Our Alumni

Our Alumni

Universities throughout the nation compete for our graduates, offering scholarships. Lee Academy graduates have been accepted at and/or attended numerous distinguished universities across the nation, including Agnes Scott, American Conservatory Theater, American University, Art Institute of Tampa, Auburn, Bard, Bard College Berlin (Germany), Boston University, Brown, Case Western Reserve, Clemson, College of William and Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Eckerd, Elon, Embry-Riddle, Emory, Eugene Lang, Florida State, George Mason, George Washington, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Guilford, Harvard, Hillsdale, Marquette, New College, Maryland Institute College of Art, Northwestern, Oxford (England), Pomona, Pont Even School of Contemporary Art (France), Queens University (NC), Rabat International University (Morocco), Rennes Business School (France), Ringling School of Art & Design, Rollins, Rutgers, Sarah Lawrence, St. Leo, Stetson University School of Law, Taylor, Tufts, Tulane, University of Chicago, University of Evansville, University of Florida, UNC Chapel Hill, University of South Florida, University of Nebraska, University of Tampa, Vassar, Virginia Tech, Wilkes and Wooster.

Note: Please click name to view the description.

graduated from the American Conservatory Theater and has played numerous roles on stage and screen in New York and Hollywood. She often writes about psychology, business, and women’s issues and helps individuals, brands, and non-profits make deeper connections to their audiences and feel better about their work. Claire’s essays and profiles have appeared in Elle, Human Parts, and Investors Business Daily. She is currently writing a satire about her adventures in teaching and an essay collection about growing up in Florida.

holds an MA degree in Mathematics and Theatre from Eckerd College and is Dean of Mathematics at St. Petersburg College. He received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Mathematical Association of America. Jimmy gave Lee’s 2018 Commencement Address, and his interests include theater, music, and film.

earned his BA in Information Technology from Wilkes University. He is the founder and Chief Technology Officer at Clutch Holdings. Dan’s is dedicated to building pioneering platforms and teams through the use of efficient, scalable technology stacks and team culture. His career trajectory highlights his expertise in technology leadership, software development, and strategic business management. Dan lives in the Philadelphia area.

holds a Master’s degree in History from the University of South Florida and is working for a testing company in Tampa.

holds a PhD from the University of Chicago, studied at Pomona College, and performed postdoctoral work at the University of Mississippi. Formerly an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University, Chaz is presently the Associate Editor of Religion at Encyclopedia Brittanica. Chaz found time to marry (in India and in the US and lives in Oak Park, Illinois. He has several published works, presents his papers at academic conferences, and completed a Fulbright-Nehru Project on Sanskrit Dramas.

earned his Bachelors Degree in Nursing while serving with the United States Army. Presently a 2nd Lt. stationed at San Antonio, Texas, Leo served two tours in Iraq.

earned his BS in Physics (USF), then joined a local engineering firm. He is now pursuing his Master’s degree.

earned his Master’s degree in Computer Science (USF) and is presently Solutions Architect COP Lead at Ernst & Young in Tampa. He has expertise in technical architecture, cloud solutions, artificial intelligence (AI) and program leadership. Chintan has a proven track record in heading development teams at several leading FinTech companies and was Co-Founder and Managing Member for Object Lounge’s Empower Network in Tampa.

holds a PhD in Genetics from Case Western and a Juris Doctor from American University. He is presently Counsel in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group in Washington, D.C. Brian primarily assists in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications and preparation of opinions of counsel. Brian’s professional expertise includes genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, stem cell biology, developmental biology, and microbiology. Brian has authored publications on stem cell biology, genetics and molecular biology.

holds a Juris Doctor from Boston University Law School and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Literature from Eckerd College. After completing law school, Melissa practiced in Boston for 2 years, working for the non-profit AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, where she provided a range of legal services to an at-risk, underserved population. She returned to Tampa in 2010 and has been practicing real estate law since. Melissa has experience in a wide range of real estate matters, including landlord/tenant, HOA litigation, title disputes, and commercial and residential transactions. She joined Frank Charles Miranda, PA, in 2020, after running her own successful practice for 8 years.

has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from George Mason. He is presently a research analyst with TargetSmart in Evansville, Illinois, a firm with extensive experience in consumer and political data. Prior to that, he was Associate Director of the Fierce Courage consulting firm in Long Beach, California. Philip’s career has always been in the political scene, and he has acted as a consultant or campaign manager for elections around the country.

earned her PhD in School Psychology with specialization in Early Childhood from the University of Florida. She passed the APA exam and is a licensed Psychologist at Desoto Elementary School in Tampa. Sally gave Lee’s 2014 Commencement Address.

graduated with honors from USF with a BA in English and completed her Master’s degree in Medical Science from the College of Medicine at USF. She went on to study with the Suncoast Developers Guild, undertaking their immersive program on web development. Amanda is now a seasoned software engineer, having worked with several companies crafting solutions to increase efficiency and elevate user experiences.

holds Masters degrees in Management at the University of South Florida and in Teaching at Belmont University. He is presently a Senior Consulting CRM Engineer at HCA Healthcare in Nashville, Tennessee. Lee is working on the largest Salesforce orgs at HCA, writing new Apex & LEX features, updating/refactoring code, and transitioning to LEX Establishing DevOps.

graduated from USF with a BA degree in Education and Mass Communications. She is presently a Kindergarten Math & Science Teacher at Sunlake Academy of Math and Science in Lutz. Prior to her career change, Jennifer worked for 11 years as an ACH Client Advocacy Manager at JPMorgan Chase.

holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of South Florida, where he is presently working toward his Master’s degree.

holds a BA in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from National-Louis University. After working as an early childhood teacher in Chicago, Becky returned to Tampa and started her own Early Childhood education firm, Rebecca Preston, Inc., to help children develop and fulfill their potential. She is passionate about helping children build the foundation for a lifetime of success.

earned her PhD in Discrete Mathematics at the University of Nebraska and is a Professor of Mathematics on the faculty at Florida Gulf Coast University. Prior to joining FGC, Katie was a Monroe Scholar in Mathematics at William & Mary, a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, and an intern at the National Security Agency.

earned her BS in Geological and Earth Sciences and Master’s degree in Geology from the University of South Florida. She is working as a Professional Geologist at the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which is responsible for protecting the water resources and the environment in this section of the state. Julie recently participated in the 2025 Spring USF PGSM Geosciences Internship Symposium.

graduated summa cum laude with an MA in Secondary Social Science Education at USF and is teaching in Tampa.

holds a BLA from New College and a JD from Stetson Law School.
She is now a Grants Specialist at the University of Florida. Sarah was previously a Development and Policy Associate with a nonprofit
community development institution.

earned a Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island, following a year of study in Oxford (England). Jenna returned to Tampa, where she is a Marketing Specialist.

majored in Journalism in the University of Florida’s ROTC Program. He is serving in the Army as a Training Infantry Staff Sergeant in Pennsylvania and awaiting his next overseas deployment.

(’05) is working as an engineer in his home country of Thailand, after completing his BS and graduate work in Engineering at Cornell.

(’06) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Government and International Relations from USF.

graduated from Hillsdale College in Physics and earned her PhD in Geophysics at the University of South Carolina. While at USC, Erin was an EOS Tabel Fellow, an Instructional Assistant, and President of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Student Chapter. Her research at USC provided essential information for planning emergency responses to earthquakes in South Carolina. Erin is presently a Science teacher at the well-respected Hammond School in Columbia, South Carolina.

graduated in Fine Arts from Ringling, was account manager at Sun God Medicinals in Portland, Oregon and has recently moved to Montana.

graduated summa cum laude from USF in 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Digital Video & Electronic Media. Adrian also studied for her Masters in Classical Art at Florida State and attended the Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art in France. She presently works at Olympia Catering & Events in Tampa.

graduated from USF with a BA in Public Relations and studied with Harvard Business School. He is Director – Global Head of Product for Legal, CSIS, Ethics & Records Management Technology at Citibank, where he previously held the position of  Senior Vice President – BA Group Manager of AML Operations.  Brendan is married and lives in Tampa.

graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology from New College in Sarasota. He has used his experience in psychology and neuroscience to start several firms in Boulder, Colorado, including AtlasTalked, LinkedGuerilla, Thrice Agency, Naturally, and AI Outreach.  His interests are varied, with his latest two business ventures (Naturally & AI Outreach) delving into the area of artificial intelligence.

earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the University of South Florida. He is now working independently as a Mobile Application Developer.

holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Bard College and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of North Dakota. While at North Dakota, she received a scholarship from the American Nuclear Society and worked on the recovery of rare earth metal from acid mine drainage. Andrea presently works as a Process Engineer at the Mosaic Company. Prior to that, she worked as a marine systems engineer and technician with ocean-going ships in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean.

earned his BA in Mass Communications and Political Science at USF and holds a Diploma in Copywriting from the distinguished Miami Ad School Europe, located in Berlin, Germany.  Matthew is presently Senior Copywriter at Advent Health in Tampa, following internships in Germany and Spain.  Prior to that, he operated his own copywriting/marketing firm and worked for Spectrum as a Copywriter for their six-state South Division.

holds a Masters degree in Management and Entrepreneurship from Rollins College and is presently Chief Development Officer at Sea Oak Capital, a firm that specializes in renewable energy and fosters partnerships with investors, banks, and developers.  In his role at Sea Oak Capital, John contributes to the company’s investment strategies and business development initiatives. Prior to joining Sea Oak Capital, John served as Chief Operating Officer at Clean Footprint, a renewable energy company involved in the finance and development of solar projects.  John was the commencement speaker at Lee Academy’s 2017 graduation ceremony.

decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and enter the military to become a parachutist. After serving two deployments to Afghanistan, he is presently an Army Sgt. 1st Class in the 11th Airborne. Tedder is assigned to the 1st Battalion 51st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, where he is currently serving as a Jumpmaster in Alaska. He plays a crucial role in assisting paratroopers during airborne operations, ensuring the success of training and missions in the challenging terrain of Alaska. He graduated from Ranger School in June 2022.

completed two Master’s degrees at St. Leo University (Business
Administration and Cybersecurity). Tung is managing a local business, but intends to secure a position in cybersecurity.

holds a BA in Creative Writing – Poetics from Columbia University and a BA in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. At present, he is CEO (and Cofounder) of Innovative Eyewear in Miami. Previously, Harrison was Digital Media Manager at Tekcapital.plc and co-founder of Media Lead at Lucyd. He also founded a charity-focused poetry & music publisher called Sphirah and has authored several poetry chapbooks.

holds Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from both Elon and Clemson University. He is presently a Project Engineer with B & I Contractors in Cape Coral.

earned his Bachelor’s in English from Florida State University and his MBA from St. Leo. He is presently a CTE Instructor with the Hillsborough County Public School System, utilizing his experience as a serial entrepreneur to bring relevant, impactful, and usable insight to shape the next generation of entrepreneurs. Greg previously worked as a financial advisor for several firms, including Edward Jones. He is also an Advisory Committee Member at Everglades University, helping their faculty create relevant and engaging class offerings.

is majoring in Biology at St. Petersburg College and intends to  pursue graduate studies.  He also teaches science projects for “Mad Science.”

is finishing his senior year at Rutgers University, He intends to take his Media Studies major and Sociology minor into the field of public policy. Erik was recently inducted to the Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honor society.

received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science. She is a Programmer Analyst for the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.

Harries received her Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Anthropology from Vassar, where she still holds three swimming records. Olivia also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. She is presently Chief of Staff and CEO of Earnest, a technology-enabled financial tech lender headquartered in San Francisco, California. Earnest offers tertiary education financing products, including student loan refinancing and private student loans. Prior to that, Olivia was an executive with several new “startup” companies in the San Francisco Bay area.

graduated  with a 4.0 from USF with a BS in Finance and was named the King O’Neal Scholar in 2015.

is currently a scientist in drug discovery at an oncology-focused biotech company. She received her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from Emory in 2021. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, with her partner and two kitties.

graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She lives in San Francisco and works in the print and events industry.

earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, with honors, from Florida State University’s College of Business. She is presently the Senior Manager of Digital Marketing at Ultimate Medical Academy and a member of the Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay.

holds degrees in Chemistry from the University of South Florida (Bachelors) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Masters). Manuel is currently the Operations Manager at Infiniti Labs in Tampa. He is a multifaceted Medical Technologist experienced in method development, instrument maintenance, troubleshooting, and complex data analysis.

attended Florida Atlantic University and is working for Humana here in Tampa. Joshua holds a certification in cybersecurity.

completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies at Rabat International University in Morocco. He spent his junior year in France, studying at Rennes Business School.

just completed his first year of graduate school at Georgia Tech, studying Computer Science with a Computational Perception and Robotics focus. Aaron was selected for a robotics internship with Delta this year and had the
opportunity to travel to Singapore over Spring Break. He will be working with a team this summer as a graduate research intern at Google.

graduated in May with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at Vassar and recently made a presentation at a Biochem conference in Orlando. He intends to take a “gap year,” then decide on grad school. With GRE scores in the 95th percentile, he will have many choices.

will graduate from St. Leo University this fall, with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Donovan also modifies
gaming software. He currently has over 4,000 followers keeping track of his projects.

is pursuing his doctorate in Pharmacy at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. He successfully
completed his “White Coat Ceremony” and is President-Elect of the Boston chapter of the APA’s Academy of Student Pharmacists.

graduated from Vassar with Bachelor’s degrees in both International Studies and German Studies. He will be working in New York City as a paralegal for an international law firm. Nicholai’s’s future plans include grad school.

completed her sophomore year at HCC with plans to transfer to USF for a career in pharmacy or nursing.

completed his junior year at USF St. Pete, majoring in Mass Communication and Journalism. Alex hones his skills as a
writer with TFW2005. He has also continued with his hobbies – photography and drumming.

completed her senior year at USF and plans to complete a Master’s degree before entering medical school. Kaylie’s
interests center around orthopedics and trauma.

completed her junior year in the Honors College at USF St. Petersburg, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in
Geospatial Analysis. She works as a research assistant at the Museum of Fine Arts. Augustine has continued with her sailing as a member of the USF Sailing Team and competed in several qualifying events for the Sailing National Championships.

completed her junior year at The New School in New York, where she is pursuing a double major (Psychology, Culture & Media). Samantha is interning at Baboon Animation, which develops animated projects for film and TV, including Disney and Nick.

will graduate in August with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In the fall, she will enter graduate school at USF to pursue a Masters’ degree in Speech Pathology. She is VP of a USF student organization for Bilingual Language & Literacy.

completed his sophomore year at the Georgetown  University School of Foreign Service. He is also a violinist with the Georgetown University Orchestra. Sebastian volunteered to teach Washington DC middle school students and plans to study abroad in Berlin next semester.

has been engaged in his culinary classes at the Art Institute of Tampa, and is on track to earn a degree in Culinary Arts. Greyson is also apprenticing at Jamison B. Breadhouse Bakes, a wholesale artisan bread company in Ybor City.

has completed her Sophomore year at USF, with plans to major in Political Science. Sasha is also a member of the USF Rugby Team.

is in his Junior year at the University of Florida in pursuit of a Biology degree. He volunteers in the Paleontology department and is currently in talks to do an extended internship with the US Department of Agriculture. He is also deciding between several options for post  undergraduate studies, including Genetic Engineering and Law School.

graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Japanese Language and Literature. He is presently a Law Student at Rutgers University and previously worked full-time as an Immigration Paralegal with Ogletree Deakens in Tampa, where he learned all stages of the Permanent Labor Certification process (PERM) for foreign nationals working in the United States Nicolas also worked as an intern with the U.S. Embassy in Manila, where he received a secret-level security clearance, primarily working in the cultural affairs division.

is attending the University of South Florida, but as yet has not declared a major. He has continued to stay active in hockey as a member of the Ice Bulls Hockey Club.

is attending the University of Florida, majoring in Linguistics and minoring in Communication Studies and Teaching English as a Second Language. He is also Assistant Director at Gatorship, an inclusion and diversity program.

will graduate in August with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In the fall, she will enter graduate school at USF to pursue a Masters’ degree in Speech Pathology. She is VP of a USF student organization for Bilingual Language & Literacy.

has been at Lee Academy for seven years and is well respected by both her fellow students and the faculty. She has taken a very active part in all aspects of school life, participating in field trips to The Keys, The Everglades, Costa Rica and Death Valley. Ashtyn enjoys the theater, has taken classes in Acting and Improv and played key roles in all our drama productions. She also likes music and plays the ukulele and the trumpet. Her Senior Capstone Project is titled Seed Bombs – A Solution to Pollution. Ashtyn participated in our dual enrollment program with local
colleges, receiving excellent grades in Anthropology, Public Speaking and Understanding Visual Art. She is a recipient of a Bright Futures Scholarship and will be heading to the University of Florida in the fall to pursue a degree in Religious Studies. After that, Ashtyn hopes to obtain a degree in embalming, which has been a long-time interest.

started his career at Lee Academy as a member of our
Early Childhood class and stayed with us through part of his elementary school years, before leaving. As a young child he was extremely curious about everything and very involved in all aspects of his classes. We followed his progress through middle and early high school years and were
delighted to welcome him back at Lee Academy for his junior and senior years. Cayman participated in last year’s visit to Death Valley and performed in this year’s school play. He volunteers with the fStop Foundation in The Everglades, whose mission is about creating a positive impact in conservation through photography. The title of his Senior Capstone Project is the Plight of the Florida Panther. Cayman plans to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art to pursue his interest in film and photography.

has spent her entire school career at Lee Academy and is among Lee’s youngest graduates. Always involved in school life to the fullest, we have seen her participate in many activities through the years, including visits to the Everglades, the Keys and Costa Rica. Jules has appeared in school plays and gave one of her best performances ever in our recent production of Almost, Maine. She also played her ukulele in our Spanish Heritage and Cinco de Mayo Performances. Outside of school Jules has
been a member of a youth group since her middle school years and a youth band in her freshman and junior years. She is involved in various volunteer activities in and around her local community. Her Senior Capstone Project is Preventing Waste with Edible Plates. Jules is a recipient of a Bright Futures
Scholarship and plans to major in Psychology.

came from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam in 2015 to complete his high school career. Following the curriculum in his second language has been a challenge but one which Bin has risen to, consistently
maintaining high grades. Bin is always cheerful and willing to help, which has endeared him to his fellow students and the faculty. He enjoys music, movies and sports. Bin’s Senior Capstone Project is titled The Bio Pot: Re-purposing Food Waste into Something Useful. He volunteers in our aftercare program with the younger students and is very reliable. He was a stage hand in our recent drama production and has also helped with fundraising events for local charities, as well as a school in Costa Rica. Bin will complete
courses for international students at HCC before heading to USF to study pharmacy.