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 as a research associate in September 2020. In this role, she supports data ...
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 ...
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 ...
Teresa (Teri) Behrens, Ph.D.
Teresa (Teri) Behrens, Ph.D.
Teri Behrens joined the Johnson Center in 2009 and currently serves as the executive director. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief ...
Emily Brenner
Emily Brenner
Emily Brenner joined the Johnson Center in early 2018 and currently serves as a program associate. In this role, she assists the learning ...
Sherry Collver
Sherry Collver
Sherry Collver joined the Johnson Center in 2012 and currently serves as the unit coordinator. In this role, she assists 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 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 ...
Brian Herron
Brian Herron
Brian Herron joined the Johnson Center as a web developer in 2016. In this role, he works in close collaboration with partners in the ...
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 ...
Kevin Peterson, M.P.A.
Kevin Peterson, M.P.A.
Kevin Peterson (he/him) joined the Johnson Center in 2015 and currently serves as senior program associate for learning services. In this ...
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. In this role, she ...
Mandy Sharp Eizinger, M.S.
Mandy Sharp Eizinger, M.S.
Mandy Sharp Eizinger joined the Johnson Center as a program manager in April 2020. In this role, she supports sector-wide learning and ...
Jackie Smith, Ph.D.
Jackie Smith, Ph.D.
Jackie Smith joined the Johnson Center in July 2022 as a research manager for the Community Data and Research Lab. Working collaboratively ...
Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.
Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.
Tamela is a senior program manager at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, where she has worked since 2016. As a certified ...
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 ...
Angie Vuyst
Angie Vuyst
Angie Vuyst joined the Johnson Center in 2022 as digital marketing associate. In this role, she is responsible for the strategy 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 ...