Dr. Jean-Jacques Sène is a Senegalese national who has studied, lived and worked in Japan, France, and the Netherlands before coming to the United States 10 years ago. His scholarly work focuses on the relations between political power and mythological thinking (political dogmatizing), sustainable development in West Africa, modern African history, and Afro-Asian relations. He is trained and weathered in the management of mass education projects in multicultural contexts. Dr. Sène teaches at Chatham University and is a research associate at Pitt.
cityLIVE! panelist
Evan Frazier
Evan Frazier is senior vice president for Highmark Inc. In that capacity, he oversees community affairs for Pennsylvania’s largest health care insurance provider with subsidiary companies that operate across the United States. Mr. Frazier oversees activities that include Highmark’s corporate giving, sponsorships, event marketing, volunteerism, select community health initiatives, and the Highmark Foundation. Prior to joining Highmark Inc., for six years Mr. Frazier served as president and CEO of the Hill House Association, one of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s most important and comprehensive community service agencies. Mr. Frazier serves as a trustee of Carnegie Mellon University and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. He also serves on the boards of the Carnegie Science Center, Hill House Economic Development Corporation, Phipps Conservatory, Power of 32, and University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics. In 2008, he launched his first book entitled “Most Likely To Succeed: The Frazier Formula for Success.”
Jessica Trybus
Jessica Trybus is CEO and founder of Etcetera Edutainment, a Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) spin off company that delivers game-based training simulations to train the next generation of workforce. Ms. Trybus also serves on the faculty of CMU’s Entertainment Technology Center. Her work at the University focuses on the R&D of how to build game-based learning to engage and motivate, with emphasis on exploring younger generations, and has contributed to CMU’s recognition as an international leader in using video game technologies to teach more effectively. Ms. Trybus also serves as Game-Based Learning and Communications consultant for The New Media Institute, is on the board of the Andy Warhol Museum, and of TiE-Pittsburgh, a global organization that focuses on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Prior to working with interactive entertainment technologies, Ms. Trybus spent several years in marketing, business development, and project management with Viacom and AltaVista (Palo Alto).
Grant Oliphant
Grant Oliphant is vice president of programs and planning at The Heinz Endowments. He manages the Endowments’ 12-member program staff and a $60 million annual grant-making portfolio encompassing five areas: Arts & Culture; Children, Youth & Families; Education; Environment; and Innovation Economy. He also works with and guides special task forces promoting civic design, school reform, and stronger links between environmental stewardship and economic development.
Aradhna Dhanda
Aradhna Dhanda is the president and CEO of Leadership Pittsburgh, a creative and innovative leadership training program for senior leaders. Pioneered here in Pittsburgh, their program has since been used as a model for similar programs around the country.
Allen Kukovich
Allen Kukovich is the executive director of the Regional Visioning Project Power of 32, a 30-county, 4-state civic engagement initiative to create a shared vision for this region’s best future. His inclusive nature and consensus-building approach are considered invaluable tools in achieving the project’s goal of including more people than any previous visioning project.
Throughout Mr. Kukovich’s more than three-decade public service career, he has served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and as the director of Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell’s southwest regional office. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and a member of the Pennsylvania Senate.