Staff

Anthony Byers

Executive Director

860.297.5115 (office)
860.713.3316 (cell)
abyers@hartfordyouthscholars.org
Anthony joined HYS at its founding in 2007. In 2010 he became Program Director responsible for staff management and program oversight. In 2011 he was named Co-Executive Director for Programs, responsible for oversight of The Collegiate Academy, Recruitment, Placement, and Support Services. In 2018 Anthony became Executive Director, and he now is ultimately responsible for fundraising, management of day-to-day operations and administration, and organizational sustainability. 

Anthony earned his B.A. in 2007 from the University of Connecticut. He majored in Economics with a focus on the socioeconomics of race and gender. He is a graduate of the Master’s School and a native of Hartford. Anthony previously served on the Board of Directors of The Community Farm of Simsbury. In 2013 he received the CAEOP Trio Achiever Award, and in 2015 he was named one of Hartford Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Armanthia Duncan

Deputy Director

860.952.2137 (preferred)
860.297.5116 (in-office phone)
Deputy Director Armanthia Duncan has been a part of the HYS family for more than ten years. Since  2019 she has served as Academy Dean. Ms. Duncan is a proud native of Mississippi. She began her collegiate trajectory at Jackson State University, the historically black university in the state’s capital, studying political science under the tutelage of some of the state’s most ardent and influential civil rights activists. She was trained early on to view her educational pathway as a vital tool to elevate the causes of racial uplift and liberation. She attended the University of Memphis where she earned two Masters of Arts degrees in History and Sociology. During that time, she also earned a Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies. Upon graduating from University of Memphis, she was accepted into the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Department of Sociology doctoral program, where she is currently ABD.
 
During her time at UMASS, she worked on NSF-grant-funded research on job insecurity among New Haven’s black residents; worked for the Graduate Student Union and Senate; and taught several courses including Social Inequality, Criminology, Gender and Crime, and Sociology of Law. Her research interests include educational equity, racial inequality, Afropessimism, environmental justice, criminology, comparative historical sociology, sociology of health, and mixed methods research.

Brittany Rodriguez

Senior Director of Programs
 
860.944.6418 (preferred)
860.297.5256 (in-office phone)
brodriguez@hartfordyouthscholars.org
Director of Scholar Success Brittany Rodriguez is a proud alumna of Hartford Youth Scholars, member of Cohort 1. Ms. Rodriguez attended Suffield Academy as a boarding student and is a member of the 2012 graduating class. She graduated from Pace University in 2016 with a B.A. in Communications, and completed her M.S. in Sociology at Southern Connecticut State University. 

Prior to joining the Hartford Youth Scholars team, she worked as an Associate Research Analyst in the Defined Contributions team at Fiduciary Investment Advisors. The mission and vision of Hartford Youth Scholars is very near and dear to Ms. Rodriguez's heart, and she is proud to be contributing to the Hartford community as a member of the HYS staff.  

Natiel Cooper

Director of High School Success
860-944-2532 (In-Office Phone)
 860-897-5163 (Personal)
ncooper@hartfordyouthscholars.org
A Hartford Scholar born and raised, Natiel Cooper proudly represents HYS Cohort 7, which he claims is the luckiest HYS Cohort. Born from a love of film, and honed under the tough tutelage of HYS Faculty, he honed his love of creative writing. Natiel's work with the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine, UConn Television, and local small businesses and nonprofits underscores the critical importance of precise, targeted communication.

As a University Honors Laureate with a double major in Communications and English, Natiel was the sole representative of these two majors in UConn’s 2022 class. His studies specialized in media studies, marketing, and education. His independent research delved into streaming platforms and the reciprocal impacts of representation in media.

In 2024, Natiel earned a Master’s in Public Policy with a certificate in Nonprofit Management. In his role as an Administrative Assistant at the School of Public Policy, he supported the school and the CT Children of Incarcerated Parents. Natiel's creativity bleeds into all his roles, and he firmly believes in the power of storytelling to maximize engagement and foster the development of talented scholars. Returning to HYS professionally in 2022, Natiel aims to help scholars excel and propel!

Markeysha Davis

Academy Dean

mdavis@hartfordyouthscholars.org

Dr. Davis is an educator, cultural historian, and literary theorist. She was the chair of Africana Studies at the University of Hartford (2017-2023) and assistant professor of Literature and Africana Studies with Hillyer College at the University. She has been published by The Black Scholar and American Studies Journal. Since 2019, she has served as an ELA teacher with Hartford Youth Scholars’ Collegiate Academy. 

Before coming to HYS full time, Dr. Davis served as English Language Arts and Advanced Placement teacher for senior high school students at Baystate Academy Charter Public School in Springfield, MA. She is a native of Detroit, MI, and lives in Western Massachusetts.

Devin Hill

Associate Dean of Scholars


Devin Hill, a proud member of HYS’ 9th Cohort (Class of ’25), began his journey as an HYS Ambassador before growing into his current role as Associate Dean of Scholars. Along the way, he has carved a unique path for himself—one built on service, mentorship, and a deep commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him. In this role, Devin oversees admissions and embodies the full-circle journey of becoming the advocate he once needed as a young Scholar. He also coaches football with Hartford Public Schools, furthering his impact by mentoring students both on and off the field.

Since joining the HYS staff in 2022, Devin has consistently shown up for Scholars and families in meaningful ways. His dedication has given him a firsthand appreciation for the hard work and vision of the staff who inspired him, strengthening his belief in the power of education and mentorship to transform lives.


Now, as Associate Dean of Scholars, Devin continues to bring authenticity, guidance, and inspiration to every Scholar he encounters. With aspirations to keep working with young people in Hartford, he stands as a living example of HYS’ mission: to cultivate leaders who give back to their communities.

Shawndia Jones

Associate Director of High School Success

sjones@hartfordyouthscholars.org

Shawndia Jones serves as the Associate Director of High School Success at Hartford Youth Scholars. A proud alum of Cohort 9, Shawndia has remained closely connected to the organization through ongoing volunteer engagement. Motivated by a deep commitment to expanding access and opportunity for Hartford students, she returned to Hartford Youth Scholars to support scholars in achieving academic success and reaching their postsecondary goals. 


Shawndia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Central Connecticut State University in May 2024, graduating Magna Cum Laude. As an Honors Program graduate, she completed an honors thesis examining the physical, emotional, mental, and financial impact of student loan debt on students of color. Shawndia brings both lived experience and academic insight to her work, grounded in a strong commitment to educational equity and student success.

Jailene Pedraza

Associate Director of College Success

Jailene Pedraza is the Associate Director of College Success and an honored HYS Scholar of Cohort 6. Hartford-born and Puerto Rico–raised, Jailene attributes her academic and professional success to the support and mentorship she received through HYS. Her work is rooted in a passion for empowering youth to thrive academically, emotionally, and holistically.


With a background in healthcare and psychology, Jailene brings an empathetic, student-centered approach to her work. She previously served HYS as an intern and Teacher Apprentice during the summer of COVID-19, experiences that strengthened her commitment to service and education. A proud University of Connecticut alumna (Class of 2021), Jailene studied linguistics, creative writing, psychology, and brain physiology to better understand communication, rehabilitation, and healing.


Jailene returned to HYS in 2026 driven by a deep belief in paying forward the support she once received and by a shared mission to empower the next generation of scholars to succeed in all aspects of life.


Amy Brough

Chief External Relations Officer
860.297.5272
abrough@hartfordyouthscholars.org


Katie Powers

Sr. Director of External Relations
860.297.5272
kpowers@hartfordyouthscholars.org

 Katie Powers has over 20 years in fundraising and special event management experience. She has worked at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA as the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations and at Watkinson as the Associate Director of Development and Director of Alumni and Family Relations. Prior to joining Hartford Youth Scholars in the summer of 2015, Katie worked at a variety of local non-profits including Hartford Marathon Foundation, Chrysalis Center and HARC. Katie graduated from Watkinson School and holds a B.A. from Simmons College.

Katie is committed to helping make Hartford Youth Scholars’ mission of “to and through college” a reality for our Scholars and their families.

Kate Paulo

Grants & Database Manager
860.297.5272
kpaulo@hartfordyouthscholars.org
 Kate has been a grant writer in Hartford for 7 years, working in development for non-profits around the city. Born and raised in Connecticut, Kate graduated from American University in 2017 with B.A.s in Literature and Criminal Justice. During her time in Washington DC, she began working at non-profits like the National Juvenile Defender Center (now the Gault Center). In 2020, she completed her Master of Legal Studies degree from American University’s Washington College of Law. Since graduation, Kate has worked for the Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford Habitat for Humanity, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.