About Us
ABOUT US
A Consulting Firm Dedicated to Advancing Student Success
Empowerment Through Education (ETE) is a consulting firm dedicated to advancing student success and strengthening institutions through innovative, research-driven, and sustainable strategies. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Jacqueline Peña, ETE has grown from a solopreneurship into a dynamic, remote-based team serving K–12 districts, colleges, and universities. Our work spans grant writing and evaluation, professional development through ETE Academy, development and implementation of student success programming, self studies, and research. By creating custom-tailored approaches, we help institutions harness their strengths, build sustainable solutions, and deliver measurable results. We take pride in partnering with institutions to transform challenges into opportunities and ensure students, educators, and administrators thrive.
15
Years of experience
36K
642
The Goal
Our Mission
Our mission is to be a trusted partner in education, providing personalized, high-impact support and custom-tailored services that advance student success and institutional achievement.
The Outlook
Our Vission
Our vision is to be the consulting firm of choice
for educational institutions, driving student success through strategies and programs thatempower educators, learners, and institutions.
GET TO KNOW US
Meet Our Team
Founder and CEO
Jacqueline Peña is an educator, author, podcaster, entrepreneur, success coach, and consultant who focuses on helping people succeed in their personal and professional endeavors. Born and raised in The Bronx, New York, Jacqueline has dedicated over 25 years to student success in higher education. She has worked across institutions on the East Coast in multiple areas of education, including teaching, grants (writing, administration, and evaluation), assessment, accreditation, academic support, and administration as Dean of Academic Affairs. Today, she draws on this extensive experience to foster student success, strengthen professional development, and enhance administrative leadership.
Vanessa Bramante
Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist
Vanessa is the Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist at Empowerment Through Education (ETE). Leading the evaluation side of our work, Vanessa is passionate about leveraging data collection and analysis and best practice research to improve students’ learning experiences and outcomes. She earned a bachelor degree in Political Science from Salem State University (2020) and a master degree in Global Thought from Columbia University (2022).
Alina Gomez
Writing and Research Specialist
Alina has been a Research and Writing Specialist at Empowerment Through Education (ETE) since 2024. With a focus on K-12 and higher education, Alina assists with grant writing, research papers, professional development resources, and social media content that support ETE’s mission. She earned a degree in Psychology from Boston College in 2021 and has previously worked as a teacher abroad in Spain.
Samantha Gian Samson
Executive Assistant
Sam works as the CEO’s Executive assistant, bringing a strong background in data and communications. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and previously worked as a Data Analyst at Google. Originally from the Philippines, Sam is passionate about organization, efficiency, and supporting the team’s success.
Emma Francesca Mascherini Gomez
Social Media Manager
Francesca has been the Social Media Manager at Empowerment Through Education (ETE) since 2022. She oversees ETE’s social media strategy and content creation, and is passionate about bringing ideas to life. She is also the founder of Chocolate Forest, a project through which she writes personalized stories for children, helping them overcome life’s challenges.