Three smiling people standing in front of a black and yellow patterned wall. The person on the left is a man wearing glasses, a black jacket, and a black shirt with pink and white text. The person in the middle is a woman with large curly hair, wearing a white shirt and a distressed denim jacket. The person on the right is a woman with short hair, wearing glasses and a shiny black puffer jacket with a desert-themed graphic shirt underneath.
Three smiling people standing in front of a black and yellow patterned wall. The person on the left is a man wearing glasses, a black jacket, and a black shirt with pink and white text. The person in the middle is a woman with large curly hair, wearing a white shirt and a distressed denim jacket. The person on the right is a woman with short hair, wearing glasses and a shiny black puffer jacket with a desert-themed graphic shirt underneath.
A gradient arrow pointing downward and to the right, with green to blue coloring.

From One School Community to a Multi-Region Network

UtmostU was built around a simple belief: young adults are more likely to persist when support systems stay connected, responsive, and relationship-centered beyond high school. What began as a local effort to help students navigate postsecondary transitions has grown into a multi-region network supporting young adults across diverse pathways.

Contact Us
Donate 
MISSION

UtmostU’s mission is to empower young adults to realize their professional aspirations by supporting their successful degree attainment and career preparation.

PURPOSE

Every young adult should have a clear, supported path from school to career.

Our History

UtmostU began within the Comer Education Campus on Chicago’s South Side, where educators and postsecondary coaches worked to help graduating seniors stay connected to support beyond high school.

As the model evolved, it became clear that ongoing coaching, coordinated resources, and timely interventions were helping more young adults persist through college and career pathways.

In 2019, UtmostU became an independent nonprofit organization with the goal of expanding that support model across a broader network of schools and youth-serving organizations.

What began with two affiliate partners supporting approximately 250 young adults has grown into a multi-region network serving more than 1,500 Fellows through 17 partner organizations.

Meet the Team

UtmostU’s team brings together expertise in coaching, data systems, partnerships, program coordination, and postsecondary support.

  • A smiling blonde woman with earrings, wearing a brown and black striped top, in a well-lit indoor setting.

    Amanda Bates-Kravitz

    Director of Programs

    LinkedIn

  • Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with light brown wavy hair wearing black-rimmed glasses with tortoiseshell accents, earrings, and a dark top, against a blurred background.

    Rebecca Connie

    Sr. Manager of Data Narration

    LinkedIn

  • A smiling young woman with straight dark hair wearing a black blazer.

    Amy Huang

    Executive Director

    LinkedIn

  • Close-up of a smiling African American man with short curly hair, wearing diamond earrings and a light-colored checkered blazer.

    Camari Jones

    Fellow Experience Coordinator

    LinkedIn

  • A woman with curly hair, clear glasses, and earrings smiling at the camera, wearing an off-the-shoulder gray top.

    Jasmine Nelson

    Sr. Manager of Post-Secondary Coaching

    LinkedIn

  • A woman with curly hair smiling, wearing a yellow blazer over a black turtleneck, accessorized with layered gold necklaces and earrings.

    Gabriella Pierre-Louis

    Manager of Partnerships

    LinkedIn

  • A woman with long black hair, wearing a dark blazer and silver hoop earrings, smiling against a dark gray background.

    Sandy Tran

    Fundraiser & Grant Writer

    LinkedIn

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, wearing a light-colored blazer and a black top, with a blurred indoor background.

    Christine Witnik

    Operations Consultant

    LinkedIn

Board of Directors

UtmostU’s Board of Directors brings experience across education, workforce development, philanthropy, technology, and nonprofit leadership.

  • A woman with curly hair smiling, wearing a navy blazer and a necklace.

    Lauren Akainyah

    Vice President of Sales
    Major Account Services Chicago at ADP

  • Professional portrait of a man in a dark suit and glasses smiling at the camera.

    Mathieu Davis, Ph.D.

    Consultant
    Boston Consulting Group

  • Close-up of a woman's face with curly, reddish-brown hair and a smile, wearing a black top.

    Pat Ford

    Executive Director
    Steans Family Foundation

  • Professional headshot of a smiling man with glasses wearing a black suit and tie, on a white background.

    Shannon Fuller

    Vice President of Talent
    Health Care Services Corp.

  • Smiling African American man with short hair and beard, wearing a dark zip-up sweater and black shirt, standing against a plain gray background.

    Daniel Johnson

    MBA Candidate
    University of Georgia

  • A smiling man with short dark hair, wearing a blue checkered shirt, against a dark blue background.

    Thackston Lundy

    Vice President of Workforce Pathways
    Accelerate U, a division at National Louis University

  • A smiling middle-aged man with dark hair, wearing a suit and tie, in an office setting.

    Greg Mooney

    President
    Comer Science & Ed. Foundation

  • Professional headshot of a man in a suit smiling against a gray background.

    Mike Pincus

    Retired Capital Markets and Commercial Banking Executive
    BMO Financial Group

  • Portrait of a bald man wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and patterned tie, smiling against a white background.

    Ronald Seymore

    Advisory Managing Director Enterprise Solutions
    KPMG US

Organizational Information

UtmostU is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Financial Forms

Form 990

Learn More About the UtmostU Network

Interested in learning more about UtmostU’s model, partnerships, or support opportunities?

How It Works
Contact Us