Kirsten’s unique blend of experience in both business and education create her idealistic, yet practical approach to innovation. Over the last several years, Kirsten has been an educator, held strategic positions in education leadership and administration, and co-founded an education lobby. The first decade of Kirsten’s career was spent as a sales executive and executive recruiter. Kirsten holds a Master’s degree in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Elliot’s experience bridges the worlds of corporate and creative. Having spent the first part of his career at Deloitte working with some of the worlds largest alternative investment funds, Elliot leveraged his operational background and artistic leaning to co-found the content development studio, Hi from the Future, which focuses on using leading-edge technologies to empower compelling storytelling through immersive experiences. He now brings this unique perspective to EmpathED. Elliot holds a degree in Accounting from Northeastern University.

Mark leads the creative vision of our design, brand, and content with fidelity to the sensitive nature of our mission. Mark is an Emmy and PromaxBDA winning CG and VFX artist and has worked on hundreds of film and TV projects. With his background animation, visual effects, experiential site-specific installations, immersive gaming, VR/AR and commercial video production Mark co-founded a content development studio where he is Executive Creative Director and leads research and development. Mark has a degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Fine Arts, Film and Computer Science.

A tireless advocate for Dyslexia awareness, Francesca is a high school special education student. She started the Dyslexia Advocacy, Support & Awareness Club at her high school as a freshman, and facilitates student and teachers discussions, plans activities, and has presented at the District Special Education Sub-committee meeting. Francesca is also part of a regional Dyslexia advocacy group that trains younger students how to navigate their learning difference, and gives professional development presentations to area educators, and parents. Francesca was a presenter at the Learning Disabilities Association of America 57th & 58th Annual International Conferences. Most recently she was awarded the Widener University WCAU-TV NBC10 Youth Leadership Award for her advocacy work.