The 2026 MAP Fellowship

Challenge Statement: Create compelling, concise messaging to convey Advance Pathways’ vision, potential, and impact.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will develop an updated website and print content, a marketing/PR plan, and an online engagement strategy with recommended tools and guides.

Deliverables Overview: Updated content, strategic marketing plan, and detailed online strategy.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in communications, social media, web design, and nonprofit marketing.

Mentor: Jim Goebelbecker is the Executive Director of Advance Pathways, with over 25 years of leadership experience as a nonprofit CEO and entrepreneur. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational development and is an executive coach and facilitator.

Fellow: Lauren Kulhanjian Conrow is an urbanist, activist and scholar working to mainstream communal perspectives within community development practice and policy. Curiosity and connectivity makes her world go ‘round, and while originally from San Francisco, her career has spanned four continents and six countries. Lauren is a Master’s candidate in Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Oxford, where she researches social capital’s effect on community resilience. Her work emphasizes collective-housing and participatory design approaches, as well as Indigenous and de-colonial perspectives in spatial development.

Most recently, Lauren served as project Co-Lead for the New Urban Agenda Write-shop series at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi, Kenya. There, she worked to increase the inclusion of diverse and Indigenous stakeholders within Secretary General reporting processes. Previously, Lauren served as a U.S. Peace Corps Community Economic Development Facilitator, where she lived and worked within a highly communal, Indigenous Fijian village. This experience living collectively and learning from her host-community’s land-based wisdom powerfully informs her current research and development practice. 

Ultimately, Lauren aims to create spaces that foster authentic connection and open-hearted dialogue. Her interests also lie in art history (particularly spirituality’s influence on the genesis of Abstract Expressionism), non-fiction literature, time spent in nature, writing, live music, and joyful dressing.

Challenge Statement: Create the strategy and systems for an ambassador program to grow Adventure Scientists’ reach, volunteer base, and impact.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will analyze ambassador programs from outdoor and conservation sectors, outline resource needs, design a recruitment strategy, develop onboarding and retention workflows, and propose website integration.

Deliverables Overview: Comparison summary of ambassador models, recruiting strategy, resource plan, onboarding process flow, and a website integration proposal.

Fellow Qualifications: Marketing experience with brand or influencer management; creative problem-solving; and passion for conservation and the outdoors.

Mentor: Nathan Trappe has nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of business, outdoor adventure, and conservation. As Head of Programs at Adventure Scientists, he leads the design, operations, and marketing of domestic and international projects. Nathan is pursuing a Ph.D. in recreation and conservation and has held leadership roles in product, marketing, and operations.

Fellow: Kami Bakken is a conservation advocate, storyteller, and river and ski guide whose work sits at the intersection of policy, place-based connection, and community engagement. She serves as the Director of Ambassador and Grant Programs at Rivers for Change, supporting Source-to-Sea projects, creating grassroots tools for watershed advocacy, and working with communities to strengthen their relationships to rivers. With a degree in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University, Kami brings a human-centered approach to conservation, aiming to bridge science, narrative, and lived experience to inspire action.

Kami guides multi-day river expeditions in Idaho and Arizona, grounding her understanding of river systems and shaping her policy interests in western water and equitable access to outdoor spaces. Outside of river season, she works in avalanche education and snow science research to connect the water cycle from snowpack to sea.

She also collaborates with the Freeflow Institute and Freeflow Foundation to support storytelling education, scholarships, and creative workshops. Kami believes that connection to place is a catalyst for stewardship and is committed to cultivating spaces where creativity, curiosity, and collective care can thrive.

Challenge Statement: Assess the long-term economic and social impact of EforAll’s programs on job creation, wealth generation, and community resilience in Massachusetts from 2010–2024.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will create a theory of change, collect and analyze data, and synthesize findings into an initial impact report with a roadmap for deeper study.

Deliverables Overview: Research framework, theory of change, preliminary findings, and roadmap for a full impact study.

Fellow Qualifications: Research experience; data analysis skills; and strong communication abilities.

Mentor: Meralis Hood is President & CEO of EforAll, a nonprofit accelerating economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship. A former City Year Market President and veteran educator, she is committed to equity, mental health advocacy, and community leadership. She holds degrees from Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and National Louis University.

Fellow: Micaela Gutierrez is an evaluation leader and nonprofit strategist with over a decade of experience building systems that both measure and create impact. She has spent her career at the intersection of human development, evaluation, and emerging technology—most recently leading research and evaluation at Future Coach, where she has contributed to the development of an AI-powered life coaching platform for young people.

At Future Coach, Micaela has designed the organization's core methodology and its measurement systems. She built custom AI workflows to analyze data, created continuous improvement infrastructure using no-code tools, and partnered with product teams to embed youth voice into iterative design. Her work bridges technical implementation, developmental psychology, and strategic positioning for fundraising.

Previously, as VP of Research & Evaluation at The Future Project, she directed evaluation strategy for national youth development programs serving 30,000+ students and contributed to organizational strategy as a member of the Leadership Council.

Micaela's expertise spans the full lifecycle of impact work: from translating research into program design, to building evaluation infrastructures that organizations actually use, to coaching teams on data literacy and evidence-based decision-making. She's passionate about helping organizations use data to tell powerful stories, improve programs and  expand access to opportunities that catalyze human thriving.

Challenge Statement: Identify best practices and create a space for fostering strong youth–adult partnerships at HealthMPowers that leverage lived experience, creativity, and vitality across generations.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will analyze leading youth programs to assess how they incorporate youth–adult partnerships, identify barriers and facilitators, and develop effective data collection methods. They will synthesize findings into actionable insights and design a convening to explore strategies for strengthening these partnerships.

Deliverables Overview: A comprehensive report with analysis and strategies, plus four proposed workshop topics for the convening.

Fellow Qualifications: Research experience; ability to blend creativity with analytical thinking; and a passion for youth leadership and cross-generational collaboration.

Mentor: Sequoya Howard is the Director of Youth Strategy at HealthMPowers, where she leads initiatives such as Girls Empowering Movement and the HealthMPowers Youth Advisory Board. With deep experience in public health program development, youth engagement, and strategic planning, she has designed programs that increase physical activity and leadership opportunities for young people across Georgia. Sequoya is a passionate advocate for youth leadership, cross-generational partnerships, and community health.

Fellow: Thet-Htar Thet is a development strategist and partnership builder dedicated to advancing climate resilience and sustainable development. She currently serves as an Institutional Partnerships Officer at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where she builds relationships with major foundations and mobilizes resources to drive impactful environmental initiatives worldwide.

Originally from Myanmar, Thet's work is grounded in the belief that lasting change happens when local voices and global partners work hand in hand. Her previous experience with UNESCO Myanmar focused on developing national teacher-education curricula that promotes inclusion and community empowerment.

She holds a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Educational Studies from Carleton College.

Challenge Statement: Design the Spark Lab Alumni Network for Homegrown Pathways to sustain engagement, connect rural innovators, and support program growth.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will design a model for ongoing engagement among Spark Lab alumni, recommend tools to host the network, and develop strategies to connect youth entrepreneurs to resources and opportunities.

Deliverables Overview: Strategic plan outlining program design and tactical next steps.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in program and ecosystem design, youth engagement, rural community connection, and platform/tool evaluation; strong communication and project management skills.

Mentor: Colin Lacy is the founder and CEO of Homegrown Pathways. He has led social entrepreneurship efforts in education and workforce development for over 15 years. He co-founded MakerUSA, directed Makers + Mentors Network, and has been recognized among the Top 100 Entrepreneurs and Innovators. He holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder and Harvard Kennedy School.

Fellow: Sherrod Crum is a Chicago-based Program Manager and social impact strategist dedicated to advancing economic mobility through entrepreneurship, education, and workforce development. At SEED SPOT, he designs and leads national programs that equip young people with the skills to launch ventures, strengthen career readiness, and create community-centered impact. He oversees facilitator teams across multiple cities, develops experiential entrepreneurship curricula, and builds partnerships that connect students to paid internships and mentorship opportunities.

Sherrod is also the Founder of Cubator, a social impact venture that provides youth and social impact entrepreneurs with access to personalized college, career, and business development programs. Through Cubator, he partners with schools and nonprofits to deliver hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, confidence, and real-world problem solving.

Beyond his entrepreneurial work, Sherrod serves on the Personal and Professional Development Committee of the Chicago Urban League MetroBoard, supporting initiatives that empower young professionals of color, and mentors first-generation college students through Chicago Scholars.

Across his roles, Sherrod is driven by a belief that inclusive innovation and equitable access to opportunity can transform lives and communities—helping the next generation turn their ideas into lasting change.

Challenge Statement: Design the administrative backbone for this grassroots movement to ensure its success in 2027 and beyond.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in archives, information management, or museum studies; strong writing and systems-thinking skills; and commitment to ethical stewardship.

Mentor: Shawn Sweeney is Associate Vice President of Communications & Partnerships at the Jane Goodall Institute, where he supports global teams in advancing ethical storytelling and knowledge sharing. Since joining JGI in 2007, he has led media projects, brand storytelling, and merchandise programs while developing systems for cross-continental collaboration. Shawn holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s in psychology, specializing in conservation psychology and animal behavior.

Fellow: Micaela Unda focuses her work on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and environmental policy, partnering with public agencies, philanthropic organizations, NGOs, and stakeholder groups to advance equitable climate solutions. She works at Ross Strategic, a climate-focused consulting firm, where she supports a diverse set of clients through an integrated approach that combines strategy development, measurement, learning and evaluation, strategic communications, and collaborative process design.

Her portfolio includes work with organizations such as the Adaptation Fund, Builder’s Vision, Climate Lead, Heising-Simons Foundation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to joining Ross Strategic, Micaela worked in local government, where she led a climate resilience program focused on supporting vulnerable communities in responding to health impacts associated with extreme heat through green infrastructure investments.

Micaela is committed to translating environmental and policy concepts into actionable strategies and advancing climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience initiatives that center equity and community needs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from Duke University and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Outside of work, Micaela enjoys scuba diving, kiteboarding, backpacking, painting, and spending time outdoors.

Challenge Statement: Deepen Just Value’s understanding of the barriers marginalized homeowners face in maintaining and upgrading their homes to maximize value.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will conduct 3–5 in-depth homeowner interviews in 1–2 target cities (e.g., Boston, LA, or others) to understand housing concerns, desired improvements, and challenges in finding contractors, pricing, and financing. The project will explore trends across demographics and geographies and provide actionable insights for future pilots.

Deliverables Overview: A report detailing the interview process, participant demographics, key findings, and recommendations for standardizing interviews into a survey for future use.

Fellow Qualifications: Strong interpersonal skills to build trust across diverse communities; analytical mindset; interest in safe housing and wealth building; and ideally, a network in target cities.

Mentor: Charu Singh is the CEO and Founder of Just Value Inc., which uses AI-powered analytics and equitable lending to combat systemic undervaluation of homes in communities of color and help BIPOC homeowners build wealth fairly. Previously, she was Managing Director of Portfolio Management at Emergent Capital Partners, scaling its Southeast Asia business from start-up to an institutional platform. Charu also served as Assistant Vice President at the NYC Economic Development Corporation and worked in the nonprofit sector advancing environmental justice and equitable food systems. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Development from McGill University and dual master’s degrees in Real Estate Development and City Planning from MIT.

Fellow: Raina Parikh wears a few hats in her Brooklyn neighborhood. By day, she's an operations associate at Tremendous where she manages risk and compliance activities. After work and on weekends, you can find her coordinating events for Mil Mundos, a bilingual, collectively-operated radical bookstore and community space. She also raises money for public school libraries as a member of Start Lighthouse's Young Professional Council. Raina aims to connect people to each other and the groups that make their communities bloom.

Challenge Statement: Recommend and pilot ways to incorporate AI into MIT Solve’s workstreams to increase global impact and operational effectiveness.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will identify priority areas for AI adoption, research and test tools, create an implementation plan, and share Solve’s approach with the philanthropic sector.

Deliverables Overview: Priority AI use list, tool recommendations, possible implementation, and a knowledge-sharing article.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience with AI tools; strong analytical and communication skills; and passion for tech for social good.

Mentor: Pooja Wagh is Director of Operations & Impact at MIT Solve, where she has been a founding team member for over eight years. She has two decades of experience in international development, program evaluation, and data analysis, and holds degrees from MIT and Harvard Kennedy School.

Fellow: Mallory Nobles is the Associate Director of the Data Science & Social Systems program at Stanford University, where she teaches and fosters a community of students interested in using data science to address societal challenges. Previously, she worked as Technical Staff at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, pursued doctoral studies at Carnegie Mellon University, and founded an outreach program to teach middle school girls how to code. Outside of work, Mallory enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and walking her golden retriever, Hopper, named after computer science pioneer Grace Hopper.

Challenge Statement: Develop the scope and cost estimates for adding a scenario planning feature to the Bicycle Network Analysis tool at PeopleForBikes.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will research comparable scenario planning tools, assess integration options for the current codebase, evaluate computing and scalability needs, conduct stakeholder interviews, and prepare an RFP for contractors.

Deliverables Overview: Comparative matrix, technical reports, cost estimates, stakeholder synthesis, and an RFP document.

Fellow Qualifications: Technical background with software or GIS tools; strong analytical and writing skills; and interest in infrastructure planning.

Mentor: Grace Stonecipher is the Infrastructure Analytics & Research Manager at PeopleForBikes, where she manages mapping and analysis tools, translating data into actionable insights for cycling infrastructure improvement. With a background in spatial technologies for conservation, she holds an MSc in Environmental Observation and Informatics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. from Yale University.

Fellow: Cassidy Gasteiger is a data scientist for social good. She holds a bachelors of science, tech, and international affairs from Georgetown University, and a masters of data science from Georgia Tech. She has spent most of her career working at the intersection of climate, food systems, and data, most recently as a data scientist with the World Food Programme’s nutrition team developing a diet optimization platform. Now she is a program manager with ClimateWorks Foundation focused on climate adaptation & resilience, managing a portfolio focused on extreme heat. She is excited about applying data-driven solutions to some of the world’s thorniest problems.

Challenge Statement: Develop a media and thought leadership strategy positioning SIRUM as a national voice on prescription drug affordability.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will analyze peer organizations, conduct expert interviews, and develop a strategy with goals, messaging, audiences, tactics, and metrics, along with a content and event calendar.

Deliverables Overview: Competitive analysis report, media strategy deck, content calendar, sample op-eds, and event calendar.

Fellow Qualifications: Marketing and communications expertise, strong writing skills, strategic thinking, organizational ability, and interest in healthcare policy.

Mentor: Jen Chin is the Chief of Staff, Impact, at SIRUM, bringing over 15 years in marketing, fundraising, and strategy for social good. She has worked with organizations such as Google and Education Pioneers, and is a graduate of Stanford University.

Fellow: Kathy Zheng is a strategic product marketing leader with over 9 years of experience building new programs from the ground-up, launching high-impact go-to-market strategies, and holding a passion for delivering meaningful work. She has worked in sectors including e-commerce, hardware, SaaS, HR, and hospitality at companies like Amazon and Square. Currently, she holds space for her community through life coaching and tarot reading, and in her free time, she enjoys dancing, exploring the outdoors in Seattle, and snuggling with her dog Oatie.

Challenge Statement: Launch a youth-focused media campaign and engagement framework for UL Research Institutes – Office of Research Experiences & Education’s Youth Advisory Council to increase understanding of safety science.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will develop and execute a campaign to introduce the YAC and OREE to youth stakeholders, produce and edit video interviews with YAC members, and create a long-term engagement framework to foster sustained participation.

Deliverables Overview: Introductory video production, curated video series, engagement framework, and a final implementation report.

Fellow Qualifications: Digital content production skills; program management experience; and ability to conduct insightful interviews.

Mentor: Nyla McFadden is the Director of Education Programs at UL Research Institutes’ Office of Research Experiences & Education. A former secondary educator and nonprofit leader, she specializes in instructional design grounded in Critical Literacy. Nyla holds degrees from Johnson C. Smith University and Wake Forest University, as well as National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Literature.

Fellow: Erica P. Middleton is a community-oriented servant leader passionate about advancing people-centered, purpose driven programs. With over a decade of experience in research, project delivery, and community engagement, her work lies at the intersection of education, ethics, and wellness. She aims to empower individuals and cultivate sustainable and impactful projects.

She currently serves as an Assistant Program Manager at Howard University, where she leads the strategy, design, and execution of initiatives in faith, service, justice, leadership, and wellness. As a certified mindfulness instructor, Erica facilitates wellness classes and workshops across campus. She also advises two student organizations, providing mentorship and guidance in program development.

Erica earned a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology-Anthropology from Towson University and a M.A. in Religious Studies, with a concentration in Ethics and Social Justice, from Howard University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Erica is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., lifelong resident of gorgeous Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the devoted dog mom of Sassy Techno.

Challenge Statement: Develop a strategic plan to maximize mission-aligned earned revenue from Zora’s House’s café, space rentals, and retreats.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will conduct stakeholder interviews, assess operations and finances, benchmark peer models, and design a strategic plan with restorative pricing, marketing, and capacity recommendations. They will also create an implementation roadmap and toolkit of templates and resources.

Deliverables Overview: Strategic plan, implementation roadmap, toolkit, and final presentation.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in revenue development for mission-driven organizations; understanding of equity-centered business models; and strong analytical and planning skills.

Mentor: Liz Gordon-Canlas is the Managing Director of Zora’s House, a community space in Columbus, Ohio, for women and gender-expansive people of color. With a decade in higher education and leadership in advocacy, Liz is a champion for equity, inclusion, and restorative economic practices.

Fellow:‍ Dre Szegedy-Maszak, based in Washington DC, brings a background in nonprofit development, operations, and programming focused on increasing the accessibility and quality of vital social services for all people. In their current role with Third Sector, Dre leads development activities across five portfolios to design and implement the next generation of projects that catalyze systems change in the public sector. A graduate of Bard College, they were part of a small team that opened Bard High School Early College DC, a first-of-its-kind partnership with DC Public Schools that offers students the opportunity to earn no-cost Associates degrees alongside their high school diplomas. Across their work, Dre is committed to supporting place-based initiatives that uplift the lived expertise of their communities to shift power and disrupt outdated and inequitable social structures. Outside of work, they love to cook, play the drums, and spend time in nature with their dog Tiffany.