2012–2013 Board of Directors Biographies

Rebecca Alderfer (MPP '01)

Rebecca Alderfer's career has consistently focused on strategic planning, analyzing resource needs and opportunities, and advancing organizational or policy objectives. She has served as the manager of strategic initiatives for Pew Center on the States at Pew Charitable Trusts. In this role, Alderfer focused on managing strategic investment deliberations, leading planning and execution of projects, and building relationships to promote the development of the organization.

In addition to working with Pew Charitable Trusts, Alderfer participated in a one-year consultancy with Georgetown O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health as part of an advisory board to evaluate opportunities to create more value-for-money and efficiency in U.S. government funded global health programs.

Alderfer holds a bachelor of science in economics from Iowa State University, with minors in Spanish and international studies, in addition to a master's in public policy from the Humphrey School.

Deena Anders (MPA ’04) President-Elect

Deena Anders is the director of planning and evaluation for the Domestic Abuse Project, where her responsibilities range from grant writing and program development to research and outcome evaluation. She also is the project coordinator for the Hennepin Domestic Fatality Review Team, a collaboration of private, public and non-profit organizations charged with developing recommendations for improvements to policy and practice that enhance identification, intervention, and prevention efforts. She provides volunteer fundraising and communications assistance to a number of local nonprofit organizations and is a grants peer reviewer for the federal Office of Violence Against Women and the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs.

Anders holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in human rights from the Humphrey School.

Eric Anderson (MA ’85) Past President

Eric Anderson is the vice president of development for New Perspective Senior Living. Headquartered in Edina, New Perspective Senior Living has facilities throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Anderson's responsibilities include leading efforts for new development, expansions, and acquisitions for the organization.

Prior to receiving his position at New Perspective Senior Living, Anderson was the director of real estate development with Ryan Companies, U.S. Inc. Prior to that he worked for the City of Edina for 20 years, serving his last eight years as deputy city manager. During his time with the city, he was very involved in many of the city’s significant development projects, including Edinborough and Centennial Lakes, Grandview Square, and 50th & France.

Anderson holds a bachelor of arts in economics and political science from Hamline University, in addition to a master of arts in management and policy analysis from the Humphrey School. He’s a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, the International City Manager’s Association, and NAIOP, a commercial real estate association.

Deborah Bednarz (MA ’87)

Deb Bednarz is the system director for financial planning and analysis for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU).

Prior to joining the MnSCU system, Bednarz was the budget and statistics manager for the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Bednarz has also served as an executive budget officer for the Minnesota Department of Finance, where she worked with state agencies and the governor's office to prepare operating and capital budgets. She has worked with youth programs at the Minnesota Department of Economic Security and was a senior project manager for a nonprofit agency where she developed affordable housing.

Bednarz spent two years in the Peace Corps as a credit union advisor in Lesotho, Africa.

Her community work has included serving on the supervisory committee of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, the board of directors of Community Involvement Programs, and the board of directors of Women’s Community Housing.

Bednarz earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public affairs from the Humphrey School. A transplant to Minnesota, Bednarz lives in St. Paul with her husband David.

Tim Breitbarth (MPP '03)

Tim Breitbarth is a senior program officer for Millennium Challenge Corporation. Breitbarth has worked with MCC for several years in various positions and has conducted economic analyses for global projects, including cost-benefit and beneficiary analyses.

Breitbarth holds a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Concordia University St. Paul. He earned his master's in public policy, with a concentration in foreign policy, from the Humphrey School. He currently lives in Washington D.C.

Keith Butcher (MS ’98) President

Keith R. Butcher is an energy services representative with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA). Butcher is responsible for overseeing and implementing the energy efficiency efforts for six SMMPA members. In his role, Butcher is involved in various energy efficiency efforts, including audits, technology evaluations, rebate approval, program design, and marketing efforts. Butcher is well versed in various technologies, including lighting, motors, drives, air-conditioning, refrigeration, and other industrial applications.

Prior to joining SMMPA, Butcher was the manager of external affairs at the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), a nonpartisan, technically focused nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis. While at CEE, he worked with a diverse group of organizations, including Minnesota's electric and natural gas utilities, government agencies, elected officials, private firms, and other nonprofits focused on energy and environmental issues. Butcher played a key role in such efforts as advocacy on energy policy legislation, biomass energy research, energy efficiency program design and development, regulatory oversight, lighting retrofits, recommissioning, multifamily projects, financing initiatives, and more.

Butcher is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, holding a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in power and propulsion and a minor in political science. His graduate degree is a master's of science in science and technology policy focusing specifically on the energy industry. He is an ongoing mentor to graduate students interested in energy and environmental issues.

Erika Carter (MPP '01)

Erika Carter is a government affairs manger with Target Corporation. Carter is responsible for engaging, managing, and influencing legislation at the state level and partnering with State Retail Associations to drive Target's legislative agenda and priority issues. She also serves on the Target African-American Business Council's steering committee where she leads engagement efforts, service events and professional development of fellow members, and represents Target by supporting service and education in diverse communities.

Prior to working with Target,, Carter held positions with the US Government Accountability Office, Smith Parker, P.L.L.P, the Office of Governor Jesse Ventura, and WCCO Television.

Carter is a graduate of the University of Minnesota - Duluth, with a B.A. in communications. Her master's degree is in public policy, with a concentration in public sector management, from the Humphrey School.

Jacob Chin (MPP '09)

Jacob Chin is a planning and evaluation analyst for Ramsey County Community Corrections. Through his role with Ramsey County and past positions with Volunteer Lawyers Network, Minneapolis Urban League, and Prison Law Office, he has several years experience in program evaluation in the fields of criminal justice, immigration and education.

During his time at the Humphrey School, Chin had many involvements, including the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA), the Public Affairs Student Association (PASA), and Diversity Committee. Chin co-founded Humphrey Students of Color Association (HSOCA). In 2010 he received the Scholarly of Excellence and Equity and Diversity (SEED) Award. Chin aims to work with HSOCA and the Alumni Board to create an alumni chapter for alumni of color.

Chin has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Boston College and a master's in public policy, with an emphasis in social policy, from the Humphrey School.

Katie Crumley (MPP '04)

Katie Crumley is a State Government Affairs Analyst with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Elk Grove Village, IL. She works with AAP state chapters to enact state legislation on a variety of child health issues including injury prevention, obesity prevention, school health, tobacco prevention, and substance abuse. Prior to starting at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in 2004, Katie was a Meetings and Events Coordinator with an association management company and spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA, working on child health issues with the Campaign for Better Health Care in Champaign, IL.

Katie is a 2006 graduate of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs with concentrations in nonprofit and public leadership and social policy and a 2001 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mark Fox (MP '84)

Mark Fox graduated from the Humphrey School with a Masters in Planning in 1989. He says of the experience at Humphrey, “the Humphrey School taught me a way of thinking I am very grateful for and that I continue to utilize every day in my professional and personal life.” He worked for Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo IA and for Innovative Marketing in Waterloo before joining professional services firm Ernst & Young, LLP in Chicago in 1995. Mark is currently an associate director on Ernst & Young's Americas Finance Team and manages sales reporting and account maintenance processes.

Mark has been an active volunteer with Ernst & Young in helping to organize and eventually was appointed to the firm's national LGBTA steering committee in 2004; in 2005 Mark was appointed Midwest LGBTA PRN People Resource Network) leader, a position held until 2010; In 2006 he initiated Ernst & Young’s global sponsorship of and participation in the Gay Games Chicago. From 2006 – 2010 he served on the Out and Equal Workplace Advocates Chicagoland Leadership Council, and from 2006 – 2010 he organized an annual LGBTA learning and awareness 3-hour program for 10^th grade social justice classes at Ernst & Young’s partner charter school.

He has been active in creating alumni opportunities for Chicago based Humphrey School alumni and currently leads a planning group of alumni in Chicago.

Gwendolyn Freed (MPA ’05) Past President

Gwendolyn Freed is currently the executive director of Wallin Education. Prior to accepting this position she served as vice president for college relations at Gustavus Adolphus College from 2006 to 2011. Freed has also enjoyed a journalism career that included four and a half years as a Star Tribune reporter, several as editor-in-chief of a national arts magazine, and the opportunity to contribute freelance articles to such outlets as the Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, and MSNBC.com. Her nonprofit-related work has featured major gifts fundraising at the Minnesota Orchestra and grants management for the Best Buy Children's Foundation. Freed served on the Oberlin College Alumni Association for nine years, including three years on its executive board. She also is a longtime volunteer for the Minneapolis mental health agency Crisis Connection.

Freed holds master's degrees from the Humphrey School and the Juilliard School, as well as a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College. She is working toward a doctorate in education policy and administration at the University of Minnesota.

Todd Graham (MP ’94)

Todd Graham is principal forecaster at the Metropolitan Council, providing project leadership in forecasting, demography, and development monitoring work at the regional agency. His projects include implementation of new modeling tools for the council’s 2040 socioeconomic and land use forecasts.

From 1997 to 2004, Graham was a regional analyst and regional analysis manager for Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Todd Graham and Jennifer Larson Graham (MP ’94) both earned master's degrees in planning at the Humphrey School. They have two daughters and live in Saint Paul.

Jim Jernberg (MAPA ’57)

James E. Jernberg, professor emeritus of public affairs and planning, is interested in policy implementation and management, especially budgeting, intergovernmental relations, and legislative policy making. He has served as a research associate with the Brookings Institution and the National Academy of Sciences. He also was part of a Humphrey School study team assessing the future of the state legislature. Before coming to the University of Minnesota, Jernberg taught at the University of North Carolina and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also served as a budget officer and assistant to the mayor of Madison.

Jernberg is the recipient of the 2008 University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award and a fixture at the annual Humphrey School commencement ceremony—a tradition he helped create—where he announces the Jernberg Award for outstanding contribution to student life.

Jernberg holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in political science from the University of Wisconsin.

Sarah Lynch (MPP '99)

Sarah Lynch has lived in Washington, D.C. both before and after her time at the Humphrey School. She is excited to serve the 300+ D.C.-area alumni. Lynch most recently joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program in November 2009. The Program manages research, development, and demonstration projects that primarily support the increased, sustainable production of cellulosic and hydrocarbon biofuels; She conducts a range of the Program’s strategic planning, communications, and stakeholder partnerships activities. From May 2009 to November 2009, she also worked for DOE’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, where she led due diligence evaluations on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects.

Prior to joining DOE, Lynch was employed as a senior analyst at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), where she conducted reviews mostly on energy and international issues, supported GAO recruiting efforts at the Humphrey, and taught new staff.

Over the last several years, Lynch has actively supported the alumni-administered public service award in honor of the late Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife, Sheila, given to a graduating Humphrey student each year since 2003. She obtained her MPP in 2001 and her BA from Indiana University-Bloomington in 1996.

Lynch lives in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and has family in Minnesota and northern California.

James H. Main (MAPA '66)

Jim Main is a self-employed consultant for Community Association Management with over 20 years experience in community association management and governance. While he currently resides in Portland, OR, Main spent most of his adult life in Minnesota through his work as the commissioner of veteran affairs for the State of Minnesota, deputy director of Energy Agency, city manager of Chaska, MN, and assistant city manager of Coon Rapids, MN.

Main is a retired US Navy Captain with 30 years of service as Naval Reserve Supply Officer and is involved with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Portland Chapter.

Main earned his BA in political science with minors in math and economics from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. His master's degree is in public administration from the Humphrey School.

Paula Mazzacano (MA ’80)

Paula Mazzacano graduated from Humphrey in 1982 with concentrations in Environmental Policy and Public Administration. She has worked 25 years for the City of Minneapolis in the area of development finance and 29 years in public finance. Currently, Mazzacano administers grants awarded to the City of Minneapolis/Community Planning & Economic Development by other governmental units, most of which fund remediation of polluted property and innovation in real estate development. In 2001, she took a break from City employment and had the opportunity to work for a non-profit developer/owner of affordable and supportive housing. She worked on property tax policy related to affordable housing, commercial leasing, and developed spreadsheet tools to assess asset performance.

Mazzacano is a member of the Humphrey School Alumni Society Board and its alumni scholarship development committee. She has served her community as both a Parks & Recreation and Charter commissioner. She also has extensive volunteer experience in fundraising, program support and advocacy for public education, particularly for performing arts and International Baccalaureate programs.

Mazzacano received her BA degree from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh where she studied sociology, music and American history. She and her husband Michael Porter have three children and live in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

In 2011 she was honored with the University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award in recognition of her work and support on behalf of the Humphrey School.

Scott McMahon (MPP ’03) Former President

Upon the completion of his graduate studies at the Institute, Scott McMahon served as special assistant to Dean J. Brian Atwood at the Humphrey School, working on strategic planning, accreditation, and redesign of the organizational structure and the budgeting for the School. He then served for two years as the research director at the National Institute of Health Policy. He currently is director of government and community affairs for Minnesota Private College Council.

McMahon's involvement with the Humphrey School alumni board goes back to its reorganization upon Dean Atwood’s arrival in 2003. When the alumni board was going through its redevelopment phase, he was president of the Public Affairs Students Association (PASA) and worked with the dean, alumni relations director, and board members at the time to create greater opportunities for student representation on the board.

In addition to his public policy degree from the Humphrey School, McMahon holds a master of science in administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Saint John’s University. He and his wife Melanie and their two children live in St. Paul.

Walter Novillo (MA '96)

Walter Novillo graduated from the Humphrey School in 2000 with an M.A. in Public Affairs. He served as program director for the federal Education Opportunity Center and developed effective programs to engage under served communities to complete secondary education and continue to college and technical programs. For the Minnesota State College and Universities System he developed and implemented the Power of YOU program, an effort that received national recognition as a catalyst to promote and support post-secondary access of urban students. Most recently, Water served as the assistant director of admissions and recruitment for the Humphrey School where he successfully contributed to an unprecedented number of talented applications from diverse background and experiences.

Novillo is currently pursuing a Ph.D. through the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

He says, “I am committed to promote access and opportunity to all in employment and educational programs regardless of how popular those initiatives are. I truly believe that our school ‘inspires, educates, and supports innovate leaders to advance the common good in a diverse world;’ however, more has to be done to effectively increase the diversity that is paramount to make our school the best school in the country!”

Alexander Oftelie (MPP ’03)

Alexander Oftelie is a senior analyst in the DonorCast practice, people-driven analysts by Bentz Whaley Flessner. His areas of specialty include data mining, metrics for nonprofit fundraising, predictive modeling, and constituent relationship management. Prior to joining Bentz Whaley Flessner, Oftelie worked as an economist in the Health Economics Program for the State of Minnesota. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College and a master of public policy degree from the Humphrey School.

Oftelie currently serves on a variety of nonprofit boards in the Twin Cities community, including Guild Incorporated and United Way Emerging Leaders. He lives in St. Paul.

Mary Orr (MA ’82)

Mary Orr is director of the Community Partnerships Division for the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). She is responsible for a variety of anti-poverty and self-sufficiency programs serving low-income Minnesotans, including income supports for adults who are aged, blind, or have disabilities; social services, cash assistance, and employment services to refugee families; and services that promote children's development and learning by improving the quality of child care.

Orr has spent most of her career with DHS working on programs and policies that support low-income families. She also served as a fiscal analyst for the Minnesota Senate and as a management analyst for Blue Earth County Human Services.

In addition to her public affairs degree from the Humphrey School, Orr received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris. She lives in St. Paul.

Anita Patel (MPP '02)

Anita Patel is vice president of racial justice and public policy for the YWCA of Minneapolis. She is responsible for directing, coordinating, and developing internal and external programs and increasing the corporate, non-profit, and individual client base and developing outcome-based programming to align with their needs. Before beginning her work with the YWCA, Patel served as an employee development counselor for Jewish Vocational Service and as a consult for both CampFire USA, and the Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment.

In 2011, Patel received the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to the common good through public leadership and service. Patel has also been recognized as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans by MN Jaycees and as a Top Six Business Leader Under 30 by MN Business Magazine.

Patel has a bachelor's degree in psychology and theology from Valparaiso University in addition to a master's degree in public policy from the Humphrey School.

Emily Saunoi-Sandgren (MPP '05)

Emily Saunoi-Sandgren is a research fellow in the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center (PNLC) at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She develops and manages the research activities of the PNLC where she works in the areas of organizational management and governance; cross-sector partnerships; state and local public finance; and social policy implementation. Before coming to the Humphrey School, Saunoi-Sandgren worked in the nonprofit sector on policy issues affecting women and children, such as domestic violence and education finance.

Saunoi-Sandgren has a master’s degree in public policy with a minor in population studies from the University of Minnesota and she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, French, and Women’s Studies from St. Olaf College. She, her husband and daughter live in Minneapolis.

Matt Swenson (MPP '07)

Matt Swenson serves as communications advisor to Governor Mark Dayton. Swenson is responsible for communication strategy, planning, and messaging.

Prior to joining Governor Dayton’s staff, Swenson served as Director of Communications for the Minnesota Department of Commerce where he advised Commissioner Mike Rothman and department leadership on communication strategy and served as the commissioner’s chief speech writer.

Swenson has also served press secretary for Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s gubernatorial campaign and as communication specialist for the Minnesota House of Representatives DFL Caucus Media Department where he developed and implemented earned media strategies for 18 representatives.

Swenson is very active in his community and local politics. He has served on the West Mississippi Watershed Commission, the Senate District 64 DFL Central Committee, and as precinct chair for his neighborhood DFL party.

Swenson graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2006, with majors in political science and communication studies, and a minor in art studio. He graduated from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs in 2009, earning a Master’s Degree in Public Policy with concentrations in social policy and communication strategy for public affairs. Swenson lives in St. Paul.

Jeff Williams (MA (TE&E) '94)

Jeff Williams is the CEO of Public Sector Consultants, an independent, non-partisan, research and consulting firm with full-time staff in both Michigan and Minnesota. Williams as been with PSC in various roles since 1994.

Williams is currently involved with a variety of professional and community organizations including the Capital Area Humane Society, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union's Audit and Supervisory Committee, and the Michigan Association for Evaluation.

Williams studied international relations at Michigan State University where he earned a bachelor of arts degree, with honors. He earned his master's in public affairs from the Humphrey School and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Amelious Whyte (MA '90)

Amelious N. Whyte, Jr., originally from Brooklyn, New York, is the chief of staff in the Office for Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Whyte previously worked in several other capacities at the University, including as the assistant to the executive director of the Board of Regents, coordinator of Chemical Health Programs in Boynton Health Service, and assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education from the University of Minnesota. In addition to earning his master's degree in public affairs from the Humphrey School, he earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Whyte has served on the boards of various nonprofits, including OutFront Minnesota and Students Today Leaders Forever. He has also volunteered his time to help serve youth in various ways in the Twin Cities, including serving as academic advisor for Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, as a volunteer with the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, and as a mentor for various leadership programs at the University of Minnesota. He lives in Minneapolis.