About Us

Toby Desch started UP RVA in August of 2015 with the dream of making Independent Schools more accessible to students from the East End of Richmond. While working at The Collegiate School he saw how difficult the transition from inner-city education to private education could be. Toby is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied education. He originally thought that he wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher but that changed after he started working with high school students at Collegiate. When not working, Toby enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife and son and their two dogs.

Greg was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from Whittier College with a B.A. in English and a minor in Critical Film Studies. He also has a Master’s in Education from San Diego State University. After working for several years in the entertainment industry he turned his attention to a career in education, working in college admissions at his alma mater and later at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. He then spent 14 years working as a college counselor, dean, and English teacher at the Sage Hill School in Newport Coast, California before making the move to join the UP RVA team. When not working, Greg enjoys spending time with his husband and two young children. He also loves running, yoga, and getting lost in used record and book shops.

Paul was born and raised in the Richmond area and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2014 with a B.A. in Biology. After working in physical therapy for a short time, he turned his focus to his passion for working with young people. Since then, he has worked for the Washington Nationals and the MLK Boys and Girls Club before being introduced to UP RVA while volunteering at Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School. He has been with UP RVA since 2016 and manages the day-to-day operations of the program.

Tyler was born in Newport News, Virginia. She moved to Richmond in 2018 to attend Virginia Commonwealth University where she received her B.S in Psychology. Tyler has always had a passion for working with kids and has been doing so in some capacity since 2016. After graduating, she joined the UP RVA team to run the After School Program.

Sarah joined UP RVA in early 2020 as Development Assistant. Prior to this role, she served as Associate Director of Annual Giving at Collegiate School. After a short break, she realized how much she missed not only the students but helping to make a difference in their lives. She loves spending time with friends, family and pets doing anything outdoors.

Marchelle was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. In 1995, she established “Services by Marchelle,” a minority-based business that provides a variety of services and companionship needs for people with a focus on the aging population. Marchelle joined UP RVA in 2018 as a driver, and in 2022 she was promoted to her new role as Transportation Specialist. She loves traveling, spending time with her husband and children, and, more than anything, being a “Yaya” to her grandchildren.