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Our Alumni
Carina Le
Current Role: Events Specialist at The Country Club
Higher Education: Newbury College, BA in Hotel Administration Management (2017)
Joined Steps: 11th Grade
Fun Fact: Carina always keeps mini bottles of tabasco in my purse! She is an enormous Celtics fan and hopes to be a season ticket holder in the future.
“Now, Carina is committed to giving back. She helps organize the annual Brookline Youth Fund Golf Tournament at TCC, which raises over $100,000 each year. The proceeds go toward grants and community programs, including Steps to Success, ensuring that other students can benefit just as she did.”
Carina Le is a dedicated team member at The Country Club (TCC), currently serving as the Events Specialist. With 14 years of tenure at TCC, she has held a variety of roles, each contributing to her deep understanding of the hospitality industry. Carina lives in Weymouth with her husband, who also works in hospitality. Together, they lead a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle, one that’s anything but ordinary. Steps to Success played a pivotal role in shaping Carina into the person she is today. As the first in her family to graduate from college, Carina credits much of her achievement to the support and guidance she received through the program. During her junior and senior years of high school, she lacked the motivation to apply to college, take standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, or even visit campuses. That changed when her counselor introduced her to the Work Connections program. Through the initiative, Carina secured a job at The Country Club, where she remains employed today. Steps also gave her the opportunity to tour colleges both locally and beyond, and helped cover the costs of college application fees. Now, Carina is committed to giving back. She helps organize the annual Brookline Youth Fund Golf Tournament at TCC, which raises over $100,000 each year. The proceeds go toward grants and community programs, including Steps to Success, ensuring that other students can benefit just as she did.
Carina is an active member of the Les Dames d ’Escoffier – Boston Chapter, an all-women organization dedicated to the education and empowerment of women in food, beverage, and hospitality. With over a decade of experience in hospitality, Carina also brings her professional passion into her personal life—she loves hosting gatherings in her free time. Her family is especially lucky, as she always has a well-planned itinerary or outing ready to go.
Thalia Jimenez
Current Role: College Success Initiative Advisor at Steps to Success, Inc.
Higher Education: Framingham State University, BA in Psychology (2018) | Boston University, MEd in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (2020)
Joined Steps: 4th Grade
Fun Fact: Thalia read 34 books last year!
"Inspired by the guidance of her CSI Advisor, Thalia began to envision herself in a similar role helping students navigate college with confidence and purpose."
With more than six years of experience in nonprofit and college access work, Thalia continues to support students across the region while staying connected to her Brookline roots. As a first-generation college student, Thalia didn’t realize how many hurdles she would face. Although she had the academic readiness, she later understood she hadn’t yet developed the self-assurance or self-advocacy skills she needed to thrive. The College Success Initiative (CSI) was a turning point for her. The motivation and encouragement she received from the program helped her come out of her shell and build the courage to connect more openly with others. Through this growth, she began to feel proud of her identity and more empowered in her college journey. Inspired by the guidance of her CSI Advisor, Thalia began to envision herself in a similar role helping students navigate college with confidence and purpose. Her journey brought her to graduate school at Boston University, to roles that built her expertise in the college advising and advocacy field, and finally back to Steps, joining the CSI team in 2025.
One of Thalia’s favorite traditions is going to Red Sox Opening Day. She’s gone three years in a row and hopes to keep it going. As a big fan of the team, she also admires the work of the Red Sox Foundation, which has deepened her appreciation for the power of nonprofits to create lasting impact in local communities.
Craig Alejandro Morgan
Current Role: Middle School Teacher at Shady Hill School
Higher Education: UMass Dartmouth, BA in English (2017) | Boston University, MEd in English & Language Arts Education (2019)
Joined Steps: 4th Grade
Fun Fact: Craig is an aspiring author and likes to stream games from time to time.
“Growing up in an environment where it often felt like others had an advantage due to family connections, Craig appreciated knowing that Steps was always there to support him.”
Craig Morgan is a Steps alum who has maintained a strong connection to the community. He currently lives in West Roxbury with his wife and their cat. Craig credits Steps with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He found it extremely helpful to have a group of adults in his corner who were deeply committed to the success of students like him. Growing up in an environment where it often felt like others had an advantage due to family connections, Craig appreciated knowing that Steps was always there to support him. Some of his favorite memories from Steps include the college tours and summer work opportunities he participated in as a BHS student, and receiving care packages during his time in the CSI program.
Craig is currently in his eighth year in education and his third year at Shady Hill School in Cambridge. Throughout his career, he has served as an academic dean, an advisor, and a facilitator for affinity spaces supporting young boys of African descent. In addition to his work in education, Craig is a passionate writer who hopes to publish his first fantasy novel in the near future.
Natalie Volcy
Higher Education: Wentworth Institute of Technology, BS in Interior Design (2024) | Savannah College of Art and Design, MBI in Creative Business Leadership (2027)
Joined Steps: 5th Grade
Fun Fact: Natalie loves fashion, dance, and speaks a second language.
"Natalie loves fashion and interior design, and plans to start a business after graduation that will allow her to pursue her interests professionally."
Natalie Volcy is a Steps alum with love for all types of art. She is currently in graduate school at the Savannah College of Art and Design, working towards a business degree. A Haitian-American, she comes from an immigrant family that always motivated her to work hard and study. Because many in her family pursued careers in medicine and technology, she did not have much exposure to the arts growing up. However, Natalie decided to make her own path in the creative world, studying Interior Design and pursuing fashion design while in college. Natalie joined Steps in the 5th grade. The program helped give her extra support in her schoolwork, connected her with her peers, and allowed her to explore jobs and different careers through workshops and internships. Steps also supported her through the college admissions process, helping her secure application fee waivers and providing guidance.
Natalie loves fashion and interior design, and plans to start a business after graduation that will allow her to pursue her interests professionally.
Mariano R. Suriel
Current Role: Physician Assistant at Brigham and Women's Hospital
Higher Education: UMass Dartmouth, BA in Biology (2016) | MGH Institute of Health Professions, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (2022)
Joined Steps: 9th Grade
Fun Fact: Mariano ran the 2018 Boston Marathon and once started the wave at Fenway Park.
“Mariano, along with his sisters Lesly and Kerimal – both of whom are Steps alumni and lawyers – credit Steps with fostering a strong community and supporting them in reaching their full potential.”
Mariano was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States with his family in 2003. He now lives with his fiancée in Boston and works as a Physician Assistant at Brigham and Women's Hospital in the Emergency Department. After moving to Brookline and joining Steps, Mariano became motivated to pursue higher education and gained an interest in medicine. With the support of his advisors, he began taking higher level courses, worked a summer internship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, became a member of the Steps High School Leadership Team, and participated in the Multicultural Student Achievement Network. He has fond memories of Steps camping trips, college tours, and summer workshops on résumé writing, interview skills, and networking skills. Mariano, along with his sisters Lesly and Kerimal – both of whom are Steps alumni and lawyers – credit Steps with fostering a strong community and supporting them in reaching their full potential. Mariano, Lesly, and Kerimal were featured in the 2024 Impact Report, which you can read here!
In his free time Mariano enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf, and exercising through running and hot yoga. At work, Mariano enjoys mentoring new PAs and residents; he also loves being able to use his first language, Spanish, with his Spanish-speaking patients.