Life As An Alum

Your classroom experience will undoubtedly give you perspective and inspiration, no matter what direction your career path takes. You may choose to continue to teach in high-need schools and communities after your two-year commitment, or you may choose to lead from other fields that shape the opportunities available to children.
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A Rich, Diverse Community Careers In Education Careers In Civic Leadership Careers In Business Careers In Medicine & Health Equity Careers In Law Careers In Non-Profit Work

Start your journey by checking your eligibility to join the corps, or learn more by talking to a recruiter.
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A Rich, Diverse Community

TFA alumni represent diverse backgrounds and experiences. But as lifelong colleagues, partners, and friends, they’re connected across generations and communities to our shared mission.

Alumni lead and serve in many different ways—as teachers, principals, district leaders, and policymakers. Some are in the private sector, some hold elected office. They’re leaders in virtually every field. Personally and collectively, alumni work as lifelong advocates for better educational opportunities and outcomes for kids.

As a Teach For America alum, you’ll be part of a network of people living in communities across the United States and abroad. Alumni work together in pursuit of educational equity.

Enduring institution

80%

80% of TFA alumni work in careers that have an impact on the education system or low-income communities

80%

Enduring institution

80% of TFA alumni work in careers that have an impact on the education system or low-income communities

Community and network

60K

There are over 60K alumni in TFA's network

60K

Community and network

There are over 60K alumni in TFA's network

TFA leadership icon

42

In the past five years, 42 TFA alumni have been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. Half identify as persons of color or from a low-income background

42

TFA leadership icon

In the past five years, 42 TFA alumni have been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. Half identify as persons of color or from a low-income background

Career Paths

After the corps, your career path is limitless. You’ll be supported personally and professionally by our network as your career takes shape. Take a look at the fields alumni go into, and the unique opportunities available to you.

Careers in Education

After spending two years leading in the classroom as teachers, many Teach For America alumni realize they never want to leave their schools. Meet the alumni who have decided that the greatest way they can continue making an impact is by remaining in schools as educators or becoming school systems leaders. 
Teacher with students in classroom

Alumni in Education

Aaron Lesser

Greater Delta: Mississippi & Arkansas '12

Dean of Instruction

Noble Network Of Charter Schools

As a founding math teacher at two different schools, Aaron has fallen in love with his career even though his undergraduate studies initially dictated a different path.

Shaina Neal

Phoenix '07

Head of English Program

The Dewey Schools Vietnam

Shaina’s own experience as a student instilled in her the importance of showing all kids that they have incredible potential. She now works at The Dewey Schools in Vietnam as head of the English program.

Micah Joselow

Washington '12

Project Leader

Boston Consulting Group

Micah uses his passions and skills he gained in the corps to expand his impact as a project leader for Boston Consulting Group. 

Yesenia Castro

New York '07

School Leader

KIPP SoCal Public Schools

After Yesenia Castro graduated from Stanford and joined TFA, her experience teaching with the corps in New York would transform her trajectory and propel her into the career she holds now as principal at KIPP Raíces Academy in Los Angeles.

Steven Ward

Steven Ward

D.C. Region '12

Principal

Prodeo Academy

Committed to a life of service, Steven Ward was called to teach even before TFA. Inspired to be a role model and give back to his community, he joined the corps to help bring more black male leaders into the public schools that need them.

Maha Hasen headshot

Maha Hasen

New York '16

2022 Cognizant Innovation in Computer Science Award Winner

Assistant Principal, Fordham High School for the Arts

As a Teach For America alumna, Maha has a passion for equity-driven leadership. That’s why when she saw the digital divide affecting her students, she created a computer science track at her placement school where she still teaches.

Careers in Civic Leadership

Teach For America alumni are using their proximity to the real issues affecting underserved communities to influence the policies that impact our nation’s schools through impactful careers in government and advocacy.
How Teach For America Skills Can Transfer to a Law Career

Alumni in Civic Leadership

Kalisha Dessources Figures

Greater Philadelphia '12

Founder & Chief Strategist

KDF Strategies

As founder of KDF Strategies, Kalisha advises organizations—primarily across the racial and gender justice fields—on policy, research, strategic planning, and political work.

Rosaline Tio

Metro Atlanta '11

Director of Research, Data, and Analytics

Charles R. Drew Charter School

Rosaline says her experience as a high school math teacher has been invaluable in developing a nuanced lens for her career as a data analyst.

Sunny Liu

Sunny Liu

New Mexico '13

Principal Fiscal Analyst

New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee

Sunny Liu currently works in the New Mexico Legislature, but got his start with Teach For America.

Miguel Solis

Dallas-Fort Worth '09

Chief of Staff

The Commit Partnership

After advocating for Dallas students as special assistant to the superintendent and as Dallas director for Stand For Children, Miguel became the youngest person to be elected school board president at 28.

Careers in Business

Teach For America alumni are bringing what they learned in the classroom to the boardroom, where they continue to advocate for students and educational equity through a career in business.
Educator working together in a conference room.

Alumni in Business

Sourjya Rudra headshot

Sourjya Rudra

Memphis '15

Co-Founder

PlanFlamingo

Sourjya's career took an unexpected detour when he joined the corps.  As a consultant, he brings his classroom leadership experience to the corporate world.

Elaine Dang

Elaine Dang

New Mexico '09

Engagement Manager

McKinsey & Company

Shaped by experiencing inequity as a student and corps member, Elaine now focuses on strategic and innovative consulting to help companies be more equitable and sustainable.

Femi Alese

Rhode Island '13

Senior Product Manager

Rite-Aid

Femi Alese learned the value of vision setting to achieve measurable results in the corps. Today, Femi uses that same growth mindset of continuous reflection and improvement as a product manager.

Mariana Aguilar

Mariana Aguilar

Los Angeles '12

Vice President, Education

GoGuardian

Mariana’s time in the classroom strengthened her resolve and developed her skills as a leader, propelling her toward a career that's included consulting with Deloitte and edtech leadership.

Careers in Medicine & Health Equity

Alumni are venturing from the classroom into health and medicine professions, using lessons of empathy, patience, and critical thinking to infuse fresh perspectives into the medical field. Our doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals are working hard to improve patient outcomes across underserved communities through significant medical research. 
Teach For America can help prepare those in the medical field

Alumni in Medicine & Health Equity

Dan Tilden

Eastern North Carolina '08

Clinical Fellow

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Dan Tilden discovered a new sense of purpose serving in the corps. Today, he’s pursuing a career in medicine.

Teach For America alum Rebecca Purtell

Rebecca Purtell

Greater Philadelphia '03

Pediatric Hospitalist

Primary Children’s Hospital/University of Utah

Rebecca Purtell's experience as a TFA corps member prepared her for her role as a pediatric hospitalist at Primary Children’s Hospital, including her main responsibility of caring for acutely ill children.

Lilian Ho

Lilian Ho

Bay Area '07

Pediatrician

Alaska Native Medical Center

During a public health internship in college, Lilian realized that teaching would blend her passion for science and her commitment to helping people. She’s now a pediatric resident working in rural communities that lack access to health care.

Careers in Law

From the classroom to the courtroom, gain the clarity, context, and conviction to lead a life of impact. After spending two years leading classrooms, many Teach For America alumni decide to continue their commitment to their students and communities by pursuing careers in law. 
Dana Sisitsky is a lawyer in California

Alumni in Law

Rupa Ramadurai

Rupa Ramadurai

Miami-Dade '09

Senior Human Capital Consultant

IBIS Consulting Group

In Rupa Ramadurai's role as senior human capital consultant at IBIS Consulting Group, she helps organizations develop DEI hiring practices that promote equity.

Tom McSorley

Washington '06

General Counsel

NATO - Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)

Tom says he seized on the opportunity to become a corps member after graduating from Harvard to expand his horizons and challenge himself. Now serving as General Counsel for NATO's DIANA, he builds on the resilience he learned in the corps.

Laura Komarek headshot

Laura Komarek

Greater New Orleans '11

Litigation & Trial Practice Attorney

Alston & Bird LLP

Teaching middle school special education enabled Laura Komarek to be an advocate for students in her law career. Learn how her time as a Teach For America corps member transformed her perspective.

Matthew Aiken

St. Louis '10

Associate Counsel

The White House

As an associate counsel at The White House, Matthew credits his ability to embrace the challenge to his time teaching 9th grade math as a corps member.

Careers in Non-Profit Work

Many Teach For America alumni take the lessons learned in the classroom with them to the nonprofit sector, where they continue working to make the world a better, more equitable place alongside passionate and like-minded individuals.
alumni network featured image

Alumni in Non-Profit Work

Anjali Malipatil

New York '06

Executive Director of Philanthropy and DEI

PDT Partners

Anjali Malipatil lauds her time as a middle school science teacher for preparing her for a career as Executive Director of Philanthropy and DEI at PDT Partners, a global investment manager that funds strategic grants and projects for nonprofits and schools.

Teach For America alumna Charli Cooksey

Charli Cooksey

St. Louis '09

Founder and CEO

WEPOWER

Charli’s experience teaching in her hometown showed her what’s at stake—and what’s possible—when a great education hangs in the balance. As the co-founder of inspireSTL and current CEO of WEPOWER, she’s part of an incredible network of St. Louis leaders expanding opportunities for kids. 

Ben Sperling

Ben Sperling

Metro Atlanta '12

Senior Associate Brand Manager, M&Ms

Mars, Inc.

Ben Sperling's time in the classroom led him to create a nonprofit that brings college and career readiness to life for underserved students in Atlanta.

Lakota Vogel

South Dakota '06

Executive Director

Four Bands Community Fund Inc.

As executive director of the Four Bands Community Fund, Lakota helps close the racial wealth gap for Native Americans.

Are You Ready To Join Us?

Are You Ready To Join Us?

Start your journey by checking your eligibility to join the corps, or learn more by talking to a recruiter.
Talk To A Recruiter
Kids in a group hug with teacher