WASHINGTON— ASAE proudly announced this week the selection of 12 exceptional association professionals as scholars for the 2026-2028 class of the Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP). DELP, now in its 26^th year, is a powerful, two-year leadership accelerator offering immersive education, one-on-one mentoring, and unparalleled networking and volunteer opportunities across the association community.

“Congratulations to the 2026–2028 Class of DELP Scholars, who represent the talent, perspectives, and potential that will shape the future of association leadership,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, AAiP. “For 26 years, DELP has been a cornerstone of ASAE’s commitment to Conscious Inclusion and leadership development, helping build a stronger and more representative pipeline of leaders for our profession. We are honored to welcome this new class of scholars and look forward to supporting their growth, connecting them to opportunity, and serving as their professional home throughout their careers.”

Throughout the program, DELP scholars receive full ASAE membership, registration, travel, and lodging for the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition and other high-impact educational events, along with tailored mentorship and professional development opportunities designed to elevate their leadership trajectory. These scholars will begin their DELP journey at a DELP Orientation and the DELP Reunion on June 12-14, 2026, in Detroit, MI.

ASAE extends deep appreciation to Visit Detroit, whose unwavering partnership for over two decades has been instrumental in shaping the DELP legacy. Thanks to their commitment, DELP has empowered more than 270 dynamic, diverse leaders to thrive and lead in the association world.

A new volunteer leadership structure put in place last year gives the DELP community an even greater voice and opportunity to collaborate with ASAE and our sponsor, Visit Detroit, to expand the program’s reach and influence. The inaugural Chair and Vice Chair of DELP are David “DJ” Johnson, IOM, CAE, FASAE, Senior Director of Association Governance Operations at The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and Rita Chen Fujisawa, MBA, FASAE, CAE, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, California Association of Health Facilities.

"Congratulations to the 12 association professionals selected for the 2026–2028 DELP class,” Johnson said. “Each scholar brings a strong desire to grow as a leader and strengthen their impact on their organizations, careers, the association profession, and ASAE.” 

 

The 2026-2028 class of DELP scholars includes:

Haleema M. Burton
Senior Manager, Member Engagement
American Staffing Association
Alexandria, VA

Sheila Desai, NCSP, PhD
Director of Equity and Inclusive Practices
National Association of School Psychologists
Bethesda, MD

Cynthia Jimenez, MPA
Senior Manager, Workforce Pipeline & Engagement
California Society of CPAs
Sacramento, CA

Jose Marroquin, MBA, MA
Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Society of Actuaries
Chicago, IL

Ashley Martinez
Associate Director, Innovation
Heart Rhythm Society
Washington, DC

Jennifer Mehltretter, CAE
Director of Membership and Constituent Services
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Dundee, MI

Nicola Mohan
Senior Manager
Society of Women Engineers
Chicago, IL

Samson Reiny
Director, Media and Public Relations
American Geophysical Union
Washington, DC

Benjamin Rome
Senior Director of Content
American Bus Association
Washington, DC

Nichole Sorhaindo, MPH
Managing Director
American Institute of Architects
Washington, DC

LaToya Tapscott, CAE, AAiP
Vice President, Membership & Strategic Partnerships
Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)
Brooklyn Park, MD

Margarita Valdez Martinez
Chief Advocacy Officer
American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy
Washington, DC

 

 

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)