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.
20+
20+ Grant funded projects evaluated
5M+
Secured in grant funds
850+
Educators and administrators supported through our professional development
4+
National Designations
6+
Self Studies
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
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.
Dr. Katie O’Brien
Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist
Katie O’Brien, Ph.D., is the Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist at Empowerment Through Education (ETE), where she leads program and grant evaluation and research to support schools, districts, and organizations. She is a mixed-methods education researcher with experience across K–12 and higher education as an educator, evaluator, and consultant. Prior to joining ETE, she worked on two national Gates Foundation–funded research on AI in higher education and managed an NSF-funded pilot at Emory University focused on building K–12 capacity to teach artificial intelligence.
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.
Gabriel Payano
Web Developer
Gabriel has been a Web Developer at Empowerment Through Education (ETE) since 2022. He focuses on building modern, responsive, and user-centered web applications that support the organization’s digital initiatives. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Gabriel completed an Advanced Vocational Training Diploma in Web Application Development in Spain, a post-secondary technical education and brings an international and practical perspective to every project.