Under the direction of Dr. Zachary Green, a core faculty of academics and professional coaches offers a wealth of expertise in leadership studies and community change to our Urban Leadership Fellows Program at USD. Together and individually, they work closely with the RISE Fellows as they learn and grow under the program’s adaptive leadership approach.
Zachary is the founding designer and inaugural lead faculty of the RISE Urban Leadership Fellows Program. He is also a professor of practice in Leadership Studies and a director at the Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego. Trained as a clinical and community psychologist,
Macedonio is an alumnus of the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Art in Ethnic Studies. He is currently employed with San Diego Unified School District's Race Human Relations and Advocacy Department. His first employment after college in
Fabiola is a thought provoker and change catalyst. She has dedicated her life to improving conditions for students and educators in public K-12 systems as a teacher, teacher coach, principal, assistant superintendent, and now executive leadership coach for the San Diego
Azadeh is a certified executive leadership coach with over ten years of experience in developing and conducting personal and organizational leadership programs with a deep reflective approach to raise consciousness. She is an award-winning trainer with
Leah believes that the arts are a universal tool for healing. She is the owner of Leah Goodwin Creations, “Where Art and Soul Meet”. She has a diverse background that includes strategic planning; fundraising; event, festival, and conference coordination; art and
Kristopher is a graduate of St. Augustine’s College (now St. Augustine's University, 2005) with a BA in psychology and Seton Hall University (2008 and 2009) with degrees in community counseling
Roxanne is a life transformation strategist and owner of Kymaani Catalyst Consulting. She works in the development and implementation of transformation initiatives for both individuals and organizations. She uses her expertise in dialogue, group relations, and
Carlos is a senior clinical psychologist with the County of San Diego’s Juvenile Forensic Services STAT Team. Tasked with creating and providing innovative, community-based services to youth in detention or who are otherwise involved in the juvenile justice system,
Ferchil was born in Baguio, home of hills filled with rice terraces in the Philippines, and raised in the Bay Terraces neighborhood of southeastern San Diego. As the Digital Media and Creative Strategist for the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties he uses his multicultural
Grace is a higher education professional and leadership educator. She currently serves as the assistant dean of student affairs at
Meenakshi is a writer of literary fiction and practitioner in the fields of conflict resolution and leadership development. She received
José is the executive director of Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI), a college-prep, out-of-school-time program for
Alexis is a Harvard-trained conflict resolution practitioner with a background in Person-Centered Approach (PCA) therapy, the
Diane is the assistant vice chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of California, San Diego,
Joe is the Western Region Program vice president for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the country’s
Adriano is a doctoral student in the University of San Diego (USD) School of Leadership and Education Sciences and
JC’s path as a changemaker began after college when he traveled the world for six years while working for a study abroad