Annalee Kelly is a youth mentor and a Senior Researcher at Mathematica Policy Research in Princeton, NJ. With more than 15 years of research experience, Annalee is currently responsible for directing large-scale studies that provide valuable information on children’s early development and school readiness. Annalee spent 8 years as a mentor and co-chair with ACTSO (Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics). ACTSO is a yearlong mentoring and enrichment program for high school students that seeks to promote positive self-esteem, academic and artistic excellence, and positive interactions between our youth and the adult professional community. Annalee is currently the co-director of the becoming conference, an annual conference that inspires and empowers girls of color between the ages of 12 and 16. Annalee attended Rutgers University where she earned a Master’s degree in Learning, Cognition and Development and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Management with a focus on Educational Policy through Drexel University.