Board of Directors

Dr. Patrick Clowney works as a manager of IT Systems at the United States Department of Education Federal Student Aid Office, and is the proud parent of two DC Prep students. Prior to his current role, Dr. Clowney served as a Systems Engineer at the National Nuclear Security Administration. He has also worked as Technical Program Manager at Amazon Web Services and as an officer in the United States Air Force. He has held several leadership roles in DCPS to include two-time Chairman of the DCPS Head Start Parents Policy Council, Chairman, McKinley Technology Local School Advisory Team, and as a member of DCPS Chancellor’s Parents Cabinet. Dr. Clowney also serves on Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Service Academy Selection Committee. Dr. Clowney graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Engineering Sciences. He holds master’s degrees from The University of Oklahoma, The George Washington University, Naval War College, and the School of Advanced Air and Space Study at Air War College. He earned his PhD in Systems Engineering from The George Washington University.

Jenny Abramson is the Founder and Managing Partner at Rethink Impact. Prior to that role, she served as CEO and President at LiveSafe. Jenny is a proven executive with roles in the technology, education, and media sectors. Her past successes have ranged from large companies like The Washington Post to start-ups like Personal. In education, Jenny ran the Transformation Management Office for DC Public Schools’ Chancellor Rhee, and was Director of Program Strategy & Development at Teach For America. Jenny received a BA and an MA from Stanford, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Fulbright at The London School of Economics.

Collette Bruce has been involved with DC Prep for over 10 years, serving as Co-Chair of the DC Prep Advisory Board, helping with the DC Prep Back to School Bash, and as a member of the Development Committee. Collette is an active volunteer within Washington, DC, serving or having served on several boards with a focus on education and the arts. Collette has an undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University.

Chevalier “Chevy” Cleaves is the inaugural Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. A four-time CDIO (higher education, industry, government, R&D), Mr. Cleaves is an experienced executive leader skilled in building and influencing coalitions to help further connect the application of diversity and inclusion (D&I) to an organization’s core strategy and goals. Prior to his current role, Mr. Cleaves served as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer for the United States Air Force, the first Global CDO for Boston Scientific, and in a dual role as the Head of Admissions and the first Head of D&I for the Air Force Academy. Mr. Cleaves retired from active duty after a career as an instructor pilot, commander, and air/space/cyber power strategist. He was also the lead T-38 Evaluator Pilot for the B-2 Bomber Initial Cadre selection process. He played a critical role in the response to the September 11 attacks as the lead Checkmate (USAF Air/Space Strategy Division) team chief, commanded a total force flying squadron, and later as a Pentagon Joint Staff division chief. Mr. Cleaves has an MS degree in strategy and planning from the National Defense University, an MA degree in human resource development from Webster University, and a BS degree in basic sciences from the Air Force Academy, and is a Cornell University Certified Diversity Professional/Advanced Practitioner. He is the recipient of multiple awards and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal.

Hadley Cooper is a proud mom of two girls. She has been involved with DC Prep for over 10 years, first helping with the annual benefit, then as a Development Committee member and Advisory Board member. Hadley has an undergraduate degree from Yale.

Lisa M. Cullins, MD is an Attending Physician in the Emotion and Development Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Cullins is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine. As a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Cullins has devoted most of her career to training and education, community psychiatry, and systems of care, in particular, working with children and adolescents in the child welfare system and other underserved populations. Dr. Cullins has had the privilege to be a physician leader and clinician educator in multiple treatment settings ranging from research, academic, tertiary care hospital facilities, and large community mental health systems. Dr. Cullins has been a staunch advocate for quality and access to care for children and families and has been an active participant in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and currently serves on the Presidential Working Group to Promote Equity and Combat Racism.

Terry Eakin is a former President and Chairman of EYA, LLC, a builder of urban “in-fill” housing in the Washington DC area. EYA has built over 5000 homes, was twice selected as America’s Best Builder, and has received over 250 other national and local awards. Prior to founding EYA in 1992, Terry was a Senior Vice President and General Partner for 20 years at The Holladay Group. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 from the DC Metropolitan Area Builder Association. Education reform has long been a passion of Terry’s. He served on the Federal City Council’s Committee on Public Education and as Chairman of the DC Public Charter School Resource Center before becoming the initial DC Prep Board Chair. He has also served on the Board of Sidwell Friends School and The Learning Alliance of Vero Beach, FL among other not for profit Boards. Terry graduated from Sidwell Friends School and Princeton University and received an MBA from Stanford GSB.

Michela English is and education advocate and former President & CEO of Fight For Children, a non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of education for low-income children in Washington, DC. Prior to joining Fight For Children, Michela worked for eight years at Discovery Communications. In the 1990s, Michela served as Senior Vice President of the National Geographic Society, with responsibility for the book division, Traveler magazine, WORLD magazine for children, educational media, and international publishing. She also served as a member of the Society’s Board of Trustees and as Vice Chairman of the Board of the NGS Education Foundation. Throughout her professional life, Michela has held leadership roles in a variety of education, youth-related and other non-profit and corporate initiatives. She holds a BA from Sweet Briar College and a Master of Public and Private Management from the Yale School of Management.

Dan Fine is a consultant and investor focused on early and growth-stage companies. He previously was Chief Operating Officer and EVP of Strategy at Bloomberg BNA, an information solutions provider for the legal, tax, and government affairs markets. Before moving to Washington, DC, he was an investor focused on the technology, media, and telecom industries with roles in London at Mount Kellett Capital Management and in New York at Quadrangle Capital Partners. He has been a board member of multiple companies, both public and private, as well as Paul Public Charter School in Washington, DC, where he served on the Finance and Executive Committees from 2014 to 2021. Dan has a B.A. from Princeton University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently resides in Northeast DC.

Ahmad M. Hajj is a Co-Founder and Principal of Broadwater Capital, a real estate fund focusing on the purchase and re-development of multi-family assets in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Florida. Mr. Hajj co-founded Broadwater Capital in 2010. Currently, Broadwater Capital has ownership in approximately 3000 apartment units and over 20 buildings on the East Coast. In 2014, Mr. Hajj also Co-founded Cornerstone Capital a private real estate finance platform. Cornerstone Capital provides mezzanine and bridge financing for real estate projects in the Washington D.C. metro area. Mr. Hajj is a native of Baltimore and a graduate of the McDonogh School, where he was a Rollins-Luetkemeyer Scholar. Mr. Hajj attended Georgetown University and George Washington University where he graduated with a B.S. in International Economics. Mr. Hajj went on to graduate Columbia Law School in 2003, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. From 2003-2010, Mr. Hajj practiced law in Washington, DC at Arnold & Porter, LLP. His practice focused on Banking and Securities regulation. Mr. Hajj is currently a member of the Real Estate and Finance Committee of DC Prep. Mr. Hajj also co-chaired the Auction Committee for the 2015 American Heart Association Annual Heart Ball. Mr. Hajj is a member of the Economic Club of Washington. Mr. Hajj lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.

As a U.S. Federal Government Training Coordinator, Ms. Hunt succeeds in making high-level decisions for federal acquisition developments. This process is inclusive of learning and development solutions, plans, policies and financial considerations in support of federal employees’ career growth track. Ms. Hunt also thrives in providing robust analytical feedback regarding the progress and advancement of employees. With over 15 years of leadership service, she enjoys challenges that exercises her problem resolution capabilities. Prior to her current role, she served as a Logistics Officer and a Special Assistant to Executive Leaders. Before joining the U.S. Federal Government, she worked as an Administrative Assistant for Booz Allen Hamilton and Travel Coordinator for the Department of Energy (DOE). She also excelled and made tremendous impact in the following roles: Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, Training Program Manager, and Facilitator for The Naval Intelligence Activity (NIA), Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity & Inclusion (EEODI). As a result of her unwavering commitment to excellence, Temica has received several Exceptional Performance Awards and recognition for Excellence in Customer Support. She has served as a valuable member on the employee council, management advisory board, recruitment and retention, and Diversity in Leadership Study (DLS) focused on implementation efforts for an inclusive environment.

Mercedes Kearney is a native Washingtonian and a proud mom of five, two who are DC Prep students, both of whom are Benning Middle Campus Preppies. Mercedes has been a supporter and fan of DC Prep since first reading their test scores when searching for a school for her then 3 year-old. Mercedes has over 28 years of government, private sector, and non-profit experience. Mercedes is also the owner of MASsiveworks, LLC, a designed apparel and home décor company as well as photography. Mercedes has experience in human resources, creative arts, and administration.

Emily Lawson founded DC Prep in 2002 and led the growth of the organization from a single middle school to the highest-performing Charter Management Organization in the nation’s capital — today serving 1,900 students in preschool through 8th grade on five campuses. Emily’s work at DC Prep has been featured in The Washington Post and on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and has attracted the support of major national foundations focused on public education reform. In 2007, Emily completed the Broad Foundation’s Associate Residency in Urban Education. Prior to founding DC Prep, Emily worked for Victory Schools, a charter school management company in New York, as well as Academy of the Pacific Rim, a nationally-recognized charter school in Boston. Emily holds an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School and an MPA, with a focus on education, from the Kennedy School of Government. Her business career includes three years at The Boston Consulting Group and two years at the New York private equity firm, New Mountain Capital. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina where she was a Morehead Scholar. She is a native Washingtonian.

Ms. Pamela Steptoe has over 25 years of experience with IT program management leadership, managing large IT programs in the federal sector.  Ms. Steptoe is a dynamic communicator and results-driven problem solver proficient at executing strategic and operational plans in areas including innovative IT solutions, enterprise training management programs, and healthcare technical systems development, testing, deployment, and integration within and between government agencies. Ms. Steptoe has managed development, deployment, and sustainment in support of DoD enterprise systems.  She has also facilitated inter-agency technical project teams to achieve consensus on technical system and IT functional requirements, development, preliminary design testing, integration, and deployment. Ms. Steptoe has led joint DoD/VA functional and technical teams though requirements identification, validation, development, test and successful deployment of 4 agency level web-based learning portals to support warriors, family members and healthcare providers, utilizing open source technologies and Agile methods to control overall development costs and accelerate delivery of milestone events.

Lt. Colonel Sterling R. Thomas is the Program Manager of the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region XI (Washington, DC, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina). Lt. Colonel Sterling R. Thomas works for the Federal government assisting a senior leadership team to enforce the Federal civil rights laws. On 30 September 2020, he retired from the US Air Force at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Secretary of Defense presented Lieutenant Colonel Thomas with the Defense Superior Service Medal, the highest non-combat medal awarded by the Secretary of Defense, for his work defending the Rule of Law and the US Constitution before the Guantanamo Military Commissions and his worldwide investigation of torture and human rights violations by government agencies. Sterling has significant experience on the national and international stage. He has addressed the United Nations on legal injustices and the impact of torture on the litigation at Guantanamo Bay, briefed European Union representatives, provided testimony to Commissions on the Investigation of Torture, and lectured at universities, as well as legal and human rights organizations throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He has extensive courtroom litigation experience as a Prosecutor and Defense Attorney and significant Civil litigation hours. He has appeared in the District and Superior courts of North Carolina, nearly 100 military courts-martial, US federal district courts and military commissions. Sterling is married to Dr. Joneis Thomas. They have two children, Logan McKinley Thomas (13 years old) and John Jackson Thomas (11 years old). Sterling received a Bachelor of Arts in English and African-American Studies from the University of North Carolina. He also holds a Master of Laws in Environmental Law from The George Washington University School of Law.