After graduating from Georgetown University with a B.A. in History and English, Desiree recently came back home to New York City. She has worked in various educational organizations such as Prep for Prep, The Princeton Review, and the New York City Department of Education. Desiree is also an alumna of Prep for Prep and joined LEDA in September 2004. Serving first as Director of Admissions, then Dean of Students, Desiree is now Director of College Guidance. Desiree truly enjoys working closely with LEDA Scholars.

Assia Elgouacem graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A in Mathematics and Philosophy. She is also an alumna of the Posse Foundation. In the summers of 2005 and 2006, Assia served as a LEDA Teaching Assistant for A.P. Statistics (2005 & 2006), Writing & Composition (2005), and the A.P. English (2006) classes. During her tenure as a LEDA Project Coordinator (2006-7), Assia was actively engaged in every aspect of LEDA, from Recruitment to the Summer Institute to the College Guidance and Admissions Process, on through to Scholar Support. Now as LEDA's Director of Recruitment Assia's role is to locate and find both deserving and promising young people who would benefit from the LEDA Program.

As Development Director at LEDA, Mea is responsible for increasing subsidy for LEDA through a full range of fundraising initiatives including writing grant proposals, coordination of special events, and expanding solicitation strategies. Mea's non-profit work has focused on equalizing educational opportunities for underserved students through the cultivation of funders and the development of capital to support this mission.

Mellisa Thompson has been with LEDA from its inception, originally working as a resident assistant and later head of residential life at the summer institute. Currently, Mellisa supports LEDA as the Director of Scholars, helping with LEDA's student recruitment, college guidance, and program planning components. Her main role is to stay in contact with all LEDA scholars to make sure they are supported throughout their academic career. Mellisa graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Sociology, and is now a graduate student at Rutgers University, working towards her Master's Degree in the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. Mellisa's future plans are to one day work as the Director of Minority Affairs at a highly selective college or university.

A recent graduate of Wesleyan College with a B.A. in African American Studies, and an alumna of Prep for Prep, Shayna is LEDA's right-hand to many mission-critical projects. She is now the Director of Administration. While being able to perform varying jobs and positions, Shayna is also an arts enthusiast with a focus on African American visual art and its historical and social references and relevance. With aspirations to curate, Shayna looks to pursue art history on a graduate level in the years to come. In the mean time she produces her own art through collage work.