Members - Immigration and Higher Education Study Committee, Phase 2
Committee Co-Chairs
- Bright Dornblaser
Bright Dornblaser is a semi-retired Emeritus Professor from the University of Minnesota Division of Health Policy and Management. Before retirement, he was a Professor in the Health Care Management Program and was Program Director for 12 years. He is a past President of the Association of University Programs in Health Management and of the UMN MHA Program Alumni Association. Dorn is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Uruguay Partners of the Americas, a member of the Pensions Committee of the MN AARP, and a Member of the Citizens League Policy Advisory Committee.
- James Worlobah
James Worlobah is director of Senior Programs at East Side Neighborhood Services, Inc., where he has worked since 1997. At East Side Neighborhood Services, he manages six programs geared to empowering older adults toward greater civic engagement and maintaining their health and independence within their communities. James has a MBA in Finance and a Bachelors degree in Economics. He is a member of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, the Plymouth Housing Alliance, and the Wayzata Evangelical Free Church.
Committee Members
- Maureen Cisneros
Maureen Cisneros is a public policy intern at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. She completed the Masters Program in Advocacy and Political Leadership at the University of Minnesota Duluth in May 2007. Previously, she worked at the University of Minnesota as an Admission Counselor and as an advisor in the TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Maureen also serves on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and the Growth and Justice Rethinking Public Education Steering Committee.
- John DeSantis
- Anna Farrell
Anna Farrell is a Senior Coach with Admission Possible, in her second year of a term of service through AmeriCorps with low-income seniors at Central High School in St. Paul. Her duties include helping students fill out college and scholarship applications, walking them through the financial aid process, and aiding in the transition from high school to college. Other affiliations: Macalester College graduate/donor (2006)
- Vinodh Kutty
Vinodh Kutty grew up in Malaysia and went to school in Singapore. Upon graduating from the Institute of Education, National University of Singapore, he taught physical education and general science in a high school for a year in Singapore before coming to the U.S. to study English. Un the U.S., he completed basic and graduate degrees in English and Anthropoligy. He is currently working on his dissertation in Anthropology at the University of Minnesota. Kutty has worked on language access, integration and civic engagement issues concerning new Americans, refugees, immigrants, and traditional minority groups for the last few years in different capacities in local government with Hennepin County. He has also had the opportunity to work with educators and providers across the state of Minnesota in the realm of cultural and linguistic competency and diversity while working with the MN Humanities Commission and The Center for Cross-Cultural Health.
- Nathan Lassila
Nathan Lassila, Ph. D., is Vice President for Research and Policy Development at the Minnesota Private College Council Research Foundation. He is responsible for the management and coordination of a comprehensive research program to serve four related non-profit corporations and their member private colleges and universities.
- Nick Leitheiser
Nick Leitheiser is a Project Assistant at Way to Grow, Inc. He provides logistical and data management support for the program and development work of the organization. He takes a major role in the logistical planning for programming and development events and takes on other projects as needed. In the technology side of the organization, he helped to develop the data management process, developed and maintains the website, and is the resident computer support person and network administrator.
- Tim McDonald
Tim McDonald is an Associate with Education Evolving, a nationally-focused policy group based in Minnesota. As part of his work, he writes on the cultural and religious challenges facing immigrants and minority groups in America's public schools. Tim is also a Research Fellow at Hamline University and a Junior Fellow at the American Academy of Political and Social Science.
- Malcolm McLean
Malcolm McLean was born and raised in Duluth. He served in the Navy (WWII) and the Army (Korea). Malcolm worked for the H.D. Fuller company 1953-55; was a Foreign Service Officer with the US Information Agency 1955-71 and served in Korea, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Washington; was President of Northland College in Ashland, WI, 1971-87; was President of the United Arts Council in St. Paul 1987-90; and was Executive Director of Compatible Technology, Int., 1991-95. He volunteers in a school, reads for the blind, and runs two lecture organizations.
- Matt Musel
Matt Musel is a development officer for University of Minnesota Extension, where he manages a portfolio of more than 150 major gift prospects and donors representing individuals, corporations and foundations. Before coming to the University of Minnesota, Matt spent five years as development director for Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN, where his volunteer efforts included recruitment retention and college placement of Latino immigrant students. Matt was a volunteer in youth ministry to Latino Catholics and holds a master's degree in religious education from the University of St. Thomas. He is also a former member of the Board of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network and of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
- Linea Palmisano
Linea Palmisano is an Experience Management consultant for Definity Health, the financial products segment of UnitedHealth Group, where she engages with product teams and delivery partners to improve the overall consumer experience of health care as it relates to insurance and Healthcare Savings Accounts. She is a former coach at Southwest High School and mentor through the Wallin Scholarship Program. In May 2007, in partnership with key stipend-scholarship contributors, she commissioned and began the NAVIGATE program, which seeks to improve access specifically for undocumented students in pursuit of higher education. NAVIGATE works by utilizing the skills and time of current college students to create materials for high school students. Its long-term goal is fair consideration for US immigrants seeking education beyond high school and integration of this underserved population into the economics, education and culture of Minnesota. Linea is also the elected Chair of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council.
- Suzanne Pearl
Suzanne Pearl is the Manager of Project ReDesign at MAP for Nonprofits. Her work focuses on assisting nonprofit organizations through the realignment process, from organizational restructure to merger. Suzanne is an attorney with ten years of experience in nonprofits, including 3 years as a lobbyist and grassroots organizer and five years in the international development field. She lived in the Czech Republic for two years, where she worked for an environmental NGO and worked with the Czech Senate to encourage citizen engagement through the lobbying process. Following her time in the Czech Republic, Suzanne spend three years in Washington, DC, with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, managing democratic governance programs in Bosnia and Serbia. She has a law degree from Hamline University School of Law and a BA in History from the University of Minnesota.
- Stacia Smith
- Amanda Ziebell-Finley
Amanda Ziebell-Finley is a Senior Financial Aid Counselor at the College of St. Catherine. She is the lead counselor for all students on the Minneapolis campus, a campus primarily serving first generation and immigrant students. Before her work in financial aid, she worked as an admissions counselor and spent two years as an AmeriCorps member at Admission Possible, working with students at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis. She has spent several years as an ELL/ESL and citizenship tutor. Amanda also does contract work for Northwester University's Civic Education Project. Amanda is a member of the Minnesota College Access Network and the Minnesota College Personal Association, and she volunteers with the Center for Victims of Torture, the American Red Cross, and the Blue House Orphanage in Uganda.
Staff
- Victoria Ford
Victoria Ford is Policy Manager for the Citizens League. In that role, she is the lead staff for all Citizens League education policy work, including this study committee and Students Speak Out, a project that engages students in defining and solving problems in their schools. Victoria also staffed the 2004-2005 study committee on increasing college access in the Saint Paul Public Schools and the 2006 Immigration and Higher Education Study Committee (Phase I). In addition to her education policy work, Victoria manages the Minnesota Journal and the Policy and a Pint event series. Victoria is a founding Board member of the Minnesota College Access Network; a Member of the (Saint Paul) Mayor's Education Roundtable Working Group; an Advisory to NAVIGATE, an internship program for immigrant students; and was a member of the Minnesota Minority Education Program State of Students of Color Working group (2005-06).
- Annie Levenson-Falk
Annie Levenson-Falk is the Membership and Policy Assistant for the Citizens League. In this role, she staffs this study committee and provides support for other policy groups, including the Tax Policy Working Group and the Policy Advisory Committee. She manages the Citizens League's membership and development database, supports the Board of Directors Membership and Engagement Committee, and maintains the organization's website. Annie is also a lead member of the legal committee of the Community Raid Response Team, which provides know-your-rights information specific to questions of immigration status, detention, and deportation and does legal observation during immigration enforcement actions. She is also an advisory to the NAVIGATE program.