott Freidman to develop and synthesize the Strive for College program.
Caitlin Astrue is a sophomore at Washington University in St Louis. She is pursuing majors in Anthropology and American Culture Studies, with a focus on history and education.
A Girl Scout for thirteen years, Caitlin’s commitment to service in college started first as a participant and then as a counselor of the service pre-orientation program Leadership Through Service, which introduces freshmen to St. Louis and service opportunities in St. Louis. Caitlin has interned with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, where she worked on the Roots of Virginia program, and with Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey's office. She has worked as tutor at Hamilton eMints Academy through the Each One Teach One program since October 2006. In addition, Caitlin works actively in the national-service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and currently serves as the Vice President of Fundraising.
Will Wan - Director of Design
Coming Soon.
