Our Staff
| Nancy Peter | MK Kleva |
| Karen Okigbo | Caroline Valvardi |
| John Price III | |
| Lauren Puzen | |
Nancy Peter attended the University of Massachusetts where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Ecology, Behavior, and Husbandry, and her Master of Education degree in Instructional Leadership. She is also a certified elementary teacher, secondary science teacher, and instructor in PAKeys’ Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System. Dr. Peter recently received her Doctor of Education Degree, from the University of Pennsylvania, in "Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum."
Nancy Peter is the founder and Director of The Out-of-School Time Resource Center (OSTRC). From her origin in the field of environmental education, Nancy Peter worked as the School Programs Coordinator for Amherst’s Hitchcock Center for the Environment, as Director of Education at Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences, and as Curriculum Manger for the Fairmount Park Commission. Her interest in underserved youth and experience with multiple afterschool programs led to her position as Senior Policy Specialist for Youth and Afterschool in Philadelphia’s Office of Children’s Policy. Prior to working at the OSTRC, Dr. Peter worked in Philadelphia’s Best Practices Institute as their After-School Project Manager.
Karen Okigbo
Research Coordinator
Karen recently completed her Masters degree in Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, she received her B.A. in Political Science from Princeton University as well as two minors in African Studies and Near Eastern Studies, followed by a Masters in Sociology from NDSU. Even though she now lives in the City of Brotherly Love, she continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and as co-chair of the Programming Committee for the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.
Karen is absolutely thrilled to be joining the ranks of the OSTRC as the Research Coordinator.
John Price III
Project Coordinator
John Price III is a certified Administrative Support Professional with more than 15 years of experience strengthening the work and efficiency of university-based organizations. He graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in General Studies, concentrating in Music Industry. As Project Coordinator, John oversees several projects which provide resource development and access for more than 400 regional and national OST organizations. Prior to his time with the University of Pennsylvania, John supported service-driven public relations on behalf of several departments at Drexel University.
Being a part of the OSTRC team was so nice, he had to do it twice! As a former OSTRC Communications Coordinator, John was instrumental in reviving and executing the monthly Peer Networking Meetings, serving the needs of over 1,000 professionals from the OST community.
His current passion and affiliations are geared around creatively engaging youth through faith-based music and arts. Born and raised in West Philadelphia, he spends most of his days actively involved in a community outreach capacity. John serves diligently in several church ministries and aspires to be a strong role model for his friends and little sister.
Lauren Puzen
Alliance for a Healthier Generation HOST Manager
Lauren Puzen recently completed her Masters in Social Work and Masters in Public Health from Temple University. Her areas of study included management and planning for social work and public health programming and evaluation, health policy, with specific interest areas in childhood obesity, nutrition and physical activity. Lauren's passion for reducing childhood obesity began at the University of Scranton, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Since then she has worked in positive youth development programs promoting nutrition and physical activity. Most recently Lauren has been working as a Program Specialist with the Public Health Management Corporation on the Get Healthy Philly initiative developing, piloting, and implementing the Healthy Living Guidelines in Out-of-School Time. She is excited to continue her work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation towards ending childhood obesity in the City of Philadelphia. The Out-of-School Time Resource Center serves as a centralized host site for Lauren’s position as Healthy Out-of-School Time Manager for Philadelphia.
Mary Katherine Kleva is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania. She is pursuing a B.A. in Health and Societies with a concentration in Health Policy and Law, with special interest in women’s and children’s issues. MK works primarily as a research assistant at the OSTRC, but also collaborates on a variety of other staff projects. Prior to joining the OSTRC, she was an elementary school mentor and tutor with Community School Student Partnerships in West Philadelphia, as well as a public policy research assistant at the Big Brothers Big Sisters national office.
At Penn, MK serves in leadership roles for Colleges Against Cancer/Relay for Life, the Daily Pennsylvanian, The WALK Magazine, and her sorority Zeta Tau Alpha.
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Caroline Valvardi
PYSC Work-Study Student
Caroline Valvardi recently completed the one year Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP) program
at the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University in Bronx,
NY, in May 2010 with a B.A. in International Political Economy. Before returning to her home
city of Philadelphia in September 2012, she spent two delightful years working in the Intake, Outreach, and Mental Health Departments at Covenant House youth homeless shelter in New York City.
As a competitive basketball player and a lifelong athlete, she is overjoyed to be providing support for the OSTRC Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC).
