Staff
Senior Director
Amanda Kucich serves as Senior Director for The Cradle to Career Partnership, a collective impact initiative anchored at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Amanda has 13 years of management experience in the non-profit sector, specifically with youth-serving organizations. Prior to her role with C2C, she directed United Way’s Youth Development Coalition working to build a network of high quality, supportive out-school time programs where she led the development and implementation of a county-wide quality improvement intervention system with more than 40 programs.
Before moving to Tucson she served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Samoa providing curriculum instruction and professional development for teachers at a school for students with special needs. Prior to her stint overseas, she coordinated therapeutic recreation programs at a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed boys just outside of New York City where she learned firsthand what happens to children and youth when community and family systems breakdown.
In 2010, Amanda was named one of Tucson’s 40 Under 40 by the Arizona Daily Star. She received her Bachelor's of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Grand Valley State University and her Masters of Public Administration from The University of Arizona.
Data Manager
Kassondra Silva serves as Data Manager for C2C. In this role, she collaborates with key stakeholders and partners to use data to inform strategies that improve educational outcomes and facilitates data sharing across The Partnership. She also supports the work of C2C Change Networks providing technical assistance, data visualization, and analysis to assist with continuous improvement.
Kassondra is a Tucson native who is passionate about using data along with community voice to improve practices that ensure every child succeeds in school and life. Prior to joining the team, she was a Research Analyst for several research projects focusing on children’s socio-emotional development and academic achievement at Arizona State University. While in this position, she worked on research design, supervised data collection, and conducted data analysis.
She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona and a Master’s of Science in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University.
Data Analyst
Alysha Ramirez Hall serves as a Data Analyst for C2C, working to support partners through database design, implementation, and analytics reporting.
Alysha was born and raised in Tucson and after years away is excited to return to conduct research that directly impacts the community. Prior to joining the team, Alysha worked as both a graduate student and post-doctorate researcher seeking to identify contextual barriers and supports for minority science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students. In addition, she examined discrimination and diversity exposure and how those may link to cognitive processes that are commonly associated with educational success in minority youth. Through these positions she has gained skills in project and data management, knowledge on educational attainment, and ability to translate data into approachable information. Her passion for examining youth and education is drawn from many years of work as a mentor, coach, and tutor. Alysha earned her PhD in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona in 2016. She held a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Human Ecology at the University of California, Davis.
Kindergarten Readiness Change Network Facilitator
Allison Titcomb, Associate Vice President for Community Development at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, serves as the facilitator for the Kindergarten Readiness Change Network known as First Focus on Kids. She provides leadership and management support for First Focus on Kids and oversees grant-supported programming in early childhood, regional coordination, and other community development work.
Prior to this role, Allison has been a consultant working with local programs, community-based organizations and non-profits, governments, foundations and coalitions in strategic planning and evaluation.
Allison completed her Bachelor's and PhD at the University of Arizona. Her graduate work in Educational Psychology included memory and decision-making across the lifespan and Evaluation Methods. She has certifications in Human Systems Dynamics, Cognitive Coaching, Mediation, Facilitation, and Strengths-based career assessments. She also teaches part-time for the University of Arizona in Leadership, Advocacy & Community Building and Evaluation Methods.
Opportunity Youth Strategic Consultant
Ashley Janicki serves as the Opportunity Youth Strategic Consultant for C2C. She is responsible for facilitating the work of Youth on the Rise, the change network focused on the re-engagement of youth not in school or work.
Before joining the C2C team, Ashley worked in behavioral health services where she partnered with community behavioral health providers to support young people transitioning out of the children’s behavioral health system to the adult behavioral health system. Prior to moving to Tucson, Ashley lived in Dayton, OH where she worked for Ohio State University Extension as a youth development professional supporting a non-traditional out-of-school time program for seven years. While in this position, she worked on program development, design, oversight, evaluation and training as well as supervision of youth and staff for a variety of programs.
Ashley earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Education from the University of Dayton and a Master’s of Science in Extension Education from The Ohio State University.
Youth Engagement Project Manager
Allison (Allie) Field Bell serves as the Youth Engagement Project Manager for C2C. She is responsible for managing and facilitating the United Youth Leadership Council (UYLC)—a council composed of Opportunity Youth who inform, advise, and co-develop the work of Youth on the Rise to continuously improve the systems and organizations that serve young people in Pima County. She collaborates with UYLC members to lead creative, individualized short-term and long-term projects that serve to increase the capacity of C2C’s community engagement and impact.
Allison is also a writer. Prior to joining the C2C team, she pursued writing and education primarily in university settings. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Literature and Creative Writing from Prescott College and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Fiction from New Mexico State University. There she worked for three years as a graduate instructor, teaching and crafting curriculum for Creative Writing and Rhetoric and Composition courses. Allison is originally from California but has spent the better part of the past decade living elsewhere, from New Mexico to the Middle East to Indiana to Greece. Her literary work and author interviews have been published or are forthcoming in The Florida Review, Fugue, New Madrid, The Gettysburg Review, The Brooklyn Rail, Puerto del Sol, and elsewhere.
C2C Community Engagement Project Manager
Robert Clark serves as the Community Engagement Project Manager, where he works closely with the senior director and the C2C team to support the implementation of a communications plan. He also manages our social media presence through Facebook and Twitter. Robert ensures that all the collateral materials are C2C brand-compliant, compelling, effective and representative of the Cradle to Career Partnership's mission and vision.
After graduating from the University of Arizona with a Master’s of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health in 2016, he was accepted into the Doctor of Public Health Program to research and develop school-based interventions for early adolescents. Throughout his experience in education, he has worked with youth from kindergarten to post-secondary sectors. Robert aspires to affect positive change for all youth in Pima County.
Senior Program Manager
Katy Gross serves at the C2C Administrative Program Manager. She assists the C2C team with meeting, events, coordinating travel for conferences and other administrative tasks. She is also an active in our opportunity youth change network and oversees the work of our youth interns.
Katy wears many hats at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. While she works with Cradle to Career, she also provides support to the Great Expectations - Professional Development grant, the Family Support Alliance, and United Way’s policy and advocacy efforts in health and wellness.
Katy earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the University of North Georgia in 2010 and received a Master of Arts in 2012 from Richmond the American International University, London UK. While in London, she had the opportunity to intern for Emily Thornberry, a member of the UK parliament. Before moving to Tucson, Katy lived in Atlanta where she worked as a coordinator for a local security company. In her spare time, Katy enjoys travelling, reading, and spending time with family.
