Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) Mentors
AnnaPatrice Clarke
Annapatrice Clarke is a graduate of Jesuit High School in Portland and the
University of Notre Dame ('11). After serving with the Holy Cross Overseas Lay
Ministry Program in Uganda, she now works for the Intercommunity Peace and
Justice Center. She loves being outside, being on the water in any vessel, playing
board games, and telling really bad jokes.
Jeff Upton
Jeff Upton grew up in Oregon listening to NPR's Lake Wobegon and learning to
solve Rubik's cubes with his Dad. After a couple of years in the Jesuit Volunteer
Corps, he moved to Ballard and enjoys rock climbing, his chickens, and his
housemates. Jeff began the MPA program at UW in Fall 2014.
Melanie Twohy
Born and raised here in Seattle, Melanie Twohy continues to enjoy all that the
PNW has to offer with her family and friends. Her career as a labor and delivery
nurse, allows her an opportunity to engage with a diverse group of people and
pursue her passion for healthy moms and babies.
Bethany Benson
Bethany Benson received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
from the University of Denver and her Masters of Science in Psychology from
Grand Canyon University. Her work history consists of roles in human resources
and healthcare operations and is currently the Clinic Manager for the Department
of Psychiatry and Separation and Loss Services at Virginia Mason Medical
Center.
Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) Mentors
DuWayne Andrews, Jr
DuWayne Andrews, Jr., a Seattle native, is electrified to be part of CLA 3. He
graduated from Seattle University while majoring in both Political Science and
Humanities. As of now, he serves as the Youth Choir Director at Mt. Zion
Baptist Church in Seattle, WA.
Katrina Hale
Katrina Hale has worked with young adults experiencing homelessness over the
past 3 years. She currently works at Catholic Community Services. She enjoys
traveling, exercising, engaging around issues of social justice, exploring the
beautiful state of Washington and being with family and friends.
Brian Hensley
Brian graduated from Seattle University in 2009 and now works as a
Mechanical Engineer.
Anthony Gromko
Anthony Gromko brings a passion for education and social justice in working
with under-resourced populations. He has worked both locally and abroad on
community economic development programming and initiatives for the past 12
years. Anthony lives in Seattle with his family, enjoys singing with a baroque
choir (Seattle Pro Musica), and practicing Spanish with his two year old
daughter.
Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) Mentors
Alexis McMahan
Alexis McMahan was born and raised in Seattle, WA. She completed a
Masters in Teaching for Elementary Education at Seattle University in
2011. Currently she works as a manager of education services at Treehouse,
giving youth in foster care a childhood and a future. Alexis loves to travel the
world, spend time with friends and family and eat interesting food.
Zandy Harlin
Zandy Harlin is originally from Bakersfiled, CA. After completing her BSN at
Seattle University she spent a year in Syracuse, NY as a Jesuit Volunteer.
Zandy has a Master's in Public Health from the University of Washington.
Zandy is currently the Clincal Operations Manager at Group Health's Capitiol
Hill Primary Care Clinic. Zandy loves reading, knitting, sewing, dancing,
costumes of all kinds, hiking, yoga, and playing strategy board games.
Shawn Allen
Shawn Allen grew up outside of Phoenix, attending diocesan grade school and
high school. He completed his undergrad at Gonzaga University and
attended graduate school at the University of Washington. He has been
teaching Latin to middle and high school students since 2003 and earned my
master’s in religious education from Loyola University New Orleans. He
married his wife, Michelle, in 2006.
Christa Fagnant
Christa is a microbiologist who enjoys research in public health. When not
pretending to be a mad scientist, she enjoys cooking, playing games, picking on
her guitar, and adventuring in the Cascades.
Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) Mentors
Sarah Ahmad
Sarah has been working with recruitment and general HR services for over 4
years and had an equal opportunity to work with communications for almost as
long. She has extensive experience with project management and has been a lead
coordinator for multiple projects/programs while working in North America and
Asia. She has a successful track record of partnering with leaders in non-profit
organizations, multinational corporations and educational institutions. She has
recently graduated from University of San Francisco (USF) with an MA in
Organization and Leadership which has further strengthened her leadership and
management skills. Currently, Sarah is an MBA Recruiting Coordinator at
Amazon.com, Washington, and is working on helping the company hire best
talent among fresh graduates. Stakeholder management, coordinating full cycle
recruitment and project collaboration are some of Sarah’s strengths. In her spare time, she enjoys
cooking, reading and hiking.
Kate LaPlante
I am a Chemistry teacher at Skyline High School in Sammamish, WA. I have a
bachelor of science from the University of Notre Dame and a Master in Teaching
from Seattle University. I have lived in Seattle for 9 years and continue loving
the city and people here.
Valerie Fuchs
Valerie Fuchs is a Professional Engineer with Brown and Caldwell’s Seattle
office. She has a B.S in civil engineering from Gonzaga University and M.S.
and Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Michigan Technological
University. Over the last ten years, she has been involved in Engineers Without
Borders through funding and executive roles, founded The D80 Center at
Michigan Tech to support student programs focused on international
development, and volunteered with environmental organizations such as the
Sacramento Tree Foundation in community planning and tree planting. She
currently co-chairs the Water For People fundraising committee for Brown
and Caldwell's Seattle office. Outside of work, she runs, hikes, cooks, reads,
and loves music, gardening, game nights, and building community in any fun
or beneficial setting.
Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) Mentors
John Crawford-Gallagher
John grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from Fairfield University
in 2006. Since then he's lived in Syracuse, Portland (Ore.), Syracuse
(again!), Boston, and now Seattle. He recently finished his Master of
Public Administration degree at the University of Washington and
currently does community engagement with Seattle Public Utilities. His
goal is to help Seattle adapt to climate change, while ensuring that
our most vulnerable populations are a central part of the decision
making process. Fun fact: John’s wife, Brandi, is a member of the CLA
2 cohort.
Rosa Singer
Rosa is Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at CARE, a global,
poverty fighting organization that places special emphasis on women and
girls. She earned her B.A. from Seattle U. and her M.A. from the
Universidad del Salvador in Argentina as a Rotary World Peace Fellow.
She serves as Adjunct Faculty and a Board Member for Seattle U's
International Development Internship Program. She deeply enjoys
mentoring young women, singing/songwriting, incorporating movement
into daily life, and time with her family.
Dana Weaver
Dana grew up in Moscow, Idaho before moving to Seattle in 2005 to
attend Seattle University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in
Social Work. Before starting her Masters in Social Work degree at
Loyola University Chicago, Dana worked at Childhaven for a year
and a half and then traveled throughout Central America. Upon
completing her degree in Chicago, Dana realized her true passion for
student development and higher education and moved back to Seattle
where she began working at DigiPen Institute of Technology. Dana
is currently the Director of Career and Alumni Development at
DigiPen, where she has the opportunity to work with students and alumni as they develop as
professionals in their careers. In her spare time, Dana enjoys coffee dates with friends, poker
nights, playing softball and volleyball, traveling, and cheering on the Chicago Bears!