Staff
The staff at Girlstart is a group of amazing women with incredible dedication, vision and leadership.
Rachel Muir
Founder/Executive Director
Named as one of Austin's Most Loved Women in 2005 by Austin Monthly magazine and a finalist for the 2004 Ethics in Business Awards, Rachel Muir founded Girlstart at age 26, with $500 and a credit card, in order to empower girls in math, science and technology.
Ms. Muir graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Honors. Ms. Muir has presented around the country at events, conferences and workshops and is a proud recipient of Oprah’s Use Your Life Award.
Ms. Muir was recently featured on the "Today" show and named in Fast Company magazine as one of the “Fast 50” Leaders in Innovation. A finalist in the 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Ms. Muir has made a life and career of empowering girls to believe anything is possible.
 Sharlym Aquino
Program Assistant
Sharlym is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. She is excited to join Girlstart and support their mission to empower young girls.
Deanna Buckley
Science Specialist
Deanna Buckley received her Bachelor of Science and Master's degree in Science Education with an emphasis in biology and chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Texas. Deanna has over 17 years of classroom experience and she has served as the technology coordinator for the Center for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, Field Coordinator for the Delta Rural Systemic Initiative, and has extensive training from exemplary programs such as the Exploratorium's Inquiry Institute in San Francisco and Cold Spring Harbor's DNA literacy program in New York.
Jessica Cook
Development Manager
A Seattle native, Jessica Cook holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Whitman College in Washington State. Before moving to Austin and coming to work at Girlstart in 2002, Jessica served as the Program Administrator for the Associated Kyoto Program, sending American undergraduates to study in Kyoto, Japan. Jessica is dedicated to helping people improve their lives through education and she is thrilled to use her grant writing and fundraising experience to help young women embrace a bright, empowered future.
 Sarah Haegelin
Volunteer and Event Coordinator
Sarah attended Texas A&M University, where she double majored in English and Speech Communication. Prior to working at Girlstart, she spent four years as Manager of Recruitment for a television news consulting firm in San Antonio. Sarah has always enjoyed helping out in the community, especially with youth-related programs, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to coordinate volunteers who share her desire to give back!
Zakiyyah Kareem
Project Manager
Zakiyyah Kareem holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Zakiyyah comes to Girstart by way of the public education sector where she spent over 5 years supporting teachers, students, administrators, and community partners in the development of high-quality service-learning programs. While at the Texas Center for Service-Learning, she managed various grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Department of Education. Zakiyyah has an indefatigable passion for supporting positive interventions that impact the lives of young people and their communities.
Elida Madrigal
Parent Liaison
Elida Madrigal holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, an Elementary Teaching Certificate, and her Master's of Education from Texas Christian University. She brings her experience as a Certified Bilingual Teacher as well as the Program Administrator for the Austin Capital Area Community Leadership Council. Elida has been recruiting Hispanic high school students for the Austin Capital Area Community Leadership Council for many years and was awarded the Outstanding Hispanic Woman Service Award from the Mexican American Business and Professional Women's Association.
 Nicole Martinez
Office Assistant
Nicole Martinez is a graduate of St. Edward’s University School of Communication. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Nicole has resided in Austin for four years where she has been an active volunteer with local non-profits. An alum of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Nicole participated in several internships in the Washington, DC area including the most recent at The National Archives and Records Administration. She is also President of the St. Edward’s chapter Lambda Pi Eta communications honor society. Nicole is thrilled to be working with Girlstart!
 Robin Murphy
Development Director
A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Robin Murphy has over 9 years of successful work history in the organization and coordination of large scale public events including special events expertise in not-for-profit fundraisers and retail promotions.
Robin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. For the past four years, Robin worked as the Development Director at AIDS Services of Austin where she was responsible for implementing all major fundraising events, agency marketing campaigns, donor cultivation, individual and corporate fundraising efforts. Robin is thrilled to be a part of the Girlstart team.
 Clare Richardson
Technology and Program Coordinator
Clare attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received degrees in Computer Science and French. While a student at UT, Clare volunteered weekly at the Girlstart offices and fell in love with the mission and culture of Girlstart. After interning at Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, and IBM in college, Clare brings a wealth of technical experience to Girlstart. Clare is a member of the UT Heritage Society, sits on the Advisory Board of Central Texas Model United Nations, and volunteers her website skills to community organizations. Clare is excited to bring her technology experience and love of math and science to Girlstart's programs.
Julie Shannan
Deputy Director
Julie Shannan received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. Named Austin DOVIA Volunteer Manager of the Year in 2003, she has also contributed to the National Public Radio yearly segment on “Volunteerism in America.” Julie has been a speaker for the Texas Conference for Women, The Conference for Science Teachers Association, Expanding Your Horizons, Society of Women Engineers, Women in Technology International, and the National Science Teachers Association promoting rewarding career and volunteer opportunities in math, science, engineering, and technology. Julie has developed nationally recognized science and technology programs that have been funded by Oprah’s Angel Network, the Texas Education Agency and the National Science Foundation. Her passion for science and math drive her to create cutting edge programs that appeal to girls and engage volunteers in the process.
 Katelyn Wamsted
Program Manager/Summer Camp Director
Katelyn Wamsted received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M University. For the past 7 years, Katelyn has worked and volunteered to promote teamwork and self esteem among others. Her background in marketing and passion for empowering girls brings a unique and fun perspective to Girlstart programs. Katelyn is excited to bring her logistic skills to the Girlstart team.
 Mysha Webster
Finance Assistant
Mysha is currently a studying Accounting and French at the University of Texas at Austin. She has spent time volunteering for youth organizations and working for financial services corporations. Because of her high school's focus on Engineering and the evident lack of females in her Engineering, Math, and Science courses, she recognizes the importance of female empowerment in the field, and joined Girlstart to support that goal of empowerment.
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