Ana Aguilar

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PROGRAM (2021-2023)

Ana is interested in leveraging and prioritizing community knowledge and voices in philanthropy and policy making. Her research focuses on trauma, resilience and temporality using qualitative and quantitative approaches. She has recently worked as a research fellow at a community-centered consulting group in Oakland, CA, Bright Research Group. She has experience working as a measures and evaluation consultant through The University of Texas for a financial literacy nonprofit in Austin, Texas. Ana has conducted research with many organizations including The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, health clinics in Texas and California and even a social cycling group. Ana obtained a BA in Communication Studies from San Francisco State University. She continued to receive an MA in Communication Studies at The University of Texas at Austin and is close to completing her Ph.D. in the same department.

For fun, Ana likes to ride her bike around the San Francisco Bay Area, listen to true crime podcasts, and check out tasty restaurants and bars. She also enjoys being an active member in her community and is currently serving on the board of Cycles of Change, an Oakland based nonprofit focused on supporting health and sustainability of East Oakland neighborhoods through transportation equity work.

Aurora Aparicio Collazo

CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAM, OCEANS (2020-2023)

Aurora contributes to the Packard Foundation’s Conservation and Science Program as a program research analyst. Her principal roles are to convey the broader significance of traditional marine data through various styles and mediums and to conduct research and provide perspective on environmental justice. She also brings policy experience from her time at Adams Street Advocates, a state-level government consulting firm in Tallahassee. As a graduate student at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), Aurora designed the curriculum for and taught an environmental communications studio course. She is an alumna of the Environmental Grantmakers’ Fellows Program and carried out her fellowship at the Ocean Research and Conservation Association. She holds a master’s degree in Behavior, Education, and Communication from SEAS and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Florida State University.

Contact: [email protected]

Cam Humphrey

CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAM, CLIMATE AND LAND (2021-2023)

Cam Humphrey is part of the Conservation and Science Program at the Packard Foundation as the Climate and Land team’s Program Research Analyst through the Berkeley Haas Philanthropy Fellowship. He primarily works across the Climate and Land team’s three strategies the ALC (Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Conservation), Bioenergy, and Palm Oil strategies.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Cam was an Environmental Grantmakers Fellow at Race Forward conducting analysis on the impacts of racial inequality in various public policies related to climate and environmental justice policy. His interests include connecting philanthropy to issues involving social justice and the environment, analyzing the intersections of environmental law and policy, civil rights, and land use as it pertains to the U.S. rural South.

Cam received his Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment in 2021 and his B.S. in Agricultural Business & Economics from Auburn University in 2019.

Jalang Conteh

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM (2019-2023)

Jalang is from The Gambia and she supports the Reproductive Health’s Sub Saharan Africa team as a Program Research Analyst through the Haas School of Business Philanthropy Fellowship. Jalang attended Michigan State University for her undergraduate education where she studied Women and Gender Studies and Public Health and holds an MPH in Maternal and Child Health from UC Berkeley, where she attended as a MasterCard Foundation Scholar. Her background is in community-based research, advocacy, and program implementation with a focus on family planning in Sub-Saharan Africa. Jalang is a huge proponent of the meaningful engagement of communities to advance reproductive health and rights. Prior to joining the Foundation, Jalang worked at the Institute of Health Policy Studies at UCSF, supporting the evaluation of multiple adolescent sexual health education programs.

Contact: [email protected]

Krutika Menon

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM (2019-2023)

Krutika supports the Reproductive Health’s South Asia team as a Program Research Analyst. Krutika’s background is in social work, advocacy and research, with a focus on gender equity, health and humanitarian issues. Prior to joining the Foundation, Krutika worked as a Research Analyst at a research and design startup in New York City, supporting the exploration of various social issues including menstrual equity and mental health diagnosis, while also spearheading the company’s efforts to incorporate program evaluation into future projects. Krutika holds a Master of Science in Social Work, with a specialization in Social Policy and International Social Work from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Social Work from the National University of Singapore. Krutika is originally from India and is currently working from home there as travel has been disrupted by COVID-19.

Contact: [email protected]

Tiffany Tran

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM (2019-2023)

Tiffany joined the Reproductive Health Program as a Program Research Analyst. She supports the United States subprogram with a focus on the southern states. Tiffany’s background is in community-based health education and promotion, program planning and implementation, and advocacy with a focus on comprehensive sexuality education and youth engagement. Prior to joining the foundation, Tiffany worked at Brown University supporting campus-wide health initiatives to create cultural change around social wellbeing. Tiffany holds a Master of Science in Global Health from The University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University.

Contact: [email protected]

Elsa Esparza

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2021-2022)

A recent graduate, Elsa spent her time in graduate school studying the impact of federal nutrition programs on food insecurity and analyzing potential policy solutions to increase the reach for eligible individuals and families. Elsa was previously a Sarah Samuels Public Health Fellow at the California Food Policy Advocates and Global Food Initiative Fellow at the Nutrition Policy Institute. She is a Registered Dietitian and received her Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley. Since graduating, Elsa has been working at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, managing a mixed-methods study that aims to capture awareness, barriers to uptake, and benefits of existing federal and state social programs and explore the economic impact of COVID-19 on low-income families.

Contact: [email protected]

Genora Givens

CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAM, CLIMATE (2018-2021)

Genora joined the Conservation and Science Program at the Packard Foundation as a Climate Program Research Analyst. Genora primarily works with the Bioenergy, Palm Oil, and Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Conservation Strategy teams on monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Prior to joining the Foundation, Genora was an Environmental Grantmakers Association Fellow at Clean Water Action researching the impact of oil and gas production on U.S. water quality and quantity. Her interests include land use law and watershed protection, as well as the development of methods to incorporate understandings of social vulnerability and inequity into analysis of geographic risk and watershed management and planning. Genora graduated from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies with a Master of Environmental Management and holds a B.A. from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

Contact: [email protected]

Maria Tourtchaninova

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS (2019-2021)

Maria supports Organizational Effectiveness as a program analyst through the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. In this role, she works on capacity building initiatives across the Foundation’s core program areas (Population & Reproductive Health; Conservation & Science; Children, Families & Communities). Maria has a background in strategy development, community-based research, and legislative advocacy. Prior to joining the Foundation, Maria worked on international and domestic projects related to gender-based violence, community development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is driven to create social impact by building evidence-based initiatives to address chronic challenges for under-served communities. Maria holds a Master of Social Welfare Management from UC Berkeley and a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

Contact: [email protected]

Justina Acevedo-Cross

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGAM (2010-2011)

Justina Cross researches and synthesizes information related to children’s health insurance, preschool, and summer and afterschool extended learning opportunities for California and the nation. The analysis Justina provides helps to inform the Foundation’s strategic direction related to policy and advocacy. Prior to joining the Packard Foundation, she worked in the nonprofit sector for seven years as a communications professional, most recently at Women’s Initiative for Self Employment. She has served as a policy consultant for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, CFED, and Net Impact together with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Justina received her Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. from Scripps College. Justina was Program Director at David & Lucile Packard Foundation and is currently Program Director at Hawaii Community Foundation.

[email protected]

India Alarcon

PRINCIPAL, ALARCON CONSULTING

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2014-2017)

India has a deep commitment to social justice and strives to advance the social sector by empowering organizations with effective, innovative, and adaptive research that can positively impact the communities they serve. She is passionate about early childhood policy and has significant expertise in the areas of early childhood education, development and health; K-12 education; child welfare; health inequities; housing disparities; and policy advocacy. India comes to the Foundation with over seven years of professional consulting experience at LFA: Learning for Action, a San Francisco based consulting firm, where she managed a variety of evaluation, research, and organizational capacity-building projects for numerous social sector organizations. India holds a BS in Economics from Saint Mary’s College and a Master in Public Policy degree from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. India was a Management Analyst at Alameda Co. Early Care and Education Program and is currently Principal at Alarcon Consulting.

[email protected]

Kate Chadwick

SENIOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ANALYST, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH

LOCAL GRANTMAKING PROGRAM (2015-2016)

Kate worked on all aspects of local grantmaking including due diligence and grantee engagement, as well as special projects. Prior to joining the Foundation Kate served as a research coordinator with Visa Inc., where she drafted a recommendation on how the company should organize around humanitarian aid. Kate spent ten years working both domestically and internationally in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors, including with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the American Red Cross (ARC), and the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford University. Kate holds a Master of Development Practice from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts from The Colorado College. Kate is currently Senior Program Development Analyst at Central California Alliance for Health.

[email protected]

Angie Chen

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, THE LIBRA FOUNDATION

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2008-2009)

Angie brings deep experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to her work at The Libra Foundation, with particular strengths in nurturing community and building coalitions. In her role as Senior Program Officer, she leads Environmental and Climate Justice grantmaking and Libra’s community programs. As founding Executive Director of the Blue Sky Funders Forum, Angie created and oversaw all aspects of a national funder collaborative focused on expanding equitable access to opportunities to learn, play, and grow outdoors. Prior to Blue Sky, Angie served as an advisor to the Pisces Foundation during its formation and as Program Officer at the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, where she supported capacity building efforts during its spend down. Angie has also designed and managed strategic initiatives at the Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. And she previously consulted and worked at nonprofit and government organizations that provide safety net services.
Angie holds a degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley. She teaches with Northern California Grantmakers’ New Grantmakers Institute, has served on the board of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, and was an American Express NGen Fellow.

[email protected]

Elizabeth Cheung

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2009-2010)

Elizabeth Cheung manages a portfolio of grants as part of the Domestic Program team, including in multiple sclerosis and hospitality education. She also manages the Foundation’s small grants and family giving programs. Prior to joining the Foundation, Cheung worked as a Program Analyst at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in the Children, Families, and Communities Program (2009). She also has worked for the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, where she oversaw the Medi-Cal budget, with a special emphasis on issues concerning the aged, blind, and disabled. Cheung received her Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning, and Development and a double Bachelor’s in East Asian Studies and Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles.

[email protected]

Elise Dizon Ross

RESEARCHER, CENTER FOR ANALYSIS OF LONGITUDINAL DATA IN EDUCATION RESEARCH

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2011-2012)

Elise Dizon-Ross is a Ph.D. in Economics of Education at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. She is a NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellow, an Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Predoctoral Fellow, and a recipient of the Stanford Graduate Fellowship. She holds an M.A. and a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and an M.P.P. from the Goldman School of Public Policy at U.C. Berkeley.

Her research uses quantitative methods to study the impacts of economic inequality and educational and social policies on student outcomes and the education sector. She is particularly interested in examining the intersection of local economic inequality and gaps in educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities. Her current projects investigate the effects of housing and regional affordability on students, teachers, and schools, using a combination of national-level data and data from local research partnerships.
Elise’s teaching experience includes working as a TA and tutor to graduate students in quantitative descriptive and causal analysis and introductory econometrics. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Elise worked with multiple nonprofit and public sector organizations to increase educational opportunities for students, focusing on areas such as chronic absenteeism, out-of-school-time learning, and the implementation of transitional kindergarten.

[email protected]

Diana Garcia

DATA AND POLICY ANALYST, FIRST 5 ALAMEDA COUNTY

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2018-2020)

Diana joined the Children, Families, and Communities Program at the Packard Foundation as a Program Analyst. Her interest in the overall well-being of children and families stems from her experience in NYC as an early childhood teacher. Prior to joining the foundation, Diana worked on a variety of projects related to program evaluation and development of community-based health interventions. She is committed to improving the health and well-being of marginalized communities using a systems wide approach. Diana graduated from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health with a Master of Public Health from the Behavioral Sciences and Health Education department and a certificate in Maternal and Child Health. She also holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley.

[email protected]

Jessica Mancini

PROGRAM OFFICER, DAVID & LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION

LOCAL GRANTMAKING PROGRAM (2010-2012)

Jessica previously worked as a consultant for Andersen Consulting and most recently worked with social enterprises including REDF and Rubicon National Social Innovations in a business development capacity. She has also served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Namibia where she was a high school teacher and managed the construction of village kindergartens. Jessica holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the Haas School of Business. Jessica worked with the Local Grantmaking Program (2010-2012) and is currently Program Officer at David & Lucile Packard Foundation.

[email protected]

Pilar Mendoza

SENIOR CONSULTANT, ENGAGE R+D

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2012-2013)

Pilar worked on a range of projects including advancing high-quality preschool, summer learning and afterschool opportunities for California’s children and increasing access to children’s health coverage nationwide. Previously, she worked as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Advancement Project, a nonprofit public policy organization, where she conducted a series of community needs assessments and helped to develop a comprehensive youth gang violence prevention strategy and for the City and County of Los Angeles. Pilar holds a Master of Public Policy degree from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and a BA in History from Swarthmore College. Pilar was Senior Consultant at Harder & Company Community Research and is currently Senior Consultant at Engage R+D.

[email protected]

Katherine Murtha

ORIGINATION LOAN OFFICER, CAPITAL IMPACT PARTNERS

LOCAL GRANTMAKING PROGRAM (2013-2015)

Katherine worked at the Packard Foundation developing a tool to annually assess community need for a range of funding areas. She also identified ways for foundations to leverage big data, foster collaboration, and improve transparency for mutual learning. Katherine graduated from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy with a Master of Public Policy in 2013 and earned her BA in Economics and Classical Studies from Bryn Mawr College. Katherine is currently Origination Loan Officer at Capital Impact Partners (DC).

[email protected]

Jennifer Shipp

GENERAL COUNSEL, HEISING & SIMONS FOUNDATION

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2013-2014)

Jennifer performed research and analysis, prepared written reports across the grantmaking strategy, and engaged with grantees and on an RFP process. She is currently working with the Foundation’s Office of the General Counsel and is engaged on a variety of special projects around grantmaking compliance and Foundation policy. Prior to joining the Foundation, Jennifer worked as a corporate finance attorney in both New York and San Francisco. Since then, she has volunteered and consulted with local nonprofit organizations and a County Office of Education to perform policy analyses focused on increasing physical activity for children in Oakland, CA and improving professional development for elementary school teachers. Jennifer holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, a J.D. from Howard University School of Law, and a B.B.A. from Emory University. Jennifer worked as General Counsel at Arabella Advisors and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and currently at Heising & Simons Foundation.

[email protected]

Anitra Smith

PROGRAM OFFICER, THE SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION

CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (2017-2018)

Anitra is particularly interested in health equity and improving the health and wellbeing of families. She researches and synthesize information related to health care coverage, access, and systems of care for California and the nation. The analysis Anitra provides informs the Foundation’s strategic direction on policy and advocacy. Prior to joining to the Foundation, Anitra worked in health care delivery systems on performance improvement and population health initiatives. Anitra holds a Master in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S in Human Development from the University of California, Davis.

[email protected]

Rachel Wang

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BLUE PIONEERS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM, UC SANTA CRUZ

CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAM, OCEANS (2018-2020)

Rachel joined the Conservation and Science Program at the Packard Foundation as a Program Research Analyst. Her interests lie in improving global sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, protecting coastal wetlands, and enhancing environmental justice for underrepresented communities. She provides research and analysis to inform and evaluate the Ocean Strategy Framework. She also supports China’s ocean NGO capacity building by engaging with grantees and developing workstreams. Prior to joining the Foundation, Rachel served the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, working for the National Fisheries Service, Office of Aquaculture. Trained as an ecologist, Rachel received her M.S. from the University of Georgia, studying the carbon exchange in the salt marsh estuarine ecosystem. She also holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the Ocean University of China.

[email protected]csc.edu