55% of All Star Code Scholars over the age of 18 are first generation college students.
All Star Code Ambassadors embody our values, champion a growth mindset, and provide a sterling example for our Scholars and mentors as they seek to expand our mission.
Chairman and a Managing Director of the venture capital firm General Catalyst. Prior to joining General Catalyst, Ken was Chairman and CEO of American Express Company from 2001 to 2018.
Founder and CEO of Year Up, a national program that empowers underserved young adults to enter the economic mainstream.
CEO of REFORM, CNN political contributor, and host of The Van Jones Show. Jones has been a leader in the fight for criminal justice reform for more than 25 years.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Information, the publication known for original, in-depth reporting about the technology industry.
Founder, Chairwoman, and CEO of Care.com, which launched in 2007. Today, Care.com is the world’s largest online destination for finding and managing family care.
Chairman of the Board of Infor, the third largest business software applications company in the world with 90,000 customers in 190 countries and 17,000 employees.
In 2000, Robert F. Smith founded Vista Equity Partners to invest in innovation by way of enterprise software and technology solutions. Today, he serves as Chairman and CEO of Vista, directing the firm’s strategy, governance and investor relations.
Darren Walker is president of the Ford Foundation, a $16 billion international social justice philanthropy. He is a member of the Reimagining New York Commission and co-chair of NYC Census 2020. Darren chaired the philanthropy committee that brought a resolution to the city of Detroit’s historic bankruptcy.
CEO of the technology-enabled investment platform Cadre, which he co-founded in 2014. Cadre is an online marketplace that provides institutions and individuals direct access to large commercial properties.
We are writing the code for the future — a world where underserved youth acquire financial independence and social mobility through the power of code.
As technology continues to shape our world, All Star Code prepares the next generation of visionaries by teaching Scholars they are capable of changing society — making a brighter future for us all.
The bright, talented people behind All Star Code work every day to create an environment where everyone can find and fulfill their potential.
Nadine Friedman-Roberts is a writer, disability advocate and nonprofit specialist practicing through an intersectional framework. With a background in theatrical direction and production, her social justice work is united by a love of storytelling. As a mother on behalf of her son, she has a personal passion for defeating ableist supremacist institutions which harms all people.
Contact Nadine
Hunter is our Senior Finance and Administration Manager and has been with All Star Code since 2016. Growing up, he was enrolled in similar non-profit programs that helped low-income minorities pursue higher levels of education which informs his work and passion behind All Star Code's mission.
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Bringing awareness to All Star Code’s mission and its network of talented Scholars ignites Tony’s passion as a marketer – with the hope that telling the incredible stories of these future leaders will further inspire others to be agents of positive change.
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As a CS educator, Khye's work centers around mitigating educational inequities through the lens of Computer Science. He strives to maneuver education theories such as culturally relevant and student-centered pedagogy, and asset-based approach to make a significant impact in his students' lives.
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With a background in the nonprofit sector & disability rights community, Olivia spent the last 5 years working in STEM funding & philanthropy. Passionate about cultivating energy & engagement around STEM, Olivia is committed to increasing awareness and access in STEM education and the pipelines that lead into the tech sector.
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Lincoln Thompson creates pathways to success for young people. As Senior Manager of Workforce & Corporate Engagement at Allstar Code, he builds strategic corporate partnerships that connect talent with opportunity. Focused on building the next generation of All Star-level talent, he helps open doors, shape futures, and provide pathways for meaningful careers. On a side quest, he’s attempting to bridge the communication gap between Gen X and Gen Z, fostering connection as we all navigate the roller coaster that is life.
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For years, Pryanka has witnessed determination and passion in each of our Scholars, and has been fortunate enough to see them transform into software engineers, project managers, and educators. This, and her strong affinity for data analytics, continues to motivate her to make the All Star Code experience more robust and sustainable.
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As a former All Star Code student, Dante wanted to give back and help improve the amazing program he went through so many more students would be able to have that same life changing experience. Dante creates custom tools and websites along with helping the management and execution of internal processes, and works to create and improve All Star Code's SI curriculum.
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Our board members are the stewards of our mission, dedicated to creating opportunities for access-seeking communities in the innovation economy. Each one brings valuable knowledge and insight from perspectives that have been informed by their own unique journeys.
Gavin is Vice President of Engineering at Google. Gavin is on the board of CFY New York, a nonprofit organization that helps students in low-income communities utilize digital learning to further their education. Gavin earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science and economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Rautz Marc is a Senior Risk Director in the Institutional Investment Group - Risk Management Office. Rautz joined Vanguard in 2021 from Prudential Financial where he served in a variety of risk roles over his 13-year tenure at the firm. During his time at Prudential, he provided Operational risk oversight for several areas such as Actuarial, Chief Investment Office, Customer Experience, Operations, and Strategy. Rautz also helped develop various risk frameworks and led cross-functional teams to implement those frameworks across the enterprise. Prior to joining Prudential, Rautz was an auditor with KPMG and worked for the investment banking team at JP Morgan Chase.
He currently sits on the national board of the National Association of Black Accountants Inc. (NABA) and is a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs.
He earned a B.A. in Finance and Accounting and an M.S. in Finance and Investment Management from Temple University.
Ed Cordero has a long and distinguished 35+ year career in Technology and Financial Services. He currently has a senior role at Protiviti, a management consulting firm, focusing on cybersecurity, technology risk & controls, as well as organizational transformation initiatives.
Prior to joining Protiviti, Ed was a Managing Director at JP Morgan and has held executive leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.
Ed is also an advocate for advancing the opportunities for underserved communities.
Djassi Julien is a Software Engineer at Google, where he works on improving the experience of Google Search users by organizing the search results page. He participated in the All Star Code Summer Intensive in 2014 and is a member of the first cohort of All Star Code alumni. He is also the first All Star Code alumni to sit on All Star Code’s Board of Directors. Djassi graduated in May 2020 from Harvey Mudd College where he studied Computer Science, Mathematics, and Literature.
Benny Gonzalez is the CEO of Palante Enterprises, LLC, a management consulting and leadership development firm. He has led technology and business teams at AT&T, Citigroup and JPMorgan, developing strategies, products, operations and programs. He has also supported diversity initiatives at corporate and local levels, and served on non-profit boards for 10 years.
Marcus Mitchell is a Senior Engineering Director at Google. He works on software to automate Google’s supply chains for building data centers, consumer electronics, and more. He also works on Google initiatives to increase diversity in the tech industry. He previously worked on Google Checkout, Google Wallet, Google.org, and search personalization.
Erica brings over twenty years of experience in account management, business development, and integrated marketing. She currently serves as Managing Director, Client Services at Elephant, a leading creative agency specializing in digital product, brand, and communications.
Her extensive background includes roles at renowned agencies such as Huge, Digitas, and Gilt Groupe. Erica's strategic insight and leadership have driven large-scale engagements across various sectors, enhancing brand and digital communications for numerous clients. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University and has been recognized as one of Business Insider's Rising Stars of Madison Avenue and a Webby Awards nominee and honoree.
David Velasquez is a Vice President at Hodes Weill & Associates and is responsible for coverage of institutional investors and consultants across the Southeast region of the US. Previously, David worked as a Vice President in the Capital Formation and Investor Engagement group at Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. In this role, he focused on the marketing of renewable infrastructure strategies and investor due diligence. David’s previous experience includes investor relations roles at Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and I Squared Capital where he supported the fundraising of renewable and diversified infrastructure funds. David started his career at Citigroup’s Alternative Assets Group after graduating from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a concentration in Economics.
From 2012 through 2015 Michael served as Chief Investment Officer and founder of Larkin Point Investment Advisors LLC. Michael served Mariner Investment Group as a global macro portfolio manager, and served as Chief Risk Officer of Bear, Stearns & Co. from 1989-1998. Michael joined the Finance Committee of All-Star Code in 2018.
We are accepting applications for our 2025 Summer Intensive which kicks off on July 7, 2025.
No coding experience necessary – just passion and drive.
