FOUNDER & PRESIDENT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & COACH

Nzingha a 2x Olympic Fencer, Brooklyn native and one of the most decorated athletes in USA fencing history. She became the first Black woman to win an individual medal at the Senior World Championships when she claimed bronze in 2015. In July of 2018 she and her team captured Team USA’s first-ever World Championships gold medal for the USA Foil. She is the first American woman to win a foil Grand Prix and has ranked as high as fifth in the world.

Nzingha is a graduate of New York City’s highly acclaimed Stuyvesant High School and Columbia University. Nzingha has committed to expanding access to sport, advocating for inclusive and high-quality sport education through PISTE and other policy endeavors.

In December 2021, Nzingha was awarded with the first inaugural Service & Hope Award by the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation. She serves on the board of USA Fencing and was a member of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Council on Social and Racial Justice. In her professional career, Nzingha is a Consultant at EY where PISTE is a project under the EY corporate responsibility portfolio.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, BOARD MEMBER & COACH

Sara is a New York City native, youth advocate and educator, and World Champion fencer. Throughout her lengthy career, Sara was a 3-time national team member for USA Fencing, a 6-time Cadet and Junior World medalist, and the 2015 Individual Junior World Champion. Sara holds a bachelor's degree in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University and is currently pursuing a MSW at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

Sara believes in the transformative power of community, collective care, and sports. She is inspired by the students, families, and educators at PISTE and enjoys creating, learning, and celebrating alongside them. Sara is thrilled to share her skills in fencing with the students at PISTE and to serve as one of the founding members of the board.

LOGISTICS MANAGER & BOARD MEMBER

Tekeya is a Brooklyn native and licensed cosmetologist in NYC. A creative at heart, Tekeya is now specializing in nail technology and nail design through her business, Thee BK Nail Fairy, which is based in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Tekeya grew up fencing at the Peter Westbrook Foundation and fenced both foil and epee during her competitive fencing career. At PISTE, Tekeya manages on-site logistics and supplies for Fencing in the Park and is instrumental in recruiting students that fit our demographic criteria. She is one of the founding members of the PISTE board, alongside Nzingha Prescod and Sara Taffel. She holds a bachelors degree in Communications from Brooklyn College.