Leadership & Staff

Sybil Francis, Ph.D.

Chair, President & CEO, Center for the Future of Arizona

Amanda Burke, Ed.D.

Executive Vice President

Ellen R. Babby, Ph.D.

Senior Fellow

Melanie Baca

Project Manager, Senior

Aaron Ball, Ed.D.

Director, College & Career Pathways Liaison, Southern Arizona

Erika Barajas

Program Coordinator, Sr., Operations

Pat Beaty

Senior Fellow

Hannah Beatty

Digital Communications Specialist

Jessi Black

Manager, Business Operations

Peter Boyle

Senior Director of Education

Sharon Brady, Ph.D.

Grant Proposal Writer

Deja Broughton

Coordinator, Operations

Evelyn Casuga

Director, Community & Economic Prosperity

Ian Dowdy, AICP, MBA

Director, Strategic Data Initiatives

Cindy Erwin

Director, College & Career Pathways

Sabrina Estrada

Program Coordinator, Sr., Civic Health

Esmeralda Franco

Senior Aide to the President & CEO

Steve Goldstein

Senior Fellow

Jennifer Hernandez

Project Manager, College & Career Pathways–Northern Arizona

Chloe Hixson

Manager, Marketing & Communications

Jaclyn Hoerner

Director, Development

Holly Kurtz

Director, Workforce Development

Robert Luster

Director, Information Technology

Erin McGehean

Project Manager, College & Career Pathways, Western Maricopa County

Megan McWenie

Director, Operations

Tennille Penaloza-Hagen

Project Manager, Workforce Development

Larry E. Penley, Ph.D.

Senior Fellow

Lin Phillips

Executive Assistant

Moises Pimentel

Project Manager, College & Career Pathways–Southwest Arizona

Joseph Sprietsma

Project Manager, College & Career Pathways–Southeast Arizona

Kristi Tate

Director, Civic Health Initiatives

Lona Teague

Director, Fiscal & Business Operations

Heather Thornton

Senior Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications

KaRa Lyn Thrasher

Project Manager – Civic Health

Luke Thrasher

Business Operations Specialist