Current Fellows

Verónica Castillo is the Executive Director of Waunakee Neighborhood Connection, a community-based social service agency dedicated to connecting individuals and families with the resources, support and opportunities they need to thrive. For more than 15 years, she has worked across education, the arts and human services, developing programs and building partnerships that help remove barriers and strengthen communities.

As a bilingual leader, Verónica is passionate about creating equitable, welcoming spaces where every person feels respected, supported and empowered. She believes that strong communities are built when neighbors care for one another and when organizations listen first, lead with compassion and work alongside the people they serve.

Mo Cheeks became President of the Madison Public Schools Foundation in 2026. He brings 20 years of experience in the private sector, predominantly leading sales at mission-driven startups, alongside six years on Madison City Council and more than a decade of history with MPSF as a board member and volunteer.

Mo’s leadership comes as the organization approaches its 25th anniversary. He brings experience building public-private partnerships to help shape the next quarter century of advancing opportunities for students, supporting educators and strengthening public education across Madison.

Cara Erickson is Friends of San Damiano’s first Executive Director, hired in September 2025.  She is honored to steward San Damiano Park into its next chapter, creating a community destination that celebrates the natural sanctity of the land and its rich and meaningful history, shaped by and for community.

Bringing demonstrated leadership, Cara served as Director of Marketing and Communications for the last 10 years at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, where she guided complex projects, built strong partnerships within Monona and Dane County and helped meet the needs of the diverse community.

Virginia Gittens Escudero is the Executive Director at UNIDOS, a non-profit organization in Madison that provides advocacy, support, referral and information to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking who identify as Latinx.

Before joining UNIDOS, Virginia worked for approximately seven years at the Legal Advocacy Program at Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, where she provided legal advocacy, support and court accompaniment to victims of domestic violence in Dane County. During her time at DAIS, she worked on initiatives that advocated for effective responses to victims of domestic violence in Dane County, including the DAIS Court Watch Program, the Restraining Order Clinic, and the Dane County Courthouse. Virginia is a member of the Wisconsin Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence.

Lisa Fiala is a nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience serving children, families and communities. Since joining Red Caboose Child Care Center in 2006, she has helped guide the organization through significant growth and transformation, including expanding school-age programming, strengthening services for children with diverse needs, increasing access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and leading the successful development and relocation to a new facility in 2023.

As Executive Director, Lisa has focused on building long-term organizational sustainability through strategic planning, collaborative leadership, financial stewardship and strong community partnerships. She is a passionate advocate for early childhood education and believes that investing in children and working families is essential to building strong communities and a thriving workforce.

Jennifer Gurske is the Program Director at Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, which celebrates and advocates for the preservation of historic places in Madison. Since 2018, she has led educational programs, events, volunteer engagement, as well as fundraising and donor development. Her path to nonprofit leadership wound through law, archaeology, business ownership, and organizational strategy, experience she now draws on to support the Madison Trust’s board, committees and community partners.

Jennifer looks forward to learning alongside Madison’s nonprofit leaders. She hopes to deepen her skills in strategic planning and organizational sustainability while building lasting peer connections.

Denise Hanson is the Founder and Executive Director of Root 2 Rise, a Wisconsin nonprofit that develops youth leaders by placing high school Tutor-Mentors in K–5 classrooms throughout Dane County. A lifelong educator with more than 30 years of experience, Denise has served as a teacher, restorative justice coach, school leader and university instructor. She has authored publications on educational equity and restorative practices and secured numerous grants to expand opportunities for young people. Her work is driven by the belief that when students are seen, trusted and empowered to lead, entire communities thrive.

Kia Karlen has worked at Madison Children’s Museum for over 30 years and currently serves as Co-CEO together with Brenda Baker. Kia has extensive experience in museum education, inclusion programs, institutional collaboration, development and nonprofit leadership. Her volunteer work includes serving on the Madison Arts Commission and its Friends group for 12 years, as well as many years with WORT FM Community Radio. She is also an active musician, performing with local groups including Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble and Forward! Marching Band.

Kia is honored to be a part of this year’s fellowship cohort and is excited to build a network with and learn from nonprofit leaders in fields outside of her core professional experience and expertise. She is inspired by the dedication of her fellow Madison nonprofit leaders and shares their commitment to making Madison a great place for all.

Dana Kelly has served as the Executive Director of the Norwegian American Genealogical Center (NAGC) since 2019. A passionate family historian since her teens, she earned a Scandinavian Studies degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since joining NAGC, she has helped to drive the organization’s dramatic growth in staff numbers, volunteer hours, programming reach and budget. Dana is a lifelong resident of Dane County and has a dairy farm and three children with her husband.

Maria Loy Carson is the Executive Director of Camp HOPE, a free weekend grief camp for children, teens and their families. This is a camp where relationships drive healing and joy balances sadness. Maria graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and then received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver. From there, she spent a decade working in the Madison Metropolitan School District. In addition to Camp HOPE, she now works as a Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. You can often find Maria hiking, creating art or experiencing new adventures with her husband, Will, their little girl, Ameena, and their rescue dog, Sage.

Justin serves as Co-Executive Director (with Chris Brockel) of the Northside Planning Council and its numerous programs including FEED Kitchens, FEED Bakery & Training, Northside News and Healthy Food for All. He has been in this role since January 2023.

Justin is a family man who has been dedicated to community work in various roles on the Northside of Madison for over 20 years. He seeks to live out the Jesus ethic, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” He is a graduate of Leadership Greater Madison (LGM13), and was celebrated in In Business Magazine’s, ’40 Under 40.’

Kathleen McNeil is the Director of Administration at Law Forward, a nonprofit impact litigation law firm whose mission is to revive Wisconsin’s traditional commitment to clean and open government, and to preserve fundamental democratic principles. Prior to joining Law Forward in June of 2024, Kathleen was in private practice for 20+ years as a shareholder and attorney at Garvey McNeil & Associates, S.C.

Her work ranged from plaintiff-side litigation to working as general counsel to a professional sports team.  In 2018, she shifted her focus to law-firm management as Head of Human Resources and Business Development at a mid-sized Madison-based law firm. A true Badger, Kathleen earned her B.S. and J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Outside of work, Kathleen loves to read, travel, spend time with family and friends, and play any sport with a racquet.

Meghan Mietchen serves as Executive Director of Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, where she leads strategies to expand access to housing, nutrition, health and financial empowerment. With more than 14 years of nonprofit leadership experience, she is passionate about building strong partnerships and believes organizations are strongest when they work together to create lasting community impact.

Stephanie Robinson has served as 350 Wisconsin Action’s Executive Director since 2023. She is proud to be part of a grassroots organization that centers climate justice, cultivates emerging leaders and defends democracy as the foundation of climate action. Before serving as ED, Stephanie was 350 Wisconsin’s Development Director, working to build deeper relationships with donors and stakeholders, while spearheading campaigns to grow the organization and strengthen its financial future.

Prior to her time with 350 Wisconsin, Stephanie led major environmental studies and directed air quality and clean transportation projects for local governments and regional agencies across the United States. She holds a master’s degree in City Planning with a Resource Management concentration from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Government from Cornell University.

Jordan Rozeske, MSW, LCSW, is the Executive Director of FLYY, a Dane County nonprofit providing innovative, community-based mental health services for youth, young adults and their families. With more than 20 years of experience in clinical social work and nonprofit leadership, she is dedicated to advancing equitable access to mental health care, strengthening organizations through collaborative leadership, and cultivating partnerships that create lasting community impact. Jordan is excited to connect with fellow nonprofit leaders and bring new ideas, insights and relationships back to strengthen FLYY and the communities it serves.

Connie Vacho has served with Shelter from the Storm Ministries since 2022 and is the organization’s Executive Director. After more than 25 years in food service management, she found her calling in nonprofit leadership, where she combines her experience in operations, team development and leadership with a heart for serving others. She is passionate about helping homeless single mothers and their children build stable, self-sufficient futures through safe housing, life skills, accountability and Christ-centered support. Connie is grateful to be part of the Goodman Nonprofit Fellowship and looks forward to learning, growing and bringing new ideas back to Shelter from the Storm Ministries and the families it serves.