I’m happy to share that I’ve recently taken on a role as a mentor for the Leadership Fellows program at The Trust.

Mentoring has long been part of my work, though often in less formal ways. Over the years, I’ve found that some of the most meaningful exchanges with leaders happen in settings where there is space to pause, reflect, and think more deeply about practice.

This program offers exactly that kind of space.

The Leadership Fellows program is designed to support leaders as they navigate more complexity than ever in their organizations and in their own leadership. 

For me, this role connects naturally to the work I already do with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Many of the questions that arise in mentoring conversations are the same ones I encounter in coaching and advisory work: how to lead through uncertainty, how to align teams, how to make decisions that are strategic, clear, and adaptive yet shared.

What I value about mentoring, in particular, is that it is rarely a one-way exchange. I learn as much from these conversations as I hope to offer.

I look forward to working with this year’s Fellows and to the reflections that will emerge along the way.

I’m honored to share that I’ve been appointed as the inaugural Non-Resident Fellow at North Carolina State University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) for the 2025–2026 academic year (from Aug 2025 to July 2026).

This opportunity represents both a professional milestone and a full-circle moment in my career.

A Return to Academia—Through a Practitioner Lens

Many of you know that before founding Five Oaks Consulting, I spent more than a decade at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, working at the intersection of academia and practice. After years immersed in the daily realities of nonprofit consulting and coaching, it feels timely and energizing to reengage with academic life—but this time, from a different vantage point.

As SPIA’s inaugural Non-Resident Fellow, I will serve not as a traditional faculty member, but as a practitioner and bridge-builder—bringing real-world experience in organizational change, team development, and nonprofit leadership to faculty and students exploring the future of civil society.

Fellowship Activities

This part-time, yearlong fellowship includes a variety of engagements designed to spark dialogue between theory and practice:

• A public talk open to the broader university community during my October campus visit (October 21–22, 2025)

• Dedicated sessions with PhD and Master’s students to explore research interests and career pathways

• Guest lectures in SPIA courses

• Monthly virtual office hours for students seeking input on thesis topics, dissertation proposals, or broader trends in the nonprofit and NGO sectors

• Collaboration with SPIA faculty on issues where practical insight can inform scholarly inquiry

Why This Matters—Now More Than Ever

We’re living through a period of profound challenge and transformation in both the global INGO space and U.S.-based nonprofit sector. From shifting funding landscapes and accountability structures to complex power dynamics and calls for localization, nonprofit leaders face no shortage of complexity.

My goal in this fellowship is to offer SPIA students and faculty a grounded, field-based perspective on these dynamics. I hope to serve as a sounding board, a conversation partner, and a resource for those preparing to enter or influence this sector—while learning from the academic insights they bring as well.

Gratitude and What’s Next

I’m deeply grateful to Mark Nance, Irwin Morris, Hans Peter Schmitz, and Mandi Janis Stewart for their trust in me and their commitment to creating space for practitioner voices in academic spaces.

This is a wonderful opportunity not only to share what I’ve learned, but also to bring fresh insight, knowledge, and relationships back to the clients and organizations I serve through my work at Five Oaks Consulting.

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the year—and if you’re part of the SPIA or NC State community, I look forward to meeting you soon!