This spring ImpactED onboarded two new Fellows, Sarah Duska & Theresa Gassert. We're excited to introduce the newest additions to our team!
Sarah Duska
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
My childhood was split between New England and Virginia. For a large part of my childhood there was a lot of skiing, skating, and sledding and when my family moved to Virginia, the snow disappeared and suddenly I had to learn how to swim.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
I am excited to build a new skill that will ultimately allow me to build deeper connections with the community and get to better understanding around how to best meet community needs.
How do you like to spend your free time?
In an ideal world, my free time is spent reading 3 books at a time, going on long trail walks with my dog, and sharing meals with friends and family.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
This is tough because I feel like I hear something thought-provoking or motivating every day so my answer to this will change tomorrow. That being said, Octavia Butler has some great quotes on persistance. One in particular I love is: “You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
I would have dinner with the characters on the TV show, The Good Place. I think we would have a really good time.
Theresa Gassert
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I grew up in central Pennsylvania and have been living in Philadelphia for a little over a year after moving back home from the midwest. I learned about the work of ImpactED through my Master of Public Administration Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
As someone who is committed to a career in social impact work, the mission of ImpactED resonates with me. I am excited to work with the Social Impact Collaborative and DiverseForce on Boards programs and grow in my data analysis skills to deepen my understanding of program evaluation and measuring impact effectively.
How do you like to spend your free time?
When I am not relaxing at home with my cat, Jack, I am spending time my friends and family. I enjoy seeing live music, being outdoors, and learning or exploring new things!
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
What I have been saying to myself most recently is the phrase "you can." It can encompass so much, and has been quite motivating and inspiring for me.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
If I could choose anyone, I would have dinner with my maternal Grandmother, who passed away in 2012. She's always been a guiding light and uplifting presence for my family, and I am sure she would be proud of what I've accomplished!
