Meet the Current Fellows

Kendra has been the Executive Director of Solace Friends for nearly two years. Solace Friends owns and operates Solace Home, a licensed 4-bed adult family home for people experiencing the dual challenges of homelessness and terminal illness. It is the first home with this specific mission in the state of Wisconsin and consequently, each new day provides opportunity for growth, learning, and practicing transformational kindness.

She is thrilled to be part of the Goodman Nonprofit Fellowship and excited to form relationships with other emerging leaders committed to principles of dignity and equity. Kendra hopes to learn about specific skills related to project management and nonprofit sustainability.

In 2025, Marie became Executive Director of the Community Center after previously serving as a board member and grant writer. Her leadership comes at a pivotal time, as the organization has recently relocated to a temporary office during a major redevelopment of its property. The new building is expected to open in Fall 2026.

Marie is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with other nonprofit leaders. This liminal year is a perfect time to explore new ideas and examine how and why we do what we do.

Michael currently serves as Executive Director of The Road Home Dane County, where he leads efforts to provide housing stability and support services for families experiencing homelessness. Since beginning his career in 1994, he has served in a variety of roles reflecting a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable populations.

He is excited to bring to the Goodman Nonprofit Fellowship a blend of leadership experience, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for community-centered solutions. Through the fellowship, Michael hopes to deepen his connections with other leaders, gain new strategies for organizational growth, and strengthen his capacity to make lasting impact in the community.

Virginia currently serves as Co-Executive Director at Rooted. She brings to the fellowship over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience, a passion for collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to equity-centered, relationship-driven work.

Virginia is excited to share lessons from leading in times of growth and uncertainty, as well as her perspective on building trust and shared leadership structures. Through the fellowship, she hopes to deepen  her skills in governance, fundraising, and strategic planning, while also gaining a network of peers who understand the unique challenges of nonprofit leadership.

Emily is the Executive Director of the WWN, where she leads efforts to advance gender equity and the status of women and girls statewide. In her role, Emily oversees WWN’s programs and initiatives, fosters community partnerships, and provides strategic leadership for the organization’s fundraising efforts.

She is honored to join this year’s fellowship cohort and looks forward to learning from the wisdom and experiences of fellow local leaders. Emily is eager to strengthen her skills in strategic planning and sustainable organizational development, and to explore shared solutions to the challenges many nonprofit leaders face. She hopes to contribute empathy, curiosity, and encouragement to a supportive learning community.

Deborah is the Founder and Executive Director of the Madison-based Women in Education Leadership Foundation. Her leadership combines vision, relationship-building, and a deep commitment to restoring hope, supporting individuals and communities to reach their full potential, and, in turn, inspiring others while promoting evaluative thinking and planning.

She is honored to join this year’s Fellowship and brings a global and intergenerational perspective, as well as expertise in culturally responsive program design, cross-border partnerships, and facilitating courageous conversations. This Fellowship will help her strengthen the Foundation’s governance, fundraising, and storytelling capacity to deepen local impact while scaling its mission globally.

Angela is the Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southern Wisconsin, a state-certified nonprofit mental health clinic serving clients across 21 counties. Angela brings a deep passion for accessible, inclusive mental health care and a strong commitment to nonprofit leadership.

She’s excited to contribute her experience to the fellowship and to learn from others who share a commitment to meaningful, mission-driven work. She hopes to grow as a leader, gain new ideas, and return with tools that will help Samaritan continue to grow and serve more people in need.

Jason began as the Executive Director of Open Doors for Refugees in October of 2024. Jason received a master’s degree from Wesley Seminary and a Doctorate from Central Seminary, where he studied organizational leadership and innovation. Before that, he was the pastor of Underwood Memorial Baptist Church in Wauwatosa, WI, and previously served as the associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Madison and as the founding pastor of New Leaf Church in College Park, MD.

DeAndre is the Executive Director of CEOs of Tomorrow. He is a social entrepreneur that believes in the power of community driven innovation to impact and transform communities. His career has been dedicated to building infrastructure that fosters economic opportunity through entrepreneurial education, workforce development, and capital allocation.

As a newcomer to Madison, he is excited to learn more about the Madison nonprofit landscape, grow as a leader, connect with other Executive Directors, and community members in Madison.

Jennie is a mid-career executive director at a small membership nonprofit; the Wisconsin Head Start Association. She also serves as a Lecturer at the La Follette School of Public Affairs. As a leader she values collaboration, problem solving, and a high degree of humility, humor, and pragmatism.

Jennie is excited about the prospect of being in a cohort of nonprofit leaders who are learning together and sharing perspectives.

Rachael has over 10 years of experience in food systems. She has held roles spanning from farm hand, agroecology educator, non-profit advocate for food justice, corporate sustainability consultant, researcher on food sovereignty and water security.

Rachael is excited to bring her skills in collaborative leadership, coalition-building, and systems thinking to the fellowship, and looks forward to becoming a stronger leader for her organization and community, strengthening relationships for a more sustainable and thriving future, and learning from the diverse experiences of her peers.

Regina serves as the Executive Director at the East Madison Community Center, bringing a strong commitment to community development and a diverse background in nonprofit and educational leadership.

Regina is eager to learn from experienced community leaders and nonprofit peers to strengthen her leadership, enhance fundraising strategies, and guide her team through times of change with confidence and resilience.

Conor has worked for Madison Public Library Foundation since 2013. He took over as Executive Director in December of 2022 after serving as the Wisconsin Book Festival Director for almost a decade.

Conor thinks it is important to get out of the office and examine why and how we do the work we do. He is eager to share his experience and skills in strategic thinking, imparting the value of one’s organization, endowment building, leading through Human Resources, Board governance, and building Board/Staff rapport.

Betsy is the President & Executive Director at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. She has served in many roles at the Nature Center over the past 25 years, including educator, fundraiser, and program manager, and has been Executive Director for the past two years.

She hopes to bring a unique perspective to the fellowship with experience in board service, advocacy, and leadership training with the North American Association for Environmental Education. She hopes to learn from other fellows the more personal side of leadership in addition to contemplating the ways in which nonprofits can be a driving force for social change.

Gery is grateful to have this opportunity during her first year of serving as YWCA Madison’s CEO. She has been part of the organization since 2012. Gery is passionate about the power of communities of practice for her own and each other’s ongoing learning and unlearning, for leadership development and transformative action.

She looks forward to having this experience with peer executive directors, to learn from each other, deepen their skills, and build relationships with one another rooted in their organizational mission and values.

Originally from Ghana, Ama serves as the Executive Director of the African Center for Community Development in Madison, Wisconsin. In this role, she leads strategic program development, fosters community partnerships, and advances initiatives that address the needs of African immigrants, refugees, and low-income families in Dane County.

She is excited to share insights on culturally responsive community engagement and nonprofit leadership with her peers in the fellowship. Through the program, Ama hopes to strengthen her skills in organizational sustainability, strategic growth and innovative fundraising. She is committed to using these learnings to expand the African Center’s impact and empower the communities it serves.

Rosa is the Founding Executive Director of Black Girl Magic Educational Services, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering, inspiring, and celebrating Black girls through education, leadership development, and community engagement. With her educator background, Rosa has built programs that equip girls with the confidence, skills and opportunities to thrive.

She is excited to bring her passion for equity, her experience in education, program development, and her commitment to uplifting youth voices to the fellowship. Through this experience, Rosa hopes to gain fresh strategies, new perspectives, and expanded network to strengthen her organization’s impact. She is eager to learn from and collaborate with fellow leaders, exchanging ideas that can be put into action in her community.

Tanya Zastrow is the executive director of Olbrich Botanical Gardens, which is a public/private partnership between Madison Parks and the Olbrich Botanical Society. Prior to coming to Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Tanya served as the Director of Programs at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas Austin overseeing the education and volunteer programs and staff.