Barry Silverberg has over 45 years of nonprofit professional and volunteer leadership, management, resource development, and communications experience focusing on nonprofit governance, strategic thinking, board engagement, professional and organizational development, and public policy awareness and advocacy.

Barry founded the Center for Nonprofit Studies at Austin Community College in 2000. He created the Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management in 2007, and with Lisa Bussett, Center Coordinator, has created other Certificates in Volunteer Management, Grant Writing, Effective Fundraising, Marketing and Promotion, and Cultural Leadership.  He also created and taught Nonprofit Management and Leadership for St. Edward’s University’s Nonprofit Management Certificate for 15 years.

Currently co-Executive Producer of CNS’ Civil Society television and web podcast, Barry is also Secretary/ Treasurer of School of Thought, an international nonprofit that epitomizes his personal and professional focus.  It is an online education platform that will provide courses, content, and other resources that teach creative and critical thinking skills to anyone and everyone, for free.  By using the power of creativity to entertain, it aims to make learning how to think a fun and engaging experience, and fulfill a lifelong thirst for understanding and self-awareness.

Kate Tolliver has spent her career in the nonprofit arena and has experience in the areas of strategic planning, organizational development and nonprofit management. Kate serves as Manager of Nonprofit Austin (The Center for Nonprofit Studies at Austin Community College District).

As Manager, Kate oversees the Nonprofit Austin (NPA) NPA’s program development and implementation, data and financial management, alumni engagement, strategic communications and the development of the NPA’s Know-How Network. Kate is also Managing Producer of the NPA’s Civil Society television program and manages the NPA’s multi-year contract with Austin Public Health.

Kate draws on her years of experience in direct service provision and organizational leadership and board development as well as her knowledge of the law.

Kate holds certificates in Paralegal Studies, Business Management, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Effective Fundraising, Nonprofit Financial Management, Grant Writing and Volunteer Management.

Kate is a minor league baseball fan who is fascinated by the sport’s sabermetrics. During baseball’s off-season, Kate can often be found enjoying NCAA Women’s Basketball and Volleyball.

Anh Pham enjoys helping people and organizations function and become more successful. Her career includes being Creative Director at The Main Office, and work in the legal, medical and business fields. She has a keen ability to streamline processes and maximize efficiency.  Always, her focus is on providing superior customer service.  Her passion is to make a difference.

Anh’s philosophy centers around what she can do to help others find solutions. A team player, willing to lead or follow, eager to learn, and self-motivated, Anh is able to tailor her skills to meet the needs of various clients. She takes responsibility and believes that her experience, professionalism, and proactive demeanor underpin her ability to wear “many hats.”

Always curious, Anh relishes the challenge of learning new software applications and taking full advantage of her resources. She is one of the first to adopt and embrace new tools.

It is these qualities, and many others, that leads Anh to be the foundation for the Center’s many initiatives.

Marissa Wahkuna Ponder is an educator and performing artist.

At her core lives the motto of her alma mater: Expression Necessary to Evolution.

Marissa’s background is designing education using the Arts (drama, music, dance/movement,
and visual art) as the vehicle for teaching academic and social-emotional subjects. With a BFA
in Theatre Education and an M.Ed in Interdisciplinary Studies, she spent 2 decades teaching
performance arts and various academics to children and adults. Marissa has heavily explored
the cognitive and emotional links between trauma and artistic expression. She has designed
educational projects as a music director, composer, improviser, and team-building trainer with
various non-profit organizations.

Marissa loves to laugh with her students at Merlin Works School of Improvisation, where she
teaches talking and musical improv, and also trains team building for the business community.

Marissa’s super power is her ability to quickly build joyfully connected communities through
hilarious playtime, maintaining safe spaces for silly and honest moments, while lifting individual
confidence and expanding the awareness of social empathy.
Marissa performed her first song 27 years ago, and today writes songs and orchestral
compositions as her deepest expression.