Meet Our Team
We bring passion and experience to our work, drawing on expertise in a variety of fields, including social science research, organizational development, and adult education.
Trish Abalo
Trish Abalo
Trish Abalo joined the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy in September 2020. As a research associate, she supports data collection, ...
Alexandra Akaakar, M.S.
Alexandra Akaakar, M.S.
Alexandra Akaakar joined the Johnson Center as a data analyst in January 2022. In this role, she supports data collection, presentation, and ...
Katie Baker, M.A.
Katie Baker, M.A.
Katie Baker joined the Johnson Center in March 2023 as a program manager for learning services, bringing a background in development, ...
Kallie Bauer, M.B.A.
Kallie Bauer, M.B.A.
Kallie Bauer joined the Johnson Center in 2008 and currently serves as a senior project manager. In this role, she is responsible for ...
Crisol Beliz
Crisol Beliz
Crisol Beliz joined the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy in April 2023 as a research associate for the Community Data and Research ...
Emily Brenner, M.P.A.
Emily Brenner, M.P.A.
Emily Brenner joined the Johnson Center in 2018 and currently serves as program manager. In this role, she assists the learning services ...
Sherry Collver
Sherry Collver
Sherry Collver joined the Johnson Center in 2012 and currently serves as operations assistant. In this role, she supports the executive ...
Julie Couturier, CPA
Julie Couturier, CPA
Julie Couturier joined the Johnson Center in 2006 and currently serves as the director of operations. In this role, she is responsible for ...
Emily Doebler, M.P.P.
Emily Doebler, M.P.P.
Emily Doebler (she/her) joined the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy in April 2023 as a research associate for the Community Data ...
Emily Dorn Jex, M.S.
Emily Dorn Jex, M.S.
Emily Dorn Jex joined the Johnson Center as a data analyst in January 2022. In this role, she assists the Community Data and Research Lab ...
Jana Einfeld
Jana Einfeld
Jana Einfeld joined the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy in May 2023 as office coordinator. In this role, she manages office ...
Brian Herron
Brian Herron
Brian Herron joined the Johnson Center in 2016 and currently serves as senior web developer. In this role, he works in close collaboration ...
Karen Hoekstra
Karen Hoekstra
Karen Hoekstra joined the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in 2015. As marketing and communications manager, she leads the design and ...
Aimée A. Laramore, M.B.A.
Aimée A. Laramore, M.B.A.
Aimée Laramore joined the Johnson Center as director of learning services in May 2022. As owner/lead consultant for ALlyd Image Solutions, a ...
Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.
Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.
Michael Dennis Layton joined the Johnson Center in September 2020 as the W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair, the nation’s first ...
Tory Martin, M.A.
Tory Martin, M.A.
Tory Martin joined the Johnson Center in October 2017 and currently serves as director of communications and strategic partnerships. In this ...
Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Michael Moody joined the Johnson Center in 2010 as the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for ...
Pat Robinson, M.P.A.
Pat Robinson, M.P.A.
Pat Robinson joined the Johnson Center in 1997 and currently serves as associate director for special projects and associate editor of ...
Mandy Sharp Eizinger, M.S.
Mandy Sharp Eizinger, M.S.
Mandy Sharp Eizinger joined the Johnson Center as a program manager in April 2020. She facilitates sector-wide learning and professional ...
Lesley D. Slavitt, Ph.D.
Lesley D. Slavitt, Ph.D.
Lesley D. Slavitt joined the Johnson Center as executive director in April 2023. Through vision and collaboration, she leads our work to ...
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien, M.P.H.
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien, M.P.H.
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien joined the Johnson Center in 2014 and currently serves as a research manager. In this role, she plans, manages, and ...
Jeff Williams, M.A., M.B.A.
Jeff Williams, M.A., M.B.A.
Jeff Williams joined the Johnson Center as the director of the Community Data and Research Lab (CDRL) in February 2020. In this role, he ...
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout, Ph.D.
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout, Ph.D.
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout designs and carries out community-based research to help nonprofits, schools, and other organizations better serve ...
Meet our Leadership Council
The Johnson Center’s Leadership Council advises our strategic direction. We would like to thank the members for providing their time and expertise to help shape the center’s direction.
M. Gasby Brown
M. Gasby Brown
M. Gasby Brown joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2022. As founder & CEO of The Gasby Group, Inc. (TGG), she leads a team ...
Dan Cardinali
Dan Cardinali
Dan Cardinali joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2017. Dan joined Independent Sector, a national membership ...
Rob Collier
Rob Collier
Rob Collier joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Rob was president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations ...
David Egner
David Egner
Dave Egner joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008, and currently serves as co-chair. In 2016, Dave was appointed ...
Mae Hong
Mae Hong
Mae Hong joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2019. Mae opened the Chicago office of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in ...
Dorothy A. Johnson
Dorothy A. Johnson
Dorothy (Dottie) Johnson joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Dottie, the center’s namesake, served for 25 ...
Arend D. Lubbers
Arend D. Lubbers
Arend (Don) Lubbers joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Don served as second president of Grand Valley State ...
Donna Murray-Brown
Donna Murray-Brown
Donna Murray-Brown joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2018. In 2022, she joined the National Council of Nonprofits as vice ...
Isaiah Oliver
Isaiah Oliver
Isaiah M. Oliver joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2022. As president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, ...
Joel J. Orosz, Ph.D.
Joel J. Orosz, Ph.D.
Joel Orosz joined the Leadership Council in 2011, after retiring from the Johnson Center where he founded The Grantmaking School. Joel has ...
Diana R. Sieger
Diana R. Sieger
Diana Sieger joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. In her 30 plus years as President of Grand Rapids Community ...
Robert P. Smart, Ph.D.
Robert P. Smart, Ph.D.
Robert P. Smart, Ph.D., is vice provost for research administration and the founding executive director of the Center for Scholarly and ...
Kate Pew Wolters
Kate Pew Wolters
Kate Pew Wolters joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2017, and currently serves as co-chair. Kate was reappointed for a ...