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 ...
Kallie Bauer, M.B.A.
Kallie Bauer, M.B.A.
Kallie Bauer joined the Johnson Center in 2008 and currently serves as a director of strategy and planning. In this role, she is responsible ...
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 helps develop and manage ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Aimée A. Laramore, M.B.A.
Aimée A. Laramore, M.B.A.
Aimée Laramore joined the Johnson Center in May 2022 and currently serves as program director. As a key member of the senior leadership ...
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 ...
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 ...
Jill Roof, M.P.A.
Jill Roof, M.P.A.
Jill Roof joined the Johnson Center in 2024 as a research manager in the Community Data and Research Lab. She has a background in nonprofit ...
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 ...
Joe VanDoornik, M.S.A., PMP
Joe VanDoornik, M.S.A., PMP
Joe VanDoornik joined the Johnson Center in January 2024 as a project manager. In this role, he supports administrative requirements of ...
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 ...
Hanh Cao Yu, Ph.D.
Hanh Cao Yu, Ph.D.
Hanh Cao Yu, Ph.D., is the editor-in-chief of special issues for The Foundation Review. As part of the journal’s 15th anniversary, ...
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.
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 ...
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 of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, he ...
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 ...
Akilah Watkins, Ph.D.
Akilah Watkins, Ph.D.
Dr. Akilah Watkins joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2023. A 25-year national thought leader, convener, and nonprofit ...
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 ...