Leadership and Staff

Independent Sector is run by a talented staff, experienced Board of Directors, and a remarkable group of diverse changemakers.

Team Members

Board of Directors

Team Members

Dr. Akilah Watkins

President and CEO

Jeffrey Moore

Chief Strategy Officer

Rick Robinson

Chief Operating Officer

Andrea Risotto

Vice President of Communications

Jennifer Mellen

Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Michael Bochnovic

Chief of Staff

Dr. Rashid Mosley

Vice President of Programs

Aida Gueye

Director, People and Culture

Ben Kershaw

Director, Public Policy and Government Relations

Danese White

Senior Staff Accountant

Debra Rainey

Manager, Communications

Edom Alagaw

Executive Assistant

Elyse Harrington

Director, Operations and Administration

Emily Rogers

Manager, Policy Research

Hannah Freedman

Senior Associate, Digital Content and Engagement

Dr. Heather MacIndoe

Visiting Scholar 2023-2024, University of Massachusetts Boston

Jess Payton

Manager, Database

Jessi Mitrovich

Associate, Marketing and Communications

Dr. Kevin Miller

Director, Research and Policy Analysis

Mankaa Ngwa-Suh

Manager, Conference and Events Programs

Manuel Gomez

Manager, Public Policy

Michelle Vallar

Manager, Conference and Events Logistics

Nancy Barry

Manager, Special Initiatives, Public Policy

Neisha McGee

Manager, Advocacy, Engagement & Mobilization

Nina Ford

Director, Strategic Communications and Public Relations

Raynice Day

Associate, Programs and Policy

Rhea Ilagan

Director, Finance

Stuart Hewitt

Manager, Partnerships

Travis Swanson

Manager, Government Relations

Board of Directors

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor

President, Sojourners

Ann Mei Chang

CEO, Candid

Hilary Pennington

Executive Vice President for Programs, Ford Foundation

Dr. John Brothers

President, T. Rowe Price Foundation and President of T. Rowe Price Charitable

Julie Gehrki

Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Walmart Foundation

Lysa Ratliff

CEO, KABOOM!

Dr. Manuel Pastor

Distinguished Professor, Equity Research Institute, University of Southern California

Phoebe Boyer

President and CEO, Children’s Aid

Sonya Campion

President, Campion Advocacy Fund

Suzanne McCormick

President and CEO, YMCA of the USA

Jose Antonio Tijerino

President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Isaiah M. Oliver

President, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

Jaqueline Martinez Garcel

Immediate Past CEO, Latino Community Foundation

Janeen Comenote

Director, National Urban Indian Family Coalition

Richard E. Besser, MD

President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Our Community

Independent Sector leadership and staff are deeply collaborative with individuals and organizations across the social good space.

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Leadership and Staff

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