Chantelle George is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. She is currently the founder and lead consultant of Chantelle George Consulting. Chantelle brings more than 10 years of college access and success experience in the areas of higher education, K-12 college and career readiness, and nonprofit leadership. A champion for student choice and success, Chantelle began her professional career in higher education coaching and advising students through their journey to and through the college experience in Houston TX. After transitioning from higher education to a large charter network then to a non-profit, Chantelle relocated back to Louisiana to work in the college access and success space closing barriers for students of color between K-12 and higher education. Chantelle holds a B.S. degree from Louisiana State University and a Masters in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Houston. She is currently a PhD student pursuing higher education at Louisiana State University.

Marques J Celestine, II’s experience ranges from matrixed multinational corporations to high growth startups and entrepreneurial ventures. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Finance and Japanese and spent a year of study in language, culture and business at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. He currently leads the People and Talent functions at the national nonprofit, Leading Educators, where he designs and drives the organization’s national talent acquisition strategy with a focus on equity, inclusion and engagement. He is a founding partner with Jackson Noble, a values driven executive search firm and HR consultancy that exclusively supports mission centered enterprises. He has served as a mentor with both Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Alan Page Education Foundation for over 15 years and previously served on the Board of Directors of San Miguel Middle School in Minneapolis, MN. He’s currently the Board Vice Chairman with Cathedral Montessori School. He’s a proud husband, father and NOLA native who is inspired by the power of our youth’s potential.

A New Orleans native, Tale' Lockett graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling with a minor in Special Education from Southern University and A&M College. Lockett went on to receive his Master's degree in Education Administration from Prairie View A&M University and Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Lockett has worked on all educational levels spanning elementary to high school. His commitment to education yields more than love for academia but passion for being of service to the community, educators, and students. He began his educational career as a Kindergarten and First-grade co-teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish School System. In Texas, he worked on the middle school level teaching Math, ELA, Special Education, and Behavior Intervention for Galena Park ISD. He also taught 9th-12th grade math courses for the Houston Independent School District. In addition to teaching high school mathematics, he served as an Assistant Principal for the middle and high school campuses. Mr. Lockett served as Principal with Arrow Academy Charter Schools and was promoted to the Director of School Support. Upon returning home to Louisiana, Mr. Lockett served as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Friendship Capitol before becoming Principal with Charter Schools USA at Baton Rouge Charter Academy Mid City and Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy in Lafayette, La. Mr. Lockett's primary educational philosophy is based on the belief that education is a conduit that offers America's greatest resource - our children - the opportunity to succeed. It's this belief that allows him to continue his passion for serving young people and others; this serves as a driver for his commitment and the well-being of the school community.

Dr. Sarah Payne is a sociologist and teacher. Sarah has worked in K-12 public education, college access, college persistence, and public interest organizing. She has been a certified middle school science teacher and a college counselor in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and has worked with College Beyond since 2015, as a co-founder and strategic advisor. She is currently a postdoctoral research associate at The Broad Center at the Yale School of Management, and holds bachelor's degrees from Wellesley College and a MA and PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Victoria Wells, a recent transplant from Detroit, MI, joined College Beyond board in 2023. Previously, she served as DTE Energy’s Fundraising lead for American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer from 2018-2019. With her leadership the company raised ~30K each year, and with over 100 walkers in 3 cities. Currently she is an Operations Supervisor for Entergy. She holds a Bachelors of Horticulture Science from Michigan State University and Master of Science Administration from Central Michigan University. She resides in Hammond, LA with her son, and they enjoy nature walks and fishing.

Paris Woods, EdD, brings 20 years of experience in public, private, and nonprofit educational settings to her role as Chief of Programs at YouthForce NOLA in New Orleans and Founder of College Beyond. A first-generation college graduate of Harvard University, Dr. Woods has dedicated her career to helping young people access higher education and escape poverty, mirroring her own experience leveraging her education as a tool for upward mobility.

Mauricio Sierra was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana as a first-generation American of Colombian and Honduran heritage. Mauricio is motivated by projects that make public spaces in our city more accessible and impactful for New Orleanians of all ages, and especially for our young people. His passion for public space and civil rights led him into the practice of law, and his work as an attorney prioritizes the civil rights and dignity of vulnerable people. In 2012, he co-founded Chess Communité to build artistic and functional chess tables and install them in local public spaces. Since its founding, he has been an ardent supporter of the non-profit organization Grow Dat Youth Farm, where he served on the Board of Directors from 2016 - 2022, and as Chair of the Board from 2018 - 2020. He joined the Board of Directors for LOOP Nola & College Beyond in the fall of 2023, where he hopes to continue to serve New Orleans for a better future. He is a writer and poet, and in 2016 he founded The Sierra Law Firm. He is also a passionate supporter of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Mike Woodward is an educator, mentor, and philanthropist. He currently serves as the Regional Program Officer (U.S. South) at the Schott Foundation for Public Education. In this role he works closely with grantees and external stakeholders to cultivate and support effective campaigns focused on building systems to provide all students an opportunity to learn and thrive. Mike comes to the Schott Foundation from College Track, where he served as the Site Director and the Regional Executive Director in New Orleans, and most recently the Chief Program Officer, working to support twelve centers and more than 3,000 first-generation college students nationwide from 9th grade through bachelor’s degree and beyond. Prior to College Track, Mike was a high school math teacher and department chair at Lake Area New Tech Early College High School in New Orleans. Mike began his career in education as director of special projects at Urban League College Track. As a first-generation college graduate, Mike earned degrees in Bioengineering and Human Biology from Stanford University and went on to earn his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at Tulane University. While at Stanford, he founded the First-Generation/Low-Income Partnership (FLIP), a student group dedicated to supporting and advocating for first-generation college students from low-income households. Among his awards and acknowledgments, Mike has been selected as a Gates Millennium Scholar, a Ron Brown Scholar, an Emerging Philanthropist of New Orleans, and a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow. He is currently a member of the Urban League of Louisiana and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Alumni Board. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mike is a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoys playing basketball, tennis, and chess.