About Us
Who Are We?
The SEPTA Youth Advisory Council is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, with a mission to make public transit the preferred method of travel among young people in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We work to achieve this goal through advocacy of affordable transit, outreach to young people, and advising SEPTA on various initiatives.
The YAC was first convened in September 2009, after a competitive application process that drew interest from college and high school students across Southeastern Pennsylvania. The youth serving on the YAC represent Philadelphia and suburban youth from a variety of universities and high schools. Membership is open to those between 18 and 25 years of age who reside or attend school in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery counties.
Executive Committee
Thomas Pyle
Executive Chair
Committee: Student Outreach
Student at The George Washington University majoring in economics with minors in statistics and data science.
Jason Berkheimer
Secretary
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Transit systems consultant at Hatch
Jakob Timme
Vice Chair
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Student at Drexel University majoring in biomedical engineering
Herveline Auguste
Member at Large
Committee: Online Outreach
Track Engineer at HNTB
Christian Szalwinski
Member at Large
Committee: Student Outreach*
Traffic Checker at SEPTA and Student at Temple University majoring in marketing
Membership
Essie Haverkamp
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
Student at La Salle University majoring in mathematics
Jeron Williams II
Member
Committee: Online Outreach*
Youth advocate and founder of Youth Voices Coalition and Independent Innovations
Ethan Simon
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
BA in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, currently serving as Chief of Staff to a Maryland General Assembly delegate
Greyson Forster
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs*
Student at University of Pennsylvania and current intern with Keolis Commuter Services
Jaiman Kondisetty
Member
Committee: Government Affairs*
Student at Temple University Fox School of Business majoring in risk management and insurance
Santiago Melendez
Member
Committee: Student Outreach
Student at Haverford College majoring in political science
Eliza Kollett
Member
Committee: Student Outreach
Student at Haverford College majoring in growth and structure of cities
Lucy Silverman
Member
Committee: Online Outreach
Student at McGill University majoring in sustainability and urban studies
Alex Colon
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
Student at Temple University
Leslie Le
Member
Committee: Student Outreach
GIS Technician at GFT
Nile Ward
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Design engineer at Regal Rexnord
Dariana Garcia
Member
Committee: Student Outreach
Recent graduate of West Chester University
Sam Bergheiser
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
Student at New York University
* = Committee Chair