With over 25 years of experience, Lisa is a seasoned strategist, researcher, and planner specializing in community development and guiding initiatives to build equitable communities and improve organizational impact. 

Lisa began her career as a youth development professional and community builder in Fort Wayne, IN in the racially diverse and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods where she grew up. After relocating to Indianapolis, IN, Lisa quickly found opportunities to blend a passion for working with people in marginalized communities with using stories and data to advocate for community change. 

Lisa identifies as a cis, white woman and often reflects on the ways that these identities show up in the work and in her life. She grew up in a vibrant and diverse community without class privilege and learned to be vocal and speak up alongside those facing systemic barriers, honing her advocacy skills from a young age. Experiencing firsthand the challenges encountered by marginalized communities, she developed a deep understanding of the structural inequities that impact their lives. When she relocated to Indianapolis, Lisa was confronted with the stark contrast of class privilege in predominantly white spaces, which sharpened her awareness of the vast inequalities that exist. This experience only strengthened her commitment to social justice, as she sought new ways to blend her passion for working with marginalized communities with her expertise in using stories and data to advocate for meaningful, community-driven change.

Lisa holds a Master’s degree in Applied Sociology with a concentration in Research and Evaluation from the University of Indianapolis, where she also earned a Bachelor’s degree, attending classes part-time over the course of a dozen years, while simultaneously working full-time and raising a family. While challenging at times, the blend of academic and real-world experiences enabled her to appreciate the lessons that both academia and community have to offer. 

Lisa's career has been centered on advancing social equity and community empowerment. Early in her work with the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections Indianapolis initiative, she collaborated with community leaders on projects focused on environmental justice, early childhood education, and family economic success. Through participatory action research, Lisa played a key role in advocating for equitable access to health, wealth, and education for families in the Martindale-Brightwood and Southeast neighborhoods of Indianapolis. In addition to direct service and grassroots work, Lisa has held leadership roles, including Vice President of Strategy at Community Solutions, Inc., and Director of Planning & Measurement at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

A committed advocate for community-driven change, Lisa  has been active in several professional associations and advocacy groups, including the Association for Humanist Sociologists, the Indiana Evaluation Association, and the Washington Township Schools Parent Council Network. Her volunteer leadership work includes serving on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis for nearly a decade, serving as President of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association, and serving as the North Central High School PTO President. Lisa believes that public schools are the lifeblood of a community and that those most impacted by programs, policies, and systems must be at the center of change efforts.

Outside of her work, Lisa enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, live music, and exploring the joys of being an empty nester with her spouse, Paul, and their co-dependent dog, Alice.