Rustandy Center Rustandy Center Team
Our leadership team combines academic expertise with real-world experience at nonprofits and for-profit businesses and in government.
That mix is required, as the lines separating these institutions are blurring, and the sectors must work together to address the great challenges we face. Email the Rustandy Center staff to learn more about us.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Robert H. Gertner
John Edwardson Faculty Director, Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Strategy and Finance
Robert H. Gertner has been on the Chicago Booth faculty since 1986. His research interests include strategic decision-making, corporate finance, organization structure, theory of the firm, and social enterprises.
Robert H. GertnerCaroline Grossman, ’03
Executive Director, Adjunct Associate Professor of Strategy
Caroline Grossman is responsible for leading the Rustandy Center’s work to serve as a destination for people committed to helping solve complex social and environmental problems, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to positively impact humanity.
Caroline Grossman, ’03
Meet Our Staff
Grace Abifarin
Assistant Director, Event and Program Marketing
Grace Abifarin manages marketing efforts for the Rustandy Center’s global portfolio of programming and events, highlighting the growing community of Booth students, alumni, and faculty working to address social issues.
Zeynep Aksoy Ata
Director, Marketing, Communications, and Brand
Zeynep Aksoy Ata develops and leads data-driven marketing strategies to grow the Rustandy Center’s brand. She also supports event and program marketing to generate leads and engage core audiences.
Ja’Nette Andrews
Assistant Director, Operations
Ja’Nette Andrews supports Rustandy Center programs and events related to social sector engagement and social entrepreneurship. This includes managing event logistics, maintaining the team’s event calendar, and administrative support for longer-term programs.
Rose Arkus
Assistant Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program
Rose Arkus oversees the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC), coordinates events, and supports student and alumni ventures, including the Tarrson Social Venture Fellows program.
Patience Baach
Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives
Patience Baach manages the Rustandy Center’s internal impact measurement work in Chicago and Hong Kong. She provides strategic and administrative support for initiatives such as the social impact data hub and operations systems and procedures.
Patience Baach
Alissa Bolz, AB ’07, AM ’22
Sr. Associate Director of Research Initiatives
Alissa Bolz catalyzes research projects focused on the social sector and complex social and environmental issues. She develops strategic partnerships between Booth faculty and for-profit, nonprofit, and public-sector organizations and manages data sourcing and collection efforts.
Wai-Sinn Chan, MBA ’02, MPP ’02
Director, Social Sector Engagement and Civic Scholars Program
Wai-Sinn Chan leads the Rustandy Center’s social sector engagement strategy and programming for students and alumni. She also directs outreach and programming for Booth’s Civic Scholars Program.
Iris Choi
Sr. Assistant Director of Programs, Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation
Iris Choi is responsible for managing the Rustandy Center’s programming in Hong Kong, including The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation.
Will Colegrove
Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program
Will Colegrove is responsible for leading the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, including cultivating the pipeline for the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge from across the university. He also leads programming on funding social impact, including impact investing experiential learning opportunities such as MIINT, Invest for Impact, and the Total Impact Portfolio Challenge.
Jennifer Hernandez
Assistant Director, Golub Capital Social Impact
Jennifer Hernandez supports with the planning and programming of the new Golub Capital Social Impact Lab in their signature offering of IGNITE.
Tyeise Huntley
Director, Golub Capital Social Impact Lab
Tyeise Huntley leads the Golub Capital Social Impact Lab which provides training and professional development to amplify the impact of leaders of high-potential nonprofits serving communities of color. The signature offering of the Lab is IGNITE, offered in partnership with the Chicago Urban League.
Kalmond Ma
Director, Hong Kong Social Impact and Innovation Initiatives
Kalmond Ma oversees the social impact programming for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation. He also leads social impact and entrepreneurship initiatives in Hong Kong and throughout Asia for both the Rustandy Center and the Polsky Center.
Jennifer Marschand
Senior Assistant Director, Operations and Strategic Initiatives
Jennifer Marschand manages internal processes as part of the operations team for the Rustandy Center and is a welcoming presence for students, alumni, staff, and guests in the newly designed, state of the art co-working office space shared by the Rustandy and Polsky Centers.
Grace Mitchell
Research Specialist, Research Initiatives
Grace manages internal processes as part of the Rustandy Center’s research team. She supports Data Hub and ESG Data Tool administration and provides faculty research assistance.
Grace MitchellChristopher Schneider
Senior Assistant Director, Programs and Partnerships
Christopher Schneider manages social sector engagement programs related to philanthropy, sustainability, and community development. He provides event planning, research, facilitation and assists the center’s strategic growth, partnerships, and social entrepreneurship programs.
Christopher SchneiderGina Vairo
Associate Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program
Gina leads the Rustandy Center’s ESG and impact investing events and programs to grow Booth’s presence in these ecosystems. She is the relationship manager and an academic advisor to the Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund and the MIINT competition.
Mateo Villanueva
Assistant Director, Programs
Mateo manages social sector engagement initiatives, fosters partnerships, and empowers students and alumni to drive social impact. Specifically, Mateo leads the Net Impact Boards Fellows, NonProfit Leadership Circle, and Alumni Board Connect programs.
Meet Our Executives in Residence
Learn more about the social sector leaders who mentor students and share their expertise in sustainability, philanthropy, and more.
Meet Our Executives in ResidenceContact the Rustandy Center
Do you have a question about the Rustandy Center? Contact Us.