Children's Institute of Oregon:
board/staff

BOARD MEMBERS Richard C. Alexander, Founder, Viking Industries Duncan Campbell, Chairman Emeritus, The Campbell Group Gun Denhart, Founder, Hannah Andersson Joyce Furman, Co-Founder, New Avenues for Youth Irving Levin, CEO, Genesis Financial Solutions Arlene Schnitzer, Executive Vice President, Harsch Investment Properties Ken Thrasher, Chairman/CEO, Compli Janet Webster, Librarian, Hatfield Marine Science Center, OSU Gary Withers, Executive Vice President, Concordia University Julie Young, Children's Advocate

"When we invest in early education, we create a brighter future for Oregon's youngest citizens and our state's economy and quality of life. That's why I support providing access to high quality early education for Oregon's children - starting with those most in need. - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski

STAFF
Swati Adarkar, Executive Director

Mary Kalafatis, Operations and Finance Director

David Mandell, Research Director

Wade Fickler, Policy and Communications Director

Estrella Jones, Development Associate

Kara Christenson, Executive Assistant

Marnie Vlahos, Special Projects Coordinator

STAFF BIOS
Swati Adarkar, Executive Director, has a wealth of experience in research, communications, child advocacy and public policy development. Previously, she served as Vice President of Research and Communications for the Children’s Institute, where she helped shape the Institute's agenda and authored its first publication on early childhood development. Prior to that, Swati advised nonprofits on public policy and communications; she was the Policy Director for Children First; and the Director of Community Affairs for Children Now. She has a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from UCLA. As Executive Director of the Children’s Institute, Swati has both overseen our program and development work and has stepped to the forefront of the statewide effort to create a common early childhood agenda. She has played a pivotal role in bringing business, civic and philanthropic leaders together with public and private early childhood specialists and advocates to pool resources and talents in the effort to create real change for our children.

Mary Kalafatis , Operations and Finance Director, has worked in nonprofit finance and management for over a decade. She has focused her talents to strengthen organizations meeting the needs of at-risk children including Friends of the Children. Mary is a CPA and has a Masters of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University. As the first consultant to the Children’s Institute, she has been on the ground floor in shaping the organization. Prior to that she was an auditor for Price Waterhouse.

David Mandell, Research Director, was previously the Research Director of the Early Voting Information Center. He received his Ph.d. from the University of Chicago and has taught at Reed College and Portland State University.  He has also served as a policy adviser for a Portland political candidate and worked on a number of local political campaigns.  He is a member of the Research Board of the City Club of Portland and has contributed to a number of City Club studies.

Wade Fickler, Director of Policy and Communications, joined the Children’s Institute in 2008. He plays a leading role in developing and advancing the organization’s programmatic, policy and advocacy agenda and managing the Institute’s external communications. Wade was the Policy Director for City Club of Portland from 2002-2008, where he was first exposed to the science behind early care and education through the club’s multi-year study titled "The Early Years". Wade’s professional experience also includes many years executing consumer and business-to-business marketing and market research projects and a 27-month term of service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine.

Estrella Jones, Development Associate, joined the Children’s Institute in 2008. She is resonsible for grant writing and grants management, donor database management, assisting with special events, and working with others to meet the Institute’s fund-development goals. Estrella previously worked for the Inner City Education Foundation in Los Angeles as a development and communications associate. She also gained experience in research at the California Family Health Council and RAND Corporation. Estrella has a Master’s degree in education and a Bachelor of Arts in history, both from UCLA.

Kara Christenson, Executive Assistant, graduated in 2006 from Albion College in Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in English and German.  Her work with children in community and school settings won two of the highest awards given by Girl Scouts, USA. Before moving to Portland, Kara completed the 2,175-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Marnie Vlahos, Special Projects Consultant, is experienced in strategic planning, program design and development, and grants writing.  Recent accomplishments include assisting in the design and development of child care facilities connected to affordable housing projects, co-designing and successfully lobbying the State Legislature to pass a new Child Care Tax Credit program, and acting as the lead consultant and co-writer for a national three volume technical assistance manual on connecting childhood education and care strategies to community based organizations for the National Enterprise Foundation.