Dr. Mariame Kounta is a Director of Nursing at Pathlight, a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities. She grew up in Senegal before studying in the US. She has a Doctor of Nursing Practice from UMass Amherst, a B.S. in Computer Science from Western New England University, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Holyoke Community College. While studying computer science and working as a direct support professional, she discovered her true calling through her work as a direct support professional and returned to school to further advance her career and give back to her community.