Our Team
Founder & Executive Director
Johana Dauphin
Passionate about the transformative power of education, Johana Dauphin founded E2LA to empower first-generation and low-income students and democratize critical information about navigating higher education.
She graduated with honors from Florida State University, where she earned a B.S. in International Affairs. Her work centers on the intersection of racial justice, policy, and education. Having worked at the White House Domestic Policy Council on education policy issues, advocated as a student organizer against harmful education policy in Florida, and taught in DC public schools, she continues to mentor dozens of students on- and offline through targeted workshops, one-on-one support, and content creation. She has since expanded to piloting a summer camp for high school students in Orlando.
A Black Justice Fellow with GOODProjects, Johana is also a former John R. Lewis Fellow, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Intern, Florida House of Representatives intern, PPIA–JSI Fellow, and Advance Associate for the Harris–Walz campaign. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Telluride Association, chairs the Alumni Development Committee, and has worked with the organization as a Critical Black Studies Factotum.​
Secretary
Hailey Clayton
Hailey Clayton is a driven emerging professional with a passion for leadership, service, and community impact. She is currently a senior, set to graduate in May, with a major in Human Development and Family Science. She is actively involved in campus organizations and sorority leadership, where she enjoys creating programs that uplift and empower others. With interests spanning advocacy, nonprofit work, and storytelling, Hailey is committed to using her skills to support women, families, and communities. She brings a thoughtful, energetic approach to every space she enters, always ready to learn, lead, and serve.
Co-Director of Content & Communication
Chella Antoine
Chella Antoine is a recent graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Political Science and Communication. She held leadership roles with the FSU Wrestling Club and My Soul Sisters, organizing events and coordinating outreach. During her time at FSU, Chella gained hands-on experience in research, public communication, and civic engagement, including work on political campaigns and voter outreach. With a strong interest in how messages are crafted and shared, as well as the reasoning behind laws and policies, she is seeking opportunities that combine media, politics, and community impact.
Co-Director of Content & Communication
Lauryn S. Ivery
Lauryn S. Ivery is a graduate of Albany State University, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology. Lauryn is now pursuing an MBA in marketing at Georgia State University. Her work centers around the intersection of digital marketing, personal branding, and social media. She is passionate about helping the next generation of achievers succeed. Through strategic storytelling and digital marketing, she equips individuals with the tools and confidence to build authentic brands. Her work empowers others to amplify their voices and show up with purpose in today’s digital landscape.
Director of Alumni Relations
Christ-Anne Jean-Francois
Christ-Anne Jean-Francois is an education advocate focused on equity, access, and what happens to students long after they leave the classroom. She studied political science and psychology, which shaped how she thinks about institutions, power, and opportunity in education. She currently works at a nonprofit in New York City in curriculum and instruction, supporting school-based initiatives, internal projects, and systems that strengthen educational programming. She cares most about building education that students carry with them long after they leave the classroom, and she believes deeply in education as one of the most powerful tools for individual and collective change. As Director of Alumni Development, she hopes to build alumni pipelines rooted in connection, mentorship, and long-term community engagement.
Director of Logistics & Operations
E'mharia John
A proud Florida native with a strong commitment to civic leadership, government accountability, and education. My personal mission is to inspire youth to pursue entrepreneurship and strengthen community ties in an increasingly technological world.
When not volunteering or pursuing my Master's degree in Education Policy and Evaluation at Florida State University (GO NOLES!), I enjoy recharging and resting at home, often watching Gordon Ramsay, or spending time at the beach with friends.
Co-Director of Content & Communication
Ruth Jean Baptiste
Ruth Jean Baptiste is a communications and digital media creative who loves storytelling, good design, and content that actually connects. With a background in advertising, she enjoys turning ideas into clear, engaging messages across social and digital platforms. Ruth has experience writing, managing content, and supporting mission-driven work with intention and care. She’s especially passionate about community building and amplifying voices that deserve more space. As Director of Content and Communications, she brings curiosity, creativity, and a thoughtful approach to shaping messaging that feels honest, accessible, and human.
Co-Director of Fundraising
Jailaiyah Rouse
Jailaiyah Rouse is an educator who has a passion for community building. With a foundation in language education, she values the cultivation and stewardship of connections across linguistic, cultural, and geographic locations. Her dedication to community and education is illuminated by her plethora of professional experiences throughout the education system, from teaching to program development and mentorship, engagement with community development and violence prevention organizations, and global research centered on environmental justice. Jailaiyah is an innovative leader who desires to connect communities through transformative educational opportunities that empower people globally to be the change they desire to see.
Co-Director of Fundraising
Britne Tyler
Britne P Tyler is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, where she earned a B.A. in English Literature and Government, and American University's Kogod School of Business, where she earned a Master's degree in International Business and Trade. She held numerous leadership roles in the Thelomathesian Society (student government), the Judicial Board, and the Women's Crew Team. She is passionate about policy, politics, and law, having worked extensively on political campaigns and on Capitol Hill. She is committed to combating anti-intellectualism to help foster the next generation of independent thinkers and ethical leaders. As a Director of Fundraising, she will bring a thoughtful, strategic, and grounded approach to work. She values meaningful engagement, continuous learning, and impactful collaboration, and is always seeking opportunities to grow while contributing to causes that drive lasting change.
Britne is also deeply committed to community involvement, volunteering with the Congressional Women's Softball Team, coaching with the General Bass Pappy Martin Tennis League, mentoring through Capital R.E.A.C.H., and supporting Young Trade Professionals through WITA. She is also an HFA and Harris-Walz alum.
Co-Director of Strategic Partnerships
Tani Washington
Tani Washington is an economic researcher, Africana historian, and award-winning writer. She holds a B.A. in International Affairs and History from Western Kentucky University, where she published her undergraduate thesis Calling Freedom into Being: Afrofuturism as Disruptive Racial Rhetoric in the Journal of African Diaspora.
Most recently, she was a James C. Gaither Junior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, publishing research on perceptions of foreign aid, U.S.-Africa trade profiles, and methods of economic development in Africa. Tani believes in the power of collective action and enjoys her calling to mentor young women of color.
Co-Director of Strategic Partnerships
Madeline Fint
Madeline Flint is a University of Florida alumna, where she earned her degree in International Studies with Minors in Urban & Regional Planning and Chinese. As Strategic Projects Coordinator at a land use law firm, she firmly advocates for community engagement in planning. Additionally, she was awarded a research grant to critically explore gentrification and redevelopment in Orlando’s Mills50 district. She is also dedicated to advancing queer visibility, conducting policy review on UF’s LGBTQ+ Presidential Advisory Committee, refashioning UF’s Florida Queer History archive, and volunteering for the HRC. Madeline is dedicated to serving marginalized students through equitable placemaking and space making.
Co-Director of Grant Writing & Research
Lelah Tekhna
Lelah Tekhna is a 2L at Rutgers Law School and an aspiring civil rights attorney with a passion for education policy. A former ESL educator, she is particularly interested in culturally responsive educational linguistics and ensuring that children are prepared to excel academically, regardless of their background or English proficiency. Lelah has also served on the board of Black Women in Law and the NAACP at the local and state levels. Lelah's community engagement work demonstrates a longstanding commitment to racial justice, and she is eager to apply her experience to her role on Educate2Liberate’s Board.
Co-Director of Grant Writing & Research
Cedrick Charles
Cedrick Charles is a mission-driven professional with a background in economics, public policy, and advocacy. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with degrees in Economics and Political Science, and has experience in consulting and financial analysis. Cedrick is passionate about educational justice and creating pathways for students from under-resourced communities to thrive academically and professionally. Through his work with Educate to Liberate Academy, he hopes to help strengthen programs that promote confidence, critical thinking, and leadership among young people, while supporting the organization's long-term growth and community impact.
Co-Director of Grant Writing & Research
Endia Scales
Endia Scales is a student affairs professional with a background and passion rooted in educational equity, the Black student experience, and leadership development. She is an incoming Doctoral student at the University of Maryland School of Education, with aspirations to study the experiences of Black student leaders at predominantly white institutions. Endia’s experiences within education range from K-12, higher education, education abroad, and student affairs. She is excited to use this wide-range of personal and professional experience to be a vital asset in her role with Educate2Liberate Academy.
Co-Director of Grant Writing & Research
Ayah Mallah
Ayah Mallah is an undergraduate student majoring in English and Philosophy at Lehigh University. She is passionate about social justice, education equity, and amplifying voices. At Educate to Liberate Academy, she focuses on grant writing and research, helping to secure resources that expand educational opportunities and community impact. Ayah is committed to using her skills to create meaningful change, ensuring that programs uplift and inspire the communities they serve.
Curriculum & Operations Intern
Inam Deen
Inam Deen is a pre-law student with interests in international affairs, public policy, and cultural heritage law. Her passion for human rights was ignited during an Alternative Winter Break trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she deepened her understanding of systemic injustice by interviewing attorneys, volunteering with nonprofit organizations, and working alongside refugees. She has recently earned an Associate’s magna cum laude in General Studies from Howard Community College, where she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and served as treasurer of the school’s American Sign Language club. Inam is now working toward a B.A. in Anthropology, and studies French in her free time.
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