Staff Profiles
CIP Berkeley has an experienced, professional staff with strong educational backgrounds and solid experience working with young adults with Asperger's and other learning differences. Our staff members are passionate about their jobs and work to ensure they provide cutting edge curriculum and individualized support for all CIP students.
Berkeley Center Staff
Bethany Ensminger, MA
Program Director
Bethany Ensminger is a native to California, born in Southern California and raised in the Bay Area. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University in 2005 and her M.A. in Counseling at St. Mary’s College in 2009.
Prior to working at the College Internship Program, Bethany spent several years providing educational support to both high school and college students. She also has experience in program management from her work at a local non-profit health clinic serving underserved populations.
In addition to her interest in working with students, Bethany enjoys reading, scrapbooking, traveling, pilates, and cooking.
Admissions Coordinator
Marjorie joined CIP as Admissions Coordinator in February, 2008. Her prior experience includes working as an Dean of Students at a local College, Mentor Program Director for High School and Middle School students, and working as an attorney for over 12 years. She loves this type of work, as her personal mission is to ensure that young people have the tools and resources to live their dreams.
Marjorie and her husband live in Emeryville, about 3 miles from the Berkeley Center. Her interests include: kickboxing, Toastmasters, reading, thinking, cooking, making menopause fun, and helping people reach their dreams.
Jennifer Woo, MSW
Student Advisor
Jennifer was raised in Southern California. After graduating from California State University at Fullerton with a major in Human Services and a minor in Sociology, she moved to the Bay Area to attend graduate school at University of California at Berkeley. Jennifer graduated with a Master's in Social Welfare in 2003 and has worked for local non-profit organizations.
As a Social Welfare major, Jennifer concentrated on subjects such as advocacy, diversity and culturally sensitive services, and interpersonal communication. While attending college she also completed internships as a school social worker for middle schools and high schools. Jennifer also spent two years as the Social Services volunteer at The Suitcase Clinic in Berkeley, working with homeless and low-income adults.
Jennifer is currently attending graduate school (again) to earn a Master's degree in Library and Information Science. In her spare time Jennifer enjoys cooking, reading, photography, and traveling.
Nicole Despines, B.A.
Student Advisor
Nicole is a native to California and was raised in the bay area. She earned B.A.degrees in Communication Studies and American Studies at California State University, Chico. In May 2011 Nicole will be graduating with a M.S. degree in Rehabilitation and College Counseling from San Francisco State University.
Nicole has worked with students and adults with disabilities in educational and career settings. She was the first student advisor at the CIP Berkeley center when it opened in the summer of 2007 and, after taking a couple of years off to complete school, has returned to CIP as a student advisor again.
Nicole lives in the east bay area with her husband and two cats. In her spare time Nicole enjoys skiing, traveling, reading, and hiking.
Tiffany Pippen, MSW
Student Advisor
Tiffany is a native of Washington State, and is a graduate of Washington State University with a B.A in Sociology. In June 2008, she earned her Master of Social Work degree from California State University, East Bay.
Prior to working for CIP, Tiffany was employed as a Child Welfare Worker for Alameda County in the Family Maintenance Unit. Tiffany is registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences and is currently accruing hours to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Tiffany lives in the east bay area with her husband and dog Charlie. In her spare time she enjoys trips to local beaches, listening to music, watching movies, reading and traveling.
Clinician
Barbara was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. With a Bachelor (Shippensburg University) and a Master's degree in Social Work (Rutger's University) Barbara relocated to California in 1986 and has worked with children, youth and families for almost thirty years.
Along with her part-time work at CIP, Barbara is the supervising social worker at Heartsent Adoptions, Inc. and has a small private psychotherapy practice in El Cerrito where she specializes in working with children, youth and families with special needs and/or adoption issues.
Barbara has long been a follower of Michelle Garcia Winner's work on Social Thinking and is delighted to work as a social thinking instructor with the CIP students as they explore and improve their abilities to navigate the social world as young adults. In addition to her professional work, Barbara and a small group of teachers and parents, started a charter high school in 2007, which is currently in it's second year with 100 students.
Barbara is the proud mother of fifteen year old twin sons, two cats and a new (rescue) dog. She relishes the time that she spends with her family. She enjoys listening to bluegrass music, skiing, bicycle riding, going on roller coasters and playing on-line scrabble with her sister in Philadelphia. She volunteers along side her son, Robbie, at the East Bay Humane Society.
Clinician
Ken Breniman joined the CIP Berkeley team as a Clinician in September 2009. He obtained his Masters in Social Work in 1999 from Washington University in St. Louis. Ken has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2005 and has worked with young adults and transitional age youth in a variety of settings, including community health clinics, hospitals, schools, and non-profit service providers.
Ken is a true believer in the Strength-based approach to supporting young people as they grow and mature. Ken taps into the evidenced-based frameworks of a variety of counseling styles, including Narrative Therapy and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. Ken also is certified as a Yoga Teacher and will soon have his certification as a Yoga Therapist.
Ken enjoys traveling, watching movies and reading books by Daniel Quinn and Paulo Coehlo. Two little know facts about Ken are that he lived in Japan for almost 7 years and grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania.
Yasin Johnson, BA
Residential Coordinator
Yasin Johnson who is a native of Los Angeles moved to the Bay Area in 2002 to pursue higher education. He attended Berkeley City College where he received an Associates degree in Liberal Studies.
He then went on to San Francisco State University earning a degree in English Literature.
Yasin has worked with children with learning differences for the past four years. Yasin has worked as an Instructional Assistant in special education classrooms. He has also worked with developmentally challenge children in the Berkeley YMCA childcare department for three years.
Along with working as a Residential Coordinator for CIP, Yasin has also worked for the Berkeley Unified School District as an Assistant Behavioral Therapist. Yasin's hobbies include exercising, reading, and presently learning how to swim.
Nicole Avant, BA
Social Thinking Instructor
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Nicky Avant obtained a BA in Sociology (with an emphasis on experiential learning) from the University of Michigan. Since 1999, Nicky has donated her time and passion to various youth serving agencies that foster creativity and independence in youth. Specializing in a strength-based approach, she has wide-ranging experience creating youth-centered empowerment opportunities, leadership coaching, and developing teams.
Nicky moved to the Bay Area in March of 2009. During her time in Michigan, she worked to provide crisis intervention and life-skill development for one of the nation’s leading runaway and homeless youth shelters. Prior to CIP, Nicky worked as a Campaign Fellow for United Way of the Bay Area, supporting fundraising efforts to achieve economic stability for youth and families.
Now the Social Thinking Instructor at the CIP Berkeley Center, Nicky helps students internalize the tools they need to navigate our complex social world. Nicky enjoys helping youth and young adults discover their passion in order to create the change they want to see.
Kyla Persons
Career Coordinator
Kyla Persons was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a B.A in both Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of California Riverside in 2009. Before coming to CIP in 2010, Kyla tutored academics and life skills in a College Prep program for at risk youth which emphasized individual determination.
Kyla uses various coaching strategies to empower students with Learning Differences by teaching them how to apply their style while navigating the intricate world if work. Kyla self studies various subjects including Mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, Art, Physiology, and Bioenergy. Her hobbies include capoeria, dancing, drawing, and spending quality time with her Mom.
National Office Staff
Michael McManmon, Ed.D
CIP Founder & International Speaker
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Tom Metzner, M.Ed.
Assistant Executive Director
Dan McManmon, B.A.
Director of Admissions and Marketing
Maggi Sanderson, B.A.
National Admissions Coordinator
Abby Tierney, B.A.
Summer Program Coordinato
Matthew Kosiorek
Site Development
Kim Nestler
Director of Human Resources
Melanie Moran
Quality Control Officer