Meet the Staff
Scholarship Plus was co-founded in 2010
by Soma Golden Behr and Melanie Rosen Brooks.
Kate Fenneman Stokes
Executive Director
Kate Fenneman Stokes is the former Executive Director of the Seinfeld Family Foundation and The Jerry Seinfeld Scholarship Program, where she was responsible for grantmaking as well as sole management of the scholarship program. Kate joined the Scholarship Plus team in 2012 as Program Director. She became Executive Director in 2017, and brings over 15 years of college support experience to the role. Kate received her B.A. from Butler University in her home state of Indiana.
E-mail: katef@scholarshipplus.org
Anna Antoniak
Senior Director
Anna Antoniak has over a decade of experience in higher education administration, including four years as the Associate Director of New York University's study abroad site in Sydney, Australia. In that role she oversaw the site's finances and operations, as well as program development, including student life.
A native Brooklynite, she has volunteered with many New York City-based organizations, such as Upward Bound, TEAK, and the Brooklyn Public Library in capacities including teacher, curriculum designer, mentor, community organizer and fundraiser. Anna received her master's degree in International Education from NYU, where her research focused on urban education and multicultural curriculum reform. Her bachelor's degree is in English and French from Amherst College, which she attended as a proud Seinfeld scholarship recipient.
Shari Simon, LMSW
Director of Scholar Success
Shari Simon has a decade of experience in K-18 education, youth development, social work and career development. She has served youth from historically marginalized communities in multiple capacities, including adjunct professor, college and career advisor, and program director. As a licensed social worker, Shari brings a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and strengths-based approach to clinical case management, program development, and college support services.
She is a first-generation college student and first-generation immigrant from Brooklyn, New York. Shari earned a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, where she focused on designing, evaluating, and delivering programs to promote education equity. She also graduated from Bennett College, an all-women’s HBCU, in Greensboro, North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in English and minor in Theatre Arts.
Linnette Veloso
Head of Program Operations and Development
Linnette Veloso is an advocate for the social progression of underrepresented groups, particularly within higher education. She has coordinated diversity programs for minority and first-generation college students. She also has prior experience in human resources and has volunteered for nonprofit organizations in different fundraising roles.
Linnette earned a master’s degree in Public Administration through the National Urban Fellows program at CUNY Baruch College and masters in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.