Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows


Tess Abrahamson-Richards
Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services
Director of Data Sovereignty
Washington


Katie Albright
Safe & Sound
Senior Advisor
California


Phyllis Albritton
Colorado Safety Net Collaborative
Managing Consultant
Colorado


John Annis
Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation
Senior VP, Collaboration and Impact
Florida


Erin Arango-Escalante
All Children Thrive
Founder & Principal
Wisconsin


Reggie Bicha
American Public Human Services Association
President and CEO
Colorado


Matthew Biel
Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN) at Georgetown University
Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
District of Columbia


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


Sixto Cancel
Think Of Us
Founder & CEO
District of Columbia


P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale
Northwestern University, Institute for Policy Research
Professor Emerita of Human Development and Social Policy
Illinois


Jay Chaudhary
Sagamore Institute
Senior Fellow for Mental Health and Community Wellness
Indiana


Nathan T. Chomilo
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Medical Director, Medicaid and MinnesotaCare
Minnesota


Barbara DiGangi
University Settlement
Director of Community Wellness Initiatives
New York


Twylla Dillion
HealthConnect One
Executive Director
New York


Matthew Dodson
Axis Health Systems
Senior Director of Integrated Care
Colorado


Wendy Ellis
Center for Community Resilience, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Assistant Professor, Center Director
District of Columbia


Craig Garfield
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago/ Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics and of Medical Social Sciences
Illinois


Tista Ghosh
Edwards Lifesciences
Vice President for Employee Health
Colorado


Kenn Harris
National Partnership for Community Leadership
Senior Consultant
Connecticut


Nikki Hatch
Administration for Children and Families
Regional Administrator
Colorado


Jerreed Ivanich
University of Colorado
Assistant Professor, Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health
Colorado


Priya Iyer
Our Roots
Founder & CEO
California


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


Liane Jollon
Health District of Northern Larimer County
Executive Director
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.