Meet our Staff

Jessica Anzaldúa is Grants Manager and Program Administrator for the Transformative Research Program.

janzaldua@spencer.org

Prior to joining Spencer, Jessica Anzaldúa worked in various grantmaking roles with nonprofit organizations including the national hunger relief organization Feeding America and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. In addition to her grantmaking expertise, Jessica has over a decade of experience in many aspects of nonprofit management, including fundraising, community engagement and stewardship. Jessica holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration and a Master of Organizational Leadership from North Park University.

Megan Bang serves as Senior Advisor to the Spencer Foundation.

megan.bang@northwestern.edu

Megan Bang is Professor in the Learning Sciences and Psychology in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. She studies the dynamics of culture, learning, and development with a focus on the complexities of navigating multiple meaning systems in an effort to create more effective and just learning environments, with a specific focus on STEM education. Bang has examined educator learning across career stages and the transformative forms of pedagogical practice. She is currently designing and studying teaching and learning about complex socio-ecological systems and their intersections with power and historicity. Bang often utilizes participatory methods to design and study both formal and informal learning environments. She has decades of experience designing learning with Indigenous communities that aim to transform the historical legacies and colonial conditions of education.  Dr. Bang serves on the Board of Science Education at the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Science Foundation’s Education and Human Resources Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education.

Leah Bricker provides mentorship and oversees all of the foundation’s grant programs as the Director of Programs.

lbricker@spencer.org

Leah Bricker started her career as a middle school science teacher before serving as the State Science Coordinator at the Indiana Department of Education, where she was involved in all aspects of K-12 science education (e.g., standards, assessments, professional development, partnerships among science education stakeholders in the state). Leah then served as a Senior Program Associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Project 2061, where she helped design and facilitate professional development programs for K-12 science teachers across the country. She also worked on a project focused on STEM assessments and their alignment to learning goals. Leah earned her PhD in the Learning Sciences at the University of Washington in 2008. She was involved in science teacher education at both Loyola University Chicago and The University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor. Leah studies youths’ STEM-related learning pathways over time and across contexts (e.g., home, school, afterschool, neighborhoods, museums) using qualitative methods and design-based research.

Andreason Brown oversees Spencer’s accounting, tax, audit, and information technology functions.

abrown@spencer.org

Prior to joining the foundation in 2018, Andreason Brown worked for over two decades in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Forefront, the Illinois statewide association for grantmakers, nonprofits, and advisors.  

Andreason serves on the boards of the Chicago Architecture Center, Bright Promises Foundation, and Illinois State Treasurer's Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund. He is past Chair of African American Legacy Fund at the Chicago Community Trust where he is now a Life Director. Andreason is a member of the Foundation Financial Officers Group (FFOG) and the Economic Club of Chicago. 

He earned a Bachelor of Economics degree at Central Michigan University, a Master of Nonprofit Management degree, and a Master of Accounting degree both at DePaul University.

Kenly Brown serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs and as a Project Manager for Spencer's strategic work and events.

kbrown@spencer.org

Kenly Brown’s research draws on her interdisciplinary training in Black intellectual thought and humanist social science situated at the nexus of race, gender, and education. Kenly is completing her book manuscript Subversive Dreaming: The Affective Lives of Black Girls in Alternative Schooling where she employs creative ethnography to capture how Black girls experience and share what it feels like to survive interpersonal and institutional violence as students enrolled in a California continuation school. Prior to joining Spencer, Kenly was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Washington University in St Louis in the Department of African and African American Studies. During her time there, she founded and led the Black Girlhood Studies Lab housed in the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Equity where students and collaborators explored, centered, and supported Black girl life through research, community engagement, and mentorship. Kenly earned a Ph.D. in African American and African Diaspora Studies with a designated emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from UC Berkeley. Kenly’s research has been supported by the Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship and AERA Minority Writing Fellowship.

Liz Carrick directs the administrative team to collaboratively carry out all administrative functions at the foundation.

lcarrick@spencer.org

As Chief of Staff, Liz Carrick works closely with the President to implement her vision for the work of the Foundation and with the leadership team to develop and implement foundation policies. In addition, Liz often works on issues of program development, particularly with regard to the Foundation’s communications strategy. She received her undergraduate degree in philosophy from the State University of New York at Purchase and her master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago.

Kevin Close serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs.

kclose@spencer.org

Kevin Close is an interdisciplinary scholar who seeks to improve and rethink large-scale standardized testing systems. His research spans three major strands of educational research: measurement, educational technology, and educational policy to examine wider validity issues in education whether at the macro scale, with teacher evaluation systems, or the micro scale, with the language of particular test items. 

As a scholar, Kevin emphasizes academic communication and knowledge mobilization. Not only does he seek to publish in peer-reviewed journals, he also publishes trade articles, policy reports, and blog posts. Prior to joining the Spencer Foundation, he shared his research with ACT inc. helping them analyze linguistic issues found in test items. He also cofounded and developed a website and webinar series, called talkingaboutdesign.com, to explore the nexus between education and design. Kevin completed his Ph.D. in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies at Arizona State University and his M.Ed. in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University.

Melissa ("Mel") Dennis-Araujo provides administrative and scheduling support to the President and Sr. Vice President and acts as liaison with the Spencer team.

mdaraujo@spencer.org

Mel leverages over 20 years of experience and expertise in supporting C-level executives. After beginning her career in the finance and investment sector, she discovered her passion for supporting the nonprofit community.  Originally from Texas, she attended the University of Texas at Austin prior to moving to Chicago.

Anthony Devier's roles include account reconciliation, financial reporting, and general ledger maintenance.

adevier@spencer.org

Before coming to Spencer, Anthony Devier worked in the accounting department at a local law firm and quickly discovered a passion for Spencer’s mission before joining the team in 2022. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago.

Doris Fischer serves as Secretary of the Board and Communications Manager.

dfischer@spencer.org

Doris Fischer began her career in the finance and investment banking fields, but she soon discovered an interest in the non-profit sector, specifically in the field of education, which led her to Spencer. Although initially taking on an administrative role, she was soon able to bring into play her personal passion for organization and planning.  For the past 22 years she has been creating events that bring scholars together to collaborate on important issues of education research, policy, and practice.

She earned a BA in International Business from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

Rhoda works in collaboration with foundation leaders to facilitate strategic partnerships and engagement to extend the impact of Spencer’s grant making.

rfreelon@spencer.org

Rhoda Freelon is Senior Program Officer for Strategic Engagement at the Spencer Foundation. Prior to her return to the Foundation, she held an appointment as Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with the University of Houston. She earned her PhD in Education from UCLA. Rhoda is a community-focused scholar who strives to consider family, youth, and community epistemologies in her work on school improvement and broader social change. Her scholarship explores how families, youth, and community members serve as key actors in influencing educational policies and practices in the service of racial equity and social justice. As a Research Affiliate with the University of Houston’s Education Research Center, she is currently conducting research that explores the connections between youth, family, and community engagement in critical educational decisions and state level policies that influence post-secondary outcomes for minoritized students.

Maricelle Garcia administers several grant programs and assists the Grants Manager with internal system processes and training.

mgarcia@spencer.org

Maricelle Garcia administers Research-Practice Partnership Grants, Large Grants, and Racial Equity Grants from pre-application inquiries to selection panel meetings and selection of grantees. Maricelle also manages post-award support for all grant programs. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from DePaul University.

Kellyn Gawel advises on and implements all human resources policies, procedures, and benefits.

kgawel@spencer.org

Kellyn Gawel is an HR professional with 24+ years of experience driving strategic HR initiatives, fostering employee engagement, and optimizing leadership development across diverse sectors, including higher education and healthcare. Prior to joining Spencer, Kellyn most recently served as Director of Human Resources for the Crown Family School of Social Work, Practice & Policy at The University of Chicago. Kellyn holds a BA from Purdue University Northwest in Organizational Communication.

Laura Glick oversees the investment program for the Spencer Foundation Endowment.

lglick@spencer.org

Before joining the foundation in 2015, Laura Glick held senior level positions in the Goldman Sachs Investment Management Division, JP Morgan Chase Private Bank and the Wells Fargo Private Bank.

Laura serves on the Women’s Board of the Adler Planetarium, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Auxiliary Board, the Winnetka Community House Woman’s Board and the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation.

She earned her MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a M.S.E. and B.S.E. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering.

Juan Jaimes leads Spencer’s information technology function.

jjaimes@spencer.org

Prior to joining Spencer, Juan Jaimes worked for over two decades in the nonprofit and corporate sectors in various industries. His breadth of experience includes aligning systems with strategic priorities, successfully implementing new technologies, maximizing technology budgets and resources, and driving continuous technology improvements in support of organizational goals.

Juan most recently served as Director of Technology at the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree, both in Information Technology at Elmhurst University.

Jasmine Knetl is the Office Manager, and she also oversees the planning, execution, and logistics for Spencer meetings, conferences, and social events.

jknetl@spencer.org

Jasmine Knetl's background is in youth recreation programming, nonprofit administration, and large-scale event planning. She received her degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Sports Management and Community Recreation, and also skated for the Illini Synchronized Figure Skating Team. 

Emily Krone Phillips leads Spencer's internal and external outreach efforts, ensuring all communication supports the organization's goals and values .

ekronephillips@spencer.org

Emily Krone Phillips is an author and communications professional focused on the intersection between education policy, research, and practice.She previously worked as an education reporter for the Daily Herald newspaper and as the Communications Director for the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. Her recent book, The Make-Or-Break Year, weaves together stories about Chicago students and educators with groundbreaking research on the critical importance of ninth grade academic performance for future academic success.

She holds a BA in History from Princeton University and an MS in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. 

Michal Kurlaender serves as a Senior Fellow at The Spencer Foundation.

mkurlaender@ucdavis.edu

Michal Kurlaender is the Chancellor's Leadership Professor of Education Policy at the School of Education, University of California, Davis. She studies the causes and consequences of educational inequality across a diverse set of educational pathways. Kurlaender investigates critical areas of education policy including state accountability, career and technical education, access to and success in college, college quality, and labor market returns to education. She works closely with all of California's public K-12 and higher education sectors—the University of California, the California State University and the California Community Colleges to strengthen policies and programs aimed at increasing student engagement and reducing inequalities in educational attainment.  Kurlaender also serves as a faculty director of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) and Wheelhouse: The Center for Community College Leadership and Research. She is a California Gubernatorial Appointee to the Education Commission of the States and is a member of the National Academy of Education.  Her work has been published in various academic and policy outlets.

Daniela Luengo-Aravena serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs.

dluengoa@spencer.org

Daniela Luengo-Aravena uses economic and sociologic theories and conceptual frameworks as a lens to analyze educational policy issues, focusing on K-12 schools, educational equity, and the development of 21st-century skills for successful educational and labor market trajectories. Before joining the Spencer Foundation, Daniela was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Advanced Research in Education at Universidad de Chile. Her areas of specialization include Economics of Education, Impact Evaluation, Applied Econometrics, Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Studies, and Social Network Analysis. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University of Rochester, NY, and an M.A. in Economics from Universidad de Chile.

Jessica Marshall serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs.

jmarshall@spencer.org

Jessica Marshall is an educator, scholar, and former school district administrator with nearly 20 years of experience in education. Her work across these spaces has focused on building approaches to civic and political education that meaningfully address issues of race, identity, and justice. She is committed to the development of meaningful learning experiences that take seriously the lived experiences and dreams of young people, particularly those from marginalized communities. Given her commitment to research that honors the expertise, insights, and experiences of communities, students, families, and teachers, Jessica’s research primarily draws on participatory and design-based approaches. She began her career as a high school special education and social studies teacher, teaching in both the Chicago and New York City public school systems. Subsequently, Jessica transitioned to district administration, where she served as the founding director of the Chicago Public Schools Department of Social Science and Civic Engagement. In 2018 she left her district role to pursue a PhD in Learning Sciences, earning her degree from Northwestern University. Her research has been supported by a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship.

Na’ilah Suad Nasir is the sixth President of the Spencer Foundation.

Prior to her appointment at Spencer, Nasir held a faculty appointment at the University of California, Berkeley, where she also served as Vice-Chancellor of Equity and Inclusion. Nasir earned her PhD in Education Psychology at UCLA and was a member of the faculty in the School of Education at Stanford University. Her scholarly work focuses on issues of race, culture, learning, and identity. She has authored several books, including recently co-editing the Handbook of the Cultural Foundations of Learning, and has published numerous scholarly articles about the interaction of learning and identity. Nasir is a member of the National Academy of Education and the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for 2021-2022. 

Ellis Reid serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs.

Ellis Reid is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work spans the philosophy and history of education. His research interrogates questions related to power and authority over and within schools and school systems. In particular, Ellis explores in his research ethical and policy disagreements about how public K-12 schools in the US should be governed, working to disclose the implicitly ethical assumptions underlying contemporary policy debates about school governance. Ellis also does work in the history of education focused on mid-twentieth century Black educational activism. His historical research focuses on the Black educational activists fighting for greater control over the educational institutions in their communities during the 1960s and 1970s. Ellis is also a longtime member of the EdEthics research team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Among other projects with EdEthics, Ellis has helped lead professional development sessions focused on promoting ethical reflection, dialogue, and practice for educators and other education professionals across the country.

Ellis holds a PhD in Education from Harvard University. Prior to his transition into educational research, Ellis was the Associate Director for Next Generation Scholars, a college-access program in Northern California.

Elizabeth Tipton serves as a Senior Fellow at The Spencer Foundation.

tipton@northwestern.edu

Elizabeth Tipton is Professor of Statistics and Data Science, and Education and Social Policy (by courtesy) at Northwestern University, where she is also a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and co-Directs the Statistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice (STEPP) Center. Her research focuses on the development of methods for improving evaluations of social and educational programs, with a particular focus on addressing problems related to generalizability and treatment effect heterogeneity. She also develops methods for synthesizing findings of multiple studies via meta-analysis and for improving the mobilization of evidence for decision-making. Tipton is a Fellow of both the American Educational Research Association and the American Statistical Association. She will be President of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness in 2025.

Sepehr Vakil serves as Senior Advisor to the AI Initiative.

sepehr.vakil@northwestern.edu

Sepehr Vakil is Associate Professor of Learning Sciences in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, the faculty director of the Technology, Policy, and Racial Equity Initiative, and the founding director of the Technology, Race, Ethics, and Equity in Education (TREE) Lab. Previously he was Assistant Professor of STEM Education and the Associate Director of Equity & Inclusion in the Center for STEM Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Vakil’s research centers on issues residing at the intersections of education, culture and identity, science and technology, and social justice He is a leading voice on equitable approaches to tech education, innovation and workforce development, diversity and equity in computer science and engineering education, and AI ethics and literacy. Vakil serves as a senior advisor to ECEP Illinois (Expanding Computing Education Pathways), two National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committees, and on the advisory board for the Kapor Foundation’s Ethical AI and Tech Justice initiative.

Krystal Villanosa serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs.

kvillanosa@spencer.org

Krystal Villanosa studies educational practitioners' conceptions of equity, with a focus on informal learning environments and organizational settings. In her recent work, she has examined how museum practitioners discursively position the minoritized communities they seek to engage. Her research also examines the consequences of practitioners' beliefs and attitudes about equity on designing for educational equality (or remediating educational inequality). Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies at Northwestern University in the Learning Sciences, she worked in the Field Museum's education department, overseeing the development and implementation of STEM-focused digital learning programs for youth. Across her career, Krystal has heavily engaged in research design, program design and evaluation, grant writing and reviewing, strategic planning, and budget management.

Anthony Williams serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs and as a Project Manager for Spencer's strategic work and events.

awilliams@spencer.org

Anthony James Williams is an abolitionist sociologist. Their work examines racism and the carceral continuum across both prisons and public urban spaces. Anthony sees harm reduction as a fundamental principle for conducting research and producing scholarship. Their research primarily relies on interviews, content analysis, ethnography, archival data, and descriptive statistics. Anthony is writing their first book manuscript that examines the racism embedded in solitary confinement practices and prison wide lockdowns in California state prisons. Prior to joining the Spencer Foundation, Anthony was the Race and the Carceral State Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at College of the Holy Cross in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology. Anthony started their educational journey at their local community college and earned their Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA. 

Asad Zaidi’s responsibilities include grant payments and financial reports, bank reconciliation, accounts payable, vendor 1099s, and employee expenses.

azaidi@spencer.org

Prior to joining the Spencer Foundation, Asad Zaidi worked for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, a government agency that handles regional transportation planning for Northeastern Illinois. His previous experience at the non-profit Family Service Toronto led to his interest in joining an organization aligned with his values. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from George Brown College, where he majored in accounting.

Jenny Zhang serves as an internal grant reviewer across all of Spencer's grant programs.

jzhang@spencer.org

Jenny Zhang’s research agenda focuses on literacy and language learning. Drawing from literacy studies, linguistic anthropology, and development studies, Jenny uses ethnographic methods in her research to examine the ideologies, practices, and outcomes of an international development intervention focused on early-grades literacy in Indonesia. Jenny also researches how minority language rights are framed and contested within educational policy, curriculum, and the politics of everyday life in eastern Indonesia. In all her work, she strives to illuminate how interventions meant to support language and literacy learning can be scaled up without losing their value and essence, while also appropriately contextualized for diverse sets of learners. Jenny earned a Ph.D. in Education with a certificate in Global Metropolitan Studies from UC Berkeley.