Livingston Fellowship Program 2007 Fellows, from left to right: Marguerite Salazar, Jennifer Atler, John Livingston, Valin Brown, Melinda Higgs and Brian Wagner
Jennifer V. Atler, J.D.
Executive Director
Invest in Kids
Jennifer has a BA in Economics from Duke University and a J.D. from Georgetown University, and has completed internships in a congressional office, with a federal district court judge, and with the American Coalition of Abuse Awareness. She left her law practice in 1999 to join Invest in Kids. Through the Fellowship, she is learning from national experts how to leverage the impact of Invest in Kids both locally and nationally. She completed an executive leadership program at Harvard, has met with leaders in other states, and is engaged in other leadership development activities.
“This Fellowship is truly the greatest gift I have ever been given. I have learned from experts across the country, transformed our organization, built meaningful relationships with extraordinary people and, perhaps most importantly, gained invaluable insights into myself. For what more could one ask?”
M. Valin Brown
CEO
Carlsbad Education Foundation
Valin earned baccalaureate degrees in Philosophy and Cultural Anthropology and an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Northwestern University. He joined the Mile High United Way in 2000 and then served as executive director of Colorado Bright Beginnings until his move to California in 2007. He used his Fellowship to participate in formal leadership development programs, make connections with leaders outside the early care and education field, and participate in forums to explore issues including policy development and nonprofit sustainability.
“The thinking, research, and learning that has taken place as part of this process has been invaluable…and for that I am grateful.”
Melinda Higgs, MPA
President/Executive Director
Colorado Nonprofit Development Center
Melinda has a BA in Communications from Regis University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Prior to joining CNDC in 1999, she was the executive director of Partners, Inc./Partners Association of Colorado. With the Fellowship, she is enhancing her understanding of leadership in the nonprofit sector by attending conferences, visiting leading national organizations, and interviewing experts on the topic.
Marguerite Salazar
President/CEO
Valley-Wide Community Health Systems
Marguerite has a BA in Psychology/Sociology/Gerontology and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Adams State College. Prior to joining VWCHS in 1989, she was a mental health therapist and then owned a private medical social work service company. As a Fellow, she is exploring how organizations around the world have been successful in providing quality indigent health care. She is visiting programs in impoverished countries and accessing the resources of the World Health Organization to gain knowledge that will help her influence practice and policy at the local, state and national levels.
Brian Wagner
Community Development Coordinator
Oregon Arts Commission
Brian earned a Bachelor of Music in classical guitar performance from the University of Arizona and a Master of Music from Lewis and Clark College. He served as a faculty member at several colleges in the Pacific Northwest and joined the Durango Arts Center as Director in 1996. He accepted his position at the Oregon Art Commission in 2007. With the Fellowship he explored how arts and culture can shape the identity and economic opportunities of his community and the region. He participated in the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Arts at Stanford and made visits to leading arts organizations to examine best practices.