Piper Fellows Program

Since 2022, Tami Bohannon has served as President & CEO of Foundation for Senior Living (FSL), where she was appointed the organization’s first female CEO in its 50-year history. FSL programs serve statewide, addressing barriers to quality healthcare and housing with a mission to empower all Arizonans to age with confidence. Over her 30-year career in the nonprofit sector, Bohannon has led with an abundance mindset focused on expanding programs while fostering a culture of philanthropy. She is a certified End of Life Doula, a mentor to young professionals, and serves in volunteer leadership roles with the Governor's Interagency and Community Council on Homelessness and Housing, AARP Arizona, Arizona LeadingAge, and a number of other healthy aging initiatives.

Bohannon’s Fellowship activities will help FSL plan and implement bold, innovative, and sustainable programs that will help support Arizona’s growing older adult population—she sees a need for “disruption and reinvention” of aging services. 

Fellowship highlights include attending Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program and visiting best practice sites, such as Sound Generations in Seattle, that offer an integration of affordable housing and healthcare. Her goal is to come away focused on building strategies that inspire organizational change and drive mission success so all can age with confidence. A secondary goal is to become a joyful role model for active aging by improving her health, wellness, mobility, and stability.

As General Manager of Childsplay, Ellen Conn supports operational structures, mentorship, and creative business development across the organization. Her extensive relationships and diverse skills enhance collaboration and shared leadership toward achieving Childsplay’s mission to ignite imagination, wonder, and joy by creating strikingly original theatre and learning experiences that inspire young minds to explore and soar. After more than 15 years of experience with Childsplay, Conn is deeply invested in the notion that every young person deserves to see themself in the stories that are told and in an abundant world of possibilities.

Conn’s Fellowship will concentrate on leadership and team building for a new generation as she seeks to strengthen Childsplay’s staff in a drastically changed job market. She will also explore proven principles of innovative risk-taking in program development with an intensive focus on the patron experience. She plans to attend Stanford’s Executive Program in Women’s Leadership, the Disney Institute’s Employee Engagement and Customer Service Workshops, and the Innovation and Strategy Program at Harvard University.

Kim Graham began her tenure as CEO of the of the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) in November 2018. Since then, she has shepherded AEF’s growth to a staff of 10 and a projected annual budget of $1.6 million. She is the driving force behind AEF’s newly launched “AEF Academy,” the first and only Cox Innovation Lab for teachers. Former positions include serving as Deputy Director of Louisiana A+ Schools, and as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at The Phoenix Symphony, where she established the Mind Over Music program and the award-winning B-Sharp Music Wellness program. Graham also served as the former Chair of the Arts Education Advisory Group for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Graham’s Fellowship plans include visiting other nonprofits that serve public schools, such as the Education Trust in Washington, D.C., which advances policies and practices to address inequities embedded in the American education system; she will also meet with The Pencil Foundation in Nashville, a successful model for nonprofit and school district partnerships.

Founded by esteemed Arizonans Carolyn Warner, Bill Shover, and Eddie Basha—Graham plans to continue their drive for innovation and excellence through Fellowship activities focused on effective ways to build cross-sector partnerships that support a thriving public education system.

A native Phoenician who grew up in the West Valley, Chris Hamby serves as the C.W. McMillin Executive Director of TheaterWorks in Peoria, where he leads a dynamic team in advancing the power of the arts to engage, inspire, and connect communities. Over the past decade at TheaterWorks, Hamby has expanded educational programming to reach nearly 400 students annually, eradicated historical debt, and increased organizational revenue by nearly 50 percent. Prior to his leadership at TheaterWorks, he worked with other arts organizations, including The Phoenix Theatre Company and Phoenix Center for the Arts, where he facilitated transformative arts programs and forged lasting partnerships supporting the community’s creative and educational needs. Known for his strategic vision and commitment to accessibility, Hamby has developed award-winning programs for diverse audiences, including youth and individuals with disabilities, and has received accolades such as the Governor’s Arts Award and the Arts Hero recognition by Arizona Citizens for the Arts. Hamby’s leadership has guided TheaterWorks through significant operational and cultural shifts, always with an emphasis on inclusivity, innovation, and community-driven programming.

Hamby’s Fellowship will focus on immersive learning and strategic development to further enhance his impact as a community arts leader. He plans to attend the Shannon Leadership Institute, participate in the Stanford Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders, and attend the Disney Institute’s Leadership Excellence program. Through visits to exemplary arts and community organizations in locations like the Twin Cities, Nebraska, and Seattle, Hamby will study Creative Placemaking, Creative Aging strategies, and best practices in meaningful mentorship models.

Since January 2021, Kayla Kolar has served as CEO of House of Refuge, leading the daily operations of this nearly 30-year-old transitional housing program that supports homeless families. Driven by the vision that “Every Family Deserves a Home,” Kolar heads a dedicated and passionate team, offering families hope and the tools they need to regain stability, self-sufficiency, and secure permanent housing. With more than 30 years in nonprofit executive leadership, Kolar previously held key positions at HD South (Home of Gilbert Historical Museum), Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and Desert Botanical Garden. Throughout her career, she has successfully led multi-million-dollar capital campaigns, overseen organizational expansion projects, spearheaded rebranding initiatives, and guided nonprofits through pivotal growth phases. In addition to her work at House of Refuge, Kolar serves on several boards, including ASU Polytechnic Campus Community Advisory Board, Park University Advisory Board, PHX East Valley Partnership Board, and the Dignity Health Designated Procedures Oversight Committee.

Through her Fellowship, Kolar plans to visit transitional housing sites across the country and bring back best practices that can be applied to House of Refuge’s anticipated expansion. She will attend the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference and participate in executive leadership programs, including Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management and UC Berkeley’s Leading Strategy Execution Through Culture.

Tracy Lindbergh serves as Chief of Staff at Sonoran University, a nonprofit organization focused on shaping a healthier future through education, healthcare, and research. In her role, she leads cross-departmental special projects for the Office of the President, Board of Trustees, and Executive Council including the development and monitoring of the University’s strategic plan, implementation of the organization’s use of EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), and facilitation of trainings for the campus community. Lindbergh also co-led a significant two-year name change and University rebrand initiative. She chaired the institution’s DEI Taskforce in 2021 and is currently managing the Board of Trustees’ search process for Sonoran University’s next president. Her early career included working in development for the American Red Cross and Southwest Center in Phoenix.

Lindbergh’s Fellowship is focused on enhancing her leadership, facilitation, and change management skills. She plans to become certified in the Prosci ADKAR® change management framework, an evidenced-based model that focuses on how the individual side of change can best affect organizational transformation. She will also train with Leadership Strategies to advance her facilitation skills and attend MIT’s Inquiry-Driven Leadership program, adding critical skills to her leadership and change management toolbox. Lindbergh will be able to apply wisdom gained through her Fellowship in real time as Sonoran University embarks on multiple changes in 2025.

Jennifer O’Connell, an Arizona native, brings 30 years of experience across corporate, small business, education, and nonprofit sectors to her position as Executive Director of Down Syndrome Network Arizona. She leads with a servant leadership approach, overseeing finance, strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, development, events, and programming. Her career began in corporate sales and marketing in the global technology sector before transitioning into social entrepreneurship and holistic wellness. The birth of her son, who has Down syndrome and autism, inspired her to shift her focus to education and nonprofit work, where her passion is here to stay. O’Connell is dedicated to building strong partnerships, expanding DSNetwork’s reach, and advocating for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

O’Connell’s Fellowship activities include participating in an array of executive education programs with a focus on media and public relations, such as Harvard Kennedy School’s Persuasive Communication and Strategic Fundraising for Nonprofit Leaders, Georgetown University’s Social Impact Partnerships, ongoing executive coaching, and mentorship with leaders of exemplary Down syndrome associations in other states. She plans to adopt best practices that strengthen advocacy efforts, diversify and increase funding, and create innovative partnerships to elevate lasting awareness, foster greater inclusion, and broaden community engagement for DSNetwork.

Ryan Corry serves as Chief Philanthropy Officer for St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and is part of a dedicated team that inspires public and private investment to feed, clothe, house, and heal neighbors in need. Over the last 10 years at SVdP, Corry has been part of two capital campaigns, significant endowment growth, and a 400 percent growth in giving. Before to joining SVdP, he lived in Las Vegas, NV, where he was part of the successful public-private funding partnership of $490 million for the city’s first major arts institution, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

Corry’s Fellowship will focus on learning and reflection to become a more well-rounded thinker, a stronger business analyst, and a holistic organizational developer. He plans to spend time with leaders like New York Times bestselling author and personal coach Bob Goff, study at Vanderbilt University and Stanford Graduate School of Business, and learn from the best (and most joyful!) nonprofit leaders from around the country.

As Chief Advancement Officer, Kate Fassett oversees the development team that has raised over $50 million for Maricopa County’s public health system, Valleywise Health. Fassett was also instrumental in raising more than $1.4 million with the passage of Proposition 480, a 2014 bond measure enabling Valleywise Health to continue its work through the building of a new medical center, behavioral health facility, and federally qualified health centers. Prior to Valleywise, Fassett worked in public affairs consulting for HighGround Public Affairs where she worked on the fundraising campaigns for several notable public officials.

Fassett’s Fellowship will focus on experiences that specifically further her growth and development as a leader for Valleywise Health Foundation. She plans to attend the Harvard Business School Executive Education Women’s Leadership Forum; the Madison Institute Association of Healthcare Philanthropy Conference; and the Aspen Institute Executive Leadership Seminar, designed to help leaders gain access to their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and more self-fulfilling.

As Executive Director of the Cultural Coalition, Carmen Guerrero produces annual community festivals including Mikiztli, the Día de Los Muertos Festival (Phoenix); the Mask Alive Festival (Mesa), Portal Festival at S’edav Va’aki Museum, and El Puente Festival (Tempe). Under her leadership, the Cultural Coalition has grown to partner with numerous local arts organizations and artists. As an artistic producer, she is committed and dedicated to issues of cultural literacy and social justice. As an educator and teaching artist for various area schools, she shares her indigenous roots through music and art to foster multicultural understanding. As an artivist/arts advocate, she co-founded Xicanindio (now Xico, Inc.), the Arizona Latino Arts Center, and the Cultural Coalition.

Guerrero’s Fellowship will allow her the time and resources to strengthen her leadership and take the Cultural Coalition to the next level. She plans to visit nationally recognized and established art and indigenous museums that share similar missions focused on promoting Indigenous Art and preservation of ancestral practices. Guerrero will meet with curators and directors who are leaders in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as decolonization practices.

A Brazilian by birth, Guerrero has been a musician and a beader since age 5. She is a descendant of the Kambiwá tribe from the northern state of Pernambuco. Upon moving to Arizona, she formed the band Zúm Zúm Zúm and currently sings and plays vibraphones, guitar, and accordion.

In 2015, Matthew Kasper made Phoenix his home, serving in roles with The Phoenix Symphony as the Resident Conductor and with the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO). He became PYSO’s first-ever Artistic and General Director. In this dual capacity, he guides the organization both artistically and administratively. Since assuming this role, PYSO’s budget has increased and transformative collaborations have been forged with institutions such as the ASU Herberger School of Music, Dance and Theater; SOUNDS Academy; The Phoenix Symphony; The Phoenix Chamber Music Society; and, the School of Ballet Arizona (resulting in the first-ever all youth performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at the Desert Botanical Garden).

Kasper initiated his musical journey on the violin before the allure of conducting became irresistible. Before his tenure in Phoenix, Kasper was on the faculty at the Aaron Copland School of Music, served as the Interim Music Director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra, guest conducted in Europe, and founded the Chicago Composers Orchestra. He is a graduate of the Aaron Copland School of Music and the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Kasper’s Fellowship plan encompasses a dual focus on artistic and leadership development, along with study of the evolution of youth music programs and the establishment of a dedicated facility for a youth orchestra. He will collaborate with conducting mentors, including Esa-Pekka Salonan, Hannu Lintu, and Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and spend time with Paul Hughes, the former head of the BBC Symphony, and Elena Armijo, founder of the C-Suite Collective. Visits with industry-leading youth music programs include Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras.

As Chief Operating Officer, Monique Lopez provides strategic leadership and evaluation-focused support to achieve UMOM’s mission of preventing and ending homelessness for vulnerable individuals and families. Her responsibilities include the oversight of finance, people operations, evaluation and learning, information technology, culinary enterprises, facilities, and government grant writing. Lopez’s two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector have been devoted to the human services field, starting as a residential counselor in a group home. Her career has grown to include increasingly complex positions perfectly suited for her deep empathy and dedication to assisting people facing adversity, juvenile justice, and homelessness prevention.

Lopez’s Fellowship will focus on experiences that will further her development of a robust business model that enables UMOM to broaden the reach of its Helpings Café. Her plans include connecting with organizations that have successfully incorporated social enterprise models in their programming, such as Kitchens for Good (San Diego, CA), DC Central Kitchen (Washington, D.C.), and Homeward Bound (Marin, CA). She will also enrich her leadership skills through study at Disney Leadership Excellence Institute and the Berkley Executive Leadership Program.

As CEO, Shelby Pedersen focuses on expanding access to ICAN’s no-cost/out-of-school programs for school-aged youth living in underserved communities. She has led the expansion of ICAN, which has grown from one site serving 200 youth to five sites serving more than 750 youth. Pedersen joined ICAN in 2008 and led its philanthropic efforts and hard-working team to substantially grow the organization’s annual operating capacity and brand awareness. She helped lead its $5.65 million capital campaign, culminating in a new 21,000 square foot facility that more than doubled program capacity in 2012, In 2016 she was appointed CEO. Prior to ICAN, Pedersen served in nonprofit leadership roles for nearly two decades; her experience includes working in marketing and business development for the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Project C.U.R.E.

Pedersen’s Fellowship will focus on further developing skills to lead community-level change and innovation, keeping the wellness of those who carry the work at the forefront. As she leans out of operational leadership and into a more community-minded strategic leadership approach, she strives to evolve her community collaboration skills to lead true innovation in educational partnerships that better meet the growing needs of students. Her plans include attending Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program (with a focus on leading and building a culture of innovation), engaging in an intensive Spanish immersion program, and participating in 1440 Multidiversity—A Transformation Workshop for Women in Leadership. Pedersen believes that with the number of families in crisis, innovation and a focus on collective impact are needed more than ever to move forward successfully—and because collaboration is extensive and can be challenging, she is also eager to grow her tool belt in leading and empowering teams around individual wellness.

As Director and CEO of Heard Museum, David Roche oversees the largest private museum in the world dedicated to American Indian art and culture. As a recognized national and international leader in the field of American Indian art, his prior role was serving as the senior specialist for American Indian art at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York. He is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors, lectures at museums and universities in the United States, United Kingdom, and France, and contributes to numerous scholarly publications.

Roche’s Fellowship will focus on developing a new, long-term exhibition that will draw on the Heard Museum’s permanent collection (which spans 1,500 years of Indigenous creativity and comprises 45,000 works). His plans include myriad meetings and site visits to cultural institutions that have recently mounted major installations of Indigenous art, such as Denver Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian (Washington D.C.), and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (New Mexico). Efforts will also be made to meet with tribal cultural preservation officers on Sovereign lands in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, and Oklahoma. He will also participate in programs at The Harvard Division of Continuing Education to enhance his leadership and effectiveness within the organization, and especially related to the exhibition project, which will require working with a large, diverse, and intergenerational team of employees and advisors.

As CEO of Child Crisis Arizona (CCA), Torrie Taj focuses on creating big visions for and growing programs with the goal of “Safe kids, Strong families.” She leads a dedicated team with passion, persistence, and contagious optimism as together, they provide 24/7/365 love, safety, and hope through foster care, early education, and family support services. Taj is an executive coach, a professional mentor and also serves as the board chair of AZ Impact for Good and as an advisory board member of Enterprise Bank & Trust. She has taught nonprofit management and other fundraising courses at Arizona State University (ASU) and other educational institutions over the last decade. An ASU graduate, Taj has dedicated her 30+ year career to “social benefit organizations,” aka the nonprofit sector.

Child Crisis Arizona’s clients come from a range of backgrounds, but are primarily low-income, have experienced trauma and, in many cases, speak mostly Spanish. Taj’s Fellowship will afford her a deep-dive into Spanish language and culture to enrich her relationships and connections with staff and clients through bilingual communication. Her plans include participating in an immersive Spanish language program along with a walking pilgrimage at The Camino. The pilgrimage is specifically designed for her to build physical endurance and gain cultural insights similar to the refugee experience. Overall, Taj is seeking comprehensive learnings and development that will inform plans to strengthen CCA early education and refugee shelter programs that serve Spanish-speaking clients.

Kris Andrew Volcheck has had a passionate career spanning over three decades, dedicated to serving underserved populations. Following his graduation from Emory University Dental School (Atlanta), he embarked on a nine-year tenure as a private practice dentist in Globe, Arizona. His commitment to community service led him to volunteer at the CASS Homeless Shelter for two years, ultimately motivating him to transition from private practice to a case manager at CASS. After seven years of immersive involvement in the multifaceted challenges faced by unhoused people, Volcheck established Brighter Way Institute, a dental clinic tailored to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. The Institute now encompasses the Bruce and Diane Halle Dental Center, specializing in serving unhoused people and veterans; the Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics; and the BWI/United Healthcare Mobile Dental Center.

Volcheck’s Fellowship will include attending the Arizona Coalition for Housing Conference, the Executive Program for Nonprofits in Stanford, California, and the International Fundraising Conference. His plans also include visiting other longstanding dental nonprofits, such as the Berkeley Free Clinic, that have executed successful succession planning when the CEO is also a Founder. Through this combination of conferences and research visits, Volcheck strives to bolster his leadership skills by gaining global insights into nonprofit best practices as he ultimately seeks to make profound impacts on people’s lives.

With over two decades of nonprofit arts experience, Becky Bell Ballard believes passionately in providing equitable opportunities in the arts, and the role of the arts in illuminating challenges and opportunities for society.

Ballard’s work at Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children is focused on providing creative youth development programs to youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Leading one of the largest free afterschool music programs nationwide, Ballard believes strongly in finding methods and solutions to address the disparity in access to music education. Under her tenure, Rosie’s House has achieved a 123% increase in program participation while building out critical capacity infrastructure, including recently completing a $6.5 million campaign for the acquisition, renovation, and expansion of services within a 15,000-square-foot building in the heart of downtown Phoenix.

Before joining Rosie’s House, Ballard oversaw the Phoenix Symphony’s Community Engagement Department, where she managed initiatives that impacted 80,000 children and adults annually. She also worked with the Lake Forest Symphony and Arizona State University’s School of Music. She completed the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Training Program in 2017. As a musician, Ballard enjoys playing piano and horn. She serves as an advisory board member for the Grammy-winning Phoenix Chorale, a board member for the Downtown Chamber Series, and is actively involved with Valley Leadership in Maricopa County.

Ballard’s Fellowship will focus on the power of relevancy in developing engaging and reflective youth programs by specifically exploring the frameworks of culturally sustaining pedagogy and youth-directed programming. Plans include observing three youth-serving systems including the National Batuta Foundation in Colombia. In addition, recognizing that approximately 80% of Rosie’s House families are primarily Spanish speakers, Ballard will work to improve her Spanish skills through an intensive language course of study. Finally, Ballard plans to attend the Stanford Executive Leadership Development Program to determine how to best implement innovations learned through the Fellowship.

A native Arizonan, Pedro Cons was named CEO of Adelante Healthcare in June 2020; his leadership spans a network of nine community health centers that provide primary healthcare to more than 82,000 individuals across Maricopa County.

With over 25 years of community-focused program experience, Cons is a thoughtful, visionary leader with expertise in strategy and organizational management. His diverse leadership and academic experience provide a unique perspective for creating strategic partnerships across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to better integrate service delivery, more effectively address the holistic needs of families, and ultimately create sustainable positive change. In 2022, he was named a Titan 100 and was honored by A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine for giving the keynote address at its White Coat Ceremony. He currently serves on the Boards of the Arizona Alliance of Community Health Centers, the American Heart Association, and Building Healthy Places Network.

His Piper Fellowship plans include attending Columbia University Business School’s Senior Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals to focus in-depth on leadership and strategy, functional excellence, management, finance, fund development, marketing, and organizational behavior. He intends to develop an organizational impact plan, conduct a 360˚ Assessment, and develop a leadership credo for Adelante Healthcare. Additionally, Cons will visit some of the most innovative Federally Qualified Health Centers in the country to learn and bring back ideas to close gaps in care for patients. He believes this Fellowship opportunity is an absolute gift that will have a great impact on the community and the patients of Adelante Healthcare.

David Hemphill has been Executive Director at Black Theatre Troupe since 1995. He became the third Executive Director of the company since its founding, overseeing steady growth, guiding the company through capital renovations, and moving the Theatre into its “forever” home in downtown Phoenix.

Hemphill works in this field, locally and nationally, as African American theatre offers a major cultural phenomenon, often neglected, with its origins in social protest, and as a formal branch of theater arts.

Hemphill’s goal over the next four years is to position Black Theatre Troupe to be strong in each of its functions—production, programming, finance, operational systems, and, most importantly, leadership. Although leaving these functions in a great position is critical, it is even more critical that the company be left in the hands of a strong leader to ensure continued success and a viable future for the company. To that end, Hemphill’s Fellowship will focus on projects and activities that are vital to developing a succession plan that serves himself and Black Theatre Troupe.

Fellowship activities include site visits to several African American-run organizations that have or have had a founder leading the company. It is well documented that organizations in this position are extremely vulnerable to failure after the departure of these founding leaders. Hemphill plans to evaluate ideas on how these organizations are preparing for the leader’s retirement and whether or not they have developed a succession plan. He will also partner with a succession consultant.

Sister Mary Jordan Hoover, O.P. is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia and has been a Catholic school educator for 30 years, serving in various teaching and administrative roles before moving to Phoenix in 2016.

Having recently assisted the Diocese of Phoenix with the opening of the newest Catholic high school in Arizona, Sister Mary Jordan continues to lead the school with emphasis on creating culture that is informed by faith in Jesus Christ. St. John Paul II Catholic High School is a co-educational diocesan high school serving students in grades 9-12 and offers academic classes to meet the educational needs of its college-prep students. The school’s four-year ethics program provides the students with philosophical formation and development of critical thinking skills. In just four years, the students have inspired the formation of 15 athletic teams. Choral music, band, drama, and the arts are also important components of the school’s culture.

During the Piper Fellowship, Sister Mary Jordan hopes to develop skills that will help her better serve families in the West Valley, especially Hispanic Catholics, who represent the majority of students enrolled at St. John Paul II. She will participate in the Encuentro Program at Boston College. Sister Mary Jordan also plans to make several site visits and experience a Spanish Immersion program to improve her ability to understand and communicate in Spanish. She will also focus on leadership training in Advancement to prepare for the future growth of St. John Paul II Catholic High School.

Kirk Johnson is a musician, performer, and educator who believes that the ZIP code of a child should not dictate access to music education.

Out of this belief, he founded SOUNDS Academy, a nonprofit music education organization that teaches, mentors, and provides musical experiences and opportunities for underserved youth. Further, the Academy teaches character values through music education. Johnson began his musical journey in Boston, Massachusetts with Project STEP and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, where he learned to play the violin and viola, took theory classes, and played in chamber music groups and orchestras that toured in countries like Italy, Mexico, and Cuba. Johnson has guided SOUNDS Academy in providing over 62,000 lessons and classes to children and impacted an additional 21,000 students through the Musical Access program, where students attend concerts and are introduced to instruments in SOUNDS Academy’s “Instrument Petting Zoos.” In addition to students building confidence through performing in concerts, SOUNDS Academy is also making an academic impact, with 100% of the students in its SOLO program being accepted into college on scholarships.

The Piper Fellowship will allow Johnson the opportunity to lay the groundwork for SOUNDS Academy to bring a youth performing arts center to the Southwest Valley. He will start the year by attending the Sphinx Connect Conference, a social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Throughout the year, he will visit three renowned music education programs in the country to learn best practices in managing a high-level music education program. As he learns and reflects on how to implement the lessons learned with SOUNDS Academy, he will also participate in executive coaching sessions and take classes that will focus on program evaluation, developing major gifts, and managing a capital campaign so he can expand the access to music education opportunities for Arizona youth.