WASHINGTON— The ASAE Research Foundation has announced the 2026 recipients of John H. Graham Fund scholarships to pursue professional and personal development through ASAE’s ReadyMe program.

ASAE’s ReadyMe program was recently enhanced to offer association professionals new opportunities to expand their leadership capacity. The program includes interactive educational modules, a four-month cohort experience, and a live, in-person Leadership Academy.

The John H. Graham Fund was established in 2020 by the ASAE Board of Directors, with support from ASAE Past Chairs and ASAE Fellows, in celebration of the life and legacy of former ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE. Since its inception, the fund has enabled 60 scholarship recipients to complete the ReadyMe program and take meaningful steps toward their leadership goals.

“The John H. Graham Fund reflects a powerful legacy of leadership grounded in purpose, service, and a deep commitment to developing others,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “Through the ReadyMe program, this year’s scholarship recipients will strengthen their leadership capabilities, expand their perspectives, and build the confidence needed to lead in increasingly complex environments. ASAE is proud to invest in their growth and to support the next generation of leaders shaping the future of the association community.”

 

The 2026 John H. Graham Fund scholarship recipients are:

Samta Bhakta
Manager, Special Projects
North Carolina Nurses Association

Christine Blai
Chapter Administration Manager
Commercial Real Estate Women Network

Adrienne Bryant, CAE
Program Director, CCXP
Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA)

Jordan Burghardt
Director of Membership Engagement
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Michelle Burton
Director, Program Operations
Computer Science Teachers Association

Tyler Coble, PMP
Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 
National PACE Association

Sarah Day
Director of Education
American Society of Banking

Altair Delao, MPH
Senior Manager, Research
Emergency Nurses Association

Kakoli Dutta
Membership and Education Coordinator
Conference of Consulting Actuaries

Marina Esteve Wagstaff
Executive Assistant
Council of Independent Colleges

Darrill Gaschler
Director, Membership
American Welding Society

Melissa K. Goodman, CMP, DES
Director, Annual Meeting Programs
American Urological Association

Marta Hawk
Director of Student Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Octavia M. Jones, M.Ed.
Sr.Manager of Programs and Services
American Association of Veterinary State Boards

Krista Kindler Baber
Association Administrator
Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations | Indiana School Public Relations Association

Edward Kyle
Director, Marketing & Communications
The Nonprofit Alliance

Samantha Mazzola, MBA
Instructional Designer
MHI

Janye Edwards, MA
Marketing & Communications Director
US Composting Council

Marci D. Sanders, MBA
Director of Education and Programming
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy

Megan Santee
Specialist, Member and Donor Relations
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Vest, CAE, 202-626-2798, cvest@asaecenter.org

 

About ASAE

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 50,000 association executives and industry partners. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at Welcome to ASAE — American Society of Association Executives (asaecenter.org)