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Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Risa Berrin is founder & chief executive officer of Health Information Project (HIP).
A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Miami School of Law, Risa has always had an innate drive, entrepreneurial spirit and desire to improve her community.
Before law school, Risa became a court-appointed special advocate for children who were mistreated, abandoned and neglected. She also taught health education to female juveniles who were incarcerated. During law school, Risa led the school's Street Law program in Miami's public schools.
Risa was also a part-time writer for The Miami Herald for many years.
As chief executive officer, Risa is responsible for the sustainability and growth of the organization. Risa envisions a world where every child receives quality health education and access to healthcare resources.
When she is not focused on HIP expansion, Risa loves to entertain in her home, spend time on the water boating, play golf and tennis, travel and attend classical music performances.
Chief Operating Officer
Valerie Berrin is chief operating officer for Health Information Project (HIP).
Valerie has been an entrepreneur since a very young age, selling mangoes from her backyard on the street corner for charity.
While studying at Barnard College – Columbia University, Valerie volunteered as a health teacher in the New York City public school system.
Valerie was selected to participate in a leadership development journey called Reality Impact, a Schusterman Foundation initiative, which provides social impact training to entrepreneurs around the world.
As chief operating officer, Valerie oversees the implementation of HIP at its partner school sites and manages the day-to-day administrative endeavors of the organization.
When Valerie is not ensuring the HIP program is running smoothly, you can find her playing tennis and golf, coaching a youth girls basketball team, running her local community basketball league and doing activities with her nephews.
Chief Program Officer
Lindsay Pena is chief program officer for Health Information Project (HIP).
Lindsay is a native Floridian, and proud University of Florida Gator alum. After college, she joined Teach for America and moved to Houston, Texas to be a first grade teacher. Lindsay holds a master's degree in education from the University of Houston.
She then joined KIPP, a nationally recognized charter organization, as a teacher, assistant principal and founding principal of a KIPP elementary school. It was her greatest privilege and accomplishment to see her founding kindergarteners become middle schoolers last year!
Lindsay has transitioned back to Florida and is incredibly excited to continue her mission and work with HIP. In order for every student to receive an excellent education, they must be physically and emotionally healthy.
Lindsay is a lifelong learner and loves to read and listen to podcasts. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Silvia, and family, watching golf, football, or Cocomelon. Most of all, she loves being on the water and on a boat.
South Florida Program Director
Andrew Tripodo is the program director for Health Information Project (HIP).
Andrew began his journey in education as a summer school teacher for Breakthrough Miami, an experience that prompted him to join Teach For America as a high school English teacher in New Orleans.
After completing a masters degree in Political Theory from NYU, he moved home to Miami in 2017 as a founding faculty member of The Cushman High School. Before joining HIP, he served as KIPP Miami’s Humanities Achievement Director.
As program director, he works to ensure that students and teachers are getting the most out of HIP at their schools, and is passionate about HIP’s ability to cultivate student leadership and wellbeing.
He is an avid reader and writer, publishing his first book in 2021. An athletics enthusiast, he spends many evenings swimming, running, or coaching water polo. Most of all, he loves traveling the world with his wife and concocting ever more far-flung adventures together.
Chief of Staff
Andrea Cioffi is chief of staff for Health Information Project (HIP).
While pursuing her business degree from Boston University, Andrea fell in love with social entrepreneurism. She joined Teach for America after graduation and served in the first-ever Greater Boston Corp teaching high school math. Over the next 13 years, Andrea served as an instructional leader and founding team member at several charter schools in the Boston area.
Andrea then joined a biotech startup in the women’s health space as the first employee, handling all business operations and helping the organization grow from 5 to 25 employees in under two years.
Andrea is thrilled to be a part of HIP where she is able to combine her passion for education and health equity. As chief of staff, Andrea will help HIP achieve its strategic priorities and ensure staff are supported as we grow.
Andrea lives in Cambridge, MA with her velcro rescue dog, Lola. Andrea enjoys cooking, the NYTimes crossword puzzle, and planning her next international adventure.
NYC Program Director
Bethany Schaid is the NYC program director for Health Information Project (HIP).
Her career has been driven by a love for helping people to understand the world around them and recognize the impact they can have on it. Bethany began as a Teach for America corps member in the Bronx and went on to teach middle and high school social studies in NYC public schools. She taught English at a university in Turkey as a Fulbright teaching fellow and adult ESL for the Brooklyn Public Library. For many years, Bethany oversaw a service-learning initiative at the New York City Department of Education, supporting teachers and students in making change in their communities.
Bethany is thrilled to bring HIP to NYC schools and to help expand and sustain the program in NYC.
Bethany lives in Brooklyn with her husband and dog. She enjoys running in Prospect Park, writing fiction, and searching for vinyl records to complete her ever-growing collection.
Faculty Sponsor Mentor
Loli is the HIP faculty sponsor at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, where she has been an AP Biology teacher for 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth & Ocean Science from Duke University and is currently working on a Masters in Biology from Clemson University. She loves forming relationships with students beyond the classroom through HIP and seeing her peer health educators grow and positively impact their community. She enjoys working with HIP faculty sponsors across Miami-Dade County and helping them make each HIP year a successful one!
Faculty Sponsor Mentor
Therese is the HIP faculty sponsor and an assistant principal at South Broward High School. She has been an educator for the past 13 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Educational Leadership from FAU. She is proud of the positive impact that HIP has had not only on the 9th grade students, but also on the 11th and 12th grade peer educators. She is looking forward to working with HIP faculty sponsors to continue to make HIP a success!
Faculty Sponsor Mentor
Reginald is the HIP faculty sponsor at Plantation High School. He was born and raised in South Florida. He attended Chaminade Madonna High School as a basketball player and Nova Southeastern University, where he got his bachelors in biology and a minor in chemistry. He has been teaching for 18 years and has taught regular science, honors and AP biology, chemistry and anatomy. He loves the way the program is a peer-to-peer learning experience and how it challenges the peer health educators to do something innovative, challenging, and exciting.
Faculty Sponsor Mentor
Maggie currently works as a counselor at Miami Norland Senior High School. Prior to this role, she worked at Miami Carol City Senior High School as the school's social worker, boys' soccer assistant coach, girls' basketball coach and HIP faculty sponsor. Maggie holds a master's degree in social work. She believes the lessons and resources her students are receiving through HIP are life-changing.
Faculty Sponsor Mentor
Shaneka is a social science teacher and HIP faculty sponsor at North Miami Beach Senior High School. She is currently earning her master's degree in educational leadership at St. Thomas University. She loves being a part of HIP because it allows her to help young adults step out of their comfort zones and build their social and emotional skills.
Faculty Sponsor Mentor
Roberto is a biology and science teacher at Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School. As the HIP faculty sponsor, he is passionate about promoting health education and awareness among young people. Roberto previously spent over a decade at Florida International University (FIU) within the biology department. Roberto loves witnessing firsthand the positive impact of health education on his students' lives. He finds great joy in helping other faculty sponsors create a supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and make informed health decisions.
Board Chair
Managing Partner-Akin Ventures
Carlo & Micol Schejola Foundation
Founding Partner
Pensam Capital
Vice President-Wealth Management
Northern Trust Corporation
Executive Director
Temple Israel of Greater Miami
Former Chief Academic Officer
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Education Advisor
Physician
Skin Associates of South Florida
Medical Advisory Board Chair
Immigration Attorney/Shareholder
Packman, Neuwahl & Rosenberg, PA
Attorney/Partner
Lalchandani Simon PL
Legal Advisor
Thank you to our generous supporters who make the program possible.