Executive Board

  • Main Branch Deputy Site Coordinator

    Victor Bowker is a sophomore studying Government and pursuing a Citation in Chinese at Harvard College. 

    Originally from Scituate, Massachusetts, Victor now lives in Quincy House, which is factually proven to be the best house. As a low-income Massachusetts resident, Victor is excited to begin working with VITA to help families in need. 

    After undergrad, Victor is considering a variety of career paths, including diplomacy with the State Department, law, or joining the big-bad bureaucracy in DC!

    Outside of class and clubs, Victor is an avid sailor and encourages everyone to seize the day and feel the wind.

  • Central Square Site Coordinator

    Dean is a 4th year in the JD/MBA program at Harvard. Prior to graduate school, Dean worked in finance at Blackstone and spend six years serving as an officer in the United States Navy. Dean began volunteering for VITA in 2023, spending time at the Cambridge Public Library helping individuals with their tax returns.

    Dean travelled to Alaksa during his 2024 Spring Break to help low-income, indigenous communities file taxes, in conjunction with the Alaska Business Development Center (ABDC).

    After graduating, Dean is looking forward to remaining in the Boston area as a small business owner and continuing to volunteer with CPL VITA!

  • Main Branch Deputy Site Coordinator

    Joy(she/they), from Lagos, Nigeria, is committed to building a democracy and economy that works for all. Motivated by this tenet, Joy organized marginalized communities to push for justice and equitable access across a range of social issues in the US.

    Prior to pursuing the MPP at Harvard Kennedy School, Joy developed the leadership capacity of moms to build power and take action in their community at MomsRising, a national nonprofit advocating for moms. Further, Joy’s upbringing in Nigeria is the basis of their mission to use their organizing skills across the African continent to ensure that government institutions and public service delivery mechanisms are effective, while promoting equitable, community-centered solutions to poverty.

    Joy graduated with honors from Spelman College with a degree in International Development.

    Joy is a recipient of the Pulitzer Student Fellowship, the Audre Lorde Social Justice Award, and the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship.

  • Managing Director

    Jon-Yin (he/him) is a student at Harvard Law School. Before enrolling at HLS, he was a low-income tax specialist at HLS’s Federal Tax Clinic.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jon-Yin secured millions in tax benefits for underserved populations. Since 2016, he has partnered with VITA sites in Alaska, California, Upstate New York, New York City, & Massachusetts. This will be his fifth tax season providing free tax preparation in Massachusetts and his seventh season as a VITA preparer.

    Jon-Yin has a B.S. in Applied Economics and Management and an M.P.S. in Management from Cornell University.

  • Central Square Deputy Site Coordinator

    Emma Pham-Tran (she/her) is a current sophomore at Harvard College concentrating in Government with a citation in Vietnamese. 

    Originally from Sacramento, California and now a resident of Quincy House at Harvard, she hopes to pursue a career in public service or public administration as a lawyer. Emma has worked with local nonprofit organizations in her hometown throughout high school and college, with her most recent experience with Asian Resources, Inc. inspiring her to continue working with underrepresented, especially non-English speaking, communities.

    Outside of her work with VITA, she is involved with various programs at the Harvard’s Institute of Politics and writes for the Harvard Crimson. She enjoys attending local theatrical and musical performances, exploring new cafes with friends, and walking around Harvard Square and Boston.

  • Low-Income Tax Law Instructor

    Anita Dugbartey (She/Her/Hers) is a junior at Harvard College studying Computer Science and Government in Mather House.

    Originally from NYC, Anita aspires to become a Software Engineer while dedicating time to expand tech industry opportunities and financial literacy in her community of the South Bronx. She has demonstrated her commitment to service through various organizations, including the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, and the Ron Brown Guided Pathways Program (GPS). In these roles, she has served as a community volunteer and within Ron Brown GPS, a pro-bono College Advisor, providing college access mentorship to low-income and first-generation African American students. For her outstanding service, Anita was awarded the Ron Brown Scholarship, the nation's most prestigious merit and service undergraduate scholarship for African Americans.

    As a rising Software Engineer, Anita completed an internship at Salesforce and will return next summer as a Backend Software Engineer in their Government Cloud division. She previously served as a Data and Strategy Intern at the New York City Department of Small Business Services, where she helped allocate millions in support grants to over 10,000 small and minority-owned businesses.

    A first-generation low-income (FGLI) college student, Anita has earned over $1M in scholarships from organizations including Bayer, Microsoft, Dell, The New York Urban League, Deloitte, and the Harvard Club of NYC.

    In her free time, she enjoys hiking with the Harvard Outing Club, weightlifting, and dancing. As part of the CPL VITA leadership team, Anita looks forward to expanding access to financial support and resources for lower-income communities beyond her own.

  • Alaska Experience Director

    Jackson Faulkner is a 2L from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    Jackson is interested in administrative law, American legal history, and the intersection of law, politics, and discretionary authority.

    Before attending Harvard Law School, he worked in New Mexico state government and politics, holding positions with both the Governor and the Speaker of the House. Jackson's work included facilitating government-to-government relationships with tribal leadership, executing statewide political programs, and most recently, staffing a legislative session where New Mexico adopted its first tax plan proposed and led by an Indigenous legislator.

    Jackson plans to return to New Mexico upon graduation and work in the public interest. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and exploring New England with his partner.

  • Client Relationship Manager

    Jibril Mahdi is a junior at Harvard College studying Economics and living in Kirkland House. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, to Somali immigrant parents, Jibril is passionate about exploring economics as a lens for understanding development and driving equitable opportunities within communities like the Somali diaspora.

    Jibril’s academic interests have led him to engage in impactful research through the PRIMO (Program for Research in Markets and Organizations) program, where he studied labor allocation, value creation, and the strategic roles within startups. He is also an active member of WHRB, Harvard's college radio station, contributing to the vibrant creative community on campus.

    Outside of academics, Jibril enjoys reading, flying drones, and tinkering with retro tech, combining a fascination with technology’s evolution and hands-on problem-solving.

    Looking ahead, Jibril is excited to pursue opportunities in developmental economics, with a focus on creating innovative and sustainable solutions for underrepresented and underserved communities worldwide.

  • Tax Law Instructor

    Saief Mahmood is a Master in Public Administration (MPA) candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School, class of 2025.

    Born and raised in Dhamura, Barisal, Bangladesh, Saief moved to Canada in 2012 to study at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. His early years were shaped by the vibrant culture and history of Bangladesh, sparking a lifelong interest in public policy and global affairs.

    Before attending HKS, Saief served as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Government of Canada, where he contributed to initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Strategy, a $2.3 billion generational shift in Canada's foreign policy.

    In his free time, Saief enjoys spicy food, hiking with his dog Mango, taking landscape photos, and exploring the intersection of human-centered design and policy design.

  • Director of Safety Net Partnerships

    Julie McCormack (she/her) works on disability, cash assistance, food access, unemployment, estate planning, consumer and other benefits issues at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School’s Safety Net Project which she directs. She collaborates with the Estate Planning Project, the Consumer Protection Clinic, the Family Law Clinic, the Housing Clinic, the LGBTQ+ Clinic, the Tax Clinic and the Veterans Legal Clinic to address clients broader needs. Following the expansion of MA criminal record sealing and expungement eligibility in 2018, she founded and directs LSC’s  CORI Sealing Initiative.

    Julie has participated in VITA in Cambridge, Boston, and indigenous communities in rural Alaska. At CPL VITA Julie will be helping low-income members of our communitiy access the wider social safety net in Massachusetts.

    Having emigrated from Ireland where she received her law degree, Julie worked at Community Legal Aid (then LACCM) in Worcester representing clients in public benefits, housing, consumer and employment law. At LACCM, she organized membership of all non-management attorneys and staff with the National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW), District 65, UAW and served as the new local’s first president.

    Julie has given numerous presentations to national and state wide groups on Access to Justice, Social Security and disability related issues. Julie received a B.A. in Law and Economics, and an L.L.B. in Civil and Canonical Law from Ollscoil na Gaillimh (University of Galway, Republic of Ireland).

  • Main Branch Site Coordinator

    Harvard Kennedy School Liason

    Roderick is a second-year Master in Public Policy student at Harvard Kennedy School with seven years of experience in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Before attending Harvard, he spent six years in Washington, D.C., gaining experience in research, policy development, policy analysis, and community engagement at organizations such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Urban Institute, and the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition. His research has been cited by outlets such as the Washington Post, Last Week Tonight, Federal Reserve, and Popular Science, contributing to discussions on key issues in public policy. Looking forward, Roderick is dedicated to leveraging his experience to drive impactful policy changes that advance equity and opportunity across communities.

  • Tax Law Trainer

    Lottie Elwy (she/her) is a current first-year student at Harvard College intending to concentrate in Computer Science and Philosophy with a secondary in German Studies. 

    Originally from Wellesley, Massachusetts, she hopes to join Teach For America after college, eventually becoming a high school math teacher. Lottie has served nonprofits in various capacities, from leading the Recruitment Committee for the Youth in Philanthropy program at the Community Foundation for MetroWest in Natick, MA to her seven-year tenure as a Boston Cares volunteer. For her community advocacy and public service, Lottie was awarded the Silver Medal Congressional Award by Rep. Jake Auchincloss in January of 2024. 

    She enjoys volunteering at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, reading German philosophy, keeping up with advancements in technology, and going for runs along the Charles River. She is excited to give back to the Greater Boston community through VITA.

  • Main Branch Site Coordinator

    Harvard College Liaison

    Olivia Lin (she/her) is a current junior at Harvard College concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a secondary in History of Art and Architecture.

    Originally from Clovis, California and now a proud resident of Kirkland House at Harvard, she intends to pursue a career as a physician or physician-scientist. Olivia has been an IRS-certified Advanced-level tax preparer for VITA since her junior year of high school, where she founded a collaboration between her high school and the nonprofit United Way Fresno & Madera Counties to recruit her classmates to become volunteer tax preparers for low-income community members in California’s Central Valley.

    Outside of VITA, she is involved in research at Boston Children’s Hospital and plays cello in Harvard’s Bach Society Orchestra. In her free time, she enjoys exploring restaurants in Boston, wandering around Newbury Street with her friends, and doing group fitness classes. She is excited to continue providing free tax assistance to those in the Greater Boston community.