About Us

Summer Crenshaw is an executive and former tech startup founder whose core competencies include marketing, business development, and public relations. As a military spouse to a combat-disabled veteran, Summer has passionately advocated for military service members, veterans, and military families. She has worked in the tri-state area to promote programs that serve the local military community.

As a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor in Communications from Miami University and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University, Summer has used her education in tandem with her passion for community development to support initiatives that bring change to the Cincinnati market.

After Summer spoke to the ChallengeU team about their mission and vision for ChallengeU Ohio Community School, she saw how it aligned with her passions. She felt that taking part in this initiative was “a natural fit.”

Bishop Maurice Daniels became a licensed minister in 1995. He has served in various roles in the ministry world. In 2010, he was appointed to serve as the Senior Pastor of his congregation. While serving as Pastor, he has balanced the responsibilities of being a counselor, life skills coach, and teacher.

An active member of the Cincinnati community, Bishop Daniel’s primary influence on his work is his personal life experiences, his concern for the progression of the community, and the support of those around him. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood and seeing the challenges firsthand, Bishop Daniels had this to say: “God has blessed me, and I want to see the same grace manifested in the youth today.”

He believes that an opportunity for grace to be displayed will be through the implementation of the ChallengeU Community School.

Katherine (“Katie”) Noe is a Northside resident, attorney, and former teacher who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and French from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from the University of Delaware, and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Katie’s experience teaching English language learners in Greater Cincinnati and her work as a public interest attorney led to her interest in ChallengeU’s mission to support students for whom the traditional classroom has not worked. Katie is committed to equity and the principle that everyone willing to strive should have a fair chance at success, values that she believes are shared by ChallengeU.

Sam Hairston Jr. has held work experience in the fields of sales, construction and transportation. Outside of his professional endeavors, Sam spends his time leading the men’s group at his local church. Sam is currently a CCO Certified Operator licensed in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. He received a Career Technology Diploma from Butler Technology & Career Development Schools in Hamilton, Ohio.

Sam reminds us of the value of trade schools and will provide a different lens to the eyes of ChallengeU students that are interested in pursuing trade certifications. For Sam, being a part of the board means “being a part of a group of change-makers.” He says, “I feel like everybody deserves a second chance. Anything that is geared towards drawing in the youth, I am here for it.”

Kalena Marie Robinson has over 30 years of experience in the medical field, serving as a health team leader, caseworker, disability and mental health team leader, and driving school owner. Kalena’s educational background includes Wilberforce University, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Technical and Community College, Brown Mackie College, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Children’s Hospital.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, with so many fond memories of her community, Kalena’s desire to see positive change in her city is deeply rooted. She believes that if she can positively impact just one person’s life by volunteering her time and providing resources or knowledge, that is a tremendous accomplishment.

She says, “I feel very blessed & honored to be part of ChallengeU. I’m honored to be a part of this new adventure that ChallengeU is bringing to Cincinnati, and together we all can make a difference.”

Stephanie has over 17 years of experience helping community schools achieve their financial goals. She holds a BA from Kent State University in addition to her Ohio State Treasurer’s License. She also has a diverse background in both private and government sectors and specializes in federal grants as well as fixed asset management practices.

However, she is most passionate about disadvantaged children and educational equity. Stephanie held the position of CFO for a large non-profit corporation in Akron, Ohio, for many years before transferring to Marcum LLP in 2017.

She is currently a school treasurer for over 40 schools and continues to grow the firm’s school client portfolio each year. Stephanie resides in Copley, Ohio, with her husband and two children and enjoys horseback riding, traveling abroad, and cooking.

Nic is a serial social entrepreneur specialized in EdTech. Before his involvement in education, he founded three tech start-ups that were later acquired (CESART, CESCOM, I5). He owns mobile advertising patents, has written industry books, and has provided consulting services worldwide. In 2009, Nic started his education journey by founding the Mobilys Foundation, a charity financed by Google, banks, and the Government. The Foundation’s mission is to prevent students from dropping out of school by using social media to connect teachers, parents, and the community to support these students.

The Mobilys program is active in 160 schools. Since 2016, it has been paired with the ChallengeU program, and Nic has focused his dropout recovery program in partnership with public schools to build a better future for all communities.

With over 20 years of experience as a Superintendent Leadership Team member, Mark is well-versed in the school board perspective and the interdependency between instructional and organizational support departments. Mark also possesses a strong understanding of the relationship between finance and personnel operations. His expertise includes securing, training, and retaining the highest caliber of employees for schools.

J.D. serves as the school operations advisor. He will support the school principal to ensure the success of all operational aspects of ChallengeU Ohio Community School. 

Joël is a talented, experienced programmer and manager who has worked on several large, complex tech projects. He contacted ChallengeU in 2019 to get involved in the company because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of youth. He is now the CTO of ChallengeU, and he is building (along with his team) the best student dropout recovery technology.

Latavia Walker is a Graduation Coach at ChallengeU, supporting students in achieving their personal, academic, and life goals. She holds a B.S. and an M.Ed. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Western Kentucky University and is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Social Justice from Northern Kentucky University. Prior to joining ChallengeU, she worked at Sinclair Community College as the Program Specialist for the Taylor Scholarship Program. Latavia is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and enjoys photography, traveling, and spending time with her family and dog, Nylah Marie.

Marie-Pier, once a school dropout in her early years, brings a firsthand understanding of the challenges young people face daily. Having navigated various roles at ChallengeU, she now serves as a Project Manager and Enrollment Specialist. Her responsibilities involve spearheading multiple projects and optimizing student enrollment processes for greater efficiency.

Having spent over 15 years working in various high schools throughout Ohio as a teacher, school counselor, and social worker, Julie is passionate about connecting with students and families to help reduce barriers that may limit a student’s ability to succeed. As a graduation coach for ChallengeU, Julie will help students discover more about themselves, their interests, strengths, and weaknesses and ultimately help them reach their goals.