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)
 aduncan@hartfordyouthscholars.org
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.

Markeysha Davis

Academy Dean
860.297.5116 (in-office phone)
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. Starting this summer, she will begin her role as Dean of TCA with HYS. She currently serves 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.

 Tariq McMahon
Director of High School Success
860.944.2532 (preferred)
860.297.5114 (in-office phone)
tmcmahon@hartfordyouthscholars.org

Tariq’s time with Hartford Youth Scholars started 10 years ago when he became part of the first cohort of rising 7th grade Scholars. After thus serving as a "guinea pig" for our first iteration of the Collegiate Academy, he went on to attend The Peddie School of New Jersey as a boarding student and Cum Laude graduate of the 2016 class. He then decided to bring his work-ethic and creativity back to Connecticut where he was admitted to Wesleyan University. Tariq is a graduate of the class of 2020 with a B.A in Economics. While at Wes, Tariq was very involved in arts and culture on campus, taking a lead role in Invisible Men: an affinity group focused on building community and providing development opportunities for black students, and as president of The Eclectic Society of Phi Nu Theta: a coed fraternity dedicated to creating spaces and opportunities for POC artists to showcase their talents. 
 
Tariq has been a part of the HYS family for almost half his life and has given back to the organization working as an intern and program fellow in years past, in addition to countless hours as a volunteer. We are excited to have him on the team in this new role and cannot wait to see what his creativity can do for Hartford students. 


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.  


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.

Natiel Cooper

Associate Director of High School Success

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!

Katie Powers

Director of Development & Operations
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.

Marisa Beede

Director of Annual Giving
860.297.5272
Marisa Beede joined Hartford Youth Scholars in April 2023 as the Director of Annual Giving. She comes to the organization after over a decade of non-profit development experience and a demonstrated history of cultivating donor relationships and exceeding fundraising goals. Most recently, Marisa served as the Development and Events Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut and as the Fundraising Events Manager at the National Audubon Society. She is a proud alumna of List College, the dual-degree program with Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Originally from Los Angeles, Marisa now lives with her husband Max in West Hartford. In addition to her work with Hartford Youth Scholars, she is the Youth Advisor for West Hartford United Synagogue Youth (WHUSY), an active participant in Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Emerging Leadership Program, and an educator with Jewish Teen Learning Connection (JTConnect).

Kate Paulo

Grants Manager
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.