Minds Matter Seattle Leadership
Staff
Victor Jesus Zamora
Executive Director
Victor joined Minds Matter Seattle as Executive Director in 2022. He graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science. As a low-income and first-generation college student, he has committed his career to successfully empowering young people to navigate college access and success. Victor has a wealth of experience in education, non-profits, and college access. Victor has worked in college admissions at both Seattle University and Oregon State University, as the Director of KIPP Through College with the KIPP charter school network in Denver, CO, and recently as a Programs Director with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. He is looking forward to making Minds Matter Seattle one of the premier college access programs in Minds Matter Network and the state of Washington. When he’s not with Minds Matter, he spends his time walking his dog, listening to the Mariner games, and spending time with family in Ellensburg.
Hayley Werner
Program Associate
Hayley Werner proudly joined Minds Matter Seattle in 2026. Hayley attended Chapman University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Psychology. She completed a one-year residency with Milwaukee Repertory Theater, joining their Education & Engagement team to develop Shakespeare curriculum, teach in Milwaukee Public Schools, and conduct dramaturgical research. After relocating to Seattle, she worked as the Education Programs Manager for Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE. There, she ran recreational classes, afterschool programs, and pre-professional development, serving over 500 students in the Puget Sound region annually. Hayley proudly prioritizes inclusivity, social emotional learning, and community building in her work.
Board of Directors
Nancy Li
Board Chair
Ranjit Kapila
Vice Chair
Co-President and Chief Operating Officer, Parametric
Thanh Nguyen
Secretary
Board Member, Minds Matter Alum
Software Engineer II, Microsoft
Forrest Collman
Board Member
Associate Investigator, Allen Institute
Daniel Pulse
Board Member
CEO, Pulse Consulting Group
David Totten
Board Member
Public Defender, Juvenile Division of King County Superior Court
Elana Botha
Board Member
Director of Finance, Microsoft
Jacqueline Middleton
Board Member
Attorney, Stoel Rives LLP
Keith Zander
Board Member
Nidhi Benevento
Board Member
Senior Product Manager, Amazon
Oeuyown Kim
Board Member
Strategy Officer, K-12 Education at Gates Foundation
Robin Blake
Board Member
SVP, Chief Financial Officer, Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Sylvie Thomas
Board Member
Managing Partner, The Simmons Group
