The Trust in American Institutions Challenge - Lever for Change (2025)

Subject Areas

• Democracy

Donor Partners

Donor Partners

Timeline

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  Zeenat Rahman

  Title: Executive Director, Institute of Politics

  Organization: University of Chicago

  Location: Chicago

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  Zeenat Rahman

  Biography:

  Zeenat Rahman is the Executive Director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago whose goal is to build the next generation of political and public service leaders. Prior to this role, she led the Inclusive America Project at the Aspen Institute where her work focused on how faith communities play a key role in fostering pluralism, building bridges across differences, and supporting a strong civil society and a vibrant democracy.Zeenat previously served as a Presidential Political Appointee, as a Special Adviser to Secretaries Clinton and Kerry on Global Youth Issues at the U.S. Department of State on Global Youth Issues.In this position, she encouraged foreign governments to respond to youth issues through policy change, and created opportunities for young people to pursue their economic and civic aspirations.Prior to this appointment, she served as Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the United States Agency for International Development. In this role, she led external engagement efforts with various faith based and community organizations to build support for USAID priorities.Zeenat is a board member of IREX, a global development and education organization that works in more than 100 countries on issues such as education, leadership, information, and youth. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Truman National Security Fellow, and a working group co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Systemic Inequalities and Social Cohesion. She received a master’s degree in Middle East studies from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Illinois.

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  Joshua Kalla

  Title: Associate Professor of Political Science

  Organization: Yale University

  Location: Seattle

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  Joshua Kalla

  Biography:

  Joshua Kalla is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Yale University with a secondary appointment as Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. His research studies political persuasion, the effects of political campaigns, prejudice reduction, and decision-making among voters and political elites, primarily through the use of randomized field experiments. He is the winner of the Robert B. Cialdini Prize for the publication that best explicates social psychological phenomena principally through the use of field research methods from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology for his paper, "Durably reducing transphobia" and the Leamer-Rosenthal Emerging Researcher Prize for Open Social Science from the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences for his work on "Irregularities in LaCour (2014)”.

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  Micah Sifry

  Title: Independent Consultant

  Organization: Civic Hall

  Location: Hastings on Hudson

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  Micah Sifry

  Biography:

  Micah L. Sifry is co-founder of Civic Hall and currently serves on the boards of Consumer Reports and the Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science. He is the author or editor of nine books, most recently Civic Tech in the Global South; A Lever and a Place to Stand: How Civic Tech Can Move the World and The Big Disconnect: Why the Internet Hasn’t Transformed Politics (Yet). He is a regular contributor to The Nation, The New Republic, and The American Prospect and writes a newsletter on democracy, movements, organizing and tech, called The Connector.

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  Travis Moore

  Title: Founder and Director

  Organization: TechCongress

  Location: Washington, D.C.

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  Travis Moore

  Biography:

  Travis Moore is the Founder and Executive Director of TechCongress, which places computer scientists, engineers, and other technologists to serve with Members of Congress on tech policy matters through its Congressional Innovation Fellowships and the Congressional Digital Service Fellowship. Travis worked on Capitol Hill for six years and was the Legislative Director for Rep. Henry A. Waxman, the former Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Travis is the Co-Founder of the Congressional Staff Alumni Council and #CongressToo, a group of 1500 former Congressional staffers that brought the #MeToo movement to Capitol Hill and spearheaded a reform overhaul signed into law in late 2018. He also serves as a professional development trainer for New Leaders Council. @travismoore

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  John Thomas Jost

  Title: Professor of Psychology and Politics and (by affiliation) Sociology and Data Science

  Organization: New York University (NYU)

  Location: New York City

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  John Thomas Jost

  Biography:

  John T. Jost is Professor of Psychology, Politics, & Data Science and Co-Director of the Center for Social and Political Behavior at New York University. His research, which has been funded by the National Science Foundation, addresses stereotyping, prejudice, social justice, political ideology, social media, and system justification theory. He has published over 200 articles and chapters; his work has been cited over 45,000 times (h-index = 88). Awards include the Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize, Erik Erikson Early Career Award in Political Psychology, Society for Personality and Social Psychology Theoretical Innovation Prize, Society of Experimental Social Psychology Career Trajectory Award, Carol & Ed Diener Award in Social Psychology, and the Morton Deutsch Award for Distinguished Contributions to Social Justice. Jost is a fellow of several professional societies and serves on numerous editorial boards. He is a Past President of the International Society of Political Psychology and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018. His most recent book is A Theory of System Justification (Harvard University Press, 2020).

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  Peter L. Levine

  Title: Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs

  Organization: Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life

  Location: Cambridge

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  Peter L. Levine

  Biography:

  Peter Levine is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs in Tufts University’sJonathan Tisch College of Civic Life. Trained as a moral/political philosopher, Levine has spent most of his career conducting applied empirical research and organizing professional efforts related to civic life in the United States, including sustained work on civic education, voting rights, public deliberation, and social movements. Levine is the author of eight books, including most recentlyWe Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For:The Promise of Civic Renewal in America(Oxford University Press, 2013).

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  Aaron Dorfman

  Title: President and CEO

  Organization: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

  Location: North Miami Beach

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  Aaron Dorfman

  Biography:

  Aaron Dorfman is president and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), a research and advocacy organization that works to ensure America’s grantmakers and wealthy donors are responsive to the needs of those with the least wealth, opportunity and power. Dorfman, a thoughtful critic, frequently speaks and writes about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in philanthropy, the benefits of funding advocacy and community organizing, and the need for greater accountability and transparency in the philanthropic sector. Before joining NCRP in 2007, Dorfman served for 15 years as a community organizer with two national organizing networks, spearheading grassroots campaigns on a variety of issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carleton College, a master’s degree in philanthropic studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and serves on the boards of Capital & Main, The Center for Popular Democracy and re:power.

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  Daniel Newman

  Title: President and Co-Founder

  Organization: MapLight

  Location: Berkeley

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  Daniel Newman

  Biography:

  Daniel G. Newman is a national expert on government accountability and money in politics. He is president and co-founder of MapLight, a nonpartisan nonprofit fighting online political deception. Newman has led MapLight to numerous awards including a Knight-Batten Award for Innovations in Journalism, a James Madison Freedom of Information Award, and a Library Journal Best Reference award. Newman has appeared in hundreds of media outlets, including CNN, CBS, MSNBC, FOX Business, and NPR. He led a ballot measure campaign establishing public funding of elections in Berkeley, California, and was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business. Most recently, Newman is the author of the graphic novel Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy, with artist George O’Connor. Newman received an MA in political psychology from U.C. Berkeley and a BA from Brown, and was a Fellow at the Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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  Nick Nyhart

  Title: Former President and CEO

  Organization: Public Campaign/Every Voice Center

  Location: Boston

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  Nick Nyhart

  Biography:

  Nick Nyhart (former President and CEO, Public Campaign/Every Voice Center) is a longtime democracy advocate. For nearly 20 years, he led Public Campaign (later Every Voice Center), whichsupported groundbreaking local, state, and national efforts to design, win, and implement innovative systems of publicly financed elections. A consultantsince 2019,he remains an expert on small dollar donor public financing programs and related policies to improve American democracy by making politics more inclusive and equitable.Nyhart began his career as a community organizer in Boston before co-directing Connecticut’s grassroots electoral table, LEAP, in the 1980’s. Turning to campaign finance reform across New England in 1993, he became a co-founder of the WashingtonDC-based Public Campaignin 1997. Nyhart is a graduateof Stanford University.

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  Jessica González

  Title: Co-CEO

  Organization: Free Press

  Location: Los Angeles

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  Jessica González

  Biography:

  An attorney and racial-justice advocate, Jessica advances Free Press’ mission of building media and tech that serve truth and justice. A former Lifeline recipient, Jessica helped fend off grave Trump-administration cuts to the program, which subsidizes phone-and-internet access for poor people. Jessica is a leader in the fight to push tech companies to crack down on hate and lies. She co-founded Change the Terms, a coalition of more than 60 civil- and digital-rights groups that disrupts online hate and helped lead the Stop Hate for Profit campaign’s Facebook advertising boycott. Previously, Jessica was the executive vice president and general counsel at National Hispanic Media Coalition, where she led the policy shop and coordinated campaigns against racist and xenophobic media. Prior to that she was a staff attorney and teaching fellow in Georgetown Law’s clinical program. Jessica has testified before Congress on multiple occasions and is regularly featured in the press.

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  Emma Humphries

  Title: Chief Education Officer

  Organization: iCivics

  Location: St. Simons Island

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  Emma Humphries

  Biography:

  Emma Humphries is Chief Education for iCivics, the non-profit founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to reinvigorate civics through free, interactive learning resources. Emma serves as iCivics’ pedagogical expert, ensures its resources evolve to a place of greater equity and deeper learning for all students, and advocates for more and better civic education across the country. Emma has degrees in political science and education, was awarded a James Madison Fellowship in 2004, and in 2012 earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida with an emphasis in civic education.

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  Thomas Asher

  Title: Director of Research & Engagement at Columbia World Projects

  Organization: Columbia University

  Location: Hastings-on-Hudson

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  Thomas Asher

  Biography:

  As Director of Research & Engagement at Columbia World Projects (CWP),ThomasAsherleads work that unites academic communities with practitioners to identify fresh thinking on problem areas related to democratic futures, inclusive urbanism, pandemic recovery, and scaling for implementation. He directs CWP's election infrastructure initiative, which gathers academic researchers, advocacy organizations, and election officials to examine what constitutes a healthy electoral system and how to design an election architecture that increases voter participation and safeguards integrity. This work is part of a larger effort he heads to build communities of practice that aim to enhance civic engagement and foster forms of participatory governance in NYC – and well beyond, including in Europe, India, South Africa, and the United States. Prior to CWP, Tom worked at the Social Science Research Council, where he directed grant and fellowship programs to build research networks addressing pressing issues across the world.

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  Carrie Davis

  Title: Program Director, Democracy

  Organization: Joyce Foundation

  Location: Chicago

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  Carrie Davis

  Biography:

  Carrie leads the Foundation’s work to protect and improve voting rights, voter access, and best practices in election administration. She oversees our support for fair representation and redistricting, and Census engagement programs across the Great Lakes region.Carrie also serves on the board of Forefront, Illinois’ state philanthropy and nonprofit association, and previously served on the steering committee of the “2020 Illinois Count Me In” statewide census coalition.Prior to joining the Foundation, Carrie served as executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio from 2012-2017, where she led the League’s state advocacy and public engagement programs with a special focus on voters’ rights and redistricting.Carrie was one of the co-leaders of Fair Districts Ohio, which led a good government campaign for successful passage of the 2015 state redistricting reform ballot issue. In 2017 the coalition launched a citizen initiative campaign to reform congressional districting, which eventually led the state Legislature to negotiate a bipartisan reform plan that was approved by voters in May 2018. Carrie also served on the steering committee of Ohio Voice, the local affiliate of State Voices.From 2003-2012, Carrie was staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, where she litigated and lobbied on a variety of issues including voting rights, free speech, criminal justice, racial justice, LGBT rights, reproductive freedom, and government accountability.Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in Public Policy and Public Service from Albion College, as well as a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

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  Michael Karanicolas

  Title: Associate Professor of Law

  Organization: UCLA Law

  Location: Halifax

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  Michael Karanicolas

  Biography:

  Michael Karanicolas is the Executive Director of the UCLA Institute for Technology Law & Policy, and an affiliated fellow with the Information Society Project at Yale Law School. He was previously the Wikimedia Fellow at Yale Law, where he led the Initiative on Intermediaries and Information. Michael also has ten years of experience in civil society, working on projects connected to freedom of expression, transparency, and digital rights. In this capacity, he led law reform campaigns across the developing world, and he was more recently involved in a constitutional challenge which struck down Canada’s criminal prohibition targeting “fake news”.His scholarly research encompasses a number of thematic areas, but generally revolves around the application of human rights standards in an online context. Michael has a B.A. (Hons.) from Queen's University (Dean's List), an LL.B. from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University (Dean's List), and an LL.M. from the University of Toronto

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  Henry Farrell

  Title: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute Professor of International Affairs at SAIS

  Organization: Johns Hopkins University

  Location: Bethesda

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  Henry Farrell

  Biography:

  Henry Farrell is SNF Agora Institute Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, 2019 winner of the Friedrich Schiedel Prize for Politics and Technology, and Editor in Chief of the Monkey Cage blog at the Washington Post. He works on a variety of topics, including democracy, the politics of the Internet and international and comparative political economy. He has written articles and book chapters as well as two books,The Political Economy of Trust: Interests, Institutions and Inter-Firm Cooperation, published by Cambridge University Press, and (with Abraham Newman)Of Privacy and Power: The Transatlantic Fight over Freedom and Security, published by Princeton University Press.

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  Hali Lee

  Title: CEO

  Organization: Radiant Strategies

  Location: Brookyln

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  Hali Lee

  Biography:

  Hali Lee has spent her career doing her best to democratize and diversify the field and practice of philanthropy. She is a Co-Founder of the Donors of Color Network (the first national network of high net wealth donors of color) and was part of the co-design team that birthed Philanthropy Together (a national effort to strengthen and scale the collective giving movement). She also founded the Asian Women Giving Circle which has moved over a million dollars to support arts and activism in NYC. She currently builds out of her consulting practice, Radiant Strategies.Hali was born in Seoul, South Korea and grew up in Kansas City. She graduated from Princeton University, studied Buddhism in Bangkok, Thailand, and received a Masters in Social Work from New York University. Hali lives in Brooklyn, NY along with her family, two cats, a big dog and several hives of rooftop honeybees.

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  Kate Gage

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: Movement Cooperative

  Location: Santa Fe

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  Kate Gage

  Biography:

  Kate has spent a decade as a organizer, founder, and public servant building organizations that apply data and technology to critical social impact challenges.Kate is a Founding Partner at The Movement Cooperative, and the Executive Director of the Cooperative Impact Lab, which work to ensure that the most advanced data & technology is in the hands of activists in service of civic engagement, long-term power building, and political advocacy. In 2018, Kate was the Chief of Staff for the Parkland Students leading the March for Our Lives and supported them in organizing the mass-mobilization on March 20, 2018.She spent 8 years working in the Obama Administration on the intersection between technology and global challenges with a focus on innovation, global development, and the maker movement at USAID and the White House.Starting in Iowa in 2007 and through the 2008 election, she was a part of the Obama Campaign on the National Advance Staff.

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  F. Willis Johnson

  Title: Chief Program

  Organization: Bridge Alliance

  Location: Hilliard

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  F. Willis Johnson

  Biography:

  Rev. Dr. F. Willis Johnson is a spiritual entrepreneur and executive with Bridge Alliance. Johnson is nationally respected for his leadership and strategies around social and racial justice issues. Recognized as a scholar-practitioner, author ofHolding Up Your Corner: Talking About Race in Your Community, whose writing and lecturing credits range from TIME Magazine, USA Today, National Public Radio, commentaries and anthologies to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History Culture. Trained in education and nonprofit management, Johnson’s 20 years of professional experience informs his counsel to activists, practitioners, faith-base leaders andinstitutions as well as social and civic nonprofits. He is a Walker Leadership Institute Fellow and former Vosburgh Visiting Professor of Ministry and Social Engagement at Drew University’s Theological School. Johnson is senior minister of Living Tree Church and adjunct faculty at Methodist Theological School of Ohio.

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  Ester Fuchs

  Title: Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science; Director, Urban and Social Policy Program

  Organization: Columbia University

  Location: New York City

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  Ester Fuchs

  Biography:

  Ester R. Fuchs is Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science and Director of the Urban and Social Policy Program at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Fuchs is Director of Whosontheballot.org, an online voter education and engagement initiative. She is also a member of Columbia’s Just Societies Task Force, the Earth Institute, the Data Science Institute and its Smart Cities Center. She currently serves on the boards of the Fund for the City of New York and the Citizens Union. Fuchs academic research is in urban politics and policy, American elections and civic engagement, smart cities and urban environmental sustainability policy. Fuchs served as Special Advisor to the Mayor for Governance and Strategic Planning under New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg from 2001 to 2005. She was the first woman to chair a NYC Charter Revision Commission in 2005. Fuchs advises non-profits, businesses and political campaigns and is a frequent political commentator. Fuchs received a BA from Queens College, CUNY; an MA from Brown University and PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago.

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  Adam Scott Morfeld

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: Civic Nebraska

  Location: Lincoln

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  Adam Scott Morfeld

  Biography:

  Before going to the University, Adam worked for two years managing the stockroom of a grocery store and working as a part-time news correspondent for his local newspaper while attending community college. He then worked his way through college and law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2008, while still an undergraduate, he founded Civic Nebraska, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building youth civic leadership skills, strengthening civic health in our communities, and ensuring elections are accessible for all Nebraskans. He is now the executive director of Civic Nebraska which employs over 100 full and part-time staff. Adam also teaches American Government as an adjunct faculty member at Doane University’s city campus. In 2014 Adam was elected to the Nebraska Legislature to represent Northeast Lincoln with 68 percent of the vote, and was unopposed for re-election to another four year term in 2018. His focus in the Legislature has been affordable healthcare, maintaining a strong K-12 education system, living wage jobs, affordable higher education and trade programs, and protecting civil rights. In 2018 he helped start and lead the successful effort to expand Medicaid on the ballot which will provide health insurance for 90,000 working Nebraskans. In his free time, Adam enjoys volunteering, Husker football, spending time with his fiancée and family, long distance running, back country camping, and traveling.

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  Bryan George

  Title: Senior Budget Analyst

  Organization: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota

  Location: Lakeville

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  Bryan George

  Biography:

  Current Senior Budget Analyst at the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota | Former Collegiate Cross Country/Track & Field Coach

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  Nancy Neiman

  Title: Professor of Politics

  Organization: Scripps College

  Location: Claremont

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  Nancy Neiman

  Biography:

  Nancy Neiman has taught at Scripps College since 1993, where she has held positions in the Politics and Economics Departments and the Mary Wig Johnson Chair in Teaching. Professor Neiman’s previous work includes States, Banks, and Markets: Mexico’s Path to Financial Liberalization in Comparative Perspective (Westview, 2001). Her research covers a wide variety of topics, including neoliberalism, dollarization, financial crises in Latin America, fair trade coffee in Africa, alternative education in the U.S., and politics of the global food movement. Her recently published book Markets, Community and Just Infrastructures (Routledge, 2021) represents a culmination of years interdisciplinary teaching, research, and community engagement focused on markets and their relationship to social justice. Her current research focuses on pastoralist women political organizing and food sovereignty in Gujarat India.

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  Stephen Menendian

  Title: Assistant Director and Director of Research at the Othering & Belonging Institute

  Organization: University of California, Berkeley

  Location: Antioch

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  Stephen Menendian

  Biography:

  Stephen Menendianis the Assistant Director and Director of Research at the Othering & Belonging Institute, where he supervises many of the Institute’s research initiatives and ongoing projects. In particular, Stephen spearheaded the “Roots of Structural Racism” study revealing the persistence of racial residential segregation and its consequences, anda similar projectfocused on the San Francisco Bay Area. He also leads theInclusiveness Indexinitiative, an annual assessment of global inclusivity rankings.Stephen’s primary areas of expertise are structural racism, civil rights, fair housing, affirmative action and educational equity, but his research focuses on the causes and mechanisms of inter-group inequality, and the design of effective equity policy interventions permitted under prevailing interpretations of law, including California’s anti-affirmative action ballot initiative, Proposition 209.Stephen is the author of many scholarly publications, book chapters, journal and law review articles and a regularl contributor toBerkeley Blog. His most recent large publication,The Roots of Structural Racism, wascoveredby CNN, Time Magazine, the Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Root, Axios, Bloomberg news, the New York Post, the East Bay Times, among other online, television, radio and print media across the country.Other recent publications include: “The Road Not Taken: Housing and Criminal Justice 50 Years after the Kerner Commission Report” with Richard Rothstein, “Targeted Universalism: Policy and Practice” with john powell and Wendy Ake, “Putting Integration on the Agenda,” also with Richard Rothstein for the American Bar Association’s Journal of Affordable Housing, and "Racial Segregation in the San Francisco Bay Area," a series for the Othering & Belonging Institute.Stephen co-chaired “Race & Inequality in America: The Kerner Commission at 50 conference,” held in the Spring of 2018, a conference that brought together the nation’s leading experts on race and housing, the criminal justice system, employment, transportation and health care in order to envision a contemporary racial justice agenda.Other notable publications include the landmark article "The Problem of Othering: Toward Inclusiveness and Belonging" with john powell forOthering & Belonging,"Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: A Reckoning with Government-Sponsored Segregation in the 21st Century" for theNational Civic Review,"Opportunity Communities: Overcoming the Debate over Mobility Versus place-based Strategies" inThe Fight for Fair Housing, and"What Constitutes a 'Racial Classification'?: Equal Protection Doctrine Scrutinized"for theTemple Political & Civil Rights Law Review, and "Remaking Law: Moving Beyond Enlightenment Jurisprudence" (with john powell) for theSt. Louis University Law Journal.Stephen developed and co-authored the Institute's Amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court case ofTexas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. the Inclusive Communities Project, cited by the Supreme Court in a landmark decision recognizing disparate impact claims under the Fair Housing Act. He also co-authored the Institute’sAmicus briefinFisher v. Texasasking the Court to uphold the University of Texas’ race-conscious admissions policy, the Amicus brief forMount Hollyarguing that disparate impact standard remains essential to address the ongoing legacy of historical housing segregation, as well as an Amicus brief in the 2007 Seattle/Louisville K-12 integration cases to persuade the Court to sustain voluntary integration plans in the Seattle and Louisville school districts.Stephen is also an editor forOthering & Belonging,a journal published by the Othering & Belonging Institute, and edited a number ofpolicy briefspublished by the Institute’s faculty clusters, including co-authoring the briefResponding to Rising Inequality: Policy Interventions to Ensure Opportunity for All.Older publications of note include "Structural Racism in the United States" to the UN's CERD Committee, “Systems Thinking and Race: A Primer” for the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, "Beyond Public/Private: Understanding Excessive Corporate Prerogative" for theKentucky Law Journal, "Parents Involved: The Mantle of Brown, the Shadow of Plessy" for theUniversity of Louisville Law Review,and "Little Rock and the Legacy of Dred Scott" for theSt. Louis Law Journal.Stephen also authored the State of Ohio’s Diversity Strategies For Successful Schools Guidance, which was adopted by the State Board of Education of Ohio in May, 2012. In addition, Stephen co-authored an interim report,Diversity Strategies for Successful Schools: Recommendations to the State Board of Education of Ohio, on September, 2011 with the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity.Stephen regularly trains policymakers, educators, non-profits, and other institutions on structural racism, targeted universalism, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and affirmative action practices, policies, and compliance, including creative ways to improve diversity within the bounds of law, and regularly presents on issues of fair housing, affordable housing, racial segregation and land use policies, voting rights, Proposition 209, and diversity in the practice and teaching of law. Stephen is a licensed attorney.

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  Sefa Aina

  Title: Associate Dean and Director of the Draper Center

  Organization: Pomona College

  Location: Claremont

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  Sefa Aina

  Biography:

  Sefa Aina is currently the Associate Dean and Director of the Draper Center for Community Partnerships at Pomona College. Professionally, he has served as an academic and student-organizational advisor, as well as an instructor for Asian American Studies programs at UCLA and California State University, Fullerton. Sefa has taught courses in contemporary Pacific Islander issues, community engagement, and has done countless workshops and talks at colleges and universities throughout the country.Sefa serves on the Board of APAHE (Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education), EPIC (Empowering Pacific Islander Communities), NaPALI (National Pacific American Leadership Institute), and during the pandemic, helped to found the Inland Empire Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team. In September of 2010, Sefa was appointed by President Obama to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Sefa served as the Vice-Chair of the Commission from 2010 - 2014.

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  Carole Wacey

  Title: Adjunct Professor

  Organization: Columbia University

  Location: Forest Hills

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  Carole Wacey

  Biography:

  Carole Wacey joined Women Creating Change (WCC) as President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2017. From the outset, she has been focused on evolving WCC to be inclusive, impactful, relevant, and innovative.Carole undertook an intensive strategic planning process to assess WCC’s history and identify opportunities to meet the needs of a transforming city. Carole has led a comprehensive planning process that has included a historical review, surveys of membership, and meetings with past and prospective key partners. This work led to changes in the organization’s name, vision, mission, and programs. She is spearheading a new direction for the organization that leverages its history of activism to expand opportunities for all New York City women to become civically engaged and create change in their lives and communities.Over her 30-year career, Carole has worked in the politics, policy, philanthropy, nonprofit, media, and advocacy sectors. She came to WCC to return to policy work in honor of her deep activist roots. Her family immigrated to the New York City area from the UK in the 1960s after her father passed away and they encountered financial challenges. Carole’s feminist mother always encouraged her to stand up for her beliefs, and she advocated for the Equal Right Amendment, social security, and pay equity from an early age.Prior to joining WCC, Carole served as the Vice President of Education at WNET for five years, where she focused on technology, interactive media, youth development and underserved youth. Carole served for ten years as Executive Director at MOUSE, a national nonprofit organization that empowers underserved youth to learn, lead and create with technology. Prior to joining MOUSE, Carole was the Director of the Interactive Media for Children (IMC) program at the Markle Foundation.Before joining Markle, Carole was Deputy Director of the Office of Education Technology and Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education. In that capacity, she provided leadership for the Clinton Administration on the development and implementation of national educational technology policy, legislation, and program development. She addressed issues such as telecommunications, the digital divide, internet safety, privacy, and e-commerce.Carole is currently an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She is a mentor for New York Community Trust’s Leadership Fellows, where she helps cultivate strong leaders to ensure nonprofits can flourish in the future. She is also a member of the Manhattan Complete Count Commission, Women’s Leadership Council, Women in Development, and Nonprofit New York.Carole lives in Queens with her husband and twin boys. She received her B.A. in Economics from the American University, and her J.D. from Vermont Law School. She has also studied public international law at Oxford University and leadership at Yale University. Carole receivedCity & State’s 2020 Above and Beyond award in honoring the 30 most powerful women in New York who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their field and have made significant contributions to society.

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  Emily Kirkpatrick

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: National Council of Teachers of English

  Location: Louisville

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  Emily Kirkpatrick

  Biography:

  NCTE Executive DirectorEmily Kirkpatrickis known forcreating humanistic innovations that merge research, policy, and practice to addresspersistentsocietalinequities.A transformative leader, Ms. Kirkpatrick has dedicated her career to public service and civic engagement, seeking to increase national literacy and social mobility, educational justice and equity, and advancing the inclusion and empowerment of women. A hallmark of her leadership isworking shoulder to shoulder with educators, parents, and students to develop novel approaches to literacy. Efforts she has led have received international and national recognition, cross-sector financialinvestment, and attracted the partnership of the world’s most admired thought leaders, corporations, and institutions. Kirkpatrick holds an MBA from Bellarmine University, abachelor’s degree from Centre College, and is a member of the International Women’s Forum, American’s Languages Initiative, the Conference of Executive Officers at the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Public Policy Committee for the American Society of Association Executives among other leadership roles.

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  Tram Nguyen

  Title: Co-Executive Director

  Organization: New Virginia Majority

  Location: Richmond

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  Tram Nguyen

  Biography:

  Tram Nguyen is an award-winning activist and community leader who helped found New Virginia Majority in 2007, where she currently serves as Co-Executive Director. She leads multi-racial, multi-issue campaigns using large-scale civic engagement, community organizing, advocacy, leadership development, and strategic communications. Her leadership has helped expand the electorate to be more reflective of Virginia’s diversity, reshaping Virginia’s political landscape and building power for underrepresented communities.Her work on democracy, criminal justice, immigrants’ rights, climate change, and economic opportunity explore the intersections of social, racial, and economic justice. Tram currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Meyer Foundation and the National Advisory Council for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. She is a certificate faculty member at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. Tram is an alumna of Barnard College and a former Lead the Way Fellow of the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

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  Jason G Wojciechowski

  Title: Creative Director

  Organization: CoreLab

  Location: Brooklyn

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  Jason G Wojciechowski

  Biography:

  Jason has built social change campaigns with a traditional and new media focus for over a decade with special attention to impact as measured against a Theory of Change.Jason’s work looks at the ways media coverage, entertainment and visual content drive public attitudes and social shifts. He recently worked with news outlets to combat misinformation during the 2020 U.S. Election as votes were counted and a project to share communication best-practices with public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is now leading a team testing and sharing messaging to promote COVID-19 vaccination and access.

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  Toni Stanger-McLaughlin

  Title: Chief Executive Officer

  Organization: Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)

  Location: Spokane

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  Toni Stanger-McLaughlin

  Biography:

  Toni Stanger-McLaughlin is a highly respected and accomplished leader, currently serving as the CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF). In her role, she has dedicated her time and energy to improving the lives of Native American farmers, ranchers, and food producers by advocating for food sovereignty and equitable policy changes within the agricultural sector. She has served for the past year as a commissioner on the United States Department of Agriculture Equity Commission. She has championed equitable access and opportunities for underrepresented communities as a commissioner. In addition to her work at the NAAF and USDA, Toni Stanger-McLaughlin made history as the First Native American to serve on the board of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. As a board member, she has successfully drawn attention to the needs of the Native American community while helping to shape the ongoing fight against hunger across the country.

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  Kathryn Matthew

  Title: Senior Associate

  Organization: Appalachia Funders Network

  Location: Black Mountain

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  Kathryn Matthew

  Biography:

  Dr. Kit Matthew leads mission-driven organizations to achieve greater impact and effectiveness with their audiences, supporters and customers. She continues to explore how local assets—people and places, residents’ knowledge, collective narratives, and iconic objects and sites—can weave together to strengthen communities. She blends her expertise in leadership, fundraising, program development, and innovation management. Her career includes roles at the Appalachia Funders Network, St. David’s Foundation, Historic Charleston Foundation, NM Museum of Natural History and Science, and several corporations. In the Obama Administration, she served as the agency head of a national grant maker, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, prioritizing investments in arts and culture, lifelong learning, digital literacy, civic cohesion, health, workforce, and rural. She is currently a member of the Council for the National Endowment for the Humanities, within the Biden Administration.

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  Lila Eltawely

  Title: Sr. Manager, Enterprise Equity

  Organization: East Metro for a Better Tomorrow

  Location: Woodbury

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  Lila Eltawely

  Biography:

  Lila is on a mission to change the way Black, Indigenous, and communities of color are represented in government. She is a fierce advocate for authentic representation, equity, access, inclusion, and breaking down systems of oppression. Her life work has been dedicated to community organizing through education, social justice advocacy, leadership empowerment, and political candidate support & strategy. She has a BS in Business & Marketing Ed, BS in Human Resources Development, and a minor in Leadership from the University of Minnesota. Over the last several years, Lila has dedicated her life to consulting and coaching new political candidates who are dedicated to ending systems of oppression. In 2018, she stepped forward as an apologetic Muslim BIPOC and the first Egyptian American woman to run for political office in the state of Minnesota.

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  Raye Rawls

  Title: Senior Public Service Faculty

  Organization: Essential Partners

  Location: Athens

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  Raye Rawls

  Biography:

  At the Fanning Institute, Raye’s focus is in mediation and other alternative dispute resolution processes as well as dialogue. She is an attorney, a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has mediated and arbitrated thousands of cases in government institutions, court systems, corporations and with private parties. In addition, her courses have been approved by several state bar associations, the National Association of Social Workers and other professional organizations. In 2018, she received the Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of alternative dispute resolution in Georgia.Prior to joining the Fanning Institute in 2004, Raye worked in the private sector teaching and providing services in mediation, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution and conflict management. She was also an Administrative Law Judge in the State of Georgia and a former assistant dean of the Georgia State University College Law. Currently, she is also a Senior Associate with Essential Partners.

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  Marcie Parkhurst

  Title: Strategic Advisor

  Location: Washington, D.C.

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  Marcie Parkhurst

  Biography:

  Marcie has more than 15 years of experience as a consultant and in-house advisor to foundations, donors, and nonprofits. Marcie's projects have touched on a wide range of issues, including Indigenous rights, land rematriation, civic engagement, affordable housing, and the social determinants of health. Marcie holds a Masters in City Planning from MIT and a BA in Women's Studies from Georgetown.

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  Adriana Alejandro Osorio

  Title: Chief Advancement Officer

  Organization: Child Friendly Governance Project

  Location: Saint Paul

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  Adriana Alejandro Osorio

  Biography:

  Dr. Adriana Alejandro Osorio is a social justice leader, and stands fearlessly firm on issues affecting children around the world. She partners with diverse stakeholders to collectively reimagine a new world where every child and young person reaches their full potential through their equal realization of their rights, most notably their right to be given an effective voice in decision making processes that affect their lives. She has spent her career in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector, leading efforts that span advancing global health and development, amplifying children's rights in the US and abroad, and working with advocates to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. She also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee for the US Global Leadership Coalition in Minnesota.Dr. Alejandro Osorio received her B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras and her Ph.D. degree in Biomolecular Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

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  Alex Eaton

  Title: CEO

  Organization: Community Foundation of Utah

  Location: Salt Lake City

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  Alex Eaton

  Biography:

  Alex has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation of Utah since 2015. She brings over twenty-five years of for-profit and non-profit leadership experience and has expanded the Foundation’s reach to foster greater community engagement, impact, and stewardship. Prior to joining the Community Foundation of Utah, Alex served as Chief Financial Officer for the Girl Scouts of Utah. Before transitioning to the public sector, Alex was the Chief Operating Officer for Aqueduct Capital, raising capital for private equity and hedge funds. In addition to her executive leadership and financial experience, she has deep management and investment expertise, including nearly a decade in Private Wealth Management with Goldman Sachs. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Alex served as Director for the National Epilepsy Support Foundation in Harare, Zimbabwe, and was active in leading outreach programs to improve the quality of life for underprivileged children in Zimbabwe.

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  Jeffrey Davis

  Title: Retired

  Organization: Exploring 4 Solutions

  Location: Houston

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  Jeffrey Davis

  Biography:

  Jeffrey R. Davis, MD, MS, is the Founder and CEO of Exploring 4 Solutions, LLC, and an Executive-in-Residence at the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH). He serves as a board member of VentureLab and the Technology Collaboration Center, an advisor to Ignite Healthcare Network, and a member of the advisory council for Medical Bridges. Jeff is a recognized international leader and consultant in strategic innovation and health care systems.Prior to Exploring 4 Solutions, Jeff served as the Director, Human Health and Performance, and the Chief Medical Officer for the NASA Johnson Space Center.He developed and then served as the deputy director for the NASA Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI).Jeff received his B.S. degree in Biology from Stanford University, and an M.D. degree from the University of California at San Diego.He is the senior editor of Fundamentals of Aerospace Medicine, 5th edition.

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  Betsy Biemann

  Title: Chief Executive Officer

  Organization: Coastal Enterprise, Inc. (CEI)

  Location: Brunswick

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  Betsy Biemann

  Biography:

  Betsy Biemann is the CEO of Coastal Enterprises (CEI), growing a just, vibrant and climate-resilient future for people and communities in Maine and rural regions nationally. Before joining CEI, Betsy led Growing Maine’s Food Industry, Growing Maine at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard University, and advised companies, foundations and nonprofits. From 2005-2012 she was President of the Maine Technology Institute, investing in companies and growing high-potential sectors of Maine’s economy. Previously Betsy was an Associate Director at The Rockefeller Foundation, managing a national grant and investment portfolio increasing employment in low-income communities, joining the staff in 1996. Betsy serves on the boards of the Opportunity Finance Network, the New Growth Innovation Network and the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation. She earned her B.A. at Harvard University and her M.P.A. at Princeton University’s School of International & Public Affairs.

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  Betsy Cohen

  Title: Executive DIrector

  Organization: World Trade Center-St. Louis, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership

  Location: Saint Louis

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  Betsy Cohen

  Biography:

  Betsy Cohen is Executive Director for the St. Louis Mosaic Project. This initiative is a joint collaboration of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and leaders of 32 organizations. The goal is that by 2025 our region will have the fastest growth rate of foreign-born people, reversing our current declines on our regional population of 2.8 million. The St. Louis Mosaic Project is part of the World Trade Center-St. Louis of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Betsy is on the Advisory Board of St. Louis University School of Business and the Washington University McDonnell Scholar International Academy.. She was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal and the YWCA. Betsy received her BA from Wellesley College and MBA from the Harvard Business School. She worked with international colleagues in her previous role as a vice president at Nestle Purina.

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  Ben Kaufman

  Title: Director of Measurement and Learning

  Organization: Poplar Foundation

  Location: Memphis

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  Ben Kaufman

  Biography:

  Ben Kaufman is the Director of Measurement and Learning at the Poplar Foundation in Memphis, TN. Prior to his current position, he was a Senior Strategy, Learning, and Evaluation Officer at the Walton Family Foundation, responsible for the comprehensive evaluation of various strategies within the Foundation. He has extensive experience evaluating programs and facilitating organizational learning in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Prior to his work at the Walton Family Foundation, he was the Social Metrics Director at Southern Bancorp, a Community Development Financial Institution, developing an evaluation model that measured program and product performance, as well as community level improvement. He has developed evaluation and measurement frameworks for the Timberland Company and TOMS shoes to be applied internationally. Kaufman holds a MA in public service from the Clinton School of Public Service and a BA in anthropology and sociology from Drake University.

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  Camille Ann Zanoni

  Title: Director of Donor & Giving Partner Engagement

  Organization: Madison Community Foundation

  Location: Madison

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  Camille Ann Zanoni

  Biography:

  Camille Zanoni is the Director of Donor & Giving Partner Engagement with the Madison Community Foundation based in Wisconsin. She has served in the non-profit sector for over fifteen years, and has experience with charitable giving, endowment management and grantmaking, fundraising, and non-profit governance. Camille previously served as director of philanthropy for the Natural Resources Foundation of WI, vice-president of advancement for the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and friends group coordinator and executive director to the Department of Natural Resources and Friends of WI State Parks. She has spent time living or working in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, including as an agroforestry and education volunteer with Peace Corps, Paraguay, and working in Kenya on natural resource and environmental education projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Aspects of Conservation from UW-Madison, and certificates in Environmental Studies and Early Childhood Development.

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  Anya Lindsey-Jenkins

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware

  Location: Wilmington

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  Anya Lindsey-Jenkins

  Biography:

  Anya brings leadership and great enthusiasm to the BBBSDE mission of strengthening youth resiliency through mentoring. As an innovator, collaborator and strategist, she has moved organizations forward by engaging stakeholders through electronic and social media, fund development, stewardship events and community-based connectivity. She has a BA in Journalism from Temple University and a Master of Science in Health Education from St. Joseph’s University.

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  Andrea Levere

  Title: Social Enterprise Fellow

  Organization: Yale School of Management

  Location: Silver Spring

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  Andrea Levere

  Biography:

  Andrea is a Social Enterprise Fellow at the Yale School of Management focused on advancing "enterprise capital" as a philanthropic asset class while working with nonprofits to design financial models and sustainability strategies. She is President Emerita of Prosperity Now, an organization that designs and operates major national initiatives to integrate financial capability services into systems serving low-income people, build assets and savings, close the racial wealth divide and advance research and policies that expands economy mobility for all. She chairs the Boards of two CDFIs--ROC USA and Rochdale Capital--and Vice Chair of EBA Fund which is creating a secondary market for micro-loans. Her website is https://enterprisecapital.info.

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  Becca Baumbach

  Title: Executive Director

  Location: Grand Forks

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  Becca Baumbach

  Biography:

  Originally from Warroad, MN, Becca Baumbach graduated from the University of North Dakota with both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Becca is known for her passion and expertise within the nonprofit sector, beginning at institutions in Grand Forks, ND and refined at The New School (New York, NY) and INDIGO Education (St. Paul, MN). Becca currently serves as Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region, providing strategic leadership, fund development, and investment oversight.Becca’s impact is also evident in her involvements as a founder of TEDxGrandForks and the GGF Women's Leadership Cooperative; board member of the Empire Arts Center and ND Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NDANO); and co-organizer of the Longest Table, an International Downtown Association Pinnacle Award winning event. She was named to Prairie Business' 40-Under-40 list (2018) and received the NDANO Emerging Leader Award (2021).

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  MacKenzie Moritz

  Title: Philanthropic Advisor

  Organization: Laura and Gary Lauder Family Venture Philanthropy Fund

  Location: Washington, D.C.

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  MacKenzie Moritz

  Biography:

  MacKenzie supports the Lauder Family Fund’s civic philanthropy and impact investing. He is the former Chief of Staff and Chief Partnerships Officer at Service Year Alliance, an organization chaired by Retired General Stanley McChrystal that seeks to make a year of national service – a service year – a common opportunity and expectation for young Americans. He previously served as the managing director of Teach For America’s national recruitment strategy and technology team during the organization’s most successful recruitment seasons in TFA’s history. Prior to joining TFA’s national staff, he started his career as a TFA corps member teaching high school social studies in Southwest Philadelphia. He is a graduate of the University of Florida (undergraduate) and the University of Pennsylvania (graduate) and lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two daughters.

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  Robert K. Kazanjian

  Title: Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Organization and Management

  Organization: Emory University

  Location: Atlanta

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  Robert K. Kazanjian

  Biography:

  ROBERT K. KAZANJIAN is currently Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Organization and Management at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University. In his past administrative roles at Goizueta, he has supported the launch of initiatives related to social enterprise, non-profit management, and leadership among others. He has also served as Interim Dean and as Vice Dean for Degree Programs. Prior appointments include the School of Business, University of Michigan and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (Visitor). He has a BA in economics from Hamilton College. Following an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he served as an Administrative Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, working as Director of Development and Planning at Paine College. He later received his Ph.D. in Organization and Strategy, also from Wharton. Research interests center broadly issues of organizational creation, innovation processes and entrepreneurship.

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  Rocky Welker

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls

  Location: Sioux Falls

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  Rocky Welker

  Biography:

  Mr. Welker earned his B.S. in sociology in 2011 and he received his Master’s of Public Administration in 2013 from the University of South Dakota. He has more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership roles, including with Big Brothers Big Big Sisters and UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s in Sioux City. For the past five years, Mr. Welker has served as the executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls. During his time as executive director, he has helped spearhead Habitat for Humanity’s first affordable housing development in southeast South Dakota -- while also growing the organizations work in neighborhood revitalization throughout Greater Sioux Falls.

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  Salvador Contreras

  Title: Professor of Economics

  Organization: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  Location: McAllen

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  Salvador Contreras

  Biography:

  Salvador Contreras is Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Programs at the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Salvador’s research is in the intersection of financial intermediation and society. His current work explores financial frictions and their effect on entrepreneurship, income mobility, and financial inclusion. His research appears in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Financial Services Research, Journal of Banking and Finance, Small Business Economics, and Journal of Regional Science. In addition, he writes on a variety of topics related to US-Mexico border region. Salvador holds a PhD in Economics from Claremont Graduate University.

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  Tracy J. Yellen

  Title: CEO

  Organization: Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PDNHF)

  Location: El Paso

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  Tracy J. Yellen

  Biography:

  Tracy J. Yellen is the Chief Executive Officer of the Paso del Norte Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Paso del Norte Community Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundations in 2013, Tracy worked in the nonprofit and governmental sectors engaging communities in programs and services from environmental infrastructure to affordable housing. Tracy is active in the El Paso community serving on various boards of directors including the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas El Paso Branch, Borderplex Alliance, University Medical Center of El Paso, YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, Women’s Fund of El Paso, and The Johns Hopkins University.Tracy earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University and Masters in Public Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a former college basketball player and marathon runner. She is married to Steve Yellen and has two college-age children.

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  Seemi Choudry

  Title: Equity and Inclusion Educator

  Organization: City of Chicago Mayor's Office

  Location: Ames

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  Seemi Choudry

  Biography:

  Born and raised in Venezuela, Seemi Choudry is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants who moved with her family to Chicago at the turn of the century. After graduating from Loyola University, she became a public servant fighting the good fight in true Chicago-Community Organizer fashion. Eventually, she joined the Mayor’s Office as the Director of the Office of New Americans.In 2019, Seemi moved to Berlin, Germany to further research the Newcomer Community as a Robert Bosch Fellow. Over the years, she has worked in community development, immigration rights and nonprofit management domestically and abroad.Currently Seemi is completing her MFA in Creative Writing and Environment where she is writing her memoir. To read some of Seemi’s work, visit her website at: www.seemichoudry.com

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  Zach Tabatt

  Title: Vice President for Economic Opportunity

  Organization: Initiative Foundation

  Location: Little Falls

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  Zach Tabatt

  Biography:

  Zach Tabatt is the nonprofit development program officer at the Initiative Foundation, where he designs and delivers capacity building programs to support regional nonprofits. He also co-leads grantmaking programs for the Foundation, which serves 14 counties and two tribal nations in Central Minnesota. Zach serves on the Baxter City Council and is vice chair for the Crow Wing County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and Spanish language and literature from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and later a master’s degree in negotiation and dispute resolution from Creighton University.

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  Sadé Dozan

  Title: Vice President of Advancement

  Organization: Borealis Philanthropy

  Location: Bayonne

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  Sadé Dozan

  Biography:

  Sade Dozan is the Senior Director of Development at Caring Across Generations, and a witness to the power collective voice has in shifting culture and policies surrounding under-resourced communities and marginalized groups. Through her decades-long career in organization resource-building and nonprofit development, she has deep experience in youth and inter-generational campaigns, health and community initiatives, as well as economic development pipelines. A proud member of the “sandwich generation,” and someone with a disability herself, Sade balances her own care with that of her loved ones and navigates paid leave, child care, aging, and disability care.

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  Rodney Prunty

  Title: President and CEO

  Organization: United Way Of North Central New Mexico

  Location: Albuquerque

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  Rodney Prunty

  Biography:

  Rodney Prunty is a passionate, dedicated community servant with 36 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Rodney began his employment at United Way of Rock River Valley in 2007 and served as the Resource Development Manager and Vice President during his tenure, where he was responsible for the annual fundraising campaign, human resources, organizational budgets, volunteer recruitment, community partnerships, community initiatives, and grants management. Rodney joined United Way of Racine County (UWRC) in Racine, Wisconsin in 2013 as President and Chief Professional Officer. Rodney created a culture of relationship management in UWRC’s resource development department, which was integral to UWRC’s fundraising success. Rodney began his role as President & CEO of United Way of Central New Mexico (UWCNM) in June of 2019. In his first year, Rodney’s experience in fundraising, relationship-building, community engagement, and collective impact has had an impact in central New Mexico.

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  Wanda S Mullen

  Title: Professor of Texas and Federal Government

  Organization: Houston Community College

  Location: Houston

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  Wanda S Mullen

  Biography:

  Part-time Professor of Government and Political Science at Houston Community College, Houston TX.Previously taught Government and Political Science at the University of Houston-Downtown and Lone Star College-CyFair in the greater Houston area.Retired as a case manager and Medicaid policy liaison with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.Former member of the Board of Directors for the United Nations Association, Houston Chapter.International volunteer for rebuilding structural community in Ocotillo, Honduras, March 2000.Undergraduate and graduate credentials received from the University of Houston – Main Campus, Houston TX.

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  Seth Wongsavit

  Title: Technical Assistance Advisor

  Organization: Nevada GrantLab

  Location: Las Vegas

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  Seth Wongsavit

  Biography:

  Suthakorn (Seth) Wongsavit is Consultant with NevadaGrantLab. In this role, he helps GrantLab’s nonprofit partners achieve stronger impact, become more competitive for funding, and better serve their communities. He has over ten years of experience specializing in program development and community impact, with a deep understanding of the philanthropic space in Nevada as well as broader innovations in philanthropy and nonprofit governance. Prior to joining GrantLab, he was at the Nevada Community Foundation for over nine years, serving in various roles.Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, he moved to the United States in 2008. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor’s Degree in History.Seth actively volunteers for the nonprofit community in Las Vegas. He currently serves on the UpTogether Nevada Steering Committee and is the former co-chair of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Southern Nevada.

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  Rebecca Gilliam

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: Wayne County Foundation, Inc.

  Location: Richmond

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  Rebecca Gilliam

  Biography:

  Rebecca Gilliam began serving as the Executive Director of the Wayne County Foundation at the end of 2019. She grew up in Richmond, Indiana and attended Indiana University earning an undergraduate degree in Biology. After spending a year working, Rebecca returned to school and earned her M.Ed. in Environmental Education with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Minnetsota, Duluth. Rebecca began her professional career working in the museum field. Prior to taking the role at the Foundation she served the Muncie and Delaware County community as of Vice President - Visitor Experiences at Minnetrista - leading a team of professionals that created dynamic experiences for the East Central Indiana region. Her current role includes helping individuals and families create a philanthropic legacy and supporting nonprofit organizations through grantmaking and educational resources. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-gilliam/

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  Regan Gruber Moffitt

  Title: Vice President of Community Investments

  Organization: St. David's Foundation

  Location: Austin

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  Regan Gruber Moffitt

  Biography:

  Regan Gruber Moffitt is the Vice President of Community Investments at St. David’s FoundationRegan leads the Community Investments team, overseeing the Foundation’s strategic grantmaking, community collaborations, and strategic partnerships.Regan previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation—a private foundation supporting systemic change to achieve equity throughout Arkansas.Regan is active in several philanthropic and community organizations, currently serving on the boards for the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation and Asset Funders Network. She co-founded and serves on the steering committee of the Central Texas Asset Funders. Regan previously served as the Board Chair for Philanthropy Southeast.

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  Alesha Washington

  Title: President & CEO

  Organization: Seattle Foundation

  Location: Seattle

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  Alesha Washington

  Biography:

  Alesha Washington is the President & CEO of Seattle Foundation where she leads efforts to ignite transformational philanthropy to invest deeply in efforts to advance racial equity, shared prosperity and belonging in the Seattle region. Prior to her role with Seattle Foundation, she served as the program director for Vibrant Neighborhoods and Inclusive Economy at the George Gund Foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Alesha has held executive government relations roles with Greater Cleveland Partnership, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and the Centers for Families and Children. Alesha is currently a member of the Policy Advisory Committee for the W.E. Upjohn Institute and a member of the Brookings Metropolitan Leadership Council. She is a 2015 American Marshall Fellow of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Alesha received her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University.

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  Liz Gamboa

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: New Mexico Community Capital

  Location: Albuquerque

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  Liz Gamboa

  Biography:

  Elizabeth “Liz” Gamboa is the Executive Director at New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC). Liz supports small business owners as a mentor in the Native Entrepreneur in Residence program, contributes as a co-facilitator of the Business and Marketing Essentials program, and supports NMCC clients as a mentor and technical assistance provider. She is passionate about regenerative, sustainable models in business, and using systems thinking principles in her work. Liz has a Bachelor of Science degree from San Francisco State University in Corporate Finance and Financial Services. She also has an MBA from Presidio Graduate School. She currently serves on the Native Community Capital board, and serves on the Entrepreneurial Committee for Siembra Leadership High School in Albuquerque.

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  Scott Schnapp

  Title: Consulting Partner

  Organization: Starboard Leadership Consulting

  Location: Saco

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  Scott Schnapp

  Biography:

  Scott has over 40 years of nonprofit management experience, having served in staff and board leadership positions for much of his career. He particularly enjoys working closely with nonprofit leaders driving transformational change.Prior to retiring from full time work in 2016, Scott served as Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) for 15 years. In that position, he led a major expansion of organizational development resources for Maine’s nonprofit leaders, including leadership and management training programs, capacity building tools, assessments and technical assistance. Prior to his work at MANP, Scott served as Executive Director of Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility (MEBSR), Camp Sunshine, and Big Brother-Big Sister of Greater Lowell (MA).As a volunteer, Scott has served on the boards of the Maine Development Foundation, Maine Initiatives, and the Children’s Theatre of Maine, and was Board President of the Falmouth Memorial Library.

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  Sarah Wolman

  Title: CEO & Founder

  Organization: LIGHTBULB

  Location: Montclair

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  Sarah Wolman

  Biography:

  Driven by a personal sense of mission to support children and families in need, Sarah has served in a wide range of roles over the course of 30 years, including policy analyst, foundation director, teacher and NGO executive director. Most recently, Sarah spent 8 years at the LEGO Foundation where her work focused on partnerships in early childhood and education innovation. In 2020, building on her work as one of the architects of the LEGO Idea Conference, Sarah founded LIGHTBULB with a goal of helping education and early childhood funders use interactive experiences to increase their impact. Sarah has spoken widely on the subject of early childhood, play and Learning through Play. She is a CertifiedLEGO Serious PlayFacilitator, LEGO Six Bricks Master Trainer and LEGO Playbox Trainer. Sarah holds a BA from Columbia College and a JD from Columbia Law School.

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  Pete McCown

  Title: President

  Organization: Community Foundation of Elkhart County

  Location: Elkhart

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  Pete McCown

  Biography:

  Dr. Pete McCown is president of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. Since taking on that role in 2011, the CFEC balance sheet has grown from $50MM to $450MM in assets under management. As president, he serves as chief investment officer and helps coordinate work of both the growing staff and the dozens of volunteers who serve as board and committee members. As it has grown to be one of the largest community foundations in the United States, McCown has guided the organization and helped shape its culture, strategies and policies.Prior to taking on the presidency, McCown served as a professor of business and vice president for advancement at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. McCown has graduate degrees — a masters in education and a doctorate in social science — from the State University of New York. He also has a masters in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

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  Vickie Patton

  Title: General Counsel

  Organization: Environmental Defense Fund

  Location: Boulder

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  Vickie Patton

  Biography:

  Vickie serves as Environmental Defense Fund's General Counsel and leads its U.S. Clean Air Program. For over thirty years, she has worked with partners to secure important national and state protections addressing climate and air pollution, participated in numerous climate and clean air cases, and testified before congressional and state legislative committees. Prior to EDF, she served in the EPA's Office of General Counsel where she implemented the historic 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and received the Gold Medal for Exceptional Service. She has received the Air & Waste Management Association's Richard Beatty Mellon Environmental Stewardship Award, the Wirth Chair Award for Creative Collaborations in Sustainability, and the Healthy Community Award received from her local health department. Vickie is a co-founder of Moms Clean Air Force, serves on the Boards of the Environmental Law Institute and Earthshot, and is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

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  Celia Cole

  Title: CEO

  Organization: Feeding Texas

  Location: Austin

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  Celia Cole

  Biography:

  Celia Cole is the CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. Feeding Texas supports its members in providing adequate nutritious food for all Texans, improving the health and financial stability of the communities they serve, and engaging all stakeholders in advocating for hunger solutions. Celia is an expert in food and nutrition policy with experience at the state and federal level. Prior to Feeding Texas, Celia was a senior policy analyst with Every Texas (formerly the Center for Public Policy Priorities) for 14 years, where she covered food and nutrition, welfare, and family economic security issues. Celia serves on the Expert Panel on Food Insecurity Measures of the National Quality Forum, and the policy engagement and advocacy committee for Feeding America. Celia holds a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Columbia University and a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

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  Ronald A Johnson

  Title: Strategic Consultant - Higher Education

  Organization: Clark Atlanta University

  Location: Bradenton

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  Ronald A Johnson

  Biography:

  Ronald A. Johnson, a visionary leader, has led change successfully as Interim President at Kentucky State University, President of Clark Atlanta University and as a business school dean at Texas Southern University and Western Carolina University. A former member of the President’s Advisory Board of the White House Initiative on HBCUs and former Chairman of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of the United States. Published an essay entitled “HBCUs are Pipelines for Diversified Intellect, Creativity and Innovation,” the Federal Reserve System-led book, Investing in America’s Workforce: Improving Outcomes for Workers and Employers. Dr. Johnson earned a PhD in economics from Stanford University.

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  Alexandra Chandler

  Title: Policy Strategist, Manager of National Elections Advocacy Team

  Organization: Protect Democracy

  Location: Haverhill

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  Alexandra Chandler

  Biography:

  Alexandra Chandler co-leads Protect Democracy’s elections and voting rights work, including policy development, advocacy, and litigation efforts. She also coordinates staff support for the National Task Force on Election Crises, a cross-ideological group of leaders in elections, civil rights, and other disciplines, who prepared decisionmakers and the public for election crises in 2020, and are doing so again for the 2022 and 2024 elections. Previously, Alexandra was a career national security professional for 13 years, including roles at the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where she led the Intelligence Community analytic effort to disrupt the proliferation of WMD by sea and developed policies to prevent the politicization of intelligence. In 2018, she was the first openly transgender candidate to run for Congress from Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University and Brooklyn Law School.

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  Alison Powers

  Title: Director, Economic Opportunities

  Organization: Capital Impact Partners

  Location: Washington, D.C.

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  Alison Powers

  Biography:

  Alison Powers is the Director of Economic Opportunities at Capital Impact Partners, a national Community Development Financial Institution that invests capital and commitment to help people and communities break the barriers to success. Alison works to create economic and wealth-building opportunities through equitable food systems, small business support, and cooperative development. Alison Powers is the Director of Economic Opportunities at Capital Impact Partners, a national Community Development Financial Institution that invests capital and commitment to help people and communities break the barriers to success. She is currently managing the Nourish DC Collaborative as part of Capital Impact’s work to support strong ecosystems of locally-owned food businesses, increase healthy food access, build vibrant neighborhoods, and develop high quality jobs in throughout the food value chain.

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• Ian David Moss

  Title: Executive Director

  Organization: Effective Institutions Project

  Location: Tarrytown

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  Ian David Moss

  Biography:

  Ian David Moss is a philanthropic advisor and the executive director of the Effective Institutions Project, a research organization and funder collaborative that seeks out strategies to improve the decision-making of important institutions around the world. Over the years, Ian has collaborated with dozens of grantmaking foundations and philanthropic families to design impactful programs, allocate resources effectively, coordinate across organizational and disciplinary boundaries, and foster cultures of learning and continuous improvement. Overall, his work has guided the distribution of more than $250 million in grants and spending to improve people’s lives globally. He holds BA and MBA degrees from Yale University and is based in New York.

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