EMERGE
Lisa Tochi Banyem, M.Ed, currently serves as a Program Manager at EMERGE since July 2022. Prior experience includes a High School English Teacher role at Alief ISD from November 2021 to September 2022 and Secondary English Teacher at Yellowstone Schools from July 2020 to June 2021. Additionally, Lisa worked as an English Teacher for the Houston Independent School District from August 2017 to May 2020 and as a Corps Member with Teach For America Houston from June 2017 to June 2019. Earlier in 2017, Lisa held a student internship in the Office of Policy and Planning at Harris County Public Health, focusing on initiatives against childhood obesity. Academically, Lisa earned a Master of Education from the University of Houston and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health Education and Promotion from The University of Georgia.
EMERGE
EMERGE's mission is to develop high-achieving students from underserved communities to be the next generation of leaders by preparing them to apply, attend, and graduate from the nation's top colleges and universities. EMERGE offers a student-to-college counselor ratio of 60:1 allowing staff members to work closely with students and their families to ensure success. EMERGE is an innovator among college access organizations nationwide and partners with selective schools that yield higher than average graduation rates and provides substantial financial aid for first-generation students from low-income communities. EMERGE scholars earn college degrees at 10x the national average for students from low-income, under-resourced communities.