Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows

Phyllis Albritton
Colorado Safety Net Collaborative
Managing Consultant
Colorado

Erin Brown
The Colorado Health Foundation
Vice President, Community Investment & Impact
Colorado

Matthew Dodson
Axis Health Systems
Senior Director of Integrated Care
Colorado

Verónica Figoli
Accion Opportunity Fund
EVP, Chief Development Officer
Colorado

Tony Gherardini
Department of Personnel and Administration for Governor Polis
Executive Director
Colorado

Tista Ghosh
Edwards Lifesciences
Vice President for Employee Health
Colorado

Gretchen Hammer
Mathematica
Senior Fellow
Colorado

Nikki Hatch
Raising Real World Kids
Owner and Coach
Colorado

William Jaeger
LOR Foundation
Strategic Initiatives Officer
Colorado

Deidre Johnson
Center for African American Health
CEO & Executive Director
Colorado

Liane Jollon
Health District of Northern Larimer County
Executive Director
Colorado

Mark Kling
Nonprofit Consultant
Colorado

Jeff Kuhr
Creighton University Graduate School
Public Health Professional and Instructor
Colorado

Don Mares
The Colorado Trust
President and Chief Executive Officer
Colorado

Michael Niyompong
Merage Foundations
Executive Director
Colorado

Stephanie Seng
Colorado State University
Instructor/Director
Colorado

Mary Anne Snyder
Colorado

Cheryl Ternes
Arapahoe County
Human Services Director
Colorado

Stephanie Villafuerte
Child Protection Ombudsman of Colorado
Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman
Colorado

Scott Wasserman
Thinking Forward, LLC
Principal
Colorado
Ascend Fellows are a community of values-driven leaders who share an unwavering commitment to our shared goal of intergenerational family prosperity and well-being.