Nijmie Zakkiyyah Dzurinko is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Student Union.  She began with PSU in 1999 as the lead organizer for the Bartram chapter and one year later became PSU’s assistant director.   After leaving in2003 to work on international human rights issues she returned in 2006 to revive the organization. Nijmie was raised in Western Pennsylvania by her steel worker grandparents.   She began her activism when she wrote an essay at the age of 9 reflecting on the role of unions in improving workers lives for which she received a $50 prize and a speaking engagement at a local state park. She went on to become a youth organizer, challenging racism at her school and engaging her peers in opposing the first Gulf War.   She attended the University of Pennsylvania,graduating with honors in 1997.  She went on to volunteer with Americorps national service program, where she assisted teens from North Philadelphia to build community gardens under the mentorship of Iris Brown and tutored young people in an after school program at Norris Square Neighborhood Project.  In 2006, Nijmie received her Masters in Urban Studies from Temple University, where she received the prestigious University Fellowship.   Nijmie has conducted popular education,strategy, and anti-oppression trainings for a number of groups and organizations including Fellowship Farm. She co-founded the Media Mobilizing Project in 2006.  Nijmie has been living in West Philadelphia for 16 years.

Hiram Rivera is the Strategic Director of the Philadelphia Student Union.  Hiram Rivera is a native of New Haven, CT, a father, an activist, and an organizer. He started his career in youth organizing as a coordinator at Youth Right's Media in New Haven, training Black and Latino students in video production and campaign organizing around Education & Juvenile Justice issues. He most recently served as Youth Organizing Coordinator at the Urban Youth Collaborative in New York City, where he provided strategic and technical support to the community organizations that make up the UYC, as well coordinating the city-wide campaigns to reform the NYC public school system

Fred Pinguel is an activist and organizer with the Philadelphia Student Union.  He was a member of the Philadelphia Student Union in high-school and worked to secure adequate funding for Philadelphia public schools.  Between the campaign for school funding and the privatization fight against E.M.O.’s, Fred saw and came to believe the collective power of youth. These experiences at P.S.U. have led him back to the organization after college to put his energy and skills toward the improvement of Philadelphia Public Schools.

Megan Williamson is an organizer with Philadelphia Student Union focusing on our school funding campaign and our youth-produced radio show, On Blast.  She has a BA in Women's Studies from the University of Michigan.

Iliyaas Muhammad is the West Philadelphia High School Chapter Organizer with the Philadelphia Student Union. He served forty-four (44) months in Mali, West Africa as a United States Peace Corps volunteer. Iliyaas graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a Business option. He is looking forward to making a strong contribution to the Philadelphia Student Union and the Philadelphia community.

Jacob Winterstein is the Development Director and an alumnus of the Philadelphia Student Union ('04). He worked for two years in William Penn High School's Student Success Center co-leading a mentoring program. Jacob has taught poetry, performance, acting, rapping, public speaking and leadership development workshops in many different capacities for young people in prisons, schools, universities, community centers, summer camps and non-profits.  He is committed to developing creative ways for the students, staff, supporters and board members of PSU to be involved in fundraising.

Luis Gauthier is the Director of Finance and Operations and is also the Movement Music Coordinator for the Philadelphia Student Union.  He first became involved in youth development initiatives when he joined Youth Advocate Program, Inc. in 2001 as an advocate working with “at-risk” youth committed by the court system. Having worked as an advocate with YAP, Inc. for 3 years, Luis realized he had more to offer by way of multi-media and business workshops and activities. In 2003, he was hired by a small community based non-profit agency as a multi-media instructor for their after-school program. During that time he also assisted in the production of a morning radio show, Jonesy in the AM, which broadcasted on 103.9 The Beat (now 100.3 The Beat). In 2004, he organized and hosted several youth talent competition at Franklin Mills Mall in order to promote positive self expression via the creative arts. In 2006, he was hired as an activities coordinator at a Beacon program located in the North Philadelphia section. In this position, Luis utilized the opportunity to develop some very exciting programs and organize various successful events for 400+ students in the Philadelphia School District. Soon after leaving the Beacon program, he founded his own non-profit organization, Productions in Progress, specializing in business and multi-media programming for “at-risk” youth. In 2000, Luis graduated cum laude from Temple University’s Fox school of Business earning a BBA in Accounting. On the flip side, he has always had a passion for music and has been producing and engineering in a studio environment since 1993. Luis grew up in North Philadelphia and has been actively engaged in the community. He has been involved in various committees and many community based initiatives, including the 2008 “Back to Basics” event as well as several block cleanups. He is a dedicated father of two little boys and has pledged to be a role model and mentor to the youth in his community.