Our People

Executive Leadership

As Executive Director, Dr. Gilliam provides vision and leadership for the Buffett Institute, collaborating with university campuses and community partners to transform the lives of young children. His extensive research addresses critical issues such as preschool expulsions, workforce well-being, and the impact of early childhood policies on school readiness.

Walter S. Gilliam, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Kimberly Harper, Associate Executive Director for Operations, oversees the Buffett Institute’s operational functions to ensure organizational efficiency and success.

Kimberly Harper

Deputy Executive Director

Renee Wessels provides executive leadership by aligning strategic goals with external partnerships, ensuring the Buffett Institute effectively communicates its research and advocacy to key stakeholders and the broader community.

Renee Wessels

Associate Executive Director for Strategy and External Affairs

Directors

Dr. Sarche directs the Institute’s tribal research and policy efforts to improve early learning access and quality for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Michelle Sarche, Ph.D.

Senior Director of Tribal Research, Policy, and Partnerships

Dr. Alexandra Daro, Director of Applied Research at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, leads initiatives to bridge research and practice in early childhood.

Alexandra Daro, Ph.D.

Director of Applied Research

Ally Freeman, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, manages strategic outreach and engagement for early childhood research.

Ally Freeman

Director of Communications

Dr. Dalhia Lloyd, Director of Digital Education at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, focuses on leveraging technology and research to support children, families, and educators.

Dalhia Lloyd, Ph.D.

Director of Digital Education

Amy Schmidtke, Ed.D.

Director of Educational Practice

Senior Management

Maria Guerrero provides essential administrative coordination and business analysis to support the executive leadership team at the Buffett Institute.

Maria Teresa Guerrero

Senior Manager for Portfolio Execution

Sarah Moulton plays a vital role in the Institute’s sustainability by managing the proposal development process, ensuring that grant and funding submissions align with the organization's mission and strategic goals.

Sarah Moulton

Senior Manager for Strategy

Beth Norris

Beth Norris

Senior Manager for Finance

Salina Wallace oversees essential business operations and HR functions at the Buffett Institute, leveraging her extensive administrative experience to ensure the smooth, efficient operation of the organization.

Salina Wallace

Senior Manager for People, Business, and Operations

Programs

Alyssa Anson, Early Childhood Specialist at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, brings extensive experience in classroom teaching and state-level educational policy.

Alyssa Anson

Early Childhood Specialist

Demetria Carman, Project Manager at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, leads and supports key initiatives dedicated to improving early childhood programs.

Demetria Carman

Project Manager

Molly Colling, Early Childhood Coordinator at the Buffett Institute, manages projects and supports efforts to improve early childhood educational programs.

Molly Colling

Early Childhood Coordinator

James Desjarlais, Research Scientist at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, analyzes data and conducts research to drive improvements in early childhood education systems and student outcomes.

James Desjarlais

Research Specialist

As an Early Childhood Specialist, Tiffany Harris-Aguirre provides dedicated support and evidence-based coaching to improve classroom quality and ensure that educators have the tools they need to foster optimal development for all children.

Tiffany Harris-Aguirre

Early Childhood Specialist

Katherine Hubbard, Early Childhood Specialist at the Buffett Institute, provides instructional coaching and support to strengthen early learning classroom practices.

Katherine Hubbard

Early Childhood Specialist

Tonya Jolley, Ed.D.

Early Childhood Program Administrator

Headshots of Jeryssa Jones

Jeryssa Jones

Early Childhood Specialist

Chantelle Marin, Early Childhood Specialist at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, provides instructional support and coaching to educators and family facilitators.

Chantelle Marin

Early Childhood Specialist

Kayla Parr, Early Childhood Program Administrator at the Buffett Institute, manages operational processes to support high-quality early childhood programming.

Kayla Parr

Early Childhood Program Administrator

Keshia Partridge-Nelson, Early Childhood Specialist at the Buffett Institute, provides coaching and support to improve classroom quality for young children.

Keshia Partridge-Nelson

Early Childhood Specialist

Mary Beth Pistillo, Early Childhood Specialist at the Buffett Institute, partners with educators to implement high-quality, evidence-based practices in early learning environments.

Mary Beth Pistillo

Early Childhood Specialist

Owais Raza is an epidemiologist who specializes in spatial analysis and large-scale demographic data. He focuses on understanding the social and structural factors that influence health outcomes for underserved populations.

Owais Raza

Research Scientist

Barb Stratman, Early Childhood Program Administrator at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, specializes in systems coordination and strengths-based coaching.

Barb Stratman

Early Childhood Program Administrator

Kate Sutton, Senior Research Specialist at the Buffett Institute, conducts rigorous research and data analysis to support early childhood educational initiatives.

Kate Sutton

Senior Research Specialist

Kimberlee Telford, Early Childhood Coordinator at the Buffett Institute, manages projects and supports efforts to improve early childhood educational programs.

Kimberlee Telford

Early Childhood Coordinator

Ashley True, Early Childhood Specialist at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, works to support early literacy and social skills in classroom environments.

Ashley True

Early Childhood Specialist

Communications

Erin Duffy, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, oversees institutional branding, outreach efforts, and the dissemination of early childhood knowledge.

Erin Duffy

Managing Editor

Rebecca Elder

Creative and Brand Manager

Greta Morris, Public Outreach Communications Specialist at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, manages community-facing communications and outreach efforts to advance the mission of early childhood education.

Greta Morris

Public Outreach Communications Specialist

Erica Sesay, Associate Director of Communications at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, leads communications operations and strategic engagement initiatives.

Erica Sesay

Senior Communications Manager for Statewide Engagement

JD Sorys manages the Buffett Institute’s CRM database, leads strategic email marketing campaigns, and oversees database systems to support institutional goals.

JD Sorys

CRM Marketing Manager

Operations

Maryssa Brown

Office Associate

Venessa Bryant serves as a Data Manager, contributing to the Institute’s mission by ensuring that researchers and policymakers have access to accurate, well-managed data that informs initiatives aimed at transforming the lives of young children.

Venessa Bryant

Data Manager

Austin Evans

Office Associate

Nataliya Ravenstahl provides essential financial analysis and grant management, ensuring the effective allocation of resources for the Buffett Institute’s early childhood programs.

Nataliya Ravenstahl

Grants and Financial Analyst

Dr. Meisels provides vision and strategic leadership at the Buffett Institute, guiding efforts to create comprehensive, high-quality early childhood systems that support the development and well-being of all children, particularly those at greatest risk.

Samuel J. Meisels

Founding Executive Director

Meisels is the founding executive director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, president emeritus of Erikson Institute, and a professor and research scientist emeritus at the University of Michigan. He retired from the Buffett Institute in 2023, concluding a career that spanned more than a half-century and established him as a leading voice in the field of early childhood education and development.