Never a Spectator
Never a Spectator took place on Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Connolly Ballroom at Alumni Hall. This year's theme was Smart Advocacy: Move from Spectator to Transformative Leader.
Registration
Participation was limited to University of Pittsburgh students only.
Why Attend
Benefits
- Connect and grow relationships with established regional leaders
- Learn how you can make a difference by getting involved with civic engagement programs at Pitt
- Earn Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) credit - Leadership Development
Eligibility
All University of Pittsburgh students pursuing any major or degree are welcome to register and attend.
Keynote Speaker
Angelique Hinton
Executive Director | PA Youth Vote
Angelique Hinton is a political and community organizer and advocate for a new generation of voters. She co-founded PA Youth Vote to educate young people ages 18 to 24 on the vital issues affecting their everyday lives to ensure they show up to the polls and choose their elected leaders wisely. As a political and community organizer, she has created winning outreach and voter and volunteer mobilization programs for My School Votes, an initiative of Michelle Obama’s nonpartisan nonprofit organization, When We All Vote, as well as statewide elected officials.
Before transitioning into full-time advocacy, Angelique managed client relationships at the financial services company Vanguard, where she monitored the quality of customer experiences of Vanguard’s UHNW clients for 20 years.
Additionally, Angelique currently serves on the nonprofit boards of Community Hero; The Bullhorn; and Norristown Youth Athletic Association. She also previously served as President of Norristown NAACP from 2020-2024; as a board member of The Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library through 2025, and on the following Committees for Montgomery County: Co-Chair for Voting Rights and election protection 2024; Steering Committee for Montgomery County Health Assessment; Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee; Advisory Committee for Drug & Alcohol. Connect on LinkedIn.
2025 Community Mentors
Vernard Alexander
Director | University of Pittsburgh’s Homewood Community Engagement Center
Nearly two decades ago, Vernard Alexander had a lightbulb moment sparked by an unexpected source. After reading about a historic business closing, he was baffled by the indifferent comments surrounding it. But then he got inspired, he decided that day he would invest in uniting small businesses for networking, and his hard- work began to pay off, with the birth of the Minority Networking Exchange (MNE), a vibrant platform that fosters connection, education, and collaboration among entrepreneurs was born.
For years, Vernard has proudly worn the crown as “The Connecting King.” Royalty at its finest in the Pittsburgh region. When you’re looking for guidance on various issues, he’s the first name that comes to mind. His name has become synonymous with support and mentorship. To amplify his mission of bringing people together, he co-founded CKV Suites, a versatile event space where he hosts a plethora of business and social networking events.
Vernard is a master at social media engagement, earning him the title of guru in this arena. His expertise has helped countless businesses, non-profits, and politicians expand their reach and thrive. With a follower base of over 30,000, Vernard has crafted a powerful online presence. As a Social Media Influencer and Consultant for organizations like Neighborhood Allies, he once raised over $14,500 through a Facebook “Birthday Fundraiser” for the Hope for Tomorrow organization (Youth Entrepreneurship) and that’s not all, he has since organized fundraisers that collectively netted hundreds of thousands for grassroots initiatives. He even devised a funding strategy for a local nonprofit that secured a whopping $1 million! A true testament to his connecting kingship. Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Samantha Balbier
Director | The University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics (IOP) and Elsie Hillman Civic Forum
Samantha became the Director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) and the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum in early 2019. Prior to joining the IOP, she worked on a range of public policy issues facing the nonprofit sector as the Executive Director of the Forbes Funds’ Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP), a coalition of over 450 organizations from Southwestern Pennsylvania. There, she worked with regional leaders to advocate on behalf of the sector to address federal and state issues such as charitable tax status, healthcare reform, overtime rules, tax reform, behavioral health, state performance-based budgeting, and the then-upcoming 2020 US Census. She has a breadth of knowledge in issue-based policy, especially in the fields of pediatric environmental health, green building design, early childhood education, and human services. Over the past twenty years, she has filled a range of roles including working in philanthropy as program staff at the Heinz Endowments, as an Executive Director of an environmental health nonprofit, and as a special consultant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning, where she launched a statewide initiative that engaged five state departments.
Her policy analysis and program development activities reflect the importance of strategically engaging content experts with elected and government officials and have resulted in Pennsylvania being awarded the Excellence in Environmental Protection of Children from the Children’s Environmental Health Network in 2014, as well as the Innovation in Education Award for the 2016 GPNP Behavioral Health Public Policy Cohort awarded by Mental Health America.
Samantha holds bachelor’s degrees in Business and Social Work from Mercyhurst University. She received her master’s in Social Work with an emphasis in Public Policy and Community Organizing from Pitt in 1998. Samantha received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work in 2018. She is incredibly grateful to the University and her former graduate school advisor, the late Dr. Morton Coleman, Founder of the Institute of Politics, who guided her toward this career in public policy. Connect on LinkedIn.
Tammy Spencer Bey
Vice President and Community Development Market Manager | Citizens
Tammy Spencer Bey is Vice President and Community Development Market Manager for Citizens in Western Pennsylvania, with over 25 years of experience spanning IT, HR, Finance, and community engagement. Formerly a Senior VP at BNY, she now leads Citizens’ CRA initiatives, driving access to capital, investments, and homeownership. A passionate advocate for financial literacy and workforce development, Tammy empowers economic mobility across underserved communities. Her leadership has earned her honors including the New Pittsburgh Courier’s 40 Under 40 and Women of Excellence. She serves on several boards—PA Women Work, NeighborWorks Western PA, City Charter High School, Pittsburgh Experiment, and Mon Valley Initiative—reflecting her deep commitment to equity and inclusion. Tammy also coaches for the Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team and mentors women and girls citywide. A heart attack survivor, she champions heart-healthy living and is an alumna of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) Executive Leadership Program. She finds joy in family life with her husband, three daughters, and grandson. Connect on LinkedIn
Jennifer Blatz
Program Director | Greater Pittsburgh Digital Inclusion Alliance
State Coordinator | Keystone Internet Coalition
Jennifer Blatz serves as Program Director for the Greater Pittsburgh Digital Inclusion Alliance, a coalition of 40 non-profits in Allegheny County seeking to align their digital equity efforts as broadband access is expanding. She also serves as State Coordinator for the Keystone Internet Coalition, and as Manager of Senior Programming and Advocacy at the Persad Center. During her career, she has led organizing drives and political campaigns and has extensive experience in volunteer and program management. She joins other leaders in the aging services community on the Board of Directors for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging, and the Board of Directors of Metowers Senior Apartments of Avalon. Jen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Boston University. She lives in Kittanning, PA, with her husband, a retired Local 449 Steamfitter, and their rescue dog, Tony. Connect on LinkedIn
Kenya T. Boswell
Senior Vice President of Community Affairs | Highmark Health
President | Highmark Foundation
Kenya T. Boswell is senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark Health and the president of the Highmark Foundation.
Highmark Health is a national, blended health organization that includes one of America’s largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional hospital and physician network. Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Highmark Health’s 44,000 employees serve millions of customers nationwide through the nonprofit organization’s affiliated businesses including Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental, enGen and Helion.
The Highmark Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private, charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, wellbeing, the quality of life for individuals who reside in the communities served by Highmark, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Ms. Boswell has more than 20 years of leading community affairs, philanthropic and nonprofit management. Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Bob Charland
Councilperson | Council District 3 - City of Pittsburgh
Bob Charland was elected to Pittsburgh City Council in 2024 to represent Oakland and South Pittsburgh, after getting his start as a staffer for the district’s former councilmember. He works to strengthen all 13 neighborhoods of District 3 by supporting current residents and building communities that people will want to call home in the years ahead. Alongside his work on Council, Bob serves on the boards of the Oakland Business Improvement District and Phipps Conservatory, has served on the board of New Leaders Council, and volunteered with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, now Literacy Pittsburgh.
A Pitt graduate with a B.S. in Biology, Bob's government journey started with environmental campaigns after spending years bartending in South Pittsburgh. Bob's primary focus lies in revitalizing Pittsburgh, emphasizing cleanliness, attracting public and private investments to his district, and fostering safe, vibrant main streets. In his free time, he enjoys Punk Rock music and harbors hope that the next year might be the year for buccos. Connect on LinkedIn
Laura Cherner
Director, Community Relations Council | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
Laura Cherner is the Director of the Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
Cherner’s initial responsibilities include helping the CRC on programs to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel and on the Catholic-Jewish Education Enrichment Program, which seeks to promote understanding between Catholics and Jews. The program sends rabbis and Jewish educators into 12 Southwestern Pennsylvania Catholic high schools, to teach about Judaism, and Catholic educators into Jewish synagogue religious schools to discuss Catholicism.
Cherner previously worked for the Jewish Federation, supporting the Annual Campaign’s Women’s Philanthropy, missions and development. Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, she worked as an intern for United States Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA). Her published writing includes biographies of Sophie Masloff, former Pittsburgh mayor, and of philanthropist Liliane Kaufmann. These biographies were published in the National Council of Jewish Women’s collection Her Deeds Sing Her Praises.
A Mt. Lebanon native, Cherner is a 2016 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. Connect on LinkedIn
Catherine G. Cordova, Ph.D.
Director of Academic Planning and Retention | David C. Frederick Honors College - University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Catherine Cordova serves as Director of Academic Planning and Retention in the David C. Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh.
Catherine has over a decade of leadership and teaching experience in higher education, and has held leadership roles in the non-profit sector and a range of national organizations. She has extensive experience in curriculum development and instruction as it relates to community engaged learning, and has developed and implemented an Honors curriculum on Mentorship and Leadership, and led the embedding of a service lab within Composition courses.
As President Emeritus of the International Mentoring Association, Catherine conducts international mentor trainings and serves on the Board of the Peer Mentor Advisory Council for the Campbell University Rose Center for Peer Mentorship within the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. Additionally, Catherine has partnered with the U.S. and Bolivian Embassies to conduct mentor training, and is a certified mentoring consultant. Her research on peer mentoring and community engagement, especially in Honors, has been published in various venues including 2023 Routledge text, Reciprocal Mentoring.
As a first-generation student, and a former Honors student herself, Catherine understands the important intersection of community engagement, college, and career skills, which she outlines in her text Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Go to College, (Routledge, 2024). She has served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Educational Impact at a non-profit focused on higher education access for underserved and migrant worker communities. She has also designed and overseen various innovative programs meant to assist students in their community engagement and has background in Honors and college student programming, orientation, first-generation
research, and student engagement initiatives. Catherine holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction focused in Career and Workforce Education from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor and Master’s in English from Florida Gulf Coast University. Connect on LinkedIn
Erin Dalton
Director | Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Erin Dalton is the Director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, which works to strengthen families and communities through a network of social services, care and support. DHS serves over 200,000 people each year through its community-based programs that prevent harm and address needs for family support and child development, developmental supports, senior services, housing, and protection from maltreatment.
Ms. Dalton has been recognized for her groundbreaking achievements in integrated data and analytics, including in using predictive risk models to bring critical information to front line staff so they can make better decisions, as well as in the unique information-sharing partnerships she built. Her years of experience in leading systems improvements earned her a reputation for expertise in child protection, housing, and criminal justice systems, as well as for being a leader who relies upon community engagement to design solutions. Connect on LinkedIn
Jay Darr
Senior Strategic Advisor to the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing | University of Pittsburgh (Pitt)
Jay E. Darr, Ph.D., LPC, PMP, serves as Senior Strategic Advisor to the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Dr. Darr also serves as a faculty member and clinician in the Department of Psychiatry and Western Wellness, supporting athletes, coaches, teams, and families.
Dr. Darr joined Pitt in 2019 as director of the University Counseling Center (UCC) and, in 2022, was promoted to serve as the inaugural Associate Dean of Student Wellness, where he has made a lasting impact on student well-being. Under his leadership, the UCC expanded its services to support students more broadly, including beginning the Higher Education Assessment and Response Team, introducing embedded clinicians in residence halls and two schools, eliminating wait times, expanding clinical services, and championing the UCC’s partnership in the development and ongoing operations of the Wellness and Resilience course. Additionally, Darr led the diversification of the clinical staff and implemented the post-master licensure track program. As associate dean, he oversaw the reimagining of the Concern, Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) team, expanded Student Health Services, advanced the partnership with Financial Aid to include the Center for Financial Wellness, and supported Campus Recreation during construction of the new Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Prior to joining Pitt, Dr. Darr led embedded services for student-athletes at the University of North Texas Counseling and Testing Center in collaboration with the Division of Athletics and the Center for Sport Psychology and Athlete Mental Health. He has held progressive leadership roles in corporate and human service organizations, and has a 13-year career in the U.S. Army, including 10 years as a commissioned officer.
Dr. Darr earned his PhD in Executive Counseling Education and Supervision, with a specialization in Crisis Intervention and Management, and an MSEd in School Counseling from Duquesne University. He completed his undergraduate and initial graduate work in Sociology, with a focus on applied social research, at West Virginia University. Dr. Darr is a Licensed Professional Counselor in multiple states, a National Certified Counselor, and a Project Management Professional.
Dr. Darr’s passion is to help people become aware of their strengths, with the goal of using this awareness as a tool to find healthy solutions to life's challenges. His professional interests include applying AI solutions for engagement, performance, and wellbeing support, and sports counseling/psychology. He enjoys spending time with his family, participating in outdoor activities, and is an avid fan of the Marvel Universe and sports. Connect on Linkedin
Courtney Davenport
Vice President | BNY
Courtney Davenport is a Vice President serving as an Operations Manager for the Strategic Programming team at BNY. In this role she supports the company's employee/business resource groups, enterprise-wide volunteer engagement engagements for over 4000 employees annually and leadership development programming for employees. She also manages the implementation of the BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge. Before stepping into this role, she served as a community impact program administrator for four years within the Global Impact Citizenship department at BNY. In this role she approved donation and volunteer match requests from employees and supported the program in a variety of other functions. Prior to this she worked within the Document Custody and Client Activation/Center of Excellence departments also at BNY. For several years Davenport served as a co-chair for the External Connections Committee for the Pittsburgh chapter of BNY’s IMPACT E/BRG engaging employees in a number of volunteer activities and side chats.
Davenport holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Health Sciences and certificates in Community Health Assessment, Managing Health Services Programs and Projects and Conceptual Foundations of Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh. She also holds a Master of Public Administration Degree with a focus on Public and Nonprofit Management from the University of Pittsburgh.
Courtney Davenport enjoys making a difference in her community by volunteering and connecting her network to relevant opportunities. She currently serves as board chair for the Union Project having been on the board since 2021. She also serves on the boards of Awaken Pittsburgh and Homeless Children's Education Fund, on their Development and Program committees respectively. In her free time, she enjoys reading painting and traveling. Connect on LinkedIn
John Denny
Co-Founder and Senior Advisor | Assemble Group
John is a seasoned convener and community connector with decades of experience managing civic campaigns and advocacy efforts for the common good. Valuing diverse perspectives, he balances compassion, cooperation, and a sense of urgency, believing in working with humor alongside hard work. Inspired by his mentor’s advice to “attract more bees with honey than vinegar,” John has crafted a collaborative approach to leadership.
He began his career in politics as the youngest statewide campaign manager for a presidential campaign at 25, leading George H.W. Bush’s Pennsylvania efforts. At Eddie Mahe Company, he managed mayoral, gubernatorial, and Senate races across several states. For over 25 years, John partnered with civic leader Elsie Hillman on initiatives like Save Our Summer, keeping Pittsburgh’s pools open for underfunded communities, and Run, Baby Run, a nonpartisan PAC supporting women candidates in Pennsylvania.
John served as program officer for the Hillman Foundation and founded Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (SVP), a nonprofit accelerator that provides hands-on support to local organizations. Collaborating with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he established the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research, advancing brain injury diagnostics and treatments.
Raised in Derry, Pennsylvania, John served on O’Hara Township Council for over a decade. He holds degrees from Robert Morris University and Carnegie Mellon University. On fall Sundays, you’ll find him in Section 525, Row C, Seat 25, cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Connect on LinkedIn
Joshua Devine, CEcD
Economic Mobility Officer | The Pittsburgh Foundation
Joshua Devine joined The Pittsburgh Foundation in October 2023 as program officer for Economic Mobility. In this role, he manages a grantmaking portfolio that enhances the nonprofit sector’s ability to identify and address barriers to employment and career advancement, affordable housing and homeownership and entrepreneurship. Most recently, Joshua was the director of racial economic equity for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. In that role, Joshua worked to develop and expand programming and resources for industry and community partners to address racial wealth inequality and invest in scalable, wealth-building models.
Joshua has also served as the economic opportunity strategist for Fourth Economy Consulting and worked for a regional economic development organization in southwestern Pennsylvania where he facilitated economic strategic planning efforts and connected private sector employers and local entrepreneurs to resources for growth. A capacity builder, people-first advocate and equity strategist, Joshua is passionate about community and civic engagement and building a more inclusive economy that truly serves the people. In his free time, Joshua enjoys songwriting with friends, live jazz concerts and serving the community through his local church. Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Nancy Gauvin, Ed. D., CCC-SLP
Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement | University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Nancy Gauvin is an Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement and an Assistant Professor for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) at the University of Pittsburgh. As an Associate Dean, Dr. Gauvin's primary academic responsibilities involve addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the 9 departments and 20+ programs within SHRS and engaging in health equity and access research and community engagement that benefits the community in Pittsburgh. As an Assistant Professor, Dr. Gauvin's research focuses on health equity and access for underrepresented populations as it relates to the health sciences and clinical services. Prior to her faculty appointment at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Gauvin was a Henderson Post-Doctoral fellow at the University of Vermont (UVM), where she worked to serve a growing transgender community. There, she created a gender-affirming voice program while simultaneously serving as the lead Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) on the craniofacial and cleft lip and palate team at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Her research focuses on health equity and access as it pertains to health care for underrepresented populations, and her research has been supported by the National Institute of Health. She applies mixed methods to examine healthcare systems to identify barriers to accessing healthcare for underrepresented populations and to address how those barriers impact those populations to identify potential solutions. Connect on LinkedIn
Cindy Haines
President and CEO | The Hear Foundation
A native of Pittsburgh, Cynthia Haines has been serving western Pennsylvania for more than 25 years through her leadership of community-centered programs that serve diverse, underserved populations, particularly in the areas of housing, early childhood development, food insecurity, mental health, substance use disorder and violence prevention.
Prior to joining The Hear Foundation as president and CEO, Cindy served for eight years as executive director of Focus on Renewal, a $4.4 million, 40-person, not-for-profit serving the Sto-Rox and surrounding community. Focus on Renewal’s programs provide support to help families become more financially secure, provide access to life-changing learning environments, promote optimal early childhood development, and engage community members through arts and culture. Working from a community-centered approach to neighborhood engagement and development and a mission grounded in body, mind, and spirit connectedness, Cindy oversaw The Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks, The Sto-Rox Public Library and The Community Resource Center, including its food pantry and violence reduction workforce programs.
Cindy also served 17 years as a community builder and senior management analyst with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this capacity she coordinated Rapid Results Homeless Veteran Boot Camps, served as a liaison for homeless initiatives and programs, and chaired the Region 3 Interagency Council on Homelessness Operations and Communications Committee. While at HUD, Cindy was widely acknowledged as a national subject matter expert on federal grant writing, often traveling across the country to provide capacity building and grant writing workshops to under-resourced faith-based and community organizations. Her work with HUD also included technical assistance to external and community development stakeholders on fiscal survival and sustenance. Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Rachael Heisler
Controller | City of Pittsburgh
Rachael Heisler was sworn in as Controller for the City of Pittsburgh in January 2024. From 2021 through 2023, she served as Deputy Controller under then-Controller Michael Lamb. An expert in sustainable public finance, she spent seven years as a senior advisor at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the country's leading federal fiscal watchdog group, running the organization's external affairs efforts. She served on the staff of Congressman Jason Altmire for six years, and she worked on the inaugural campaign of U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
Controller Heisler is on the board of the Northside Food Pantry Advisors, the Mattress Factory Museum, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Cafe Momentum PGH, and Pittsburgh’s Jewish Family and Community Services. She is the past board chair of the Allegheny YMCA. She serves as a Pennsylvania representative with the United States Navy's Community Ambassador Program, is a 2022-23 Wechsler Fellow with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, and the chair of the City of Pittsburgh's 22nd Ward Democratic Committee.
She lives in Pittsburgh's Central Northside neighborhood. Heisler has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree from Penn State University. Connect on LinkedIn
Phil Koch, MS, CAP
Vice President of Policy and Community Impact | The Pittsburgh Foundation
For over two decades, Phil has been working to strengthen communities. He started his career as an elementary and middle school teacher in the Chicago Public Schools and also taught in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. In 2005, Phil left the classroom and began working in the nonprofit sector as the Pittsburgh Director for MGR Youth Empowerment, a direct service nonprofit focused on youth development. Shortly after, Phil took on the role of National Executive Director and grew MGR Youth Empowerment to five urban cities, serving more than 50,000 youth.
In 2015, Phil began his work in philanthropy as the Executive Director of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, an affiliate of The Pittsburgh Foundation, working with local leaders, community philanthropist, and the nonprofit sector to tackle the most pressing issues in the county. As a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, Phil helped families create and implement highly effective charitable strategies. He also oversaw the foundation’s grantmaking initiatives focused on supporting vulnerable populations, community and economic development, and capacity building for the nonprofit sector. Phil founded the Westmoreland County Nonprofit Network, a coalition that provides advocacy and education for the
nonprofit sector.
In 2020, Phil took on a newly created role at The Pittsburgh Foundation as Vice President of Policy and Community Impact. This work includes designing and implementing strategies to increase the foundation’s impact in Southwestern Pennsylvania including public policy, coalition building, community partnerships, convening, leveraging assets, and impact investing.
Phil serves on many nonprofit boards and advisory groups, including Community Foundation Opportunity Network, Grankmakers of Western PA, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and the National Veteran’s Art Museum. Phil is also the founder and board chair of the Pennsylvania Community Foundation Association. He and his wife, Deanna, are the parents of three sons and live in Ingram, PA. As a Chicago native, Phil cannot turn down a Chicago hotdog or Cubs tickets. Connect on LinkedIn
Meggan Lloyd, Ph.D.
Director, Office of PittServes | University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Meggan Lloyd currently serves as the Director of the Office of PittServes at the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a Ph.D. in Community Engagement from Point Park University, where her dissertation focused on equity for students with experiences in foster care. Dr. Lloyd has worked for over a decade in higher education and community engagement, where her efforts in community engagement have led to the creation of impactful programs and partnerships that enhance student retention and civic participation. Dr. Lloyd has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Point Park University in the Department of Community Engagement. Dr. Lloyd is not only an accomplished educator but also an active contributor to academic literature and conferences, sharing her insights on student advocacy and civic engagement. She has received numerous honors and was recently accepted into the Campus Compact 2024-2025 Mid-Career Learning Community. She was a contributing author in the Routledge Handbook on Postsecondary Student Success, published earlier this year, and is currently serving on the NASPA Region II Conference Committee as the Chief of Staff.
Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes
24th District - Allegheny County | Pennsylvania House of Representatives
La’Tasha D. Mayes (she/her) was elected to the House in 2022. Born and raised in West Philadelphia, she moved to Pittsburgh in 1999 to attend college and has been a dedicated community leader in the region for the past two decades.
Mayes is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, and also earned a Master of Science degree in public policy & management at the Heinz School of Carnegie Mellon University.
As the founder and former president and CEO of New Voices for Reproductive Justice for 18 years, Mayes garnered national attention and a statewide reputation as an unwavering advocate for improving the health and well-being of marginalized communities, especially Black women, femmes, girls, and gender-expansive folx.
Mayes served on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs under Gov. Tom Wolf; was the inaugural Vice Chair of the Allegheny County Human Relations Commission that expanded civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents; and she has worked in both state government in a House district office and in local government supporting minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBE).
Mayes is the first woman to ever represent House District 24 and the first out lesbian to ever serve in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Mayes credits her mother, a single mom, Army veteran and union member, for sparking her passion for justice at a young age. Connect on LinkedIn
Marimba Milliones
President & CEO | Hill Community Development Corporation
Marimba Milliones is a practitioner of and recognized national thought leader and executive in the field of equitable development. Her work is focused on equity in urban-core redevelopment involving low-moderate income residents, communities of color and cities. She advocates for and utilizes intentional planning and development that honors people, place, culture and the market. She believes in win-win models.
Milliones has led or achieved significant accomplishments, such as:
- Leading and implementing a $70M city block redevelopment including complex infill construction and the transformation of a historic theater into a mixed use economic anchor.
- Masterplanning of a commercial and cultural corridor in the heart of Pittsburgh that led to City adopted models and millions in public infrastructure, real estate and equitable investments into disadvantaged businesses and community stakeholders, including creatives and artists.
- Negotiations and ensuring compliance of community benefits agreements with private interests to assure equitable development. One such example of benefits resulting from her leadership include the establishment of a city-wide affordable housing task force, and the largest tax financing district in the history of the City of Pittsburgh. She led a separate set of negotiations that resulted in over $40M being returned to the neediest parts of the historic Hill District, a disadvantaged and historically Black community in the heart of Pittsburgh.
- Milliones' policy advocacy and ingenious programmatic abilities have resulted in a more equitable approach to development throughout the City of Pittsburgh and her work is frequently studied and modeled by scholars, practitioners, civic and economic development leaders. She has designed and implemented processes that assure marginalized communities’ self-determination in real estate development including community-level review and approval of projects requiring public subsidy.
Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Mark Nordenberg
Chancellor Emeritus, Chair of the Institute of Politics, Director of the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy | University of Pittsburgh
In a University of Pittsburgh career now spanning more than forty-five years, Mark Nordenberg has held a succession of key leadership positions, including Dean of the School of Law and Chancellor of the University. During his nearly two decades of service as its Chancellor, Pitt achieved dramatically higher levels of quality and impact on virtually every front. During that same period, the higher education and healthcare sector played a critical role in the rebirth of the regional economy.
Nordenberg currently serves as Chair of Pitt’s Institute of Politics and Director of its Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy and holds the special faculty rank of Distinguished Service Professor of Law. For more than thirty years, Pitt’s Institute of Politics has facilitated searches for common ground by providing a non-partisan forum for elected officials and other civic leaders to address policy issues of importance to Western Pennsylvania. The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy – named in honor of the former two-term Pennsylvania Governor, U.S. Attorney General under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush, and United Nations Undersecretary General -- offers public programming on important global, national, and regional policy issues. The Institute also includes the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum, which is named after the beloved and highly respected civic leader and philanthropist, and which sponsors programs designed to nurture a commitment to civic engagement in Pitt students. Read full bio
Bhavini Patel
Executive Director | Sustainable Pittsburgh
Bhavini Patel is the Executive Director of Sustainable Pittsburgh, a nonprofit committed to building the knowledge, perspective, and ability needed to create a better tomorrow for our region. Sustainable Pittsburgh collaborates with businesses, government, nonprofits, and other key stakeholders in its mission to empower decision-making that builds a fundamentally equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous southwestern Pennsylvania.
A dedicated public servant and community leader, Bhavini brings extensive experience
in public service, community outreach, and civic technology. She has driven impactful
initiatives that strengthen civic engagement, enhance transparency, and foster inclusive
community development.
In 2023, Bhavini was a congressional candidate in Pennsylvania's 12th District. She ran on a platform championing economic development and policies that support working families. Previously, Bhavini served as Community Outreach Manager in the Office of Allegheny County Executive Fitzgerald, where she played a pivotal role in connecting communities with county resources and programs. She also serves as an elected official on Edgewood Borough Council.
In the realm of civic technology, she co-founded and led Beamdata, a pioneering civic tech company that operated at the intersection of policy and data. The flagship platform, Be the Change, empowered thousands of citizens to share ideas and legislative feedback directly with state legislators, fostering greater civic participation and government transparency. Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Will Pickering
Chief Executive Officer | Pittsburgh Water
Will Pickering was selected to lead Pittsburgh Water in June 2020. Before serving as CEO, he was Pittsburgh Water’s Deputy Executive Director and Director of Public Affairs. During his tenure, Pittsburgh Water has received national recognition for improving drinking water quality by replacing over 10,000 lead service lines, rehabilitating critical water and sewer infrastructure, and implementing assistance programs to ensure all customers can access safe and reliable water services.
Before joining Pittsburgh Water, Will was Manager of Communications and Government Relations at DC Water. He managed the communications program there and spearheaded DC Water’s interactions with the federal, District, and neighboring local governments. He has also held several positions in the local and federal government. He has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Santa Clara University and received his Certificate in Public Management from George Washington University.
Will is leading Pittsburgh Water into a new era – one with a renewed emphasis on protecting public health and the environment through the delivery of safe and reliable water services with a commitment to future generations. Connect on LinkedIn
Rep. Lindsay Powell
21st District - Allegheny County | Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Lindsay Powell was elected to the House in 2023 to represent the 21st Legislative District in Allegheny County.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Wheaton College and a Master of Science degree in Public Policy Management from Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College. She also won CMU Heinz College’s Otto A. Davis Award, which recognizes a graduate’s commitment to racial and social justice.
Powell has worked for progressive officials such as U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and, upon proudly receiving a Fulbright Scholarship, taught English in Malaysia to rural high school students.
Powell served as a city of Pittsburgh assistant chief of staff for almost half a decade and directed legislation and policy for city departments. Powell oversaw the creation of the first citywide digital equity initiative and the implementation of Avenues of Hope, a catalyst for small businesses to open on city main streets.
She served as director of workforce strategies for InnovatePGH, with a focus on creating employment opportunities for underrepresented technologists in the Pittsburgh tech ecosystem.
Powell currently serves as the City Vice Chair for the PA House of Representatives Allegheny County Delegation, as Secretary for the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, and serves as a board member on the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Key issues for Powell include safe and dignified housing for all, helping working families, assisting small businesses and strengthening the local economy, and increasing the number of community assets. Connect on LinkedIn
Ashley Lynn Priore
Founder, President & CEO | Queens Gambit
Ashley is the strategist leaders call when it’s time to think differently - and lead with precision. A nationally recognized chess innovator, entrepreneur, and civic disruptor, Ashley is a leading expert in strategic decision-making, systems thinking, and intergenerational power-building. She’s transforming chess from a game into a global framework for agency, equity, and leadership - one bold move at a time.
Ashley is the Founder, President & CEO of Queens Gambit, a national nonprofit using chess to equip 2,000+ youth annually with critical thinking, confidence, and leadership skills. She is also the Founder & CEO of Queenside Ventures, a consulting and media firm that helps executives, athletes, and mission-driven brands achieve strategic clarity, decision architecture, and purpose-driven communications. Her client roster includes top CEOs, entrepreneurs, and NFL powerhouses.
A former chess phenom who began teaching at age 8, Ashley launched Queens Gambit at 14 to democratize access to chess and reimagine it as a tool for personal and social transformation. She has since built a first-of-its-kind career using chess to help people navigate complexity, lead boldly, and change systems from within.
By 25, she had founded seven organizations - including the nation’s first youth-led campaign strategy firm - and led the national push for a White House Youth Policy Council. In 2019, she made history as one of Pennsylvania’s youngest candidates for public office, quickly becoming a rising force in civic reform. Read full bio | Connect on LinkedIn
Jada Shirriel
Chief Executive Officer | Healthy Start, Inc.
Jada Shirriel is Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Start, Inc. a public health organization that focuses on improving maternal and child health and addressing the disparities that lead to higher rates and infant and maternal mortality among black women. With 18 years of nonprofit, development, public involvement and project management experience, Jada’s niche areas are fundraising and focusing on collaborative processes that result in greater efficiencies, synergistic relationships and defined outcomes that lead to community-level change.
In her six years in leadership at Healthy Start, Jada has deepened the organization’s focus and impact on community-level advocacy, systems-level coordination and elevating the voices of the women served. In her role at Healthy Start, and in related community work, Jada strives to ensure that health equity remains at the forefront of ALL conversations.
Jada is a certified Human Centered Design Practitioner, is trained in Strategic Doing™ and is a Certified Lactation Counselor. She is a graduate of the H. John Heinz II College at Carnegie Mellon University and the Earl Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University. Jada is also owner of J. Shirriel Consulting and serves on the board of directors for Locally Grown (Community Forge).
Jada is a mother to three sons and in her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Connect on LinkedIn
Doris Carson Williams
Immediate Past President and CEO | African American Chamber of Commerce
Doris Carson Williams is the immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western PA, and newly retired board member of Highmark. She is Vice Chair of Highmark Foundation, the board of the Highmark Caring Foundation, and a board member of PENNAULT Organics, Inc. She is the past as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and is immediate past President of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline. Doris co-chaired the 2014 G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum. Doris graduated from the University of Hartford, Fairfield University-Banking and Finance, the Katz School Management Program for Executives, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Carlow University. She is a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania. She resides in Pittsburgh, and has one son, James III. He and his Brooke are the proud parents of James Vaughan and Jade Marie Williams. Connect on LinkedIn
Program Archive
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