2020-21 Young Professionals Cohort

Bonner Professional development Seminar Series

In 2020-21, these ambitious Young Professionals are participating in the Bonner Foundation’s National Community of Practice through the Bonner Pipeline Project Professional Development Seminar Series. These 12 individuals play a significant role in supporting the Bonner Program and campus-wide community engagement at their respective institutions and communities across the Bonner Network. Even in the early stages of their careers, these Young Professionals bring deep and rich community engagement experience, including as Bonner alumni, AmeriCorps members, and from other nonprofit positions. Seven of the cohort members are Bonner alumni. In their respective roles, they serve as sage mentors, fierce advocates, dedicated change-makers, effective planners, creative collaborators, and rising leaders. Most are program coordinators, managers, or assistant directors. Even so early in their careers, many have or are currently in graduate degree programs, including nonprofit leadership, higher education, and political science.

The Young Professionals series is designed as a learning community to advance the knowledge, skills, and professional development of the participants. Through web-based seminars, the cohort members engage with theory, literature, and case studies, and discuss its application and practice at colleges and universities around the country. The commitment involves attending, reading and preparing for the three core and at least three elective seminars. Through their self-designed projects, to be completed later in the year, these Young Professionals will also create new knowledge and resources for the field.

These Young Professionals bring expertise and an eagerness to learn and grow. They are great individuals to tap for committees, special projects, and new initiatives. It is our hope that their participation in this series will support their growth and advancement as they navigate their professional journey. They are the leaders of today and tomorrow.

To learn more about the Bonner Pipeline Project Professional Development Seminar Series, please visit here. Learn more about the 20-21 Young Professionals cohort below.

2020-21 Young Professionals Cohort

Jeffrey Snow

Graduate Assistant for the Bonner Leader Program at University of Lynchburg

Jeffrey graduated from the University of Lynchburg in 2019 and majored in Sociology. During that time, he served as a Bonner Leader working with a nonprofit in the local school system. He helped students receive an equitable opportunity to access higher education and technical certificate programs. After undergrad, he began his Masters in Nonprofit Leadership at Lynchburg serving as the Graduate Assistant for the Bonner Leader Program. In addition to his GA Bonner position at Lynchburg, he is also employed at a local nonprofit that works with individuals facing emergency situations, such as evictions and utility terminations. Currently, his role evolved into coordinating coronavirus relief funding for Central Virginia.

Kisha Burton

Bonner Scholar Coordinator at Lindsey Wilson College

Kisha Burton obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services and Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College in May of 2013. After graduation is when she found her passion for service work and holistic wellness. This prompted her to pursue a Master of Education degree in School Counseling at Western Kentucky University where she graduated in December of 2017. She has seen first-hand the significance of caring for the individuals in her proximity while balancing spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Kisha loves to help others excavate their strengths so that they can be their best self. 

Sophia Lombardo

Coordinator of Community Service and the Bonner Program at Centre College  

Sophia joined the Centre College staff in 2019. In her role, she works with the 60 Bonner students to develop stronger relationships with Danville, Kentucky region. Sophia also aides the greater campus service initiatives and get out the vote efforts. She was a National Foundation Intern at the Bonner Foundation in the summer of 2019 and worked with Bobby Hackett on organizing Social Action courses across the network. Sophia is an Earlham College Bonner Scholar alum where she was a Bonner Intern and majored in Global Management Leadership. She is originally from Columbus, Ohio, and plans to go to graduate school for either arts management, public administration, or higher education. 

Taylor hibel

AmeriCorps VISTA: Economic Development Programming Coordinator at Stetson University

Taylor works on capacity-building initiatives, designing new nonprofit programs, and assessing community voice with the Cusack Resource Center and Stetson’s Center for Community Engagement. She works to reduce barriers to employment and create community partnerships to increase household incomes in Spring Hill, while providing Stetson students an opportunity for community-engaged learning. Taylor graduated as a Bonner alumna from Stetson in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Certificate of Community Engagement. Currently, she is taking coursework toward her Master’s in Educational Leadership with a Higher Education concentration at Florida Gulf Coast University. She hopes to pursue a career in nonprofit management or higher education that allows her to follow multiple passions and continue working to advance social justice causes.

Jeniffer Gonzalez Reyes

Bonner Program Coordinator, Allegheny Gateway, at Allegheny College

Jeniffer is a 2019 graduate of the Guilford College Bonner Scholars Program. She majored in Physics and minored in German. In her undergraduate career, she served as a Bonner Site Coordinator, Volunteer Trainer, and Bonner Congress Representative, including as the Student Keynote Speaker at the 2018 Bonner Congress. Jeniffer joined the Allegheny team in the fall of 2019. In her role, she provides structures, programs and resources to support student and faculty engagement in Meadville and beyond. Her hometown is Charlotte, NC and she was born in Veracruz, Mexico.

Olivia Fowler

Coordinator for Student Health, Wellness & Engagement at Rhodes College

Originally from Ohio, Olivia is a transplant Memphian who serves as the Coordinator for Student Health, Wellness & Engagement at Rhodes College. Her background in Urban Studies, Urban and Community Health, and non-profit agencies allows her to effectively connect with community partners and develop Bonner curriculum. Additionally, Olivia cares deeply about individual and communal flourishing, and loves that her role allows her to work intentionally with students in the Bonner Scholars program at Rhodes, as they create capacity in the larger Memphis community.

Sophia Pray

Civic Leadership Paraprofessional at the Collaborative for Community Engagement at Colorado College

Sophia graduated from Colorado College in 2019 as a Community Engaged Scholar and now currently serves as the Civic Leadership Paraprofessional at her alma mater. She focuses on program development and student support within the realm of civic education, including for Bonners. She is excited to build a career in public service which she describes as encapsulating non-profit work, engaged research and problem-solving, and program evaluation, fields that all require collective, public participation. Later in her professional career, she aspires to pursue graduate school-- specifically a PhD in applied research and action-- and utilize her experiences in the public sector while teaching students practical ways to engage in community work.

Toria Teamer

Bonner Scholars Program Manager at Wofford College

Toria is a 2016 graduate of University of South Carolina Upstate where she received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. In her undergraduate career, Toria served as a Peer Educator at the Urban League of the Upstate for over three years. In this role, she worked to educate and empower young black girls and women through culture and gender pride, self care, and healthy relationships. After graduating at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Toria began as an AmeriCorps VISTA supporting community engagement at Wofford College. In Spring of 2019, Toria transitioned into the Bonner Scholars Program Manager role at Wofford College.

Jordan van Leesten

Program Manager, Student Development, the Swearer Center, at Brown University

Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Jordan has spent the past five years working with Mayor Jorge Elorza’s Community Relations Department, and most recently led the Admissions Department for Year Up Rhode Island, a national job training program for youth in Rhode Island. As a University of Rhode Island graduate, Jordan considers himself a natural public servant in finding ways to represent the underrepresented, and developing new relationships through civic and community engagement. In his free time, Jordan enjoys cycling, taste-testing food gems in Providence, and watching and playing soccer.

Ryan Indelicato

Bonner Program Coordinator at Maryville College

Ryan Indelicato joined the Maryville College staff in May 2019. In this role, he works directly with the 60 Bonner Scholars at the college by developing curriculum, leading meetings, overseeing service requirements, and offering mentorship and advising. Ryan assists teaching the Road to Justice Course and oversees the nonpartisan student organization MC Votes. Ryan graduated from Maryville College in May 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. While at MC, he was a Bonner Scholar for his last three years. In the future, Ryan hopes to either start or expand a nonprofit that focuses on outdoor recreation and environmental education to historically excluded communities.

Sunny Toreihi

AmeriCorps Public Ally, Center for Leadership and Community Engagement at Rollins College

As a recent May 2020 graduate of Rollins College, Sunny majored in philosophy and political science. During her undergraduate career, Sunny served as a Bonner Leader for four years, a Senior Bonner Intern during her final year, and as one of five national summer interns at the Bonner Foundation in the Summer of 2020. Sunny began her role as an AmeriCorps Public Ally at the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement in fall 2020. She plans to pursue graduate school for public policy after her Public Ally term.

Trinity rinear

Assistant Director of the Bonner Leaders Program in the Honors College at University of Houston

Trinity supports student leadership development and experiential learning opportunities for Honors students. UH Bonner students create, manage, and develop long-term service projects with local community partners and learn about poverty through coursework, practical program management experiences, and research. Trinity earned her Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Houston, is an Honors College alumna, and is a former UH Bonner Leader. While continuing her work with the Bonner Program, Trinity is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in political science from the University of Houston and plans to pursue a career in academia and student development.