From 2017 to 2020 Dr. Johan Uvin was president of the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. where he facilitated and implemented the institute’s five-year strategic plan. He also founded Strategy Advising, a consulting practice that provides strategic advising services to senior leaders in education, workforce development, educational technology start-ups, and non-profit organizations.
Dr. Uvin served at the U.S. Department of Education from 2009-2017. He coordinated all strategy development for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) with a staff of 80 and over $1.7 billion in resources. He also led policy development and implementation for adult education, career and technical education, community colleges, national and international efforts focused on youth not in education, training, or employment, and market-based outcome-driven alternative funding models for education and workforce development.
Dr. Uvin earlier held various leadership positions with the Rhode Island Department of Education and with the Commonwealth Corporation in Boston. He has also managed projects and programs in the Massachusetts Department of Education and a number of non-profit organizations in Boston.
Dr. Uvin received 2020 Harvard Alumni Council Award for outstanding contributions to education in the U.S.
He received his master’s of education in international education and doctor of education in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University.
City Year Podcast: On this episode of "Why We Matter", Dr. Uvin discusses his path to leadership and the importance of cultivating young people's skills and providing opportunities for success.
Deputy Director, Operations and Business Development
Jennifer Gordon is a growth-oriented public service professional committed to collaborative approaches and building effective partnerships. She joined UMDI in 1998 as an applied researcher leading a portfolio of program evaluation projects with a strong focus on K-12 education reform and improvement initiatives. She served as UMDI’s Director of Applied Research and Program Evaluation for seven years prior to joining the Executive Team. In her current role as Deputy Director, Ms. Gordon serves as second in command to the Executive Director. Her work is focused on driving strategic alignment and execution across UMDI, overseeing sustainability operations, marketing and communications functions, and leading business development efforts that support both growth of existing work and development of emerging initiatives.
Ms. Gordon earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Jacqueline Adams is guided by a desire to solve problems with kindness and a service‑oriented mindset; empowering teams and amplifying expertise to improve performance and outcomes. She been of service to the UMass Donahue Institute since 1997. As Director of Financial Strategy and Compliance, Ms. Adams is the lead on the organization's financial operations and compliance, ensuring strong fiscal stewardship and adherence to regulatory standards. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Adams has been instrumental in driving financial integrity and operational excellence, supporting the Institute’s mission to deliver impactful services to a wide variety of clients. Her deep institutional knowledge and strategic insight empower informed decision-making and sustainable growth, reinforcing the institute’s reputation for excellence within the campus and beyond.
Committed to fostering transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, Ms. Adams plays a key role in aligning financial practices with organizational goals and compliance frameworks, safeguarding the Institute’s resources, and enabling successful program outcomes.
Ms. Adams received her degree in economics from the College of the Holy Cross and utilizes her facilitation, strategic planning and change leadership management certifications in all aspects of her work.
Suzanne Tanty has been with the institute since 1997, serving in numerous human resources, finance, and administrative capacities in various business units. She is currently serving as the institute’s senior human resource & personnel manager. Ms. Tanty oversees all HR and personnel matters for the institute’s approximately 165 employees, ensuring compliance with university and governmental regulations. Suzanne serves as the primary advisor at the executive level on all HR/personnel-related issues and acts as the primary HR liaison between the institute and various UMass Amherst departments. In addition, Ms. Tanty manages recruitment and staffing actions, provides training on HR and labor allocation topics, and has represented the institute in union contract negotiations. Her leadership extends to supervising staff, developing HR process improvements, and supporting performance management and audit activities.
Carol Anne McGowan, M.A., M.B.A. works closely with the executive leadership team to provide guidance and advice on developing and implementing management strategies, systems, and practices across the Institute. Ms. McGowan, most recently, was the Associate Director of the Institute and was directly responsible for overseeing all fiscal management and human resource functions.
Ms. McGowan received her master's of arts in human resources and organizational development from Webster University and a master's in business administration from UMass Isenberg School of Management.
Sharon Vardatira brings more than four decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, organizational capacity building, sustainability, fund development, and community engagement. As a Senior Advisor, she provides strategic guidance and project support in business development, nonprofit sustainability, organizational capacity building, and selected client initiatives.
