National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) Directors

Verdis LeVar Robinson

Acting President
Verdis LeVar Robinson (he/him or they) comes to NIFI with a specialization in community college civic learning and democratic engagement.

David Mathews

Chairman
David Mathews served as president of the Kettering Foundation from 1981 to 2022. He is now president emeritus.
William Muse

William Muse

Vice President

William Muse is president emeritus of the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), a non-profit nonpartisan network that, in

Carol Farquhar Nugent

Carol Farquhar Nugent

Vice President

Carol Farquhar Nugent, long-time executive director of Grantmakers In Aging (GIA), retired December 31, 2011 following

Patty Dineen

Patty Dineen

Secretary / Treasurer

Patty Dineen has been convening and moderating National Issues Forums (NIF) in Pennsylvania and other states since 1994

Hollie Cost

Hollie Cost

Director

Hollie Cost serves as the Assistant Vice President of Auburn University Outreach and Public Service

Kara N. Dillard

Kara N. Dillard

Director

Kara N. Dillard is an Assistant Professor in Digital Democratic Practice in the School of Communication Studies

Leslie Garvin

Leslie Garvin

Director

Leslie Garvin is the Executive Director of North Carolina Campus Engagement, a collaborative network of 39 colleges and universities

Derrick Hammond

Derrick Hammond

Director

The Rev. Derrick M. Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, is a native of Birmingham, Alabama

Windy Lawrence

Windy Lawrence

Director

Windy Lawrence serves as both professor and as the founding director at the University of Houston – Downtown Center for Public Deliberation

Lisa-Marie Napoli

Lisa-Marie Napoli

Director

Lisa-Marie Napoli, PhD, received her MPA in public policy and management from The Ohio State University

Marie Pyko

Marie Pyko

Director

Marie Pyko is the director of public services at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka Kansas