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 2024
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Madeline Toledano (Barnard `24) Chief Intern
She/Her
Madeline is currently a recent graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University with dual Degrees in Psychology and Religion. She completed The Quad Manhattan's Psychosocial Internship in the summer of 2023 and quickly rose to the top of her class. She returns in 2024 as our Chief Intern. Madeline has enjoyed working with children as a summer camp counselor and a nanny. She plans to pursue a Master of Social Work after college, with the hope to continue working with children in a professional capacity. In her spare time, Madeline enjoys going to museums around the city, trying new recipes, and journaling daily.
Chloe Bobal, Swarthmore College Class of 2025
She/her
Chloe Bobal is a rising Senior at Swarthmore College, where she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish. She has experience in psychology research-related environments, through numerous classes and extracurricular positions. Chloe has extensive practice interacting with people from all backgrounds, in positions as a tutor, youth soccer coach, and facilities manager focusing on customer service and event organization. Through educational and professional endeavors, she has developed a passion for contributing to the advancement of psychological interventions which aim to improve mental health among children and adolescents. Chloe feels strongly that implementing individualized successful programs aimed towards improving the well-being of youth is critical in order for them to overcome future obstacles with guidance from appropriate resources and ultimately accomplish their goals.
Julia Dima, Wesleyan University Class of 2025
She/Her
Julia Dima is a rising senior at Wesleyan University double majoring in Psychology and Hispanic Literatures and Cultures. She is especially interested in working with children and following the developmental psychology track. She does research in the cognitive development lab at her school, 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. In her spare time, Julia likes to perform stand-up comedy and can often be found writing new jokes.
Megan Bickford, Swarthmore College Class of 2025
They/Them
Meg Bickford is a Psychology student at Swarthmore College who recently returned from a semester at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Meg is a tour guide, van driver, and track athlete at Swarthmore. They have worked in the service sector for the past five years in jobs including a restaurant server, host, and cashier. Meg also spent last summer working with underprivileged children in rural Maine at a summer camp, directing physical education instruction. After earning their Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Meg plans to attend graduate school leading to a doctorate degree.
Heeya Ajwani, University of Massachusetts Amherst Class of 2026
She/Her
Heeya Ajwani is a student of University of Massachusetts Amherst, currently studying Psychology with a certification in Social Work. She currently works as a research assistant for the Clinical Affective Science Lab on campus where she studies emotion dysregulation in Borderline Personality Disorder. Her interests lie in research on emotional regulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders and related neurodevelopmental conditions. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and work towards creating more mental healthcare opportunities for marginalized groups.