Kristen Fanarakis is an associate director at MI Finance, leading the small business policy and innovation initiative. The Milken Institute Small Business Policy and Innovation Initiative analyzes the macroeconomic trends and policies affecting small businesses and offers policy recommendations and solutions aimed at fostering an environment of inclusive prosperity. Her work engages and educates policy stakeholders to address the challenges small businesses face.

Michelle Stevenson is an accomplished global marketing leader, bringing more than 25 years of experience to her role as executive director, marketing and communications at the Milken Institute, where she oversees earned media, social media, the website, brand and design, publishing, thought leadership, and all marketing efforts. With a cultural marketing mindset, Stevenson recently oversaw the rebuild of milkeninstitute.org, the launch of the Institute’s first home-grown ad campaign, an expansion of media coverage into international markets, and leads all marketing and communications efforts for the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

Maxwell DeGregorio is a senior associate at MI Finance at the Milken Institute. DeGregorio works on the Institute’s FinTech Program, which focuses on access to capital, financial inclusion, compliance, and transparency. He writes the “FinTech in Focus” newsletter and co-programs the Institute’s FinTech content.

Daniel Pham, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. He utilizes his expertise in scientific research, neuroscience, science policy, communication, and advocacy to advise philanthropic partners on opportunities to make the biggest impact in various fields of science and health.

Ishita Das, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, where she leads cross-disciplinary projects. Her expertise lies in biomedical research, science policy, stakeholder engagement, workforce diversity, strategic planning, and project management.

Erika Stratmann is the director of communications, MI Health. She is a mission-driven communications and content development leader with a proven record of delivering measurable results to amplify thought leadership, engage communities, advance consumer education, and impact advocacy campaigns.

Chelsea Wendel is an associate director at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her work is primarily focused on managing the logistics, details and travel coordination across the pillar's broad portfolio of events.

John Schellhase is a director on the Environmental and Social Innovation team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, where his work focuses on social impact philanthropy. As part of his work, Schellhase contributes to and manages projects related to strengthening corporate philanthropy and operating innovation competitions to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Caitlyn Barrett, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her scientific expertise in cancer biology and neurodegeneration in addition to her experience in grant and program management, stakeholder engagement, and program analysis are brought to bear as she partners with philanthropists to maximize their impact on the biomedical ecosystem.

Dan Carol is a senior director on the Milken Institute Finance team. He leads Institute programming to accelerate effective deployment and financing of community-scale and climate resilient infrastructure, scale up regional innovation, and scale-up public-private partnerships.