Staff

High Jump’s Staff are dedicated to developing, funding, and growing our tuition-free programs to support our scholars by connecting them with the people and resources they need to build confidence, take risks, and achieve their dreams.

Nate Pietrini, EdD (he/him)

Chief Executive Officer

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Nate Pietrini, EdD, is the Chief Executive Officer of High Jump, an academic enrichment and high school access non-profit in Chicago. During Nate’s tenure, High Jump expanded student enrollment, launched new programming in partnership with Northwestern University, and increased college completion rates for alums.

Before joining High Jump, Nate was a principal, assistant principal, and teacher in Chicago Public Schools. He is a creator and co-host of The Ed Couple podcast, a Governor Pritzker-appointed Illinois Children and Family Services Advisory Council member, and a Board of Trustees member at Brightpoint.

Nate is a lecturer in the Education and Society program at the University of Chicago, has experience as a consulting developer of principal leadership programming at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Chicago’s To and Through Project.

He and his wife live in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chicago with their three boys.

Shaz Rasul (he/him)

Chief Programs Officer

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Shaz Rasul is Chief Programs Officer at High Jump, where he leads the strategy and delivery of the Scholars summer initiative, Community Scholars, and Alumni Scholars programs, as well as recruitment efforts that prioritize equitable access.

He brings more than 20 years of experience in education and community engagement, including key leadership roles at the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement. There, he directed the Neighborhood Schools Program, founded the Community Programs Accelerator, and guided initiatives in student civic engagement, nonprofit capacity building, digital equity, and PK–12 partnerships.

Earlier in his career, Shaz served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, experiences that continue to inform his commitment to educational equity. A 2019 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, he also serves on the boards of MetroSquash and EasterSeals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford.

He earned both a BA in Sociology and an MS in Computer Science from the University of Chicago.

Molly Gilbride (she/her)

Chief Advancement Officer

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Molly Gilbride is High Jump’s Chief Advancement Officer, joining the team to spearhead development, marketing, and communications strategy. She leads the planning and execution of fundraising campaigns, multi-year growth planning, and collaborates closely with senior leadership and the board to advance High Jump’s mission.

A seasoned nonprofit fundraising and engagement leader, Molly brings over two decades of experience—more than ten years dedicated to advancement roles, including alumni relations, annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving. Her background spans leadership roles at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where she built donor relationships and secured transformational gifts through a collaborative, data-driven, storytelling approach.

Her passion for service began as an AmeriCorps member working on literacy programs, grounding her commitment to education and equity. Molly’s expertise in aligning generosity with impact positions High Jump to expand access and opportunity for students navigating pivotal academic transitions.