Meet Our Team

Brink is run by a dynamic team of experts and industry leaders, bringing together decades of diverse experience in education, literacy, writing, editing, publishing, and prison reform

Executive

Dani Hedlund Headshot

Dani Hedlund

Chief Executive & Founder

Helen Maimaris Headshot

Helen Maimaris

Chief of Staff

Senior & Support

Hailey Renee Brown

Hailey Renee Brown

Art Admin & Support

Ejiwa ‘Edge’ Ebenebe

Assistant Creative Director & Impact Lead

JP Legarte

Community and Grant Development Assistant & Senior Editor

Kaitlin Lounsberry

Internship Supervisor & Senior Editor

Drew Nolte

Product & Technology Officer

Nate Ragolia

Communications & Marketing Director, Senior Editor

Evan Sheldon Headshot

Evan Sheldon

Editorial Coordinator

Leah Shrestinian

Program Operations & Finance Assistant

Education

Eric Boylan

Writing Instructor

Soni Brown headshot - a black woman with shoulder length hair and wide-rimmed glasses leans out of a window. She is wearing a blue shirt and large silver hoop earrings.

Soni Brown

Education Program Manager

Megan Casimir headshot - a white woman with a wide welcoming smile stands in front of a bookshelf. She has grey-brown hair and wears a black drawstring hoodie.

Megan Casimir

Education Community Liaison

Jaron Cook

Partnership Coordinator & Writing Instructor

Ahja Fox

Writing Instructor

Alejandro Fuentes Mena

Education Community Liaison

Kass Gomez

Writing Instructor

Alexander Lumans

Alexander Lumans

Curriculum Developer

Patty McCrystal headshot - a white woman with a bandana tied around her neck and mid-length hair and bangs.

Patty McCrystal

Lead Writing Instructor

James Rice

Writing Instructor

Nora Unkel

Elevation & Advocacy Support

Student Advisors

Vishnu Gonzales

Student Advisor

Ann Hickox

Student Advisor

Jadyn Nguyen

Student Advisor

Madden Oliver

Student Advisor

Eva Reish

Student Advisor

Luis Diego Rodriguez

Luis Diego Rodriguez

Student Advisor

Volunteer

Azalea Acevedo Headshot

Azalea Acevedo

Reader

Asma Al-Masyabi

Reader

Chase Bailey Headshot

Chase Bailey

Reader

Suzie Bartholomew Headshot

Suzie Bartholomew

Reader

Bea Basa

Marketing Assistant

Skyler Boudreau

Reader

Inanna Carter

Reader

Thomas Chisholm Headshot

Thomas Chisholm

Proofreader

Erin Clements Headshot

Erin Clements

Reader

Race Garber

Senior Editor

Zara Garcia

Senior Editor

Sam Gladstone Headshot

Sam Gladstone

Product & Technology Officer

Gina Gruss Headshot

Gina Gruss

Reader

Ari Iscariot

Reader

Jazzmin Joya

Reader

Simon Kerr

Reader

Asmaani Kumar Headshot

Asmaani Kumar

Senior Editor

Lydia Layton

Reader

Maribel Leddy Headshot

Maribel Leddy

Internship Assistant & Reader

Ainsley Louie-Suntjens

Reader

Hannah M

Marketing Associate

Marizel Malan

Reader

Lani McHenry

Marketing & Editing Assistant

Sonya Minner Headshot

Sonya Minner

Reader

Jaclyn Morken Headshot

Jaclyn Morken

Reader

Melissa Paulsen

Marketing & Editing Assistant

Matt Peadon Headshot

Matt Peadon

Visual Identity Associate

Sara Santistevan

Reader

Stevi Sargas

Reader

Eileen Silverthorn Headshot

Eileen Silverthorn

Senior Editor

Amber Sullivan Headshot

Amber Sullivan

Reader

Aubrey Unemori

Senior Editor

Ciena Valenzuela-Peterson

Reader

Consultant

Asa Garber Headshot

Asa C. Garber

Legal Advisor

Zach Howard Headshot

Zach Howard

Prison Book Art Director & Co-Creator

Board

Suzanne Hickox Headshot

Suzanne Hickox

US Board Member

Jennifer Leong Headshot

Jennifer Leong

US Board Member

Ian Leprino

US Board Member

Jon Schindehette Headshot

Jon Schindehette

US Board Member

Catherine Stihler Headshot

Catherine Stihler OBE

UK Trustee

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Luis Diego Rodriguez
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Hailey Renee Brown
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Alexander Lumans
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Megan Casimir headshot - a white woman with a wide welcoming smile stands in front of a bookshelf. She has grey-brown hair and wears a black drawstring hoodie.
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Soni Brown headshot - a black woman with shoulder length hair and wide-rimmed glasses leans out of a window. She is wearing a blue shirt and large silver hoop earrings.
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Patty McCrystal headshot - a white woman with a bandana tied around her neck and mid-length hair and bangs.
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Azalea Acevedo Headshot
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Asmaani Kumar Headshot
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Gina Gruss Headshot
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Matt Peadon Headshot
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Erin Clements Headshot
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Amber Sullivan Headshot
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Jaclyn Morken Headshot
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Catherine Stihler Headshot
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Chase Bailey Headshot
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Asa Garber Headshot
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Zach Howard Headshot
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Thomas Chisholm Headshot
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Jennifer Leong Headshot
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Jon Schindehette Headshot
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Suzanne Hickox Headshot
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Eileen Silverthorn Headshot
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Helen Maimaris Headshot
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Dani Hedlund Headshot
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Sam Gladstone Headshot
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Suzie Bartholomew Headshot
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Maribel Leddy Headshot
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Evan Sheldon Headshot
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Sonya Minner Headshot
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