Executive and Home Office Staff
Matthew Fraser, CEO & Executive Director
Matthew Fraser and several college friends founded Education Unlimited in 1993 with the vision of teaching students critical thinking skills in a fun learning environment. For nearly 20 years Matt has also been the Program Director of the Stanford Debate Society - the inter-collegiate debate team at Stanford University, and the Program Director of the debate program at The Head Royce School of Oakland, one of the nation's leading private schools. Matt has been a speaker at numerous conferences and Universities on issues including free speech rights for students, effective SAT preparation, and the effect of extra-curricular activities in college admissions. During his tenure as Executive Director Education Unlimited has grown from a single program with 34 students in its first year to roughly 40 sessions of camp with about 1,000 students eighteen years later!
Jenny Herbert , COO & CFO
After directing and teaching at Education Unlimited summer programs for many years, Jenny joined Education Unlimited's management team in 2003. Her primary responsibilities are to manage the business and financial operations of the company. Jenny earned her MBA with honors from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and is an honors graduate of Stanford University, where she received the Deans’ Award for Academic Accomplishment. Jenny’s academic research, focusing on children’s attitudes about reading and math, has been published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and presented at the meetings of the American Educational Research Association and the National Science Teachers Association.
Kenya Williams, Director of Admissions
Kenya earned her B.A. from Howard University in Fine Arts and Journalism and has taken graduate courses in Art History at Dominican University. She has eight years of experience working in education as a teacher and transcriber for the hearing impaired at Redwood High School. Kenya has been a member of the EU team since 2006 and is currently the Director of Admissions.
Chris Waage, Director of Special Programs & Day Camps
New to the EU family in the 2011 summer season, Chris brings the experience and fun of more than 11 years directing summer camps and after school programs. With his love for community and tireless energy, he has impacted youth and recreation professionals throughout the Bay Area. As a consultant and trainer, he continues to raise the standards for best practices in asset centered programming and quality staff development. As the Director of Special Programs and Day Camps, Chris will expand program offerings, create new experiences, and continue to bring endless fun to summer camp.
Heather Barton, Home Office Staff
Heather received her B.A. in Biology from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta in 2005 and completed her MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business at Mills College in 2012 with an emphasis in Marketing. Having worked in public education in many shapes and forms throughout her career, as a summer camp counselor in high school, as a Resident Assistant in college, as an education biologist for year-round school and summer camp groups at the Georgia Aquarium, and as a Communications Consultant for several Bay Area nonprofits campaigning for summer learning funding, Heather brings 20 years of experience as both a camper and a supporter of summertime learning to Education Unlimited. She's also a scuba-diving, tree-hugging, dog-loving information and education junkie who loves to learn from other people and constantly works towards being a wise old woman.
Arianna Cantabrana, Home Office Staff
Arianna recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science. At Cal, she played trombone in the Cal Band and was a Varsity Coxswain for the Cal Lightweight Crew Men's Team. She has worked as a camp counselor since 2007 at Camp Whitsett and Camp Three Falls, both Boy Scouts of America summer camps, where she taught the Environmental Science, Camping, Pioneering, Orienteering, and Wilderness Survival merit badges. She recently came to Education Unlimited from the Habitot Children's Museum where she worked as an Exhibit Facilitator and the Development Assistant.
Rich Boltizar, Technology Director
Rich started with Education Unlimited in the summer of 2008, and after three summers in the home office along with consulting during the off-season, Rich joined the team full time in 2011. His major responsibilities include overseeing web and database development, electronic marketing/outreach and camp logistics.
Nermin Kamel, ECCT Director
Nermin Kamel is the Principal at Alhambra High School in Martinez, CA. She grew up in Southern California and received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science with a minor in Business from Whittier College in 1999. She later received a Master's Degree from California State University, Fullerton in Educational Administration. She taught English and speech/debate for 10 years at La Mirada High School in Southern California before going into school administration. She has served as assistant principal of San Ramon Valley High School for two years before joining Alhambra High School a year ago. Ms. Kamel comes to us with extensive experience in student travel having led delegations of students all over the United States and to more then 15 countries across Europe, Asia and the Pacific Southwest. In addition, for the past 9 years, Ms. Kamel has served as the vice-president of the California High School Speech Association directing the California High School Speech and Debate State Championships for nearly 2,000 students and coaches from throughout the state of California.
Janet Willford, ECCT Tour Leader
Janet Willford teaches leadership and speech & debate at San Ramon Valley High School. She grew up in the East Bay and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from UCSB in 1993. She has been teaching and coaching since 1994. Currently, she teaches speech and debate and leadership at San Ramon valley high school. She has served as the activities director for San Ramon Valley High School for the past 13 years. Mrs Willford is married with two pre-school and elementary aged children, and resides in Danville. As the winner of the Eukel Teacher's Trust award in 2004 one student said of Ms Willford: “I have never known a teacher who cares so much about her students, their lives, and their school. She is truly the best asset San Ramon Valley High School has”. A departing senior stated that “Students naturally gravitate to Ms. Willford. Whether I had a problem with a class, a friend, or a speech, she was there to listen and offer advice. Her classroom is not just a place to learn, but a home for many students.” A parent wrote: “Every mother dreams of a mentor to help their daughter blossom into a young woman. I could not have chosen a better woman for the job. Janet Willford is excellence on two feet”. And finally, one student who equated Janet with her own Mother told us :”Her spirit shines, her smile comforts, and her laugh makes you want to be around her. Janet is flat out amazing.”