Shaping the Future
Welcoming Tanisha Lee and Vanessa Kohn to Our Board of Directors
At Minds Matter Houston, we believe that community is our highest value and the basis for our success. To continue scaling our impact, bringing academic opportunities to more local families, and expanding our high-touch program, we must build a sustainable foundation of stable, visionary leadership. That is why we are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to welcome our two newest Board Members, Tanisha L. Lee and Vanessa Kohn, to the Minds Matter Houston Board of Directors! As we push forward with our ambitious strategic goal of doubling our student cohorts by 2030, the strategic guidance of Tanisha and Vanessa will be instrumental. They join an incredibly dedicated, 100% volunteer-run organization where over 90% of our annual budget goes directly to student programming—ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of our scholars’ college dreams.
Meet Tanisha L. Lee: A Lifelong Champion for Educational Equity
Tanisha joins our board as a highly respected, retired educational leader with over 30 years of experience cultivating cultures of academic excellence and equity across the state of Texas. Throughout her distinguished career, Tanisha has been a passionate advocate for students, bringing deep, specialized expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, and student achievement to Minds Matter Houston.For Tanisha, joining our board is a natural extension of her lifelong commitment to mentorship and college access. She understands that while talent is universal across Houston’s high schools, critical resources and opportunities are not."I am honored to join Minds Matter Houston because this organization doesn’t just dream about educational equity—it actively builds it," Tanisha shares. "By pairing driven, high-achieving scholars with dedicated mentors and rigorous academic training, we are equipping the next generation of leaders with the exact tools they need to succeed in college and beyond". Her vision will be vital as we work to recruit, onboard, and support our upcoming sophomore Class of 2029.
Meet Vanessa Kohn: Strategic Leadership for Our Next Chapter
Welcoming Vanessa Kohn to our board represents another monumental step forward in professionalizing our leadership infrastructure. Operating as one of the last entirely volunteer-led chapters in the national Minds Matter network means our strategic board plays a hands-on role in shaping our operations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising capabilities.Vanessa’s relationship with Minds Matter Houston began as a volunteer, driven by her alignment with the organization's mission and the tangible impact it creates for local students. She later reengaged with our chapter through Sempra Infrastructure's Give & Grow Grant program, which recognizes employee volunteerism by awarding grants to qualifying nonprofits. Professionally, Vanessa is a Corporate Affairs and Communications Associate at Sempra Infrastructure, where she leads employee engagement initiatives, social investment efforts, and community partnerships. Through her work, she has managed over $2 million in social investments across Houston and San Diego, helping create opportunities for employees to support nonprofits focused on education, environmental restoration, youth development, and food insecurity.Vanessa’s deep expertise in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and her passion for building partnerships that create lasting positive change will help strengthen our local organizational footprint, ensuring we have the long-term stability needed to expand our reach. Alongside Tanisha, Vanessa will work closely with our executive leadership team to build corporate alliances, engage local donors, and expand our network of supporters across Houston, Katy, and surrounding communities.Vanessa holds a BBA in International Business and Management from Loyola University Chicago and is an active leader in the Junior League of Houston. Outside of her professional commitments and board service, she enjoys traveling, exploring Houston, and spending quality time with her family.With Tanisha and Vanessa on board, we are better positioned than ever to close the opportunity gap and help our brilliant, first-generation scholars claim their rightful seats at top-tier college campuses.
Why Our Leadership and Volunteers Matter
Minds Matter Houston is far more than an academic prep program; we are a family. While our scholars benefit from expert-led Saturday morning SAT prep and writing & critical thinking tutorials, the heart of our model is the one-on-one, multi-year mentoring relationship that develops every Saturday afternoon.But to support more students, we need more hands on deck. We are currently recruiting local professionals to serve as co-mentors for our incoming sophomore cohort. If you have been searching for rewarding volunteer opportunities in Houston, this is your invitation to make a direct, lasting impact.By committing just 2.5 hours on Saturdays, you will be paired with a co-mentor to help a high-achieving, low-income student navigate standard SAT prep, build professional writing skills, research best-fit colleges, and successfully apply to fully funded summer college programs. Our structured curriculum and supportive volunteer community ensure you have everything you need to succeed —all you need to bring is your consistency and your heart for service.
👉 Help Us Bridge the Opportunity Gap and Scale Our Impact:
Apply to Volunteer: Join our volunteer family and apply to become a student mentor in Houston today.
Support Our Mission: If you cannot commit to mentoring, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help underwrite our Saturday program costs and academic preparatory materials for the Class of 2029.
