Online Membership Platform Coming in August 2026
Meet
The Team
Behind every engagement is a multidisciplinary team of accomplished researchers, educators, and strategists with deep expertise in organizational design, governance, and leadership development.
Together, we partner with clients to navigate complexity, align leadership and strategy, and drive systemic improvement across higher education, healthcare, corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Deiadra Gardner
Chief Operating Officer​
Deiadra Gardner offers over 15 years’ experience in communications, project management, program design and implementation, and survey instrument design and implementation. She has previously served as chief of staff to various administrators and executives. She earned her BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sallye McKee, PhD
National Director, Institutional Engagement
Sallye McKee has more than 40 years of experience serving as a C-suite executive and administrator. She received her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction & Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, with an MST in Elementary and Literacy Education from the University of Chicago.
Katie Schwartz, PhD
Director, Operations and Business Development
Katie Schwartz is a researcher, project manager, and business consultant. She previously served as chief of staff on grant-funded STEM research projects totaling more than $30M. She has a BS in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering from the University of West Virginia, and a PhD in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering from Georgia Tech University.
Daria Astara
Director, Narrative and Editing
Daria Astara serves as lead editor and director of narrative. She has a BA in Economics from Cornell University.
Courtney Allen
Graphic Designer
Courtney Allen serves as our lead designer, developing high-impact PowerPoint presentations, curriculum materials, reports, and project deliverables. She has more than 15 years of design and creative expertise, ensuring that complex content is translated into clear, compelling, and visually engaging products.
Christina Chapper, MS
Instructional Designer
Christina Chapper leads the design and development of our online learning programs and customized learning management systems. She holds a BS in Natural Sciences from the University of South Florida and an MS in Instructional Design from Kaplan University, and brings more than 15 years of educational design experience creating engaging curriculum materials, courses, and on-demand platforms powered by NIXLA.
Natalie Powell
Executive Assistant
Natalie Powell, a U.S. Air Force veteran with over 16 years of experience in executive support, project management, and digital marketing, specializes in operations and social media management.
Research and Data Scientists
Raedy Ping, PhD
Senior Research and Data Scientist
Raedy Ping is a senior research and data scientist specializing in developmental psychology, applied research methods, and LGBTQ+ and gender identity expertise. She received her PhD in Psychology from the University of Chicago.
Katrina Wade-Golden, PhD
Senior Research and Data Scientist
With more than 25 years of administrative leadership and research experience working with complex longitudinal datasets across higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Katrina Wade-Golden received her PhD from the University of Michigan where she previously served as an executive leader managing campuswide implementation for strategic plans. Her expertise includes advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, climate research, decentralized implementation, and shared governance.
Roberto Melipillán, PhD
Senior Research and Data Scientist
Roberto Melipillán is a professor at the Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile. His work focuses on quantitative research, social science, and conducting high-impact survey design and analysis. He has a PhD in Survey Methodology from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.
Aditi Walunj
Research and Data Scientist
Aditi Walunj specializes in applied research methods, data management, benchmarking analysis, web-based research, and qualitative data analysis. She holds an MS in Biomedical Informatics from Arizona State University, where she developed expertise in translating complex data into actionable insights.
Senior Research and Strategy Associates
Brandy Bryson, PhD
Brandy Bryson has a PhD in Social Foundations of Education from the University of South Carolina and an MSW from the University of Georgia. She serves as Professor of Leadership and Educational Studies at Appalachian State University. Her expertise includes trauma-informed care, strategy and capacity building, and advancing high-impact practices for student achievement.
DeVon Wilson, MS
DeVon Wilson has a BA in Psychology from Beloit College and an MS in Adult and Continuing Education from Northern Illinois University, and is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at UW–Madison, where he serves as Associate Dean in the College of Letters and Science. His work focuses on high-impact strategies, sustainable infrastructures, organizational change management in public agencies, and the development and implementation of Inclusive Excellence policies and initiatives.
Jesús Treviño, PhD
Jesús Treviño has a PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change from the University of California Los Angeles. would serve as a research and strategy associate on this project. He is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of systematic approaches to change, intergroup dialogue programs, asset-based approaches, and student activism. He currently serves as Vice President for Inclusive Excellence at Rocky Vista University.
Kristin Deal, PhD
Kristin Deal has a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, along with an MEd in Student Counseling and Personnel Services from Azusa Pacific University and a BA in Communication and Media Studies from Westmont College. She serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community Support and Engagement at the University of Denver. Her expertise includes high-impact strategies, organizational change management, Inclusive Excellence policy initiatives, student activism, faculty and staff engagement, and capacity building to support economically vulnerable populations.
Raúl Léon, PhD
Originally from Quito, Ecuador, Raúl Léon has a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from UW–Madison, achieved the rank of Professor at Eastern Michigan University, and serves as Assistant Vice Provost for Student Engagement and Scholarship Programs at UW–Madison. An active researcher, with more than 50 publications to his name, his expertise spans strategic planning and capacity building, immigration and international student engagement, organizational change in public agencies, and high-impact practices that advance achievement for males of color and other historically underserved populations.
Theda Gibbs-Grey, PhD
Theda Gibbs-Grey has a PhD in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University and achieved the rank of Professor at Ohio University. Her work centers on culturally relevant leadership and inclusion strategies, educational achievement and youth development, Inclusive Excellence policy initiatives, and strategies for supporting economically vulnerable populations.
