Crete Academy

Alexander is an attorney at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, where he is engaged in the firm’s Real Estate, Land Use, and Natural Resources practices, as well the Construction, Energy and Infrastructure teams. In his practice, Alexander assists in providing legal and strategic counsel in connection with a broad range of real estate matters, including leasing and purchase and sale agreements, land use planning and zoning, and the financing and development of renewable energy projects. 

contact information:  info@creteacademy.org

Board President

Ursula Worsham is currently the Admissions Director at the University of Irvine’s Medical School. In her previous role, Mrs. Worsham served as Assistant Director of Admissions at the USC Rossier School of Education. Ursula has worked in admissions for both undergraduate and graduate students since 1998 and has expertise in college and professional school admissions, assessment, career services and international student admissions. 

contact information:  info@creteacademy.org

Board Secretary

Sergio G. Martus currently serves as a senior analyst and project manager for Weintraub Real Estate Group in Malibu, California.  Mr. Martus has an extensive background in advanced mathematics, economics, statistics, analytics, accounting, and finance, which has allowed him to excel in multiple roles as a financial analyst and most recently as a CFO for a start-up marketing firm. 

contact information:  info@creteacademy.org

Board Treasurer 

Carson Bruno is the Assistant Dean for Admission and Program Relations at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. In his role as Assistant Dean he supports the school's recruitment efforts, alumni relations and curricular offerings. Prior to serving as Assistant Dean, Mr. Bruno spent three years at the Hoover Institute as a Research Fellow, where he examined domestic energy and environmental policy. 

contact information:  info@creteacademy.org

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Board Member

Dennis Johnson is a career pathway specialist who focuses on student development. His work has been centered around student development issues regarding systemic and structural oppression towards minority youth and education policy. He believes that academic and career development programs with a collaborative approach can uplift the welfare of all students.

Dennis is one of the founders of the Black Youth Project and member of The Peace Exchange: Chicago-Asia. He has appeared on multiple radio and TV shows including WVON The Talk of Chicago Cliff Kelley Show, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry Show, FOX News, and been a panelist for the United States Congressional Black Caucus and United States Department of Education Commemoration of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He holds a bachelors in political science from Chicago State University and a Masters in urban and regional planning from the University of Michigan. Currently, Dennis is a doctoral candidate researching the African American experience inside Linked Learning high schools.

contact info: dennisum@umich.edu

Board Member

Archana Patel is the senior director of The Broad Academy, where she serves as a program designer, team lead, and coach for the Academy fellowship, serving current and aspiring superintendents from across the nation’s largest school systems. She previously led the development of a portfolio of collaborative learning experiences for alumni and partners of Broad Center programs to facilitate continued growth in the field.

Archana’s work at The Broad Center is informed by a long career on the ground in K-12 public education. Her time as a turnaround school principal at KIPP Academy of Opportunity in Los Angeles, California gave her a unique perspective of the value of developing leaders throughout the system. Prior to being a school leader, she taught middle school English language arts and history in both the Bronx, New York, and Newark, New Jersey. She made a pit stop in India along the way, serving as the co-founder and project manager of what has now become Teach For India.

She has had a range of interim experiences, including serving as the associate director of talent at KIPP Los Angeles, a research assistant at the University of Southern California Center on Educational Governance and a human capital summer associate at Deloitte. She earned bachelor’s degrees in English and philosophy from Boston College, a master’s degree in teaching from Fordham University, and a master of public policy degree from the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.

Board Member