Lodestar Center announces new leadership class

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation is pleased to announce the launch of the second year of its Generation Next Nonprofit Leadership Academy (Gen Next). Twenty emerging, nonprofit leaders from the Valley were selected through a competitive application process to participate in the program’s second cohort.

The nine-month program is comprised of best-practice approaches to lead and manage nonprofits from renowned professors and practitioner instructors at ASU, as well as established nonprofit leaders from organizations that engage with the ASU Lodestar Center.

This year’s cohort includes:

• Rosa Maria Acevedo, Arizona Quest for Kids.

• Celeste Atkins, Planned Parenthood Arizona. 

• Barbara Blalock, Treasures 4 Teachers.

• Brigitte Dayton, Catholic Community Foundation. 

• Christina Diss, ASU Foundation.

• Leah Iverson, Southwest Network.

• Jackie Jackson, Victory High School.

• Jessica Johnson, The Salvation Army. 

• Sarah Levin, Muscular Dystrophy Association.

• Claudia Maldonado, Keogh Health Foundation.

• Molly Markwiese, The ALS Association Arizona Chapter.  

• Jessica Martin, Childhelp Inc.

• Michael Mayhew.

• Megan McKeever, Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce.  

• Kim  Phillips, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

• Jessica Shea, National Bank of Arizona.

• Angela Taylor, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona.

• Gina Trotter, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona.  

• Nicola Winkel, AZ National Guard State Family Programs Office.

• Pete Ziebron, Goodwill of Central AZ.

Each program day will focus on different topics relevant to the nonprofit community in Phoenix including, but not limited to, public policy and advocacy, collaboration, and community development and outreach. Additionally, participants will complete group capacity building projects for various organizations throughout the Valley.

“I’m looking forward to building on last year’s inaugural successes and growing an even stronger program,” says Laura Capello, a project specialist for Gen Next. “The program continues to attract some of the best and brightest young professionals in the nonprofit sector and their participation in this program truly strengthens our community.”

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation (formerly the ASU Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management), is recognized as a national leader in undergraduate and graduate nonprofit education, research and technical assistance. The ASU Lodestar Center exists to enhance the quality of life in communities through the advancement of nonprofit leadership practices and provides knowledge and tools to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, professionals, board members, donors and volunteers by offering a selection of capacity building workshops, conferences, classes and programs. For more information, visit the Web site http://nonprofit.asu.edu.