Maxwell Class Notes
Jeff Leach ’78 B.A. (Econ)
has been included in “Marquis Who’s Who,” a biographical publication chronicling top leaders and professionals in the United States. Leach, who retired in 2015, is recognized for his work as an information technology consultant with IBM, Deloitte and more.
Emma Fawcett ’22 B.A. (PPhil)
is a donor development and engagement coordinator for New Narrative, an organization in Tigard, Ore., that provides a holistic approach to mental health and homelessness.
Seth Matakis ’21 E.M.P.A.
has accepted the role of global operations administrator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
Kristen Baker ’19 M.P.A.
is the senior environmental analyst for Environmental Design and Research, a multidisciplinary site design, engineering and environmental consulting firm based in Syracuse, N.Y.
Forrest Young ’17 M.P.A.
is a trial attorney for the tax division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Pengju Zhang ’16 Ph.D. (PA)
received an award for best paper at the 2022 Midwest Public Affairs convention in Springfield, Ill., for “Impact of Home Rule on Municipal Boundary and Fiscal Expansion: Evidence from Texas.”
Sean Hood ’15 M.P.A.
is a strategy, insights and planning consultant for ZS, a business consulting and services agency based in Evanston, Ill.
John Stefanski ’14 M.P.A.
is the 2023 president of the Municipal Management Association of Northern California, a membership organization of local government management professionals that encompasses 49 counties.
Sean Wang ’13 M.A. (Geog)
of Chicago, Ill., started as partnerships and collaborators manager for the Integrity Institute in November 2022. The Integrity Institute protects the social integrity of the internet by navigating its various ethical obstacles.
Mark Cohen ’13 E.M.P.A.
was recognized with a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award by his former employer, the U.S. Department of State. The award is conferred at the president’s discretion and recognized sustained superior accomplishment. He is currently a medical program consultant for RockRoad Consulting in Albany, N.Y.
Savannah Chin ’13 M.P.A.
is an enterprise risk officer on the reputation risk oversight team for Wells Fargo. Chin oversees the management of reputation risk, including enterprise-wide reputation risk training and education initiatives.
Lara Sepanski Pimentel ’12 M.P.A.
is an advancement specialist for Black Fox Philanthropy, a fundraising strategy consultancy in Boston, Mass.
Haifa Jedea ’11 M.A. (IR)
was named ambassador and head of the Saudi mission to the European Union and European Atomic Energy Community following a royal decree by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Jan. 3, 2023. Previously, Jedea worked as managing director of SRMG Think, an organization that provides perspectives, analysis and insights relating to the Middle East and North Africa. Jedea also worked for the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center in New York City.
Anna Abruzzese ’09 M.P.A.
has been promoted to department director for the Hennepin County Service Centers in Hennepin County, Minn. Abruzzese oversees seven locations that provide driver’s licenses, motor vehicle and vital records services.
Eric Morris ’08 B.A. (Econ)/ ’09 M.A. (Econ)
was named portfolio management associate and staff economist at Alesco Advisors, a wealth and investment management company based in Pittsford, N.Y.
Tanya Raymond ’06 M.A. (IR)
received the 2022 Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service. The award is given annually to employees who exemplify the highest standards of public service in Massachusetts. At the time of the award, Raymond served as the commonwealth’s emergency rental assistance program coordinator.
Tom Dannan ’06 B.A. (PSt)/ ’12 M.P.A.
has been promoted to senior manager at R3 Consulting, a Washington, D.C., firm that has served clients including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Student Aid.
Haley Glover ’05 M.P.A.
was named director of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute. UpSkill strives to advance economic mobility, education opportunities and job quality for frontline workers.
Thomas Leitz ’04 M.P.A.
became Waterbury, Vt.’s new municipal manager on Jan. 1, 2023. Previously, Leitz worked for the city of St. Albans, Vt., as director of administration. He also served county manager in Franklin County, N.Y.
Vipin Arora ’04 M.P.A./M.A. (IR/Econ)
recently became the director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Arora previously served as acting deputy assistant director of the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate of the National Science Foundation.