About the Staff

Amanda Samko received her Bachelor’s degrees in International Business and Marketing from Penn State Behrend University. After graduation she put her educational skills to use in the real world through a career that began as an administrative assistant at a small engineering company, and grew to a position as the Director of Administration for a fast-growing non-profit organization. She gained experience along the way in sales, marketing, and human resources, through several positions with start-up technology companies. Amanda is also currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management at Robert Morris University. 

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Amanda feels a strong connection to the non-profit organizations that exist in this beautiful city. She enjoys the fact that her career allows her to interact with the many faces of Pittsburgh’s non-profit world on a regular basis. When she’s off the clock, Amanda enjoys exercise of all kinds, reading novels, and spending time with friends and family.

Gloria joined the NEED staff in 2003 as an independent contractor providing services in the area of accounting and fiscal management. She is responsible for all accounting activities, including policies/procedures, cash management, and budgeting and financial reporting. She works directly with the president and chief executive officer in developing and monitoring statistical and financial reports to provide high-quality management information.

Gloria has an undergraduate degree in accounting and business administration from Alabama A&M University and a master's degree in public policy and management and a certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Pittsburgh. She serves as a memeber of the board of directors of Working Women with Disabilities and held the treasurer position for seven years. Gloria is also the financial consultant to Addison Behavioral Care and UMOJA African Arts Company.

Received an Associates' Degree from CCAC in General Studies and is currently working on receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Teachers Education as a part of CCAC's transfer program with Slippery Rock. Before joining the NEED staff, Loretta worked with the Pittsburgh Public School District for four years as the Program Coordinator for the Science and Math Academy that was located at Westinghouse High School. She is currently serving the students of Imani Christain Academy as the NEED Advisor where she is helping students to reach their goals of attending either a post secondary college or vocational school upon graduation.

Anthony has been a NEED college access advisor since 2006. In this role, he is responsible for assisting and guiding high-school students at Oliver High School and University Prep with planning and preparing for college education and career opportunities. He also directs NEED's African-American Male Mentoring Initiative.

He has a broad skill set that encompasses many disciplines, such as leadership, fund raising, development, training and marketing. He was the administrative assistant and district liaison to the late Honorable K. Leroy Irvis, Speaker of the House, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's House of Representatives. Mr. Johnson's accomplishments included raising $2.5 million for the UNCF's training, education and scholarship planning for numerous organizations throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Anthony received his bachelor's degree in political science from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is a master's degree candidate at Geneva College in organizational leadership.

Deidre Lesesne is a native of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from the east end area. She graduated in 2003 with a BA in Communications and a minor in Speech Communication from Clarion University. She also is a NEED recipient.

In January 2004 she obtained her first job as a temporary employee at the UPMC Health Plan as an Administrative Assistant. Deidre moved within the UPMC system from 2004 to 2006 working throughout a wide range of departments such as medical records, employee health, medical billing, resident anesthesiology, and human resources. It was in 2007 that she decided she wanted more than temporary employment and decided to explore the non-profit arena. In April 2007, she landed a job in non-profit development.

It was in non-profit where Ms. Lesesne soon discovered how much her college degree could be maximized. There she learned the raw basics of marketing, advertising, and fundraising. During her tenure, she established on-going relationships with local and corporate businesses and helped maintain many of the functionalities in the Development Department. Her love to help people that experience life-changing results is a constant reward and reminder that “what a difference a day makes.”

Andrea is a graduate of Churchill High School. She completed her course of study at Arizona Career College, where she concentrated of Business Management. While travelling as a military spouse, she upheld administrative positions on several U.S. Air Force bases where she worked for Dept. of Defense contractors on multi-billion dollar projects, including the F-22 Raptor.

For the last 6 years she worked at Carlow University as the Office Manager for the Education Department, where she constantly helped students achieve their career goals.  Her creativity, passion, and diligence will guarantee substantial results in the NEED office, as their new Office Manager.

Andrea is the proud mother of two NEED recipients. For Andrea family is everything and spending time with her husband and children is what makes her happiest.  Her creativity, desire to make a difference and can do attitude will be a bonus to our office as she brings a new and creative splash to the NEED office, as their New Office Manager.

Mary Pat is a former assistant principal and administrator practitioner at Peabody High School. She has been a NEED college and career advisor for one year at the Creative and Performing Arts and Schenley High School.

She has an extensive career in education spanning 35 years including academic counselor, pupil affairs specialist, lead teacher/teacher on special assignment to the superintendent of schools. Other areas of expertise are facilitation training, conflict resolution, crisis intervention and educational problem solving.

Mary Pat received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from West Virginia University and her master's degree in K-12 counseling education from the University of Pittsburgh. She also earned an elementary and secondary principal certification in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Her professional affiliations include the National Counselors Association, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, Phi Delta Kappa and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.