Our Team
Our leadership team combines academic expertise with real-world experience at nonprofits and for-profit businesses and in government.
That mix is required, as the lines separating these institutions are blurring, and the sectors must work together to address the great challenges we face. Email the Rustandy Center staff to learn more about us.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Marianne Bertrand
Faculty Director, Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Willard Graham Faculty Scholar
Marianne Bertrand is a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Center for Economic Policy Research, and the Institute for the Study of Labor. She is an applied microeconomist whose research covers the fields of labor economics, corporate finance, and development economics.
Marianne BertrandRobert H. Gertner
John Edwardson Faculty Director, Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Strategy and Finance
Robert H. Gertner has been on the Chicago Booth faculty since 1986. His research interests include strategic decision-making, corporate finance, organization structure, theory of the firm, and social enterprises.
Robert H. GertnerCaroline Grossman, ’03
Executive Director, Adjunct Associate Professor of Strategy
Caroline Grossman is responsible for leading the Rustandy Center’s work to serve as a destination for people committed to helping solve complex social and environmental problems, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to positively impact humanity.
Caroline Grossman, ’03
Tali Griffin
Sr. Director of Marketing, Programs, and Partnerships
Tali Griffin leads the Rustandy Center's work to equip our community with the tools and insights to create impact. She drives our global suite of programs, our partnerships across sectors, and our work to amplify lessons learned from research and practice.
Tali GriffinTyeise Huntley
Director, Golub Capital Social Impact Lab
Tyeise Huntley leads the new Golub Capital Social Impact Lab which will provide training and professional development to amplify the impact of leaders of high-potential nonprofits serving communities of color. The signature offering of the Lab is IGNITE, offered in partnership with the Chicago Urban League.
Salma Nassar
Director of Research Initiatives
Salma Nassar leads the Rustandy Center's work to support groundbreaking research on the social sector and complex social and environmental issues. She works with Booth faculty and PhD students to develop innovative research partnerships with nonprofits, for-profit companies, and public-sector organizations, and oversees the Rustandy Center's social sector data hub.
Salma NassarMeet Our Staff
Zeynep Aksoy Ata
Sr. Associate Director, Brand Strategy and Marketing
Zeynep Aksoy Ata develops and leads data-driven marketing strategies to grow the Rustandy Center’s brand. She also supports event and program marketing to generate leads and engage core audiences.
Zeynep Aksoy Ata
Ja’Nette Andrews
Assistant Director, Events
Ja’Nette Andrews supports Rustandy Center programs and events related to social sector engagement and social entrepreneurship . This includes managing event logistics, maintaining the team’s event calendar, and administrative support for longer-term programs.
Patience Baach
Sr. Associate Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives
Patience Baach manages the Rustandy Center’s internal impact measurement work in Chicago and Hong Kong. She provides strategic and administrative support for initiatives such as the social impact data hub and operations systems and procedures.
Katelyn Bell
Assistant Director, Event and Program Marketing
Katelyn Bell manages marketing efforts for the Rustandy Center’s global portfolio of programming and events, highlighting the growing community of Booth students, alumni, and faculty working to address social issues.
Alissa Bolz, AB ’07, AM ’22
Sr. Associate Director of Research Initiatives
Alissa Bolz catalyzes research projects focused on the social sector and complex social and environmental issues. She develops strategic partnerships between Booth faculty and for-profit, nonprofit, and public-sector organizations and manages data sourcing and collection efforts.
Wai-Sinn Chan, MBA ’02, MPP ’02
Director, Social Sector Engagement and Civic Scholars Program
Wai-Sinn Chan leads the Rustandy Center’s social sector engagement strategy and programming for students and alumni. She also directs outreach and programming for Booth’s Civic Scholars Program.
William Chiu
Research Professional
William Chiu is a research professional at the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation. He is responsible for supporting academic research projects led by the Rustandy Center and Chicago Booth faculty, focusing on the social sector.
Iris Choi
Sr. Assistant Director of Programs, Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation
Iris Choi is responsible for managing the Rustandy Center’s programming in Hong Kong, including The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation.
Will Colegrove
Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program
Will Colegrove is responsible for leading the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, including cultivating the pipeline for the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge from across the university. He also leads programming on funding social impact, including impact investing experiential learning opportunities such as MIINT, Invest for Impact, and the Total Impact Portfolio Challenge.
Justin Douglas, MPP '21, MSW '21
Assistant Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program
Justin Douglas manages the planning and execution of multiple Rustandy Center programs and activities in the social entrepreneurship and impact investing domains. He also helps to plan and administer the John Edwardson '72 Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) Competition, Tarrson Social Venture Fellows Program, and the Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund.
Ali Galloway
Sr. Assistant Director, Social Sector Engagement Programs
Ali Galloway leads programs related to the area of social sector engagement. This includes student group support, meaningful volunteering programs, and career-related programs and events.
Kalmond Ma
Director, Hong Kong Social Impact and Innovation Initiatives
Kalmond Ma oversees the social impact programming for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation. He also leads social impact and entrepreneurship initiatives in Hong Kong and throughout Asia for both the Rustandy Center and the Polsky Center.
Christopher Schneider
Assistant Director, Programs and Partnerships
Christopher Schneider manages social sector engagement programs related to philanthropy, sustainability, and community development. He provides event planning, research, facilitation and assists the center’s strategic growth, partnerships, and social entrepreneurship programs.
Christopher SchneiderMeet Our Executives in Residence
Learn more about the social sector leaders who mentor students and share their expertise in sustainability, philanthropy, and more.
Meet Our Executives in ResidenceContact the Rustandy Center
Do you have a question about the Rustandy Center? Contact Us.