Staff and Organizational Support

Amy Summers (she/her) brings twenty-six years of Program Direction and ten years of combined experience as a Mentoring Director, six years with Raising HOPE Women Mentoring Women to Success, and four years with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western MA as On-Campus Mentoring Director at Amherst College. She also served as an Enrollment and Success Counselor at SUNY Ulster. She is a former resident and workshop facilitator for Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, former Program Curriculum Developer for Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, and served as Interim Director at Centro Creativo in San Jose, Costa Rica.

She holds a Baccalaureate Degree in Women’s Studies with a concentration on Program Development. She is trained in Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Sensitivity, and Leadership through ULDI Ulster Leadership and Development Institute and OWLC Omega Women and Leadership Center. She taught Classes in Meditation & Conscious Communication to the Faculty & Staff through Training & Development at the five-college consortium in Western MA. She served as Creative Program Director at the Montessori School of Northampton and as Theater Director at The People’s Institute. 

Amy founded Aquoga ® Aquatic Yoga & Meditation classes in 1998 and continues to offer Aquoga classes in the Mid-Hudson Valley. She is a Booking Agent for Emmy Award-winning band BETTY, who founded The BETTY Effect along with Gloria Steinem, where they travel the world as Art Envoys for the US Department of State (DOS). She serves on the Advisory Board for New Start for Women at SUNY Ulster, ran workshops for Hudson Valley LGBTQ + Community Center, and is a frequent guest on Radio Kingston and at SUNY New Paltz Women & Gender Studies classes.

In 2009, Amy was in a near fatal car accident due to a drunk driver. Summers spent two years learning to walk again. She has a unique perspective of someone who was able-bodied who suddenly became mobility challenged. She uses her story of resilience to inspire others not to give up and to pursue their dreams and goals.

Summers’ poetry was published in an Anthology of Emerging Women Writers in 2000. She enjoys participating in Story Slams and creating music and art. She resides in Rosendale NY.

"I believe that every individual has the potential to live a fulfilling and purposeful life. My approach focuses on training mentors to assist mentees in cultivating self-awareness, identifying their values and goals, and creating actionable steps to achieve them. Mentoring MUSE is dedicated to providing a safe and non-judgmental space for a community of women to explore their inner selves and work towards their desired outcomes."

Tess Chapin (she/her) is a multifaceted professional with a strong interest and background in supporting youth populations and non-profit organizations. With a Masters degree in Women and Gender Studies from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, a post-Graduate diploma in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasglow, and years of experience working with diverse communities, including over a decade serving adolescents and their families, Tess has dedicated much of her career to understanding social systems and helping others thrive. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, she continues to leverage her skills to make a positive impact in her community and in the lives of others.

David Cagan (he/him) has worked in administration, operations, and finance for over three decades. In the for-profit world, David held the position of Chief Operating Officer for a national Commerce company for four years, managing a staff of 25 employees. In 2010, he made a career change to the nonprofit world. David held positions in many nonprofits in the Hudson Valley: Executive Assistant for the Local Economies Project and the Hudson Valley Farm Hub; Operations Manager for the Hudson Valley Current; Special Projects Lead for the Global Center for Social Entrepreneurship Network; and most recently, the External CFO for the TMI Project, as well as Finance & Business Consultant for small businesses in the region. He has a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.A. in Education from Pace University.