2026 Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort

The Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort is a facilitated virtual learning experience meeting monthly from April 2026 through November 2026, hosted by the Council on Foundations in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley (GGSC). Cohort members expressed their interest in the course through an application process and were selected to be a part of the program. This course will support the work of the Council's Building Common Ground Strategic Pillar.

Meet the cohort (listed alphabetically by organization):

Zahra Lutfeali, Director of Programs and Partnerships, Aga Khan Foundation USA

Ellie Klein, Director, American Institutes For Research

David Proper, Senior Communications Officer, Colorado Health Foundation

Paula Jones, Communications Coordinator, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Inc.

Sydney Zorensky, Programs Manager, Community Foundation Boulder County

Betsy Constantine, President and CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Colin Perry, Program Officer, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Lillian Kahris, Knowledge Management Officer, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Jenni Moscardelli, Philanthropic Services Senior Manager, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Andrew Oravecz, Senior Community Health and Strategy Officer, Connecticut Community Foundation

Christine Stevens, Content Specialist, Council of Michigan Foundations

Shea Van Horn, Program Officer, de Beaumont Foundation

Kyle White, Community Engagement & YEP Manager, DeKalb County Community Foundation (IL)

Avi Smolen, Grants Officer, Ford Foundation

Izzy Grotting, Creative Design Manager, Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Clinton Bublitz, Senior Philanthropic Officer, Lancaster County Community Foundation

Rachael Hartman, Program Officer, Lancaster County Community Foundation

Theary Chan, Grants Manager, Marin Community Foundation

Mary Bates, Program Associate, Mellon Foundation

Katina Mortensen, Director of Public Policy, Minnesota Council on Foundations

Catherine Calvo, Community Relations Associate, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Dennis Johnson, Managing Director of Strategy and Evaluation, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Nicolas Polet, Director of Public Policy, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Sarah Geisenheimer, Statewide Director of Community Engagement, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Tracey Pincelli, Community Relations Associate, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Liz Conway, CEO/COO, Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

Colleen Hamilton, Manager, Operations & Grantmaking Administration , New Pluralists Collaborative

Angel Jackson, Manager, Scholarships, North Georgia Community Foundation

Bridgette Moore, Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator, Northwest Area Foundation

MaiVue Xiong, Executive Director, Pablo Foundation, Inc.

Gary Scott, Communications Director, Rasmuson Foundation

Danielle Augustine, Manager, Related Affordable Foundation

Mi Stanley, Director of Community Development, Rotary Charities of Traverse City

Kenneth Frierson, Program Officer, Ruth Mott Foundation

Maryah Phillips, Program Manager, The Chicago Community Trust

Myrian Solis Coronel, Program Officer, The Conrad Prebys Foundation

Dana Perry, Senior Gifts & Grants Officer, The Denver Foundation

Kyle Rinne-Meyers, Director of Engaged Learning, The Denver Foundation

Alex Rosales, Program Manager, The Elevate Prize Foundation

Maria McCandless, Director of Communications, The Field Foundation of Illinois

Michelle DeHaven Quast, Chief Executive Officer, The Foundation for Northwest Illinois

Courtney Combs, Director of Strategy & Community Impact, The Lake County Community Foundation

Maria Sievert, Director of Development, The Lake County Community Foundation

Robin Frazier, Executive Director, The Lima Community Foundation

Lauren Davidson, Foundation Manager, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation

Tara Oakman, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives The Rippel Foundation

Derek Williams, Community Engagement Manager, The Wayne County Community Foundation

Itzel Diaz, Communications Director, Tipping Point Community

Anita Brown-Graham, Trustee, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn, Executive Director, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

Niketa Greene, Director of Convening & Capacity-Building, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation