Our Team
Hannah Erickson
Team Leader & Principal Designer
Hannah has worked in educational programming and project management for 9 years. She is invigorated by excellence, and by unshakable optimists driven to make positive change in the world. She received her BAs from Wichita State University in Analytic Philosophy and International Relations, and her MA in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Hannah is a traveler, nerd, and non-fiction essayist. She’s always on the move looking for new things to think and write about.
Hawa Kipilili
Logistics, Operations, & Curriculum Design
Hawa is a teacher with 9 years experience, and the Founding Director of Senda Success, an organization which supports teachers, parents, and students in Tanzania. She is passionate about imparting teachers with effective tools to create impacting relationships and learning experiences. She received her B.A. in Education from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and her Post Graduate Degree in International Education from the University of Nottingham, England.
Alex Gingerella
Curriculum Design
Alex has worked with young people for over 8 years, most recently as a gender and sexuality educator in New York City. She received her Master in Public Health focusing on sexuality, sexual and reproductive health. She is passionate about all things reproductive justice, and is driven by a desire to empower all people to make the decisions best suited for them to live healthy lives. Alex enjoys reading, biking, spending time in nature and cooking and sharing meals with those in her community.
Dr. Gabriel Piser
Research & Grants
Dr. Gabriel Piser, co-founder of Big Sky Education and Strategy, brings over 15 years of experience in facilitation, research, and organizational consulting. His work is driven by a passion for creating sustainable and inclusive educational and workplace environments in which all stakeholders feel seen and heard. He holds a doctorate in Comparative Studies from the Ohio State University and an MA in Philosophy from Binghamton University. His inspirations include James Baldwin and Fred Rogers and when he isn't working he is usually cooking, tinkering, or playing music.
Jaime Gilliland
Monitoring & Evaluation
Jaime is a research associate for the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation at Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute. She is passionate about the stories data can tell and how they can impact communities in positive ways. She earned her B.A. in Systemic Global Issues and the Community Dynamic from Metropolitan State University of Denver and her M.A. in Medical Anthropology from the University of Colorado Denver. Her ragdoll cat, Frankie, is her best companion when she isn’t traveling, and she is always trying to perfect a new baking recipe.
Renae Lesser
Research & Grants
Renae Lesser is an educational consultant and a co-founder of Big Sky Education and Strategy. She is passionate about creating transformative educational experiences and supporting schools and organizations in meaningful change. She holds a BA in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and an MA in Philosophy and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In her free time she enjoys discussing politics and philosophy with friends and baking savory treats.
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