Board of Directors
Uche Amaechi is the Extended Learning Time Program Director at the Fletcher Maynard Academy, where he works on school leadership, community engagement, and matters of race and equity. Uche is also a Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he teaches about leadership, organizational behavior, and social entrepreneurship
Matt Daly has served on the Board of Directors of CitySprouts since 2021. He is a Partner in PwC’s Private practice, where he provides tax consulting and compliance services to privately held businesses. With nearly 20 years of experience advising entrepreneurs, family-owned companies, and private equity-backed organizations, Matt is passionate about helping businesses grow and thrive. As the father of two daughters, Matt has seen firsthand the power of experiential, hands-on learning in helping children develop curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of discovery. He strongly believes that every child deserves access to high-quality educational opportunities, regardless of background, and is proud to support CitySprouts’ mission of cultivating curiosity and wonder through outdoor, garden-based science education. When he’s not serving clients or supporting CitySprouts, Matt can often be found at a dance competition cheering on his daughters, both of whom are competitive dancers.
Bill Kane is President of East Coast and UK Markets at BioMed Realty, a private real estate provider that owns and operates 17 million square feet of innovation space in dense urban clusters within the United States and the United Kingdom. Prior to joining BioMed, Bill was responsible for the development of R&D, hospital, and office real estate development projects for the Fallon Company, Davis Marcus Partners, Lyme Properties, and Turner Construction. Mr. Kane received a BS in Civil Engineering from Tufts University and an MIS/MBA dual degree from Boston University and serves on the boards of the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, the Gloucester Biotech Academy, MassEcon, and CitySprouts, and is an active supporter of the Marblehead Food Pantry, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Coregiving, St Johns’s Preparatory School, and the Tufts University Rowing Team. Bill currently lives with his wife and four children in Marblehead, MA.
Rohan Kundargi is the K-12 Community Outreach Administrator at the MIT Office of Government and Community Relations. In his role within OGCR, Dr. Kundargi leads an effort to deepen the relationship between MIT, Cambridge, and other local communities by strengthening the coordination and communications around Institute educational offerings for local youth. A first-generation Indian-American & child of immigrants, Rohan was raised in Northern California before earning an undergraduate Earth Science degree from UCLA (2010), a Masters in Earth Science for Boston University (2013), and a PhD in Earth Science from Boston University (2016). As a geoscience researcher, Dr. Kundargi has investigated Earth’s mysteries using a myriad of techniques; from shooting lasers through diamonds to creating complex 3-D models to learn more about how volcanoes erupt. While at BU, Dr. Kundargi was an NSF Fellow and co-taught a 7th Grade science classroom in Quincy. After graduate school, Dr. Kundargi moved to Eastern Washington to run Science In Action!, Gonzaga University’s largest STEM outreach program to the 2nd largest school district in the state. He currently lives in Somerville with his wife, and enjoys tending to a home garden of vegetables, flowers, and succulents.
Kim Lowe is a filmmaker and creative director with 30 years experience building brands and leading multi-sized productions. Equal parts creative strategist and hands-on director, she’s guided crews and casts of up to 100 for brands like REI, Hasbro, and Chevy. Her photography is also featured in numerous publications, including the CitySprouts book We Garden Together. Kim is deeply committed to the CitySprouts mission. Partnering with the organization since 2014, she has served across the board, development, and advisory committees, while concepting, shooting, and producing many of its creative campaigns and brand imagery. Her short documentaries, The Bee and the upcoming sequel, The Seed, are part of her In Their Nature project, highlighting people and organizations connecting kids with nature in the city. Slated for release next year, The Seed focuses on CitySprouts founder Jane Hirschi and the importance of outdoor classrooms. A gardener, beekeeper, and self-described nature geek, Kim volunteers with Boston Public Schools to teach about pollinators and leads gardening workshops with The Trustees in her free time. Kim lives in Boston with her husband, two sons, one dog, and 80,000 bees.
As a Partner at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Emily Mueller De Celis provides design and planning leadership across many of the firm’s most ambitious cultural and urban landscape projects. Trained as both an architect and a landscape architect, Emily is known for her interdisciplinary approach—integrating architecture, ecology, and urbanism to address complex design challenges. Her work is distinguished by a deep understanding of materials, site history, and community needs, resulting in landscapes that are technically refined, ecologically resilient, and emotionally resonant.
Since joining MVVA in 1999, Emily has played a central role in shaping a wide range of projects, from Wellesley College’s Master Plan and the Alumnae Valley Landscape Renewal to Manhattan’s Teardrop Park to Chicago’s The 606. More recently, she has led several climate-ready initiatives for Waterfront Toronto, contributing to the transformation of the city’s post-industrial waterfront into a vibrant and ecologically diverse district. Notable works include Corktown Common in the West Don Lands and Biidaasige Park at the newly naturalized Don River mouth. She is currently co-leading the reimagining of the YZD Runway in the Downsview neighborhood of Toronto.
Beyond her design work, Emily oversees the day-to-day operations of MVVA’s Cambridge office. She serves on Toronto’s Waterfront Design Review Panel, is a member of the Wellesley Business Leadership Council, and supports hands-on STEAM education in the Boston area as a board member of CitySprouts.
Emily earned a BA from Wellesley College, an M.Arch. from the University of Virginia, and an MLA from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. She has taught at RISD and lectured at Harvard, MassArt, and Wellesley College.
Alyssa Scruggs is a Litigation Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her practice is primarily focused on securities enforcement, shareholder disputes, and complex commercial litigation. Alyssa also maintains an active pro bono practice working with survivors of human trafficking, individuals seeking asylum, and individuals facing eviction. Alyssa received her BA in History and Government from the College of William & Mary and her JD from Georgetown University Law Center. Though a Massachusetts native, she previously practiced law in Washington, D.C. until she moved home to greater Boston in 2017. Alyssa currently lives in Stoneham, MA with her family, including an excitable lab mix. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys tending to her vegetable garden and cooking and baking for friends and family.
Josefine (José) Wendel is a seasoned public health professional with a strong foundation in nutrition and more than 25 years of experience working in community and public health settings in New York City and Cambridge. For two decades, José worked on population health initiatives with the Cambridge Public Health Department, where she was a long-time collaborator and partner of CitySprouts, particularly in initiatives involving the Cambridge School Food Service Department. She currently leads Bicycling Access Programs for the Cambridge Department of Transportation, advancing equitable mobility and active transportation in the city. José holds a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition from the Hogeschool of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and she is a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Columbia University. Originally from the Netherlands, José has called Cambridge home for over 25 years. Her (now adult) daughters, educated in Cambridge Public Schools, benefited firsthand from CitySprouts programming. Outside of work, she enjoys biking, walking, hiking, cooking, travel, the arts, and growing herbs on her porch.
Catherine Van Evans is currently Principal at VanGale. After having spent her career building marketing teams, brands, and driving revenue at global organizations including Bright Horizons, Rapid7, Mimecast, and Cadbury Schweppes, Catherine is excited to work with clients to create scalable solutions for them and their customers. She is excited to bring her experience in both the food and education sectors to support the CitySprouts mission and is passionate about food and travel, as both provide a better understanding of our world and neighbors.
Tamirirashe (Tami) Gambiza, CPA, CGMA, is an experienced Senior Audit Manager in the Boston Office of CohnReznick, with over 12 years in the public accounting industry. His focus includes Financial audits of Not-for profits, State Colleges and Universities and State Agencies and authorities and Real Estate. Tami received a Bsc in Accounting from Bellevue University in Omaha, Nebraska. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA) and Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA). He is also an active member of the MSCPA Accounting and Audit Committee
LeRoy Attles Jr. has been teaching in public schools for 17 years. He now teaches science to PreK through 1st-grade students at the Haynes Early Education Center in Boston and at the West Zone Early Learning Center in Jamaica Plain. With Degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Early Childhood Education, he lives by the motto that in his class, there is a future inventor or creator and feels compelled to present science in a way that inspires them to love and embrace science and to pursue the scientific breakthrough that lives inside of them. Attles is a member of the Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom group, the Outdoor Teaching and Learning group of Boston Public Schools, the National Science Teachers Association, and is currently a Fellow for PilotLight, an organization that supports food education and cooking for students in urban classrooms. Attles is a Program Committee member for CitySprouts, runs an Afterschool Science Club, and hosts a Science Expo every year at the Haynes. Attles lives in Roxbury, MA, and is the father of two grown children.
Terrence Hayes is the President of Siena Construction Corporation, based in Cambridge, MA. Siena provides contractor services to the life-science, commercial, historical, and non-profit industries in and around the metro-Boston area, as well as greater New England. He grew up in Quincy, MA and Littleton, CO. He received his B.A. in Literature and Philosophy from Siena College, located outside of Albany, New York, pursued post-graduate work in architectural and landscape design at the Boston Architectural College, and has volunteered his time for many organizations including: the Conservation Commission in Chelsea, MA, the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, City Year, and Zoo New England. Terry lives in Arlington, MA, with his wife and his young son (who helps to keep him in running shape).
Joshua Loveall is a Partner at D’Ambrosio LLP, a boutique law firm in Boston proudly providing tailored services to a wide range of industries and business sectors. Joshua is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center. Joshua grew up in California and Florida near Disney World and has wanted his own topiary garden since. He now lives in Melrose with his wife and is a member of the Melrose Dog Society. Joshua enjoys making music, taking pictures, and exploring local walking trails.
Gary Menin is a Senior Tax Manager at KPMG. Previously, he was a Tax Manager for Northeastern University, where he was responsible for all tax planning and compliance needs including guidance on institutional growth and governance. Gary earned his JD, MBA, and MSA from Northeastern University and is a licensed attorney. Prior to joining Northeastern, Gary delivered client-advisory services to a wide-range of non-profit organizations. Gary lives in Arlington with his wife and son. He enjoys performing improv-comedy, fermenting homemade hot sauces, and volunteering with CitySprouts and the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Paul A. Pereira is a Senior Consultant for TIAA, a leading provider of financial products and services to those who serve within the educational, governmental, and non-profit sectors of our economy. Paul’s professional background is in delivering analytics and reporting solutions to his clients in the retail, airline, automotive, media and financial services industries. Prior to his joining TIAA, Paul delivered for his clients while building analytics practices and growing teams at Hill Holliday Advertising and Digitas. In addition Paul has consulted with start-up organizations on their analytics strategy and has taught analytics and digital strategy at Emerson College. Paul has a bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Rhode Island, as well as numerous citations and acknowledgements of analytics achievement and innovation from professional organizations. In his free time, Paul is an avid bicyclist, hiker and walker, and enjoys reading and watching classic films and movies. He is a member of the Volunteer Council at TIAA. Once a year, Paul travels to Florida to play baseball with former Red Sox players and friends at Red Sox Fantasy Camp.
Rachelle Quimby serves on the Board of three Maine-based foundations - the Quimby Family Foundation (as Treasurer), the Roxanne Quimby Foundation, and Elliotsville Foundation. She holds a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and an MBA in Finance from San Francisco State University. Her work experience included hotels, finance companies, and Burt’s Bees, where she worked in a management role until her sister sold the company in 2003. After four decades of living in San Francisco, Rachelle moved to Cambridge in 2017. Travel has always been an important part of her life. Her most memorable travel experience was two years living in Central and South America from just the contents of a duffel bag. This “living with less” lifestyle resonated with her, and upon returning to the US, she continued to live a simple life. 30 years later, her environmental passion is rooted in simplicity. She currently teaches conversational English once a week and helps with the monthly community meal sponsored by Saint James’s Episcopal Church. Her favorite pastimes include a Gyrotonic/Pilates practice, bhakti yoga, walks, attending the Boston Ballet and Vivo Performing Arts performances, and working out at Healthworks.
Karen Worth is a consultant in science education at the early childhood and elementary grade levels. She worked as a senior research scientist at Education Development Center, Inc. for more than 25 years, leading a range of programs focused on curriculum development, professional development, and systemic reform in science education in formal and informal education settings. Karen was a faculty member at Wheelock College for over 40 years, where she taught early childhood and elementary education with a focus on science education. At Wheelock, she served as Chair of the Elementary Education Department and coordinated the graduate Integrated Elementary and Special Education program. Karen is a recipient of the Exploratorium’s Outstanding Educator Award for her work in science education, the international puRkwa prize for the scientific literacy of the children of the planet, the NSTA Distinguished Service Award, and the Environmental & Community Impact Award from CitySprouts.
Vippy Yee is the Assistant Dean for Community-Based Programs at MIT’s PKG Center for Public Service. At MIT, Vippy is responsible for encouraging and supporting MIT student community engagement, managing immersive community-based programs, helping faculty develop community-engaged learning courses/projects, and developing strategy for public interest advising and other PKG initiatives, with a focus on local and national projects. She develops and maintains relationships with community organizations to foster ethical and effective student engagement and serves as an instructor for PKG Center courses. Vippy’s higher education career includes over 15 years of teaching with a focus on racial and social inequality, social mobility, and social movements. She is pursuing an EdD in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania and holds an MSc in Sociology from the London School of Economics and a BA in Political Science and East Asian Studies from Dickinson College.
Emily Geer is an accomplished sales and product leader with extensive experience at FactSet, a financial software company, where she has built a strong track record in strategic planning, revenue growth, cross-functional leadership, and operational execution. Known for her ability to align diverse stakeholders and solve complex problems, Emily brings both strategic vision and a collaborative approach to her work and leadership. She holds a BS and MS in Economics from Northeastern University.
Beyond her professional work, Emily is a passionate advocate for children's connection to the natural world. As a parent of two young children in Needham, MA, she understands firsthand how outdoor exploration and gardening build confidence, curiosity, and lifelong learning. Emily is proud to serve on the Boards of CitySprouts and Raising a Reader-Massachusetts, two organizations dedicated to fostering a love of discovery and learning in children across the region.
When she's not working, Emily can be found tending her garden, logging miles on a run, or baking with her kids.
Advisory Council
Patricia Beggy, Principal, Cambridge Public Schools (retired)
Melissa Duggan, Director of Strategy and Operations, The Social Innovation Forum
Thomas Hamill, Principal, Redgate
Daniel Langenthal, Leadership Development and Organizational Effectiveness Executive
Solomon Montagno, former CitySprouts Program Director
Steve “Nookie” Postal, chef and co-founder of Revival Cafe and Kitchen
Carl Spector, former Commissioner of the Environment, City of Boston
Henry Vandermark, President at Solar Wave Energy, Inc.