OUR STAFF
Our staff is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of the ever-changing world of college admission, financial aid, and workforce demands to guide students and families as they plan for their future after high school. Our advisory team is passionate about helping students and committed to their success. We consider it our privilege to have the opportunity to guide this next generation of learners.
Pat has been a senior-level executive in the non-profit community for more than 25 years. Pat was awarded her MBA in Marketing from Cleveland State University and earned her Certified Fundraising Executive(CFRE) distinction in 1996.
As a teacher of fundraising principles, she currently is adjunct faculty at Baldwin-Wallace University, Arts Conservatory. She also is the principal of her own consulting business, Beyond Fundraising, which serves non-profit organizations in Northeast Ohio.
Pat serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Board and has been appointed to the Committee on Appointment, a two-year term that appoints members of the Fundraising Board and its officers. She is a past member of the AFPI Research Council and Publishing Committee. In 2011, she was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Cleveland Chapter.
A long-time resident of Bay Village, she has just moved to Brecksville. Pat is the proud mother of two adult children and five grandchildren. Her beautiful Golden Retriever, Lucy, resides with her.
Liz Brainard
LEAF Advisory Director
Career & College Advisor
lbrainard@leaf-ohio.org
Liz graduated from Houghton College with a Bachelor of Arts in both Communications and Biblical Studies and completed a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. She served as a pastor for nearly two decades in Lake County, working specifically with teens and families. She enjoys helping students determine their next steps and connecting families with resources through LEAF.
Magen Corbett
LEAF Career & College Advisor
mcorbett@leaf-ohio.org
Magen graduated from Lake Erie College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She has over 15 years of customer service, sales and marketing experience. Her background includes working as a Marketing Coordinator for Cardinal Community Credit Union where she had the opportunity to present financial seminars to area high school students. She is looking forward to assisting students In their pursuit of post-secondary education.
Elia De La Garza
LEAF Career & College Advisor
edelagarza@leaf-ohio.org
¡Hola¡ Elia De La Garza has two masters in Educational Leadership and a Certification in Special Education from National Louis University, and Curriculum and Instructional
Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a bachelors in Education with a double minor in Early Childhood and Bilingual Education from Alverno College. Elia has an extensive background teaching in public and private schools and even teaching internationally. Elia looks forward to helping students and their families to bring resources and assistance in order to be ready for college.
Michelle Fisher
Marketing & Publications Manager
mfisher@leaf-ohio.org
Michelle’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University and a Masters in Business Administration from Cleveland State. She has worked for large corporations and small businesses, but has found her non-profit work helping families and children to be the most rewarding. Michelle’s knowledge of college admissions and financial aid has recently been enhanced by her recent hands-on journey through the process with her daughters. Michelle is looking forward to helping local teenagers navigate the next steps as they explore their post-high school future.
Teresa Heavilin
LEAF Career & College Advisor
theavilin@leaf-ohio.org
Teresa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in both Communications and Sociology from Baldwin-Wallace University and earned a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has over ten years of experience with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs advising veterans and their families regarding education and other benefits. For six years prior to joining LEAF, she taught students of all ages within the classroom. She is excited to help students obtain the available resources in pursuit of their higher education goals.
Christine Jankowski
LEAF Career & College Advisor
cjankowski@leaf-ohio.org
Christine has a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She has always enjoyed working with children and young adults; first as a dietitian and then as an educator. Most recently, Christine worked in early childhood education at a local school. Having been on 45 college visits over the last several years, Christine brings extensive college research to LEAF through experiences with her three children. She looks forward to assisting others with the college admissions and financial aid process.
Heather Moll
LEAF Career & College Advisor
hmoll@leaf-ohio.org
Heather is an educator with nearly 20 years of experience working with teens and their families in both the Northeast Ohio and Washington, D.C. areas. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Theatre and received her Master’s in Education with a concentration in Special Education from the University of Virginia. Heather spent the majority of her career working as a teacher but also exercised her talents in the IT arena as a recruiter in the early 2000s tech boom. Heather keeps busy as a mom to three children ranging from toddler to teenager and loves Peloton biking, cooking, and musical theatre. She is looking forward to working with high schoolers to help them achieve their goals in the world of post-secondary education.
Renee Morgan
LEAF Career & College Advisor
rmorgan@leaf-ohio.org
Renee graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and completed a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in School Counseling at John Carroll University. She previously worked at General Electric in finance and marketing before pursuing a career in college admissions and financial aid counseling. Renee began working at LEAF in 2017. She advises at Aurora, Kenston, Chagrin Falls, and Orange High Schools.
Christina Muha
Executive Office Manager
cmuha@leaf-ohio.org
Christina studied Early Childhood Education and Office Administration at Columbus State. She has 20 years of experience as a Bookkeeper/Executive Administrative Assistant. Her countless hours of volunteering in her community, like serving as Treasurer for non-profit Music Mentors and Cardinal Voice, have become a big part of who she is today.
Bill Novak
LEAF Career & College Advisor
bnovak@leaf-ohio.org
Bill has an extensive background in activities and programming related to career development, career preparation, and work-based learning. Past experiences include the Adult Education Workforce Counselor at Polaris Career Center, Workforce and Talent Development Manager at MAGNET, Assistant Director for Cooperative Education at CWRU, and Career Development Supervisor at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center. His most recent position was with the Greater Cleveland Partnership promoting, establishing, and supporting pre-apprenticeships within the regional educational ecosystems at the secondary level. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from BGSU and a Master’s Degree in Education from Kent State. He is looking forward to working with the students, parents, and educators to assist the students with achieving educational, career, and workforce success.
Cheryl Suszynski
LEAF Career & College Advisor
csuszynski@leaf-ohio.org
Cheryl received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from John Carroll
Sarah Treen
Leaf Career & College Advisor
streen@leaf-ohio.org
Sarah graduated from Asbury University in Wilmore, KY with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a minor in Computer Science. She has a background in Information Technology, having worked for over a decade supporting customers and troubleshooting problems in a Healthcare environment. She is excited to help students discover all of the options available to them after they leave high school.