Speakers

Dean
John Martinson Honors College, Purdue University

Rhonda Phillips is committed to “value-added” learning experiences for students that combine educational, research and engagement opportunities in experiential, transformative environments. She provides interdisciplinary teaching and research experience across a range of diverse topics, including sustainability, community well-being, economic development and planning, world urbanism, and the role that philanthropy can play in community development and well-being. Phillips holds a Ph.D. in city and regional planning and a M.S. in economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as a M.S. in economic development and B.S. in geography from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Her full bio can be found here.

President & CEO
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance

Claudia Cummings is the president & CEO of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), one of the largest statewide networks in the country created to boost philanthropy’s impact in communities throughout its state borders. Prior to joining IPA, Claudia served as vice president of strategic development at Conexus Indiana, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) initiative that has positioned the Hoosier state as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to invest, employ, and succeed through collaborations on workforce development and education between industry, academic, philanthropic, and public sector partners. Claudia served as Deputy Commissioner at the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA), where she focused on small business development and in various policy, communications, and leadership positions for the Mayor of Indianapolis, Speaker of the Indiana House, Marion County Clerk, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Claudia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin and Marshall College; a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University's O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs; and an executive certificate from the Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business.

Her full bio can be found here.

CEO
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington

Dashiell Elliott has more than ten years in the nonprofit sector. Her work is focused on social impact, equity, and accessibility to critical resources. She is the creator of The Black Equity & Excellence Fund, which funds Black-led community projects focused on self-sufficiency and quality of life. Other areas of expertise include grassroots organizations, professional development for nonprofits, strategic partnerships, equitable workplaces, equitable impact evaluation, and data analysis. Prior to becoming a funder, Dashiell spent time working for various community-based organizations that serve multiple demographics such as suburban, urban, and rural populations. Dashiell attended SUNY Empire State College, University of Phoenix and Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY., where she took degrees in Nonprofit Management, Public Administration and Cultural Studies.

Her full bio can be found here.

Associate Professor
Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies
Georgia Southern University

Patsy Kraeger is an associate professor at Georgia Southern University in the Master’s in Public Administration program. She holds a doctorate in public administration and a masters in nonprofit studies from Arizona State University and conducts research on philanthropy’s intersection with public policy, community development and community well-being. Prior to her career in academia, she worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She held an appointment to Arizona Governor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, administering the AmeriCorps State portfolio of funding where she worked closely with statewide philanthropic leaders, served on several Arizona Grantmaker Forum committees to build strong communities in the state. She developed the Philanthropy Shop for Junior Achievement of Arizona’s experiential city funded by a philanthropic foundation. The Philanthropy Shop has scaled across the United States teaching youth philanthropy in an experiential setting. Additionally, she was a mentor for the Arizona Community Foundation’s Youth Grantmaking Committee.

Her full bio can be found here.

President & CEO
The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette

David Lasater joined The Community Foundation at President and CEO after serving six years at the Purdue Research Foundation as Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement. Prior to this role, he worked at Purdue University for seven years in the Office of the President, Office of Vice President for Student Affairs, and Office of the Provost. He has an extensive background in fundraising and marketing. Lasater received a Doctor of Philosophy from Indiana University, a Master of Arts from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science from Ball State University.

Director, West Central Region
Indiana University Health Foundation

Julie Paolillo obtained her Bachelor of Science from the College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue University. She completed her CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) certification in 2020 and has more than 13 years of fundraising experience in higher education and healthcare. She has been at Indiana University Health for 6 years and was at the Franciscan Health Foundation prior to joining IU Health. She began her philanthropy career at Purdue University and served in Chemical Engineering and the College of Science advancement teams. She has deep experience in grateful patient program implementation and working with grateful patients and families helping them achieve their philanthropic goals. She has served on several local boards including LTHC Homeless Services, Leadership Lafayette among others and is currently a mentor for the Purduettes. She is married with 2 children and enjoys traveling and cheering on the Purdue men’s basketball team

Senior Lecturer in Philosophy
Director of the Center for Ethics, Philosophy & Public Affars
University of St. Andrews

Theron Pummer is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at the University of St. Andrews. He works primarily in ethics, with a focus on issues concerning effective altruism. His work has been published in such journals as Philosophical Review, The Journal of Philosophy, Ethics, and Philosophy and Public Affairs. He recently completed a book titled *The Rules of Rescue: Cost, Distance, and Effective Altruism* (forthcoming with Oxford University Press) and is currently working on a second book titled *Hypersensitive Ethics: Much Ado about Nearly Nothing*. He has edited a volume with Hilary Greaves titled *Effective Altruism: Philosophical Issues* (Oxford University Press, 2019).

His full bio can be found here.

President & CEO
Edge Philanthropy, LLC

Bob Reid is the President of Edge Philanthropy, LLC, a philanthropy research and consulting firm. He also has a faculty appointment at the School of Medicine – Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico. Prior to Edge Philanthropy, Bob served as CEO for a large private foundation. His work and study on foundations includes collaboration with the Council on Foundations, Philanthropy Roundtable, National Center for Family Philanthropy, Philanthropy Southwest, Grantmakers for Education, Neighborhood Funders Group, Association of Charitable Foundations (United Kingdom), Philanthropy Australia, and the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers. Bob is also engaged in global development work in South America and East Africa with projects in Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Tanzania, and Kenya focused on women in poverty, water and sanitation, peacebuilding, healthcare, and microenterprise development. His research looks at pressing issues related to philanthropy and organizational behavior. He holds a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University, OPM certification from the Harvard Business School, MBA from Santa Clara University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Redlands.

His full bio can be found here.

 

 

Clinical Assistant Professor & Director of the Faculty Honors Preceptor Program
John Martinson Honors College, Purdue University

Jason’s research is focused on narrative inquiry, participatory action vis-a-vis community-indicator and well-being projects, and undergraduate student development, and exploring the extent to which quality-of-life indicators at the neighborhood level can transform material realities and serve as an educative tool in urban populations. He teaches The Evolution of Ideas: Knowledge and Selfie, Well-Being, Jazz, Multiculturalism in Education and leads the study-abroad courses Jazz in New Orleans and Investigating London’s East End. His courses often have a service-learning component. Jason earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies from Purdue University. Prior to his faculty appointment within the Honors College, Jason was a lecturer in the University’s College of Education and a faculty developer within the Center for Instructional Excellence.

His full bio can be found here.