Elevate Oregon Staff & Board

Meet the Elevate Family: Our dedicated staff and Board of Directors

The Elevate Oregon Team

On the Ground: Our coordinating staff, Teacher/Mentors, and Mentor/Coaches work in the classroom, 1:1 with students, and behind the scenes to help Elevate students to be their best selves.

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Donell Morgan

Executive Director

Donell Morgan’s role as Executive Director at Elevate Oregon is the culmination of his entire life’s experiences.

He grew up in the inner city, starting his basketball career in high school and continuing through college, which led him to playing basketball around the world. After retiring from basketball, Donell worked first-hand with troubled youth at Echo Glen Children’s Center, a detention home where he helped young men & women piece their lives back together. For 10 years, he coached basketball at Umpqua Community College, kick-starting his mentorship of young African American men and becoming the first African American coach in Douglas County. Donell worked to open two Boys & Girls clubs in his hometown of Tacoma.

Now, as Executive Director at Elevate Oregon, Donell continues to mentor students and build life-changing relationships. His goal is to give back to his communities all that was given to him and more. An energetic and engaging speaker, Donell aims to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders who will transform communities and build a better future.

In his free time, Donell recently earned an MBA at Willamette University. He enjoys learning, cooking, and – never having given up his love of the game – coaching Parkrose High School’s Varsity basketball team and Elevate Oregon’s one-week Community Basketball Camp each summer.

Sarah Dougherty

Director of Programs

Growing up a Portland native, Sarah always saw the need for support for underserved youth. She has spent her life helping youth pursue their passions and dreams, starting with her deep involvement with her faith as a youth leader and mentor. Sarah served as Teacher/Mentor for Elevate’s Class of 2022, guiding her cohort for all 4 years of their high school career. During her class’s senior year, she also served as high school Program Manager, mentoring new staff around her, creating new curriculum, and developing highly effective relationships with program partners in the Portland community. Sarah's passion for youth development, her tireless work ethic and her natural loving spirit have enabled her to give back in a way that is deeply meaningful to her and everyone around her. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Psychology/Human Development at Warner Pacific University so that she can better assist youth in reaching their goals.

Tiffany Robinson

Middle School Program Manager

Tiffany is a Portland native and a 2007 Jefferson High School alumni. It has been her passion to assist low-income families and youth in need of mentorship and guidance for over 10 years. In roles such as After School Program Teacher, Summer School Teacher, In-School Coordinator, IDA Coordinator, Community Agent Coordinator, PTA President and as an Elevate Oregon Teacher/Mentor, Tiffany has elevated and enriched the lives of hundreds of Portland youth.

The positive mentorship she was given in local non-profit organizations growing up moved Tiffany to serve as a role model that children still look up to even when they have graduated. She loves to bring out that "Inner Positive Successful Person" in everyone around her! Tiffany is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Development at Warner Pacific and is the CEO of her own hair business.

Michelle Braxton

Elementary School Program Manager

P. Michelle Braxton is a Portland native and a long-time resident of the Parkrose neighborhood. She brings over 20 years of skills, knowledge, and experience in child advocacy and education to her role at Elevate Oregon. In her work as a youth mentor, Qualified Mental Health Associate, Restorative Justice Coordinator, Foster care Provider, Behavior Specialist, and SUN School program manager, she has been privileged to work with some of the most underserved and displaced communities in Oregon. Michelle is an intentional and committed Change Maker, using her influence to speak for the voiceless, serving as a positive role model, and selflessly advocating for underserved populations in need of a helping hand. This work feeds her soul. In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and event planning.

Shannon Petrina

High School Teacher/Mentor

Shannon was born and raised in Portland, and became involved in working with youth in athletics while running on the track team at Portland State University. Her love for working with people and wanting to make a lasting impact in others’ lives led her to work in the school and community. Starting as an instructional assistant and then as an On Track Coordinator at Parkrose, she realized building relationships and seeing her students’ personal growth fueled her passion for the work. She wants to be a positive light in the students' lives and someone they can count on.

Xavier Dupree

High School Teacher/Mentor

Xavier joins Elevate after a career playing professional basketball overseas. He also owns his own clothing line. As part of our elementary school expansion, Xavier began working with Elevate Oregon as a Mentor/Coach at Russell Elementary School. He now joins the high school team as Teacher/Mentor for the Class of 2025.

Anthony Green

High School Teacher/Mentor

Anthony was raised in the heart of NE Portland. Growing up without a father and having little to no exposure to male role models help fuel his passion to be a part of the change that is needed for today's youth. His journey for youth advocacy began through volunteering as a Community Ambassador with Nike's Made to Play Program, and as a mentor with the Big Brother Big Sister program. Anthony's goal is to inspire the next generation by teaching them the fundamental skills of self-advocacy and leadership.

Diondra Dukes

High School Teacher/Mentor

Diondra was born and raised in Southern California. Although she received a bachelor’s in Spanish from Fisk University in Nashville, TN, working with youth has always been her passion. During her college years, Diondra helped run a summer day camp for an underprivileged community. Being able to serve these families and children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to the activities, field trips, and mentorship was a great honor. In her spare time, Diondra loves to spend time with her son. Her dream is to encourage all of her students to see and ELEVATE their own great potential.

Adofo Lawrence

Middle School Teacher/Mentor

Adofo joins Elevate Oregon after nearly 20 years in youth development. His passion for working with youth began in high school when he volunteered as a student leader with Outdoor School. Since then, he has worked with a variety of organizations as an Educational Assistant, In School Coordinator, Caregiver, Youth Development Mentor, Camp Counselor and Group Leader. Adofo grew up playing sports, attending summer camps, and playing at parks around the inner city neighborhoods in St. John’s and NE Portland. He attended Jefferson, Marshall and Vocational Village High Schools before attending Portland Community College. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, watching sports, and coaching basketball.

De'Aziah Bradley

Middle School Teacher/Mentor

De'Aziah is a Parkrose High School graduate. As a former Elevate student, she worked as a student leader at every Elevate Oregon camp, served as a peer mentor in Little Lift, and gave the student address at our 2020 annual fundraiser. She loves working with middle school youth. In her spare time, she is doing her pre-Med coursework at Portland Community College.

Chandra Roseby

Elementary School Mentor/Coach

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Chandra Roseby has lived in Parkrose for over 20 years. As an Educational Assistant at Russell Elementary for 10 years, she served youth in Special Education as well as youth with autism. During that time, she built strong relationships with students and families in the community which will serve her well in her new role as Elevate's Mentor/Coach at Russell. Chandra strives to create lasting connections with her mentees in order to support and uplift them throughout their school years. In her free time, she serves as a mentor and basketball coach to North/NE Portland boys and girls.

Luz Ruiz Ruiz

Elementary School Mentor/Coach

Luz is a former Elevate student, a trained dancer, and a Parkrose High School graduate. She joined the Elevate Oregon staff in January of 2021 in a new, full-time position at Shaver Elementary School.

Jaelen Blake

Elementary School Mentor/Coach

Jaelen is a former Elevate student and a Parkrose High School graduate. He’s an avid gamer with a passion for helping youth and the community he grew up in. He joined the Elevate Oregon staff in January of 2021 in a new, full-time position at Sacramento Elementary School.

Andre Reasno

Elementary School Mentor/Coach

Andre joins Elevate Oregon's team as a full-time Mentor/Coach at Prescott Elementary School after working as a Program Coordinator at Prescott for 2 years. Growing up, he developed strong leadership and management skills through playing sports all of his life (basketball, football, and track). Andre has the knack for helping the people around him grow and succeed, and enjoys using that talent with the young lives to give them life and see them flourish!

Jennifer Lichtenberg

Director of Annual Giving

Jennifer has spent her career working directly with and supporting youth in the education and non-profit world. Originally from Florida, she moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2004. She has a degree in Communications from the University of Alabama and a Master’s degree from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. She lives in the Parkrose area, and is honored to bring her experiences and skills to Elevate in a fundraising role, to help build and expand on the foundation that has been laid. In her spare time, she is a visual artist, specializing in painting and collage.

Angela Taylor

Director of Finance

Born and raised in inner city Portland, Oregon, Angela was an at-risk youth who skipped school, got bad grades, and eventually dropped out of high school to become a teen parent. Years later, she earned a GED at and graduated from the Portland State University School of Business Administration for Accounting. Her passion and dedication for the community has led to a decade serving local area nonprofit organizations. Angela is excited to share her personal and professional experiences to support Elevate Oregon's mission. In her spare time, she enjoys nature photography, cooking, hiking, and playing the piano.

Kristen Robertson Rogers

Director of Development & Communications

A native Oregonian, Kristen attended the University of Oregon and Mills College in Oakland, California. With a strong writing background, she oversees Elevate Oregon's communications, grants and foundation relationships. Kristen has been deeply committed to Elevate Oregon’s work toward Educational Equity in Parkrose since 2017, when she started as a volunteer grant writer. In her spare time, she enjoys taking pictures, hiking with her dog, and hanging out with her family.

KJ Mack

Community Engagement Specialist

KJ was born and raised in South Carolina. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, he received his BA in Public Health and has a passion for serving and building up the next generation. KJ loves to build relationships and spent multiple years working with middle, high school, and college students in local church ministry. He brings a deep desire to help the people around him grow and succeed to his work at Elevate Oregon. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring new places, reading, writing, and playing sports.

Jim Wildermuth

Office Manager

Jim is an artist/entertainer who has lived all over the United States. For more than a decade, he has made his living working in office settings for health care teams and nonprofits. Jim is grateful for the opportunity to offer his abilities to an organization that is concerned with teaching valuable life skills to young people. He believes in forming relationships based on mutual respect so that together we can combat the fear that pervades the systems into which we were born.