Our Team

Amy Furman is currently the Director of Break Through Tech New York. Prior to joining Break Through Tech, Amy held several positions within New York City government, most recently as an Executive Director with the Department of Small Business Services where she collaborated with local industry and workforce leaders to design and oversee dozens of job training programs in critical economic sectors that continue to serve thousands of underemployed New Yorkers annually.  Before Small Business Services, Amy served as a policy advisor with the New York City Mayor’s Office, advancing causes ranging from social and economic justice, to climate change resiliency, to local civic engagement. Amy started her career as an AmeriCorps member with City Year New York after completing her undergraduate degree at St. John’s University.

Marin Cherry came to Break Through Tech New York in 2019 from the Department of Food Science at Cornell University where her responsibilities included academic and career advising, and course development for the nation’s top Food Science program. She brings her passion for supporting undergraduates and multidimensional background to Break Through Tech New York’s portfolio of programs, leading efforts to help our students find their place in computer science at every stage of their college journey. 

Mimi Tu provides administrative support and assists with correspondence. With 5 years of experience, she is an experienced administrative professional in higher education with a proven track record in her organizational skills and project management. In Mimi’s professional life, nothing brings her more joy than helping people achieve their goals and an organized spreadsheet. Before joining Break Through Tech in 2020, Mimi worked as an Office Assistant at the New School after she graduated with a master’s degree in Psychology. 

Shantriya James, a native of New York City, started working with Break Through Tech (at The City University of New York) in November 2020. She obtained her MBA in 2014 from Tiffin University. Prior to working with Break Through Tech, she has worked in higher education and non-profit. Shantriya understands that not all students start on the same level, and she enjoys meeting them where they are and helping them to reach the level they aspire to reach. 

A rising senior studying Computer Information Systems at CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College, Izabella Wieckowska joined the Break Through Tech New York team in the summer of 2020 as an intern and has since then continued into the role of Data Analyst. She is passionate about using technology to help others and since her introduction to the team, has helped lay the foundation for data processes across the New York site. Before joining Break Through Tech, Izabella took part in two Winternships at coding boot camp General Assembly, and financial services group Citibank. She works primarily in Python and enjoys using code to solve challenging problems.