The Do Good Institute is excited to announce the new cohort of TIAA Nonprofit Leadership Fellows. Throughout the program, Fellows have the opportunity to work with leading nonprofits, attend professional development events with D.C. area leaders, work alongside the Do Good Institute, and be paired with an executive mentor for career development.
The TIAA Nonprofit Leadership Fellows Program is a collaboration between TIAA, the leading financial services firm for nonprofits and philanthropy, and the Do Good Institute, School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland that will educate and develop our future nonprofit leaders. The Institute is thrilled to welcome five outstanding students in the fall 2018 to the Fellows Program. Our Fellows bring a range of experiences and interests to the program. Meet them below:
Colleen Cooke
Since graduating from University of Maryland, Colleen has worked for nonprofits and higher education institutions. Wanting to make a bigger different and “do good better”, she started a Master of Public Policy degree. Through her graduate course work and participation in the Philanthropy Fellows program, Colleen has become passionate about shaping the nonprofit landscape and helping organizations achieve their greatest impact. Prost-graduation, she hopes to work in fundraising, philanthropy, or social responsibility.
Laura Griffin
Laura has spent the past seven years working to build more welcoming communities for refugees and other forced migrants in America. In her role as a program manager at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, she advocated for immigration detention policy reform, implemented federal grants and led a collaborative research project on refugee integration with Stanford University Immigration Policy Lab. Laura is an alum of Lutheran Volunteers Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA and graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College.
Andrew Knutson
After graduating from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Andrew moved to Washington, D.C. to volunteer as an AmeriCorps member with City Year, where he provided academic, social and emotional support to at-risk-youth. Andrew transitioned to work as a program associate and grant accountant with Meridian International Center, a U.S. Department of State partner that develops and implements international exchange programs for emerging leaders from every professional sector. He aspires to manage his own nonprofit and support under-served communities.
Elizabeth Middleton
Elizabeth first discovered her passion for education while volunteer teaching science in the School District of Lancaster, PA. After graduating from Franklin & Marshall College, she served two years with AmeriCorps’ College Advising Corps, providing college access counseling to high school students in rural Pennsylvania. For the past two years, Elizabeth has worked as a College Success Advisor with The SEED Foundation, supporting students from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore to enroll and stay in college. She is passionate about community development and educational equity.
Sylvia Sedrak
Sylvia was born in Alexandria, Egypt and raised in central Wisconsin. Shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she served for two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA, advocating for parent involvement at school and youth development programs in Colorado. Most recently, she served as an educator and trainer with Peace Corps Ethiopia and spent a year working and practicing her Arabic skills in Nablus, Palestine. Sylvia is driven to create change for women, refugees, and immigrants.
