Leadership & Board

Leadership & Staff

Horizons Newark is led by dedicated professionals committed to advancing educational equity in our community. Our team brings diverse expertise in education, social work, and nonprofit management to create transformative experiences for Newark students.

Joanna Carroll, Executive Director

Joanna leads Horizons Newark with passion and vision, overseeing all aspects of programming and operations. Under her leadership, Horizons has expanded its reach and impact throughout Newark, serving 135 students from pre-K through eighth grade with year-round academic and enrichment programming. Joanna works closely with the Board of Directors to advance the organization's mission of providing high-quality, whole-child learning opportunities that help Newark students pursue meaningful, choice-filled lives.

Board of Directors

Our board members bring diverse professional backgrounds and a shared commitment to educational equity. They provide strategic guidance and support to advance our mission of partnering with Newark students, families, and schools.

Joanne Klapper, Chair

Joanne is a marketing executive turned nonprofit leader who chairs the board of Horizons Newark. After graduating cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and earning her MBA from NYU Stern, Joanne built her career at Ogilvy & Mather, where she managed major accounts including MTV. Her transition to nonprofit leadership was inspired by recognizing the disparities in educational opportunities between her own children's experience in Summit, NJ, and those of less privileged communities. As Board Chair since 2014, Joanne has dedicated herself to "leveling the playing field" for Newark's youth through Horizons' programming.

Toacca Rutherford, Vice Chair

Toacca is a technology executive at JPMorgan Chase and Head of Knowledge Management for Machine Learning and Intelligence Operations, driving innovation in customer service. Toacca started her journey on Wall Street after graduating from Rutgers University School of Engineering. Through board service and professional partnerships, Toacca advises Rutgers Business School and collaborates with organizations whose mission is to inspire future STEM leaders. She pursues educational equity as a champion of STEM and swimming programs. A devoted wife and mother of three daughters, Toacca enjoys music, being a dance mom, exploring nature, and traveling with her family.

Kristin Bush, Secretary

Kristin is a marketing and consulting professional whose career path led from environmental consulting at Booz-Allen & Hamilton to brand management at major food companies like Kraft Foods and Nabisco. After earning her BA from the College of William and Mary and MBA from Columbia University, Kristin built her expertise managing iconic brands such as Altoids and Country Time Lemonade. Her commitment to community engagement has manifested through leading school fundraising initiatives and managing successful local political campaigns in Summit, NJ, where she lives with her husband. Inspired by the educational opportunities her own three children received, Kristin now serves on the board of Horizons Newark, working to extend similar advantages to underserved communities.

Suzanne Ben-Menachem, Treasurer

Suzanne is a seasoned bookkeeper with extensive experience managing financial operations for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Previously, Suzanne worked at Standard & Poor's as an Applications Consultant and at Dun and Bradstreet as a Product Manager. Her passion for education and helping those with learning disabilities led her to volunteer with Literacy Foundations and work with ESL programs. For six years, Suzanne has served as treasurer on the Horizons Newark Board, combining her financial expertise with her commitment to educational equity. Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management Information Systems from Syracuse University.

Erica Ajayi, Director

Erica is an educator and real estate investor whose teaching career spans two continents and multiple educational settings. After earning her BBA from Howard University and MA in Mathematics Education from The City College of New York, Erica spent twelve years teaching math and science in public and private schools across New York City and London. Her expertise in virtual learning and classroom instruction informs her current role as a board member of Horizons Newark, where she works to expand educational opportunities for underserved students. Alongside managing real estate investments, Erica dedicates herself to educational equity while raising four children with her husband Michael.

Michael Ajayi, Director

Michael is a financial executive and education equity advocate who serves as Chief Operating Officer of Global Commercial Real Estate at JP Morgan Chase. Following twelve years at Deutsche Bank's real estate bond trading desk, Michael has channeled his financial expertise into community impact through his role on the board of Horizons Newark. Beyond his professional achievements in the financial sector, Michael's commitment to social justice and educational opportunity drives his work to expand access to transformative learning experiences. A devoted family man, he balances his leadership responsibilities with his role as husband and father of four, while maintaining his passions for reading and fitness.

Amy Cairns, Director

Amy is an accomplished public affairs and government relations executive with more than 30 years of experience in policy analysis, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement. With a journalism degree from Temple University, she has cultivated expertise in developing and executing strategic communication initiatives that help shape public perception and advance organizational objectives. Driven by a deep commitment to service in her local Summit NJ community and beyond, Amy is proud to join Horizons Newark and support its mission to empower students and families through education and opportunity.

Elliot Braun, Director

Elliot is a versatile entrepreneur and business leader whose career path has woven through teaching, accounting, and food service distribution. After beginning his professional journey as a CPA at Price Waterhouse, Elliot co-founded Atlantic Beverage Company in 1986, serving as Vice-President and CEO before its recent acquisition by private equity. His entrepreneurial spirit later led him to expand into mortgage and real estate investments through B&B Capital LLC and Sterling Investments LLC. A dedicated family man and active community supporter, Elliot champions causes including education and dyslexia awareness alongside his wife Heather in Summit, New Jersey, where he balances his business ventures with coaching baseball and playing chess with his three sons.

Heather Braun, Director

Heather is a seasoned marketing executive and dedicated community advocate with degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Columbia University. She has spearheaded strategic initiatives for renowned beverage brands such as Saratoga Spring Water Company, Naked Juice, and Vitaminwater, before founding Immersion Marketing. A passionate supporter of education and community service, Heather serves on the Horizons Newark board. Originally from the Midwest, she now resides in Summit, NJ, with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Heather enjoys a love for the outdoors, working as a wilderness first responder and trail steward.

 Serifatu Hughes, Director

Serifatu is a dedicated educator with over two decades of experience transforming lives through arts and education in urban communities. A graduate of the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Serifatu's artistic background influenced her approach to education. After earning degrees from Seton Hall and Columbia University, she has focused her career on creating student-centered opportunities across Newark, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. Her partnerships with institutions like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Newark Public Schools have helped bridge educational gaps in underserved communities.

Melanie Platten, Director

Melanie brings extensive multimedia communications experience from her career at WCVB-TV in Boston as a lifestyle reporter, producer, and television host. She earned her undergraduate degree from George Washington University and her Masters degree in Journalism from Emerson College. Passionate about community empowerment, she joins the Horizons Newark board to support local youth. Melanie resides in Bergen County with her husband and two children, committed to both family and community service.

Philippa (Pippa) Riley, Director

Pippa is a management consultant turned culinary professional whose diverse career reflects her passion for both business and food arts. After graduating from Colgate University, Pippa spent five years at Accenture in New York City before pursuing her culinary dreams at the French Culinary Institute. Her professional experience spans from management consulting to food media, where she worked for Food Arts magazine. Now based in Summit with her husband Brian and their three children, Pippa channels her organizational expertise into community involvement, serving on the PTO board at CPC Nursery School while balancing family life with her varied interests.

Laura Schaffer, Director

Laura is a dedicated community leader and legal professional whose passion for education equity guides her service on multiple nonprofit boards. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill and NYU School of Law, Laura built her career as a real estate attorney before channeling her expertise into community service. Her leadership roles with the Summit Educational Foundation and current position on Horizons Newark's board reflect her commitment to expanding educational opportunities. In her spare time, Laura enjoys pickleball, working on local political campaigns, and playing canasta and bridge.

Our board members volunteer their time and expertise to guide Horizons Newark in fulfilling its mission to advance educational equity by partnering with Newark students, families, and schools.