Our Team

Vilas Dhar

President and Trustee

Vilas is an entrepreneur, technologist and human rights advocate with a lifelong commitment to creating more robust social institutions that foster shared opportunity.

Karen Kelley Gill

Vice President of Finance

Karen oversees the Foundation’s finance, compliance, and risk management functions.

Mary Rodriguez

Vice President of People

Mary focuses on making the Foundation an exceptional place to work and fosters a culture that inspires the world’s most passionate talent.

Hana Awad

Software Engineer

As part of the Products and Services team, Hana lends her technical skills to build products for the social good sector.

Hana is a seasoned full-stack developer. Prior to PJMF, she served on the Emerging Tech Practice team at CGI Federal. Hana is committed to crafting technology products that leave a positive impact on society. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Information Systems, Big Data, and Analytics (AI/ML) from Georgia State University.

Mathilde Barge

Special Projects Analyst

As Special Projects Analyst, Mathilde Barge supports strategic initiatives, coordinates executive engagements, and facilitates high-level interactions for President Vilas Dhar.

Mathilde brings a diverse background spanning the private and public sectors. She previously contributed to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), focusing on Chinese Political Economy. With extensive experience in the EU, Asia, and the US, Mathilde offers a global perspective on innovation and policy. She holds a BSc from the London School of Economics and an MSc from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS).

Aidan Berger

Strategy Analyst, Strategic Capital

Aidan supports the Strategic Grants team’s efforts to allocate resources to socially impactful AI and data science solutions in collaboration with Foundation leadership, programmatic teams, and external partners.

Aidan has a Bachelors in Political Science from Franklin & Marshall College. Aidan worked in strategy consulting prior to joining PJMF, providing Go-To-Market, growth, and product strategies to technology, education, healthcare, and financial services companies. Outside of work, Aidan enjoys reading, coaching youth lacrosse, and running.

Yolanda Botti-Lodovico

Storytelling and Advocacy Lead

Yolanda works to develop and execute strategies that identify and amplify diverse stories of impact across our partner community, demonstrating the potential of AI to benefit both people and the planet.

Previously, Yolanda was the Policy Lead for a lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where she worked on the COVID response. Her background is in refugee and human rights advocacy, in the legal, public, and nonprofit sectors. Yolanda holds an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School and a BA in International Studies and Art History from Boston College. In her free time, Yolanda enjoys martial arts and creative writing.

Elena Brennan

Strategy and Innovation Associate

Elena works with the Strategy and Innovation Team to support the foundation’s justice-inspired mission. She assists in grant partnerships to leverage digital, AI, and data-driven solutions to address global issues.

Elena has a background in legislative research, community organizing, and equity work. Graduating with High Honors in American Studies from Wesleyan University, she earned the prize for best honors thesis in her major. While at Wesleyan, she advocated for housing affordability and transit access across CT, gained research skills as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, and served as Vice-President of the Student Assembly.

Nick Cain

Vice President, Strategy and Innovation

Nick leads the Foundation’s strategy team, which works to advance digital, AI, and data-driven solutions to global challenges through a combination of hypothesis-driven grantmaking, partnerships, and ecosystem engagement.

Prior to PJMF, Nick was a Principal at Google.org, where he developed a $30M tech-focused climate change portfolio and led additional grantmaking on education and accessibility. Nick is a board member at Path Home, and he founded Frontline Foods Portland, which raised more than $200K for local restaurants in the early days of COVID-19. Nick earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and an MBA from Berkeley.

Nicholas Davis

Front End Developer

Nick is a seasoned technologist with a specialization in UI/UX design and Front End Development. Nick meticulously crafts technology products that not only meet industry standards but also leave a positive impact on society

With 15 years of expertise in UI/UX design and front-end development, Nick combines academic rigor with practical innovation. Before joining PJMF, Nick spent 8 years at IBM. There, he spearheaded initiatives to enhance organizational scalability and efficiency. Nick is committed to driving meaningful change through technology. Nick holds a Master of Science in Information Systems from Drexel University.

Suzanne DiBianca

Trustee

Suzanne is Chief Impact Officer and EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce.

Suzanne leads Salesforce’s stakeholder capitalism strategy—including the company’s global corporate relations and sustainability efforts. Through the Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, she invests in innovative cloud companies driving positive change across sustainability, education, equality and social sector technology solutions. Suzanne was co-founder and president of the Salesforce Foundation and co-created Pledge 1%.

Gwen Hotaling

Communications Associate

Gwen spreads awareness and amplifies the impactful work of the Foundation and our grant partners across the globe through digital media.

With a background in social media management, content creation, and videography, Gwen offers insight into the media space from several angles. Previously, she spent time developing brand strategies for her startup, educating colleagues on DEI, volunteering for Girls on the Run, and singing with her a cappella group. Gwen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Eloy Leibas

Manager, Talent Recruitment

Eloy works to create and continuously evolve the philanthropy’s recruitment strategy, candidate experience, and employer brand initiatives.

Previously, Eloy supported the recruitment function for organizations of various sizes, including start-ups, regional firms, nationwide companies, and global enterprises. He earned his BBA in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston and his MBA in HR Management from UH Downtown. When not at work, he’s spending time with his wife, Jacqueline, and their dog, Billie.

Simone Liano

Strategy Analyst, Strategic Capital

Simone supports the Strategic Capital team in identifying opportunities to fund data science and AI initiatives supporting environmental and social impact.

Before PJMF, Simone worked in corporate strategy and corporate venture capital within the electricity sector, where she evaluated emerging technologies relevant for the energy transition. Previously, Simone worked in strategy consulting, evaluating Go-To-Market and growth opportunities across a variety of industries.

Crystal Luo

Operations Associate

Crystal, a dedicated member of the Operations team, is committed to facilitating and optimizing the foundation’s operational functions, ensuring efficiency and seamless execution across all activities.

Crystal is passionate about exploring the intersection of data science, AI, and people. Prior to PJMF, Crystal took on operational roles in the biotech and hospitality industries, empowering stakeholders through technology and AI. Crystal recently graduated with a BA in Data Science and East Asian Languages and Culture from Wellesley College. In her spare time, Crystal enjoys cooking, reading, and running.

Hazem Mahmoud

Director, Products and Services

Hazem provides direct technical assistance around Data Analytics, Engineering and Operations to Foundation grantees and partner organizations.

Before focusing on nonprofits, Hazem worked with Cloudera Inc.’s leading clients in designing, architecting and deploying the Cloudera platform. Hazem spent over 15 years in systems engineering and DevOps roles, in the banking, advertising, and mobile industries. Hazem has a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Michigan and an MS Information Systems from Metropolitan State University.

Patrick McGovern

Trustee

Patrick, a longstanding technology executive, serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and the foundation’s Investment Committee.

For 25 years, Patrick has been committed to emerging tech solutions. He previously ran SourceForge, was VP of Marketing at Splunk, CMO at Skout, and VP of Marketing at Risk I/O. Patrick also launched WhereApps, and consults for Silicon Valley-based and global tech companies. A Trustee at The People’s Portfolio and The Tech for Global Good Executive Council, Pat holds a BS from the University of San Francisco.

Bob Merriman

Director of Operations

With over 20 years of experience in strategy, operations, and technology, Bob is focused on driving optimization to accelerate PJMF’s mission to create a thriving, sustainable, and equitable future for all.

Bob has over 20 years of experience leading strategy and operations. He previously served as the Global Director of Strategic Planning for Avnet, Inc., and co-founded Force Impact Technologies. As COO of Brio Systems, Bob helped scale the SaaS startup to over $50mm in revenue. Bob loves spending time with his wife and three children, especially on the jiu-jitsu mats. Bob holds a BA and MBA from Arizona State University.

Topaz Mukulu

Strategy Analyst, Strategic Capital

Topaz supports the Foundation’s efforts to identify and resource institutions championing human-centered AI and data-driven transformation rooted in equity and dignity.

Topaz spent 6+ years in the global development and policy space, leading social impact initiatives in digital inclusion and last-mile service access. She has worked as a program manager and strategist for public sector, non-profit, and multilateral organizations in the U.S., the Netherlands, and across sub-Saharan Africa. Topaz received her MS from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and holds a BA in Econom

Abeer Nawaz

People and Culture Manager

Abeer leads People and Culture at PJMF, championing a sustainable future with a focus on recruitment, L&D, DEI, retention, and internal communications.

Excelling in developing scalable systems, supporting teams, and fostering inclusivity, Abeer’s experience spans the nonprofit and cleantech sectors. This lends her a unique perspective on sustainability and people-focused practices. Living in Houston with her family, she enjoys the city’s rich diversity and culinary scene.

Christopher Page

People and Culture Associate

Chris is committed to making the foundation an incredible place to work, addressing each part of the employee life cycle in the process.

Chris pursued his graduate education in I/O Psychology after learning that many employees feel disengaged in their roles. Driven by a desire to understand the root causes and provide accessible solutions, he has dedicated his academic and professional journey to making work more enjoyable, engaging, and fulfilling for everyone.

Valmik Patel

Data Scientist

Valmik focuses on supporting the Products and Services team by using artificial intelligence and machine learning to create technology products that make a positive impact.

Valmik has a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Bombay and a masters in Data Science from Columbia University. He worked in data science and machine learning engineering roles in the fintech, advertising, and privacy tech industries before joining PJMF. Valmik enjoys watching soccer, gaming, hiking, and reading in his spare time.

Michelle Pomerantz

Board Liaison, Office of the President

Michelle supports the Board of Trustees to help the Foundation achieve its strategic goals. Michelle advises on Board specific philanthropic initiatives and facilitates external Board engagement.

Michelle has over a decade of experience assisting global clients across the public, private, and social sectors with achieving their impact goals. Most recently, Michelle was the Head of Philanthropy at giveback, a social enterprise that helped donors manage their giving portfolios. Michelle holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from NYU and a BBA in Management Information Systems from Villanova University.

Becca Portman

Community Success Lead

Becca works across the Strategy & Innovation team to triage new opportunities, assess partner readiness/stage of AI journey, connect partners to the right resources, and ensure smooth handoffs from one engagement to the next.

Becca has 10+ years of experience in the worlds of policy, data science, and nonprofits. Prior to joining PJMF, she spent 7 years at the Brookings Institution, where she led efforts to build data capacity and strengthen impact strategy. She holds an MA in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in Social Policy from Northwestern University.

Erika Quada

Executive Assistant

With a decade of experience, Erika supports strategic engagement for the Office of the President, managing complex schedules and coordinating high-stakes projects to advance PJMF’s mission.

Erika is a seasoned executive professional who specializes in providing support to high-level CEOs. Prior to PJMF, she supported the leader of the largest privately held renewable company in the U.S. She cherishes time with her family, especially her son, and enjoys days on a lake, watching football, and cuddling her French bulldog. Erika is dedicated to helping her community, particularly those with special needs.

Nicholas Trimmer

Products and Services Associate

Nick is a technologist eager to contribute to the Products and Services Team as an associate. His drive is to create practical AI tools that eschew traditional financial motives for people-centered products.

Nick graduated from North Seattle College with a BS in Computer Science, intending to create AI applications with real-world use cases. His passion for democratizing the benefits of advanced technology keeps him focused on creating ethical software solutions. While away from the keyboard, he enjoys cooking, reading, cycling, and lounging in the sun with his partner and two puppies.

Jacqui Watts

Learning & Insights Lead

As part of the Strategy & Innovation team, Jacqui leads PJMF’s efforts to build resources and learning experiences to support organizations in progressing on their AI journey.

Jacqui has built learning experiences across a range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including a tech apprenticeship program for Airbnb, human-centered design resources for IDEO.org, and workforce development training for Code Tenderloin. Somewhere in the middle, she developed her technical chops through a software engineering bootcamp and put those skills into practice on Khan Academy’s Infrastructure team.

Monica Williams

Operations Manager

Monica supports operations, systems management, and technology solutions for the Foundation.

Monica graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in history and communications. She spent eight years managing Trademark Tours, a tourism start-up in Cambridge, MA. During COVID-19, Monica joined Neighborhood Villages to advocate for early education and policy reform and facilitate the reopening of Boston childcare centers. In her spare time, she listens to podcasts and teaches cardio dance and cardio boxing.

Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

Our Team

Hana Awad

Mathilde Barge

Aidan Berger

Yolanda Botti-Lodovico

Elena Brennan

Nick Cain

Nicholas Davis

Suzanne DiBianca

Gwen Hotaling

Eloy Leibas

Simone Liano

Crystal Luo

Hazem Mahmoud

Patrick McGovern

Bob Merriman

Topaz Mukulu

Abeer Nawaz

Christopher Page

Valmik Patel

Michelle Pomerantz

Becca Portman

Erika Quada

Nicholas Trimmer

Jacqui Watts

Monica Williams

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