Meet Our Team

CEO

Debbie has 20+ years of non-profit management experience, tackling challenging community issues.

She has led efforts to expand and strengthen revenue development, strategic marketing, community engagement, advocacy, and services to expand and strengthen support for families battling the debilitating social and physical challenges of multiple sclerosis. Most recently, Debbie was the National Executive Vice President for the National MS Society, leading a diversified revenue plan and engaging donors, communities, and corporate partners to raise $172M in annual fundraising.

Prior to her work with the National MS Society and throughout her career, she was a strong advocate and personal supporter of critical social justice issues related to ending racism, empowering women, and tackling other injustices including poverty and homelessness of women and children. As a broadcast journalist for all three major network affiliates from 1994-2000, Debbie was recognized for tackling challenging community issues and bringing awareness to the rising number of homeless women and children, infringed rights for impoverished families and unjust laws and policies. She graduated with a B.A. in Speech Communication from the University of Minnesota. Debbie was accepted into the prestigious Washington political journalism internship program receiving credit for her work with the ABC news program, “This Week with David Brinkley”. She is a mother to four dynamic and energetic children. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, hiking “14ers” and enjoying time cooking with her husband, Chris.

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Born and raised in Colorado, Brianna has an extensive background in early childhood education including a Bachelor of Arts in Early Learning Studies from MSU Denver and has nearly ten years of experience in Early Childhood Education.

In her role at the YWCA, Brianna provides her Persimmon Early Learning students with the care they need to be successful and teaches them about being kind to the planet, learning through play, and getting creative with art and music.

In her free time, Brianna likes to going to concerts at Red Rocks, traveling, exploring, getting brunch, and spending time with her dog, Lip.

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

A Colorado native, Sema is an energetic and creative individual with over twenty years of experience working with children and families, with nine of those years in early childhood education. She has taught in Colorado and Hawaii.

Sema has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from MSU Denver. She started her own Waldorf inspired preschool pod during the COVID pandemic. Here at the YWCA, Sema offers the children of Persimmon Early Learning experiential learning, encouraging an emphasis on the arts and social emotional learning.

When not working, Sema can be found backpacking with her partner, dancing, enjoying live music or at the yoga studio.

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Persimmon Early Learning, Office Manager

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

A Colorado native, Robin began working for YWCA Boulder County in the summer of 2020. Prior to joining the organization, she worked in Early Childhood Education for nearly ten years.

In her role at the YWCA, Robin enjoys teaching young children in a caring and supportive environment. She loves working with children, getting to know their strengths, and helping them to learn new things.

Robin holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going on vacations with her family.

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Persimmon Early Learning, Co-Director

Originally from El Monte, California, Celina has an extensive background in early childhood education. Before becoming Senior Manager of Persimmon Early Learning, she received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Cal Poly Pomona University, and held roles as assistant teacher, lead teacher, Infant Nursery Supervisor, and Office Manager at YWCA Boulder County.

In her current role at the YWCA, Celina helps to manage the Early Childhood Education Program.

In her free time, Celina enjoys different types of arts and crafts, especially doing DIY projects at home.

Marketing and Events Manager

Human Resources & Organizational Development, Director

Raised in Arizona and Texas, Crystal has wide-ranging experience in human resources, including talent acquisition, employee training, and employee relations. In her role at YWCA Boulder County, she oversees all human resource functions of the organization, creating systems, processes, and policies to ensure all employees are supported to achieve the goals of the organization. Crystal is also responsible for leading and supporting the assessment of organizational needs and the design, implementation and evaluation of programs that facilitate the professional development and continuous learning of employees, particularly executives and emerging leaders.

Crystal holds a Masters of Industrial/Organizational Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, music, yoga, and binge-watching TV shows.

Persimmon Early Learning, Wellness Coordinator

Persimmon Early Learning, Nutrition Educator

Media & Communications

Raised in New Jersey, Ali has nearly 25 years of public relations and media relations experience. Prior to joining the YWCA Boulder County, she worked at the YWCA Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as several PR firms in the Bay Area, Denver and Boulder.

In her role at the YWCA, she will be planning and implementing marketing and PR campaigns as well as overseeing media relations and social media marketing.

Ali graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelor’s degree in English and History. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in open space with her husband and dogs, baking, and absorbing as much pop culture trivia as humanly possible.

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Community Engagement & Equity Coordinator

Grants Manager

Linda moved to Colorado late in 2021; she joined the YWCA team in February 2022. During her non-profit career in Southern CA, upstate NY, and NYC, she led fundraising efforts for performing arts organizations, literary arts organizations, artists’ communities, community arts centers, hospice, and state parks. While raising her family, she also worked as a fundraising consultant, grant-writer, event planner, and copywriter for arts and environmental protection organizations.

In her role at the YWCA, she has primary responsibility for developing strategies to increase the engagement of supporters, and for growing individual giving and grant revenue.

Linda graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor’s degree in Art History and earned her MBA at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She enjoys long walks and podcasts, visiting museums and galleries, attending concerts, reading, and conversations about books and food.

Persimmon Early Learning, Teacher

Finance, Manager

Bookkeeper

Born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Vicki’s background is in elementary school level teaching, massage therapy and volunteering. She began volunteering at the YWCA in 2006, and that led to her current role with the organization.

In her role at the YWCA, Vicki oversees accounts payable and receivable, data entry, and payroll.

Vicki graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In her free time, she enjoys playing the fiddle in a band that plays for Contra Dancing and volunteering as a storyteller for the Louisville Library and Spellbinders.

Persimmon Early Learning, Co-Director

Community Engagement and Equity, Director

Originally from Chicago, Shiquita has an extensive background in the nonprofit sector. Before joining YWCA Boulder County, she worked for Community Foundation Boulder County, The Austin Housing Authority as a Property Manager, and was a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) case manager for Hurricane Katrina evacuees and a property manager for Austin Housing Authority.

In her role at the YWCA, Shiquita directs core programs like Reading to End Racism (RER), Latina Achievement Support (LAS), and STEM,.

Shiquita serves as a Longmont City Council member; is an EFFA Program Committee member; and is the host of KGNU ‘s radio show, “Victorious Single Parents”. Additionally, she co-founded Families of Color Colorado, and served as a YWCA Boulder County board member.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and cooking.