Staff

CI Executive Director, Michael Carey, has been working with the program since its founding. He facilitated the design of a pilot peer mentoring program for CI. He also helped to design and implement the college preparation program, including providing direct instruction in reading and establishing the volunteer tutor component. He is responsible for the development and management of all CI programs. He holds a BA with a dual major in Philosophy and Fine Arts from the University of Sydney in Australia and a MA in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research. Prior to joining CI, Michael worked in publishing in Australia and in New York City.

Anthony Cumberbatch joined the CI core staff in March 2012 as a Junior Academic Counselor. Anthony first came to CI as a student looking to enroll into college. After being accepted and enrolled into SUNY Empire State he was became a CI mentee for one year. He then took the training and became a mentor himself, and ultimately a full-time employee with CI. Anthony has experience working with other non-profits as a case manager for HIV-positive people and their families. He has successfully completed his CASAC-T training hours and is pursuing an undergraduate degree from Empire State with aspirations to obtain a graduate degree in Social Work.

Charlene Griffin has worked with CI since 2002 in a variety of roles. She has experience as an Academic Counselor and a program manager and she has been CI's Data Manager since 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Her duties include: management and refinement of the CI database; producing reports for current contracts; administrative coordination.

CI Director of Education, Cassandra Jones, joined CI as a full-time Academic Counselor in February 2011. Cassandra has an extensive education background. She comes to us from the Fortune Society where she was a GED instructor for at-risk youth and adults. Her education background includes working in the NYC public school system for 6 years as well as working as a college readiness instructor for the College of New Rochelle. Cassandra holds a BA in Psychology and a MS in Education.

Aenora Tawaji came to CI as an intern in January 2012 and was hired in April as the Mentor Coordinator. She graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology. Aenora has experience as an editor, in human services and research. She aspires to become a psychologist working to mindfully improve methods and procedures of incarceration and reentry.

Ray Tebout is CI's Director of Counseling and Mentoring. Prior to joining the core staff, Ray was a co-creator, along with four other students, of CI's mentoring program and an active member of the CI community. He has worked as non-profit and criminal justice transitions consultant for over 5 years. He is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a credentialed addiction counselor (CASAC-T) and education and training provider (ETP) through the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. Ray further holds a Family Development Credential (FDC) from Cornell University and is trained in strength-based human service work. He attends John Jay College of Criminal Justice.