They provide an industry perspective on trends and careers in sustainability, impact investing, civic impact, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and more.
Executives in residence also share their business and social sector expertise and bring a field-based perspective to the Rustandy Center’s work.
If you’re a current student interested in meeting one-on-one with a Rustandy Center executive in residence, contact us.
Sara Chamberlain, is co-founder & managing director at Earth Foundry, an early-stage venture capital firm which has backed some of the most transformative energy and cleantech companies. Sara is the driving force of the firm, leading investment activity and actively building the fund’s portfolio companies, including Advanced Diamond Technologies (acquired by SMIN), Azumo, e-Zinc, Intellihot, NanoGraf, Network Perception, Polystyvert, Tank Utility (acquired by Generac), and Volexion. Prior to Earth Foundry, Sara built a government advisory practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and helped climate tech startups raise $300M in non-dilutive funding. She also held roles with GE Energy and environmental consulting firm, GaiaTech.
Todd Connor, '07, is the founder of Bunker Labs, a national entrepreneurship organization dedicated to helping the military-connected community start and grow businesses in over 40 chapters across the United States. He is the founder of The Collective Academy, a leadership development consulting firm, as well as Emerson House, a luxe retreat venue in La Porte, Indiana. He is currently CEO of Veterans for Political Innovation, an organization he co-founded to fight political polarization and advocate for more political competition and choice for voters. Todd also serves as the lead facilitator for the President George W. Bush Veteran Leadership Program in Dallas, Texas.
Todd Connor, ’07, Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Board Service
David Ellis is Founder and co-CEO of Hatch Africa. Hatch works across six countries in sub-Saharan Africa supplying resilient, high-yielding chickens to rural smallholder farmers, thereby improving their income and nutrition. In 2023, Hatch supplied over 40 million chickens to more than 4 million smallholder farmers throughout Africa and employed 2,000 full-time personnel.
Sonny Garg spent 25 years as a senior executive in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He led the energy division at Uptake Technologies, was a member of the executive committee at Exelon Corporation, and worked in the administrations of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and US president Bill Clinton. Garg serves on the boards of the Invisible Institute and the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
Sonny Garg, AB ’89, MBA ’00, Civic Impact
Brittany Henry, '17, is on the investments team at Impact America Fund, a venture capital firm investing in tech-driven businesses that provide economic opportunities to communities of color in the US. Brittany focuses on investing in fintech solutions such as personal finance tools as well as technology to support the growth of small to medium businesses. Prior to joining IAF, she worked as a management consultant in the strategy practice at KPMG, focusing on mergers and acquisitions for large corporate clients, and on financial process improvement for clients at Accenture.
Brittany Henry, ’17, Impact Investing
Dorri McWhorter is president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Most recently, McWhorter was CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, leading the 140-year-old social service agency's expansion of digital services and helped develop an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for women’s empowerment. A winner of innovation awards and a 20-year veteran in large-scale change management consulting, McWhorter was a partner at Crowe Horwath LLP and a senior leader at Snap-on Incorporated and Booz Allen Hamilton.
Dorri McWhorter, Nonprofit Engagement
Liz Michaels is co-head of Aperio (part of BlackRock), where she also led Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. Before that, Michaels led the $11 billion defined contribution managed accounts business at Ibbotson Associates, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer of Morningstar, president of Jellyvision, Inc., an interactive firm known for its game You Don't Know Jack™, and associate dean/director of the Career Advising and Planning Services office at the University of Chicago.
Liz Michaels, AB ’88, MBA ’06 (XP-75), ESG
Priya Parrish is adjunct assistant professor of strategy at Chicago Booth and partner and chief investment officer at Impact Engine, a venture capital and private equity firm investing in companies driving impact in economic empowerment, education, environmental sustainability, and health. She advises investment firms and asset owners developing and managing impact investment strategies and previously was chief investment officer at Schwartz Capital Group and a senior investor at Aurora Investment Management.
Priya Parrish, ’09, Impact Investing
Our events provide insights into the social sector, helping our community make the world more equitable and sustainable.
Attend a Rustandy Center Event
How can private market investors and entrepreneurs identify and utilize creative strategies to work toward social equity?
Innovating for Social Equity: How Private Market Investors Affect Change
With billions spent by the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, why do profound inequities persist?
Innovating for Social Equity: New Approaches in Philanthropy
From CSR to diversity and inclusion and beyond, leaders discuss the role of business.
Can Business Leaders Play a Bigger Role in Building Social Equity?
