Our Team
From our 14 staff members who work every day to develop solutions, analyze data, and build public knowledge, to our Advisory Council members who help support and strengthen our work, our team is dedicated to achieving equitable funding, access, and opportunities for all Connecticut students.
Our staff is the heartbeat of our organization. What started as three individuals working around a lone 6-foot table has grown into a thriving, diverse staff of more than a dozen committed individuals who work each and every day to move Connecticut forward through more equitable education funding policies. Click on a team member photo below to learn more about our incredible staff.
In many ways, the Advisory Council fills the role of our board of directors. It is not, however, the decision-making body of the organization. Instead, the Advisory Council act as a sounding board for our executive leadership and provides guidance, additional considerations, and recommended next steps for policy proposals our staff has developed or is in the process of developing.
Lisa Hammersley
Executive Director
Patrick Gibson
Deputy Executive Director for Data, Policy, & Special Projects
Michael Morton
Deputy Executive Director for Communications & Operations
Erika Haynes
Director of Community Engagement
Morgan Considine
Senior Data Analyst
Nisha Gandhi
Communications Manager
C.J. Strand
Government Relations Manager
Ashley Robles
Data Analyst
Amber Martin
Data Analyst
Sasha Davis
Policy Analyst
George Sinclair
Communications & Government Relations Associate
Darshni Patel
Communications Associate
Jen Nakos
Community Engagement Associate
Cristian Corza
Community Engagement Associate
Emily Nolan
Data Analyst Intern
Kevin Booker Jr.
CEO and Founder, Booker Empowerment, LLC
Elizabeth Chu
Executive Director, Center for Public Research and Leadership
Curtis Eatman
Finance Director, Town of Hamden
Carrie Schindele
Executive Director, The Peter & Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation
Zahava Stadler
Project Director, Education Funding Equity Initiative at New America
Committed to Staff Diversity
Since its founding, the School and State Finance Project has been committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that respects the unique talents, individual perspectives, and lived experiences of each staff member. We are committed to building and fostering a racially diverse team that reflects our organization’s values, our commitment to equity, and the students and communities we work for every day. We know, however, we can — and must — do more to reflect this commitment.
As our organization changes and grows, we are actively seeking individuals who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work. This includes making a conscious effort to seek job candidates from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities because we believe their life experiences, coupled with their professional expertise, are critical to our mission and the success of our organization. For more information about the steps we’re taking to acknowledge our privilege and improve the racial diversity of our team, contact us at info@schoolstatefinance.org.