I have spent 25 years working at the intersection of religion, the public square, and capacity building. I have served as executive director of research centers at the University of Chicago and USC, and currently am a visiting scholar at the University of Notre Dame. I spent over a decade as a contractor and implementation partner for the United States Institute of Peace, designing and leading training programs focused on civil society and peace-building in 35 countries. I have served as a strategic advisor to foundations, government agencies, media, and nonprofits. In 2024, I became a partner in BALM Strategies, a firm dedicated to using adult educational theory to equip leaders with the skills they need to operate effectively in a variety of organizational settings. I am a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Futures Council, and board secretary for the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation. My education and training include a BA in Religion and History from the University of Southern California, an MA in Judaic Studies from Hebrew Union College, a course in Hebrew language at Hebrew University, and executive certificates from USC in Counter-Terrorism and Harvard Kennedy School in Global Leadership, and an executive course in urban development and social enterprise from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town.
Professional Positions
BALM Strategies, Partner, 2024- Present
University of Notre Dame, Center for the Study of Religion and Society, Faculty Affiliate and Visiting Scholar, 2023-Present
United States Institute of Peace, Implementation Partner/Contractor, 2014-2024
University of Chicago, Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion, Inaugural Executive Director, 2021-2023
University of Southern California, Center for Religion & Civic Culture, Executive Director, 2016-2021; Managing Director, 2008-2015;
Associate Director, Assistant Director, and Senior Project Manager, 2004-2008
Notable Accomplishments/Contributions
Creator, Public Sermons Project on Covid Anniversaries, in partnership with NPR (on KPCC in 2021 and WBEZ in 2022)
Co-creator, Religions and Disasters App
Co-author, Religious Literacy and Competency Course for FEMA (IS-505)
Co-founder, Generation Change Fellows Program, United States Institute of Peace
Co-founder, Day of Religious Pluralism
Founding board chair, NewGround: A Jewish-Muslim Partnership for Change
Co-founder and senior advisor, American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, USC
Co-founder, Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, USC
Awards and Fellowships
Board, Advisory and Committee Memberships
Council on Foreign Relations, Life Member, 2025-present; Religion and Foreign Policy Advisory Committee, 2019-22
World Economic Forum, Global Futures Council on Faith in Action, 2025-present
Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation, Faith Sector Chair, 2012-19, Board Member/Secretary, 2017-present
Philanthropy for Active in Civic Engagement, Faith in/and Democracy, Advisor, 2022-24
American Council of Learned Societies, Working Group on Public Knowledge, 2022-24
Vittorio Dan Segre Foundation, Advisory Board Member, 2022-24
Crossroads Project, Princeton University, 2021-25
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Elected Council Member, 2019-22
USC Safe Communities Institute, Fellow, 2015-22
Listos Preparedness Program, California Governor Newsom’s Office, Advisory Board, 2020-22
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Interfaith Collaborative Task Force, 2016-21
LA Voice (PICO/Faith in Action), Board Member, 2016-19
CaliforniaVolunteers, Disaster Volunteer/Donations Management Committee, 2014-18
Religion Dispatches Magazine, Advisory Board, 2013-2018
Aspen Institute, Justice & Society Program (Madeleine Albright, Co-chair; David Gergen, Co-chair), Distinguished Panel 2012-16
Jewish World Watch, Board Member, 2012-18
Solar Cooker Project-Chad, Chair 2012-15; Advisory Committee, 2008-12
New Ground: Jewish-Muslim Partnership for Change, Founding Board Chair, 2007-12; Executive Board Vice-Chair, 2012-19; Advisory Board, 2020-24
Women’s Intercultural Leadership Forum (Mary Robinson, Chair), Advisory Board, 2006-8
Professional Positions
BALM Strategies, Partner, 2024- Present
University of Notre Dame, Center for the Study of Religion and Society, Faculty Affiliate and Visiting Scholar, 2023-Present
United States Institute of Peace, Implementation Partner/Contractor, 2014-2024
University of Chicago, Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion, Inaugural Executive Director, 2021-2023
University of Southern California, Center for Religion & Civic Culture, Executive Director, 2016-2021; Managing Director, 2008-2015;
Associate Director, Assistant Director, and Senior Project Manager, 2004-2008
Notable Accomplishments/Contributions
Creator, Public Sermons Project on Covid Anniversaries, in partnership with NPR (on KPCC in 2021 and WBEZ in 2022)
Co-creator, Religions and Disasters App
Co-author, Religious Literacy and Competency Course for FEMA (IS-505)
Co-founder, Generation Change Fellows Program, United States Institute of Peace
Co-founder, Day of Religious Pluralism
Founding board chair, NewGround: A Jewish-Muslim Partnership for Change
Co-founder and senior advisor, American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, USC
Co-founder, Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, USC
Awards and Fellowships
- CityLight International Assembly, GLOW Award, 2023
- NewGround: A Jewish-Muslim Partnership for Change, Trailblazer Award, 2021
- Aspen Institute, Religion & Society, Powering Pluralism Cohort Member, 2021
- Aspen Institute, Inclusive America Project Fellow, 2020
- World Economic Forum, Young Global Leader, 2017
- El-Hibri Foundation, Inaugural Fearless Ally Peace Award, 2016
- German Marshall Fund, Marshall Memorial Fellow, 2016
- Truman National Security Project, Security Fellow, 2016
- Building Bridges, Circles of Change Award Honoree, 2013
- United States Department of State, Freeman Foundation, and Asia Foundation, NGOs and Civil Society Travel Study, 2006
- Hebrew Union College, Language Award, 2001
- Alpha Lambda Delta, Honors Society, 1996
Board, Advisory and Committee Memberships
Council on Foreign Relations, Life Member, 2025-present; Religion and Foreign Policy Advisory Committee, 2019-22
World Economic Forum, Global Futures Council on Faith in Action, 2025-present
Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation, Faith Sector Chair, 2012-19, Board Member/Secretary, 2017-present
Philanthropy for Active in Civic Engagement, Faith in/and Democracy, Advisor, 2022-24
American Council of Learned Societies, Working Group on Public Knowledge, 2022-24
Vittorio Dan Segre Foundation, Advisory Board Member, 2022-24
Crossroads Project, Princeton University, 2021-25
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Elected Council Member, 2019-22
USC Safe Communities Institute, Fellow, 2015-22
Listos Preparedness Program, California Governor Newsom’s Office, Advisory Board, 2020-22
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Interfaith Collaborative Task Force, 2016-21
LA Voice (PICO/Faith in Action), Board Member, 2016-19
CaliforniaVolunteers, Disaster Volunteer/Donations Management Committee, 2014-18
Religion Dispatches Magazine, Advisory Board, 2013-2018
Aspen Institute, Justice & Society Program (Madeleine Albright, Co-chair; David Gergen, Co-chair), Distinguished Panel 2012-16
Jewish World Watch, Board Member, 2012-18
Solar Cooker Project-Chad, Chair 2012-15; Advisory Committee, 2008-12
New Ground: Jewish-Muslim Partnership for Change, Founding Board Chair, 2007-12; Executive Board Vice-Chair, 2012-19; Advisory Board, 2020-24
Women’s Intercultural Leadership Forum (Mary Robinson, Chair), Advisory Board, 2006-8
