The Quad Manhattan
Programs for Twice-Exceptional (2e) Children
Heather Goldman, Ph.D. – Supervising Child Psychologist
Dr. Heather Goldman, a Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Columbia University, has been the Supervising Clinical Psychologist for The Quad since its inception in 2010. She has over 10 years experience coordinating school-based mental health programs, running her own private practice and serving as a school psychologist at 2 schools, one that serves 2E children. She additionally teaches and is experienced in running clinical trials. Heather is the Program Director for The Quad's Psychosocial Internship Program and for the Certificate Program in Meeting the Needs of Twice Exceptional Children. She directs all afterschool programs and provides professional insight to the ALL programs at The Quad by supervising several interns and staff members in working with our kids. She is enthusiastic with knowledge and experience.
Email: heather@thequadmanhattan.com
Ashley Riviere – Director, Summer Camp
Ashley began at the Quad in 2012 as a Core teacher and as the Summer Camp Director in 2013. Ashley is a teacher, tutor, writer, and admirer of all things fun! Ashley graduated from The College at Brockport, SUNY with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and NYS Teaching Certification in English and Special Education. Ashley is currently a Special Education Teacher for New York City Department of Education. She specializes in reading and writing and has implemented two summer curricula for The Quad Manhattan including writing for the media and multi-cultural, hands-on reading with interactive field trips. Ashley has a true passion for teaching, children and their advancement in the world.
Email: ashley@thequadmanhattan.com
Mirlet Auguste – Capoeira and Dance Specialist
Mirlet Auguste has been teaching summer camps at the Quad since 2011. He is a Graduado from Grupo Capoeira Luanda NYC under the supervision of Mestre Jelon Vieira and has been training capoeira for over 8 years. Mirlet has also taught Capoeira at Kipp Amp Charter School in Brooklyn. A native New Yorker, Mirlet is also a free-style dancer and performer with a strong influence of Afro beats and House music and a full-time Fashion Designer.
Kimberly Busi, M.D. – Founder and Director
Kim Busi is a Psychiatrist in private practice in Lower Manhattan and a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. She left her faculty appointment in 2009 to found The Quad Manhattan. She received her Medical Degree from the Brown University School of Medicine in 1997. After completing a year’s training in Pediatrics at the New York Hospital-Weill Medical Center, Dr. Busi finished her residency training in Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine in 2001. At NYU, Dr. Busi has designed curriculum, and taught and supervised residents. She served on the Curriculum Committee for the Department of Psychiatry, and as the Director of Education for the NYU/Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture, a not-for-profit multidisciplinary treatment center within the Bellevue Hospital Center. There, she developed a multilevel curriculum to teach and supervise over 100 medical students, residents and psychologists. Best of all, she is the mother of two wonderful boys, 14 and 10.
Email: kim@thequadmanhattan.com
Nicole Cavaliere- Fine Art and Photography Specialist
Nicole started at The Quad as a fine arts teacher in 2013 and has taught in The Quad After School program and summer program as a Core Teacher. She is an artist and teaching artist with a degree in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute, where she taught in their Saturday Art School. She has also taught at Academy of the City Charter School in Queens and has worked with sick, disabled, and disadvantaged children in South America and Africa for 3 summers with the Hope For The Children Foundation.
Jackson Kent- Improvisational Theater Specialist
Jackson started at The Quad as an intern in the summer of 2013. He returned in the summers of 2015 and 2016 as an improv teacher. He was an assistant teacher at The Quad Preparatory School from 2013 to 2014. During this time he taught two afterschool classes in improv theater and psychosocial core curriculum. He has been working with children since 2009 and has been involved with theater for his entire life. Jackson completed undergrad studies in Psychology at Oberlin College and is currently pursuing a masters of social work at Hunter College and graduates in May of 2016.
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Jennifer Yu- Core Teacher
Jennifer is a graduate of Wellesley College and Teach For America, Jennifer holds Master’s degree in Secondary Special Education and is currently pursuing a PsyD in School-Clinical Child Psychology at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She has experience teaching co-taught and self-contained Reading to high school students and most recently worked with 2e children at the Quad Preparatory School and Quad Manhattan Afterschool Program where she has co-written curriculum for the humanities and taught after school programs.
Psychosocial Internship Class of 2025
Chief Intern Julia Dima, Wesleyan University Class of 2025
She/Her
Julia Dima, Wesleyan University class of 2025, double majored in Psychology and Hispanic Literatures and Cultures. She is especially interested in working with children and following the developmental psychology track. She completed research in Wesleyan's Cognitive Development Lab, as well as mentoring children in a local government subsidized housing unit and previously working as a camp counselor. In the Spring of 2024, Julia studied abroad in Spain where she continued her work with children. She successfully completed The Quad Manhattan's Psychosocial Internship in the summer of 2024 and returns to lead this year's cohort of highly qualified aspiring professionals. In her spare time, Julia likes to perform stand-up comedy and can often be found writing new jokes.
Ayya Omar, Fordham University Class of 2026
She/Her
Ayya Omar is an undergraduate student at Fordham University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Arabic. Ayya is interested in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. She is a research assistant in two research labs at Fordham University, the 3D Lab and the COMPASS Lab. She also serves as a Community Advisory Board member for the Fordham University Sleep Study (FUSS). She is the vice president of the Arabic Club and treasurer of the Psychology Club at Fordham University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, doing puzzles, and traveling.
Sophie Man-Hudspith, Bates College Class of 2026
She/Her
Sophie Man-Hudspith was born and raised in New York City and is currently a junior at Bates College studying psychology and gender studies. Sophie is one of four student managers of Bates' on-campus coffee shop where she leads a staff of twenty students of all class years.In 2024 she worked at Brown University as a resident assistant for their pre-college program, working with and advising high school students. She has spent the last six summers working at the Saltaire Market on Fire Island, working up the ranks and gaining more responsibility every year. Sophie has also been an Orientation Week Leader for Bates, welcoming the past two classes of incoming students through organized activities.
Lea Rosen, Pace University Class of 2026
She/Her
Lea Rosen is a dedicated professional currently pursuing her M.A. in Psychology at Pace University, New York. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from Hunter College, and an A.A. in Psychology from Liberty University, achieving academic distinction throughout her studies. Lea has a deep passion for working with children, she has extensive experience working as a nanny over the years, where she provided nurturing care, emotional support, and promoted healthy development for children of various ages. Her professional journey also involved volunteering at the Crisis Text Line and helping clients navigate through crises by helping them find resources that would fit their needs. She also worked on various research, including leading a project on the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), where she conducted interviews, data collection, and analysis. In addition, Lea is fluent in French, Hebrew, and English. With a keen interest in mental health and child development, Lea aims to continue her academic journey and obtain a PsyD in child Psychology.
Sydney Schmidt-Nowara, Bryn Mawr College Class of 2026
She/Her
Sydney Schmidt-Nowara, a junior at Bryn Mawr College, is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has spent the past year as a research assistant at the Intersectionality of the Social Mind Lab, where she researches children’s understanding of social categories and inequality using a uniquely intersectional approach. Sydney has also worked as a summer camp counselor, college writing center tutor, and help desk technician, all of which have given her extensive experience in guiding others to accomplish their goals. She is especially interested in the application of social-developmental research in counseling settings and hopes to explore this passion further in graduate school. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and cross-stitching.
Johanna Scher, Colby College Class of 2026
She/Her
Johanna Scher, a junior at Colby College majoring in Psychology and Global Studies with a concentration in Global Health, is also a music minor and first chair flute in Colby's Symphony Orchestra. She is a lead mentor in IDEAS In Music at Colby, where she organizes outreach to local elementary school music programs to provide mentorship, music lessons, and art appreciation. Johanna is co-president of Colby College Hillel, where she leads board meetings, introduces prospective members to Jewish life on campus, and facilitates community conversations between the National Hillel Organization, students, faculty, and other community. members. Johanna is interested in pursuing a career within the field of mental health and hopes to use my background in psychology to understanding how new findings in treatment research manifests in the real world. A world traveler, Johanna has studied abroad, most recently in Sweden where she traveled to Stockholm, Madrid and a myriad of countries on the weekends.
Maria Davy, University of Miami (Ohio) Class of 2025
She/Her
Maria Davey is a 2025 graduate from Miami University where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Maria also earned a minor in Child Studies and Youth Development. In the fall of 2026, she plans to attend graduate school to complete an MS in Speech-Language Pathology. Originally from St. Louis, Maria worked at a Montessori school with children ages 4-7 where she worked directly with students to learn early educational skills through play. Maria is interested in creative arts and crafts and is a lifelong painter. She enjoys traveling with family, her most recent trip to Italy, and plans to work in Spain in 2026
Izabella Jo Santos, New York University Class of 2026
She/Her
Izabella Jo Santos is an NYU student majoring in Global Public Health and Social Work on the pre-med track. Her experiences include researching children’s commuting patterns at the University of Sydney and creating Dish It Up!, a sustainability-focused card game presented at an international conference. A dedicated mentor, she designed a virtual summer program for students in the Philippines, blending education and recreation. As an NYU radio journalist and podcast co-host, she hones her communication skills to connect with diverse audiences. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and running. She hopes to combine medical expertise with health policy leadership to ensure equitable, patient-centered care through a social work lens.
Jesse Eisner, Tulane Class of 2026
She/Her
Jesse Eisner is a rising senior at Tulane University, majoring in Psychology and on the pre-medical track. An active member of her Sorority NAMI (National Alliance Mental Illness), Jesse helps host workshops helping and educating people including organizing activities with on campus with dogs. Jesse served as a research assistant at NYU Langone Dysautonomia Center where she assisted in developing a protocol to improve patient care and conducted research for the Dysautonomia blog. As a former volleyball player, Jesse is also involved in intramural sports at Tulane in her spare time. She served as a camp counselor for a sleep-away camp program where she instructed a group of 13-year-old campers in sports and general sportstmanship as well as helping them cope with social and interpersonal challenges.
Gabby Strauss, Tulane Class of 2026
She/Her
Gabby is a rising senior at Tulane University studying Psychology and Early Childhood Education. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in school psychology starting in the Fall of 2026. Last semester, Gabby served as a Kinder-Cardio teacher in an elementary school and conducted a research project on trauma experiences of kids in NOLA in response to the Covid pandemic. She also led a group of 20 students grades 3-4 at a day camp in 2024 where she trained counselors, and oversaw daily activities. In her free time, she enjoys volunteer work, running, and podcasts. She's also working to perfect her chocolate chip cookie recipe!
Luella Soranson-Way, University of Southern California Class of 2026
She/Her
Luella is a rising senior at the USC, double majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science with a minor in East Asian Language and Culture. She is currently on the pre-med track and plans to apply for master’s programs in Clinical Psychology in the fall of 2026. Her journey in clinical research has centered on child development, anxiety, and attachment. She currently works at USC’s Brain, Emotion, and Attention Development (BEAD) Lab, where she assists with studies on infant and toddler emotional development, supporting EEG and eye-tracking procedures while ensuring families feel comfortable and informed. She also spent a summer as a research assistant at UC Berkeley’s Cognitive Development & Learning Lab, where she studied causal reasoning and social learning in children ages 3-9. Additionally, Luella has volunteered multiple times with the Child Mind Institute’s Brave Buddies program, gaining hands-on experience in evidence-based interventions for Selective Mutism. Beyond research, Luella is passionate about working directly with children. She leads weekly science lessons and hands-on experiments for a second-grade class at a South Central LA charter school, where she also manages a team of fellow undergraduate volunteers. In her free time, Luella enjoys film photography, trying new restaurants, and surfing!
Paula Ungar, Washington University, St. Louis Class of 2026
She/Her
Paula is a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing her bachelor's degree in psychology and dance. With extensive experience working with children in various capacities, Paula is passionate about child advocacy and promoting independence in her work and enjoys getting to know each individual child. Paula is working to advance psychological research by studying the effects of emotional regulation between peers and romantic partners. Post-grad, she hopes to pursue a PsyD in Child and School Psychology and a career as a child psychologist. In her free time, Paula loves dancing and performing, baking, and spending time with loved ones.
Antara Yogeshwari Roy Tripathi, Mt. Holyoke College Class of 2026
He/She/They
Antara is pursuing their Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Certificate in Culture, Health and Science at Mount Holyoke College. He is currently a research assistant in the college’s social psychology lab and were a research assistant at the SomNeuro sleep lab at UMass Amherst in 2024. They have been an intern at The Art of Sport India, a responsive early intervention programme in New Delhi, India in 2022. Her interests involve musical theater, animation, reading and playing various RPG video games.
Lauren Li Mt. Holyoke College Class of 2026
She/Her
Lauren is a junior at Mount Holyoke College majoring in Psychology. She has worked in a cognitive psychology lab, where she helped code and analyze children’s eye movement data as part of a reading development study. She also tutors adult English learners, where she supports inclusive learning practices and helps build students’ confidence through one-on-one support. Lauren is especially interested in classroom inclusivity and the intersection of education and mental health. She is excited to explore how strengths-based approaches can support neurodiverse learners. Outside of academics, Lauren enjoys literature, creative writing, and playing golf.