This fall ImpactED onboarded seven team members including five Fellows (Joy Namunoga, Mallory Richards, Mary Ricchezza, Yingyue Jiang, & Yuluan Cao) a Program Coordinator (Betsy Whiteman), and an Assistant Director of Operations (Ridhdhi Parmar). We're excited to introduce the newest additions to our team!
Betsy Whiteman
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I'm from Oxford, Ohio and I found ImpactED while earning my master's degree at the University of Pennsylvania. The mission and culture of ImpactED spoke to me so after I graduated, I stayed on as the Program Coordinator!
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as ImpactED's Program Coordinator? What do you hope to achieve?
In my position, I love evaluating our deliverables and trainings and thinking creatively and strategically about how we can improve them to further support mission-focused organizations and social change agents in Philadelphia.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love taking really long walks that almost always include stopping to get an iced coffee :)
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good" - Voltaire
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
George Washington, I have always wanted to ask him what he was considering when he limited his presidency to two terms rather than seek a third term. It was such a significant decision for the preservation of our democracy, I want to know what was going through his head.
Joy Namunoga
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I am from Uganda, with experience in nonprofits coordination and program management, as well as tackling transparency and accountability violations and corruption in public service. What drew me to the ImpactED fellowship is shared commitment of using data to inform learning and make meaningful impact in communities and beyond.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
I am excited to expand my understanding of the data determinants for the success and failure of policies, how stakeholders can be involved in the processes at all levels and look forward to supporting community organizations in Philadelphia to develop evaluation strategies and corresponding instruments that will provide leaders with rigorous, independent, and practical analysis.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I am a single mom to a little girl, Braelyn Fabulous Mukisa, with whom I moved to Philadelphia. What I enjoy most is talking and singing with her. In my additional time, you will find me cooking, singing, and occasionally playing the piano.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
“If you don’t see a seat at the table… become the table”. This is my positive self-talk phrase.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex! She has used her voice since age 11 to champion women’s and young girls’ rights. She reminds women that it’s okay express your own femininity and still stand up for the equality of women. From her, I have learnt to focus less on “glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings,”
Mallory Richards
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I am from Princeton, New Jersey. Coming from a background in financial research and analysis, I was drawn to ImpactED as a way to use that background for social impact and informed policy decisions.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
One of my projects for ImpactED is working with Committee of 70, an organization that I've known about and been interested in for a while. It is exciting to be working with an organization that has had such an impact on civic engagement, and I feel lucky to get to play a role in the analysis behind some of their initiatives.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love cooking and reading, and I also have a dog, so she and I are often exploring new neighborhoods in Philly.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
"Never let your inability to do everything undermine your determination to do something. Greatness lies in the doing not the doubting" -Cory Booker
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
Dolly Alderton, who is one of my favorite writers and eloquently balances the emotional trenches of growing up in the digital age with humor and candor.
Mary Ricchezza
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I am from Fort Washington, PA, but currently live in Baltimore, MD. I took a Program Evaluation course last spring that opened me up to a whole new world of work that I didn't know existed. I really enjoyed the class and knew that the fellowship could continue to provide the skills and tools I need to grow.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
I am excited to interact with the ImpactED partners and expand my network and skills. I hope I can help facilitate substantive evaluations that will then enhance and assist the work of ImpactED partners.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I play soccer and volleyball at least three days a week and enjoy trying new restaurants or going to trivia with my friends.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
"Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." - George Bernard Shaw
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics and host of Freakonomics Radio because he studies such a wide variety of topics and has met so many different people. He's bound to have a lot of interesting stories!
Ridhdhi Parmar
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I am from a couple different places in New England...I was raised in New Haven, CT and lived in Vermont through high school and undergrad. Prior to ImpactED, I was a Program Manager at Wharton's Leadership Program and had worked with ImpactED during my time there. The thing that stood out to me most when I came across this role was the direct and intentional partnerships ImpactED fosters with the nonprofits we serve.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as ImpactED's Assistant Director of Operations? What do you hope to achieve?
I'm most excited to increase collaboration across our team and push strategic objectives forward. I'm also excited to work with such passionate evaluators and program designers to continue embedding equity into our culture and work.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Cooking, catching up on reality TV, and attempting to keep the city squirrels out of my garden.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
"It's tougher to be vulnerable than to actually be tough." - Rihanna
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
My grandfather on my mom's side. I, and my mom, never got to meet him and I constantly hear that I have inherited many of his characteristics and interests (like gardening!) so it would be amazing to learn more about his experiences and life.
Yingyue Jiang
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I am originally from China, I want to develop my skills in evaluation.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
I want to improve my analytical skills.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Traveling, running, and watching reality shows.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
With Doraemon, because he can help me solve all my problems.
Yuluan Cao
Where are you from and what led you to your role at ImpactED?
I'm from north part of China. I want to practice what I have learned from my graduate study in ImpactED.
What are you most excited about as it pertains to your role as a Fellow at ImpactED? What do you hope to achieve?
I'm very excited about the opportunity to interact with ImpactED staff and fellows. Besides, I want to explore the breadth of evaluation for various social organizations.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Cooking, photography, and walking.
What's your favorite quote or saying at the moment?
Misfortune may be an actual blessing.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
JK Rowling. I really want to know how she came up with the idea of a magic world.
