Who we are

Meet the educators, facilitators, and organizers who show up for students every week.

Staff

  • Debra Giunta is the founder and executive director of Prismatic. With 15+ years of experience and leadership across multiple educational ventures, she works to create inclusive learning environments that support students' mental and emotional well-being. Through Prismatic, Debra aims to transform education by empowering students to thrive both academically and emotionally.

  • A native Chicagoan and dedicated youth development professional, GiGi brings her expertise in youth development and social-emotional learning to create transformative experiences for young people across the city.

    As Program Coordinator at Prismatic, GiGi designs and implements culturally responsive programming that bridges creative expression with essential life skills development. Her innovative approach to youth development is shaped by her deep understanding of the diverse experiences and needs of Chicago's young people, particularly those from traditionally underserved communities.

    Drawing from her background as both an artist and educator over the past 5 years, GiGi has developed a unique methodology that combines arts-based learning with social-emotional skill building. Her programming creates safe, empowering spaces where young people can explore their creativity while developing crucial leadership and interpersonal skills.

  • Kal is a multidisciplinary artist and educator who brings energy and heart to every stage, page, and classroom they enter. With roots in Second City, iO, and Playmakers Laboratory, Kal weaves together creative writing, music, and comedy to spark imagination and amplify young voices.

    Passionate about helping young writers tell their own stories, Kal curates spaces where creativity, curiosity, and collaboration thrive. Their work is deeply inspired by the ways we connect—with each other and with the earth.

    Kal believes that everyone holds three essential stories: one they need to tell, one they need to hear, and one they need to live.

  • Mahder is a results-driven professional with a background in Computer Science and nearly four years of experience in account and project management. Specializing in Agile methodologies, Mahder thrives on improving processes, fostering collaboration, and delivering tailored solutions. 

    Through administrative coordination, data management and communications, she supports Prismatic's core operations to deliver impactful programs for students, school partners and donors.

    Outside of work, Mahder enjoys reading and exploring new activities, always eager to learn and grow.

  • Graduating with a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside, Kevin is a California-born, Chicago-based Program Leader, Digital Strategist, and writer. He’s spent over a decade leading and scaling youth-focused learning and development programs. He loves building systems that work — whether that’s optimizing operations, training teams, or simply helping others grow in ways that matter to them.

    As the new Community Engagement Coordinator at Prismatic, Kevin comes to the role having worked with both grassroots and global nonprofit organizations like the Raspberry Pi Foundation, InnovateEDU, and Bring Change 2 Mind. Along the way, he's honed his skills in designing impactful training, managing cross-functional projects, and using data to make programs better and more inclusive.

    At the heart of it, Kevin is passionate about empowering communities — through strategic initiatives, storytelling that helps people take action, creative problem-solving, and sometimes just by being someone’s loudest cheerleader.

Board

  • Miraj Chokshi found his passion in building startups and has become an experienced product and strategy professional in the healthcare technology industry. From creating a telemedicine company that cares for hundreds of thousands of people annually to companies that use technology to promote wellness, Miraj enjoys creating solutions to people's daily problems. 

    Now serving as Chief Product Officer at Carallel, dedicated to empowering families to help a loved one due to aging, illness, or disability so they confidently manage caregiving challenges. His commitment to creating innovative solutions that address real-world healthcare problems ensures that caregivers and their loved ones receive effective care and support.

  • Michelle Humes recently started her own business to provide consulting services for organizations who need to strengthen their leadership pipeline. Michelle retired as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Lake Forest Graduate School’s Center for Leadership.  Michelle also worked at Harvard Business School Publishing as an Associate Director of the Global Learning Solutions team managing clients in North and South America.  In that role, Michelle provided best practices in management and leadership develop with a wide range of Fortune 500 and Global 1,000 clients.  Her goal is to architect leadership development solutions which align to the organization’s objectives and outcomes.

    Michelle started her career as a Consultant at Andersen Consulting and Alaris Consulting (now part of PwC).   She found her passion on projects as a Change Management expert and made the transition into corporate Learning and Development.  Michelle led Learning and Development efforts at TransUnion for five years prior to joining Harvard Business Publishing. 

    Michelle received her Bachelors of Science in Business with an emphasis in Accounting from Miami University of Ohio.  Michelle also holds a Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Finance from Loyola University of Chicago.  She speaks English, German and Spanish.

  • Carlos was born in Venezuela. His father is from Spain and his mother is of Ukrainian descent. He moved to the US when he was 16 to try his luck at professional tennis. He played pro for a couple of years and then decided to go to college with a tennis scholarship. He graduated with a double degree in finance and economics from Florida Atlantic University. He also has an MBA from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. He currently works for a startup based out of the San Francisco as a Director of Finance. He is married and they have a cat. He and his spouse both love to travel, so they try to do it as often as we can. He is super excited to join us as a board member for Prismatic.

  • Jeremy Kling is a Principal and CPA at Baker Tilly, one of the largest global accounting and advisory firms. Headquartered in the United States, Baker Tilly ranks as the sixth-largest CPA and advisory firm nationally.

    Based in Chicago, Jeremy leads a team specializing in audit and advisory services for technology and professional services companies. He has deep expertise in working with private equity and venture capital-backed startups and growth-stage businesses, helping them navigate complex financial and operational challenges.

    Jeremy earned both his Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

    He lives on the Northwest Side of Chicago with his wife and daughter. Outside of work, Jeremy is passionate about health and fitness, and is an avid tattoo collector, with a particular appreciation for American traditional tattoo art.

  • Ben Sanders is currently the Head of U.S. Talent Acquisition for a global consulting firm and he has worked in the recruiting industry for 15+ years. He is a long-time golfer, volleyball player, and has recently gotten way too into cooking on the grill.

  • Debbie received her Bachelor of Arts in Bacteriology and Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology from University of California, Davis.  Debbie joined Nature’s Fynd in September 2021. Prior to her current role she was with Novo Nordisk Biotech /Novozymes for 28 years.   She has expertise in engineering microorganisms for protein and chemical production as well as whole microbe products using synthetic biology and classic approaches like mutagenesis and screening.   Debbie has knowledge of scaling microbes from lab to production and the use of beneficial microbes in applications. She was Managing Director of Novozymes’ site in California as well as Director of Production Strain Technology.    In this role she scouted for both new technology and business opportunities as well as participated in strategic planning and business portfolio management. Debbie has negotiated and managed external collaborations with both companies as well as university laboratories.  She is an inventor on > 40 issued patents and author on > 20 peer reviewed publications. She also serves on a few advisory boards.  Debbie taught for over 15 years a graduate level seminar on industrial biotechnology at University of California, Davis.  She is an active member of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) serving on the Board of Directors and most recently as President and Past President.  She is also on several advisory boards including the Vestaron Scientific Advisory Board. In 2014, she received the first Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology from Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).  In 2018, she was recognized regionally with the Sacramento Business Journal with a Women Who Mean Business Honor.

  • During her tenure with Harvard Business Publishing, Ellen Bailey has occupied various roles and currently holds the position of Vice President of Business and Culture Transformation. Ellen spearheaded the development and implementation of the inaugural Diversity & Inclusion strategy, setting the vision and goals for the organization, leads the organizations strategic planning and continues to propel employee engagement and drive business outcomes by acting as a catalyst for cultivating, and delivering optimal practices and resources to foster performance improvement and an inclusive culture.

    In addition to her responsibilities at HBP, Ellen is the founder of The Bailey Difference, where she assists leaders beyond HBP in advancing sustainable results through the adoption of best practices.

    Ellen's commitment to leadership extends to her roles as the Executive Facilitator for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Faculty for the McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Program, and as an Expert for the Kaplan Financial Education Program, among others. She frequently shares her expertise through expert briefs and blog posts on subjects such as D&I, managing a multigenerational workforce, and preparing for the future of work. Ellen is also a sought-after contributor and speaker in podcasts and webinars.

  • Michael is a Senior Vice President - Associate Portfolio Manager on the Non-Investment Grade team at Neuberger Berman. Michael earned a BBA from Marquette University, an MBA from Boston College, completed the Chief Financial Officer program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and has also been awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He lives in Chicago with his wife and three children, and he is an avid Buffalo Bills and Marquette basketball fan.

  • Shawn is a Talent Acquisition leader with close to 20 years of experience in various industries. Currently the Director of Talent Acquisition at Vi Living, he and his company have been proud supporters of Prismatic and its mission over the past few years as they recently sponsored the Cultivate Conference. Shawn loves the outdoors, art, traveling and his two cats, Hazel & Mitchell.

  • Dave serves as Chief Operating Officer at Aon Investments USA Inc., a division of Aon plc dedicated to investment management and solutions. Since joining Aon in 2008, Dave has been instrumental in overseeing daily operations and spearheading strategic initiatives that drive the company's growth and innovation. His leadership extends to managing the Governance Solutions product suite, which encompasses Operational Risk Solutions and Analytics, Fiduciary Services, and Custody Advisory Solutions.

    In addition to his operational responsibilities, Dave plays a pivotal role in governance and leadership. He is a key member of several oversight committees, including:

    U.S. Investment Executive Committee

    U.S. Error Committee

    Chair of the U.S. Investment Operating Committee

    With a wealth of expertise, Dave is committed to delivering exceptional ideas and innovative solutions to clients, ensuring they benefit from world-class investment strategies and services.

    As of December 31, 2025, Aon Investments manages $150.9 billion in discretionary assets within the U.S.

  • Leslie Owens was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Her passion for learning and reading began at a young age and eventually led to a career in education. Leslie attended the University of Michigan and received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and then obtained a Specialist Degree in School Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy. Her first School Psychology position was in a large school district in Michigan before moving to Illinois so her husband could complete his medical residency. Since the move to Illinois in 2006, Leslie has been a faculty member at Lyons Township High School and has served the district in a variety of leadership roles within Special Education and Student Services and is currently the District Director of Student Services. Leslie completed her PhD in Educational Leadership in 2022 from the Concordia University Chicago. Personally, Leslie is married and has two children (Emma, age 15 and Henry, age 12) and golden retreiver named Birdie. Reading continues to be a passion along with spending time outdoors, traveling, and attending the variety of youth sporting events in which her children participate.

  • Sean Smith is a marketing professional with experience in sales, account management and strategy. His clients have included brands, agencies and publishers across multiple categories and KPIs in programmatic and managed services.

Associate Board

  • Vinnie Barone was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and loves building connections with people wherever he goes. He loves staying active, traveling, and fully leans into his passion for all things tropical (owning more Hawaiian shirts than any reasonable Midwesterner probably should).  He currently works as an Investment Manager at Aaron Wealth Advisors, a shared family office located in Chicago.

    Vinnie is extremely outgoing and personable, and is super excited to be part of an organization that helps students develop those same qualities. He looks forward to contributing to Prismatic's growth and impact on the community.

  • I am a builder and a researcher. I believe that change happens through creating a shared vision yet manifesting it through 'the little things'. I've come to learn that my superpower is my ability to ask great questions--sometimes they make people feel seen and known and sometimes they allow for clarity on reaching a 'yes' or 'no' in the endless spiral of a drawn-out sales conversation.

    Growing up in a rural community on a farm gave me an innate curiosity about people and systems along with a gritty work ethic that enjoys tinkering and finishing the job.

    From going to a university 13x the size of my hometown to starting my career in tech sales in San Francisco, I have found myself in places where I felt like I didn't belong yet found ways to meaningfully contribute through my strengths--executing and asking good questions. This mentality, along with my passion for helping girls become dreamers and builders, enabled me to start a national nonprofit that has educated thousands of girls in STEM across the United States.

    I had always cared most about concrete results until I attended IIT's Institute of Design, where I realized what's unseen (culture, experience, values & motivations) is just as important, if not more important than, what's tangible when it comes to "success" for an individual, team, company, or community.

    As a human-centered research and service designer, I uncover motivations and behaviors that inform future concepts as well as orchestrate the people, processes, and technology to implement these experiences.

    When I'm not working, I enjoy exploring new Chicago neighborhoods & fitness classes, cooking & baking, reading, and crafting.

  • Sunny is an Associate at Oliver Wyman’s Health and Life Practice where she works with a range of healthcare clients (hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical and biotech companies) on strategic and mission driven projects aimed to improve healthcare outcomes across the country. Originally hailing from Cleveland, OH and is glad to be back to her Midwestern roots! In her free time Sunny loves to read, take her goldendoodle Rani on long walks and hikes, and make her way through Chicago’s impressive food scene.


  • Catalina Delgado, a proud University of Illinois alumna, is an Account Executive at the renowned Leo Burnett agency in Chicago. As a first-generation Mexican-American, she brings her cultural perspective and multilingual skills to develop impactful communications in English, Spanish, and Portuguese for major global brands such as KFC, Bridgestone, and Firestone.

    Beyond her work in advertising, Catalina is passionate about music, dance, and supporting the Chicago creative community. She serves as the Production Manager for Urbanite, an international dance showcase where she combines her love for the arts with her professional expertise to help elevate diverse talent and storytelling.

  • Jaclyn is an Early Careers Recruiter for Publicis Media. In her role, she interviews candidates for internships and full-time roles at the organization. She also enjoys giving back to the community, and volunteering. In her free time, Jaclyn likes to hang out with her friends, go on walks, create are, and watch reality TV!

  • Halie received her Bachelor of Science in Health and Public Affairs from The University of Central Florida and has dedicated most of her professional time working hand and hand with hospitals, putting effort toward improving patient outcomes and achieving greater efficiencies. 

    Before relocating to Chicago, she spent time volunteering as a youth soccer coach, interning at NextStep Paralysis Recovery Center, and worked with underprivileged communities through Junior Achievement. 

    While visiting Chicago for the first time at 16, she decided that somehow, some way, she would make it here. Through remaining dedicated, goal oriented, and stern on reaching greater heights despite obstacles, she was finally able to reach her goal in December of 2020. 

    At Prismatic, she hopes to have a hand in opening meaningful doors for others, empower others to see their true capabilities, and encourage others to stand firm in their dreams.

  • Thomas Detillion is a strategic operations professional with expertise in building growth through relationship management and IT delivery. In his free time, Thomas enjoys outdoor recreation, volunteering, and Chicago sports.

  • Will grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and now lives in Chicago. He moved there in 2022. Will loves being outside, especially in the summer. His favorite place is by the lake, or anywhere with water!

    Will is the youngest of four kids—he has two brothers and one sister. When he was younger, he played lots of sports like basketball, tennis, baseball, and swimming.

    Every morning, Will goes on a walk with his coffee to help him start the day with a clear mind before he begins work. He also enjoys working out, spending time in nature, and cooking.