Staff

Mindi Jacobson

Mindi Jacobson has a master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in Health Services Management with a minor in Business and Personnel Management from the University of Rochester. Mindi’s areas of expertise include grant writing, building and developing programs, and developing relationships with other organizations and community professionals. She is the founding Executive Director of Future Link and has been in nonprofit management since 2006. Prior to this, Mindi spent 10 years in academic administration and health services management. Mindi devotes her time to capacity building activities, developing relationships and building infrastructure and resources for Future Link, Inc. She is proud that the organization’s budget and participants served has more than doubled over the last five years. Future Link was featured in U.S. News & World Report highlighting the supportive program model of the organization.

Mindi is passionate about education, addressing access and inequity issues and assisting vulnerable youth succeed. Mindi was awarded an honorary degree by Montgomery College in May 2019 for her commitment and dedication to students, and the community at-large. She has also received recognition and service awards for outstanding contributions to the community from the Collaboration Council, the Community Action Board, the Montgomery County Executive, the Maryland General Assembly, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Commission on Children and Youth.

Isabel Anderson

A native of Northern Virginia, Isabel Anderson grew up in a multicultural household where access to educational tools, strong mentors, and community programs were vital resources. She attended the College of William and Mary, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Cello Performance. In her professional tenure, Isabel has held positions of increasing leadership for youth-enrichment programs in the D.C. metropolitan region, including the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, National Philharmonic at Strathmore, and Levine Music. Her expertise is in strategic thinking and capacity building for emerging programs and maintaining healthy community partnerships. In addition, she has extensive experience managing a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government relationships. Isabel is thrilled to serve as Assistant Director to support Future Link’s mission to empower Montgomery County young adults to reach their personal and professional goals.

Allison Reznick

Allison Reznick joined the Future Link staff in April 2018, having previously volunteered for the organization as a mentor and Board member. In her role, Allison oversees the mentorships, manages the seminar, and engages volunteers from the community. Prior to Future Link, Allison founded Advanced Interactions LLC with a mission to connect associations with their communities and served as Director of Corporate Relations for The Optical Society. Allison has a proven ability to develop and launch new programs, cultivate and motivate qualified volunteers, educate teams on project management, and train staff on volunteer engagement techniques. In collaboration with executive staff, committees, and subject matter experts, Allison has led dozens of committees from inception to developing and executing highly-regarded and impactful programs. Allison received her bachelor’s degree in Management, with a concentration in Marketing, from Binghamton University (NY).

Sandy Su

Sandy Su was born in Taiwan and moved to Maryland at a young age. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland and holds a Master of Education in International Education Administration from Endicott College. Driven by a desire to reconnect with her cultural roots, Sandy returned to Taiwan after college and spent several years living and working abroad before settling back in Montgomery County with her family in 2022.

A dedicated educator with 20 years of experience, Sandy has held various leadership roles, including After School Activities Coordinator, Team Lead, and member of the Senior Leadership Team. She has led curriculum development initiatives, mentored new educators, and collaborated with school leaders and families to support student growth and foster inclusive learning environments. Sandy is fluent in Mandarin and English, allowing her to connect meaningfully with students and families from diverse backgrounds. She is especially passionate about community engagement, having built strong volunteer-driven programs that connect students with enrichment opportunities.

Sandy brings her deep commitment to education, mentorship, and equity to her role as Assistant Director, Mentoring and Education. Her breadth of experience and collaborative approach support her work in guiding Future Link students through their academic and professional journeys.

Katie Young

Katie Young served as a facilitator for the Future Link Seminar for several years, beginning spring 2014. As Career Services Manager, Katie follows up with Seminar alumni, connecting them to one another through networking, encouraging them along their educational and career journeys, and linking them to needed resources. She also manages Future Link’s growing internship program. A native of Montgomery County, Katie graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ithaca College. She enjoys building relationships with the students and creating a space for them to flourish and reach their goals.

Vianey Mora

Vianey Mora grew up in the Chicago area until she attended Colby College in Maine, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Russian Language and Culture. She participated in the Teach for America program where she received her Teaching Certification from Johns Hopkins University. Vianey is tri-lingual. As a first-generation college student, Vianey witnessed the differences from her own lived experiences to that of her classmates. While in college, the support system she had from mentors, a scholarship program, and caring professors, made all the difference in her success. This inspired her to become an elementary school teacher in Baltimore, where she taught students from under-resourced communities. Through her teaching role, she became a mentor teacher and encouraged Loyola University students pursuing their Teaching Certification as they learned best practices. Vianey enjoys working with students and is very excited to enter the nonprofit sector to work with first-generation to college students. She subscribes to the one-on-one, supportive philosophy of Future Link as a beneficiary of this kind of support herself. Vianey is confident that her passion, skills, and personal experiences will be of tremendous value as she works with Future Link students.

Melissa Aguilar

Melissa Aguilar grew up in Ecuador, South America, before moving to Maryland at a young age. Growing up, Melissa enjoyed performing arts, interior design, and psychology. She graduated from Montgomery College with an Associate degree in Communications and later discovered her passion for education, pursuing a degree in Special Education from The University of Maryland, College Park.

As a dedicated educator, Melissa has worked with various organizations to help individuals achieve their full potential. She has experience as a Behavior Technician, working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, she taught at Casa De Maryland, where she helped Maryland’s immigrant community overcome many barriers and pursue new opportunities. Melissa then served as a special education teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools, collaborating closely with students and families to provide special education services and connect them with external resources.

As a first-generation college graduate, Melissa has overcome many obstacles throughout her life and career. She is deeply passionate about helping others break down similar barriers. Her personal and professional experiences uniquely position her to support Future Link students in their educational journeys. As a Student Engagement Associate, Melissa is committed to connecting with students, offering support, and demonstrating that with determination, anything is possible!

Juliana Murcia

A proud first-generation student from a family of immigrants, Juliana Murcia grew up in New Jersey in an environment that valued education and community engagement. She earned her Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Stockton University.

Juliana has built a diverse skill set through her roles in various educational settings. As a General Education Teacher, she designed engaging curricula and coordinated afterschool programs that connect students with real-world experiences. Her previous experience includes serving at the National Building Museum, where she led interactive lessons for students and fostered strong community relationships. Additionally, she has mentored aspiring educators from several DMV universities and contributed to the professional development of her peers. Active in the community, Juliana participates as an artistic collaborator celebrating diversity through the arts.

Juliana is passionate about empowering students and families, believing in the transformative power of education. Her experiences will serve her well as a Student Engagement Associate.

Josephine Baiamonte, JD, MA

Josephine Baiamonte is a leadership and career development coach with a 30-year career spanning the private sector and senior roles in the U.S. federal government. She now partners with nonprofits and workforce development programs to help emerging professionals build confidence, competence, and a clear path forward, especially during moments of transition.

As an immigrant raised in a multicultural family, Josephine understands how powerful mentorship and access to resources can be in shaping opportunity. Her work is rooted in the belief that talent is everywhere, but guidance and networks are not, and that practical support can change a person’s trajectory.

Josephine brings a goal-oriented approach that is both encouraging and action-driven. She helps individuals identify their strengths, name the skills they want to build, and set clear short- and long-term goals that feel realistic and motivating. She then guides them in turning those goals into a manageable plan with practical tools for resumes, interviews, networking, and workplace communication.

Mentoring and development have been threads she has carried through every role in her career, and she is energized by the opportunity to work alongside people as they grow into what’s next. She approaches each interaction with curiosity and respect, knowing the best conversations go both ways, and that growth is a shared process, grounded in trust, effort, and follow-through.

Wangari Kamau, MSc, GPHR

Wangari Kamau is a seasoned global talent development leader, wellness facilitator, and founder of Soma Global Consulting and Tembeya Wellness Retreats. Drawing on over two decades of international work experience—most notably at the World Bank Group—she has designed award-winning mentoring programs, designed and delivered onboarding and leadership development programs, and pioneered inclusive systems that empower individuals and teams to thrive across cultures.

Her personal journey as a mother of two globally educated adult children has shaped her deeply empathetic approach to emotional wellness and identity navigation. She also coaches first-generation immigrants through Future Link, guiding them through cultural complexity, career readiness, and emotional wellness.

A certified Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), Wangari’s expertise spans leadership development, performance management, cultural intelligence, inclusion, and wellness coaching. Her work experience includes countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. She facilitates meditation safari retreats to Kenya and curated wellness sessions that help individuals deal with stress and burnout through gaining inner peace and balance.

Fluent in English, Swahili, and French, Wangari is also a public speaker, board member, and passionate advocate for economic equity and emotional wellness. She brings her whole self—lived experience, professional depth, and a global heart—to every space.

Daon McLarin Johnson

Daon McLarin Johnson is a nonprofit executive, leadership strategist, and author committed to empowering communities through mentoring and education. He currently serves as a consultant and executive coach, guiding organizations in leadership transition, program development, and strategic growth. As the founder of LionsShare Leadership, Daon designs executive mastermind cohorts, empowerment workshops, and keynote experiences that inspire purpose-driven leadership. His writing—including Becoming Lion, The Legend of Kondoo, and The Art of Effective Mentoring—amplifies his mission to unlock human potential and build generational legacy.