2025–2027 DELP Scholars

Tanika Coates, CDE, has over 19 years of experience in association management and a decade of specialization in learning design, with particular expertise in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). She is dedicated to innovating methods for engaging learners, integrating artificial intelligence in the future of education, and collaborating with subject matter experts to create compelling content that promotes inclusive, equitable, and accessible learning experiences for diverse audiences.

In her current position as Director of Professional Development at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), Tanika leads the Professional Development Department and manages several federally funded grant programs aimed at enhancing career development within the scientific community. She is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing educational and professional development initiatives that cater to ASCB's diverse membership at various career stages, with a strong emphasis on increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in the field of cell biology.

Tanika holds an undergraduate degree in Communication from George Mason University and a Master of Science in Administration in Organizational Development from Trinity Washington University. She has also obtained an Event Management Graduate Certificate from George Washington University and is certified as a Diversity Executive by the Institute for Diversity Certification.

Additionally, Tanika has served as Chair (2023-2024) and Vice Chair (2022-2023) of the ASAE Professional Development Advisory Council, participating in the Council from 2020 to 2024. Her prior involvement includes serving as a council member on the ASAE Component Relations Section Council from 2013 to 2016 and volunteering for the ASAE Foundation member recognition committee. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Tanika is actively engaged in her community, volunteering her time to various local initiatives surrounding the Washington, DC area.

Tanika is also recognized as a recipient of the Class of 2015 Association Forum/USAE Forty under 40 award, which honors emerging leaders under 40 within the nonprofit sector.

Dr. Stacie L. Dojonovic is a distinguished educator, transition specialist, and advocate for individuals with disabilities. She currently serves as the Coordinator for the Online Transition Certificate and master’s program at The University of Kansas and as the Executive Director of the Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT). With over 25 years of experience in special education, she has been instrumental in shaping national transition policies and professional development initiatives that support students with disabilities in their journey to adulthood.

Dr. Dojonovic began her career as a transition specialist in both urban and suburban school districts, where she developed comprehensive programs focused on career readiness, interagency collaboration, and inclusive educational practices. Her dedication to evidence-based transition planning led her to secure multiple grants aimed at improving employment outcomes and self-determination for youth with disabilities. In these roles, she worked closely with students, families, educators, and community partners to bridge the gap between school and postsecondary opportunities.

Her leadership in higher education has been transformative. Since joining The University of Kansas, she has played a pivotal role in expanding and accrediting the university’s graduate-level transition programs, ensuring alignment with national competencies. Dr. Dojonovic has mentored and advised over 200 graduate students, equipping future educators and transition specialists with the skills needed to create meaningful change in the field. Her innovative approach to online learning and curriculum development has broadened access to high-quality training for professionals nationwide.

As Executive Director of DCDT, Dr. Dojonovic has led groundbreaking initiatives, including developing national transition competencies, overseeing the first accreditation process for postsecondary transition programs, and expanding professional development opportunities for transition specialists. Under her leadership, DCDT has strengthened its role as a national leader in the transition field, offering research-based resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy for students with disabilities.

Dr. Dojonovic contributions have been recognized through numerous honors and awards, including the Bender Leadership Pioneer Award. She is a sought-after speaker, author, and thought leader, frequently presenting at national and international conferences on culturally sustaining transition practices, transition assessement, and inclusive career development.

A first-generation college graduate, woman with a hearing impairment, and individual from a low-income background, Dr. Dojonovic’s personal experiences have deeply influenced her mission. She is passionate about breaking down barriers, increasing diversity in leadership, and advocating for equitable access to education and career opportunities.

Through her work at the intersection of education, policy, and advocacy, Dr. Dojonovic continues to drive innovation and empower both students and professionals in the field of special education and transition services.

Vanessa has been involved in the association and philanthropic grantmaking field for 8 years and is the director of grant programs at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation. She is committed to supporting sleep health and science that matters and is accessible to patients, practitioners, and the public. In her current role, she oversees the development, implementation, and impact of grant programs by applying grantmaking best practices, increase collaborative efforts with external funding agencies and non-profit organizations on mutual areas of interest, and ensure diversity, equity, inclusion are core to all foundation programs.

Before her work in philanthropy, she gained extensive experience managing patient-centered clinical research in academia and led the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in the medical association field. She currently serves as the PEAK Grantmaking Chapter Chair.

Vanessa is a past recipient of the local Jefferson Award for Public Service at the University of Illinois at Chicago for creating a mentorship program for first-year Latino undergraduate students. She attained her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health Leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jackie Hippolyte stands out as a dynamic leader in digital communications with more than 15 years of professional experience spanning marketing communications, website administration tasks, and project management roles. In her role as Senior Manager of Web Operations at the National Court Reporters Association she directs web operations while managing digital platforms and assists with organizational technology initiatives.

At Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA), Jackie served as Manager of Web & Communication Systems while maintaining both the organization’s website and CRM systems. She managed web projects while working together with third-party vendors and offered technical support. She started her EWA career as a Membership Assistant by processing applications and providing fulfillment support while helping to organize events.

Her leadership experience originates from her military service in the United States Army where she held positions as Personnel Services Systems Administrator followed by Executive Assistant to Battalion Command at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Within her assigned positions she managed employee records while delivering administrative support to senior executives and participated in operational tasks.

Jackie earned her Master of Science degree in Business Organizational Management with an Information Technology minor from the University of La Verne and her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from NYU Stern School of Business. Her professional credentials include a Web Design certificate from Sessions College and an Information Systems certificate with a Web Development Concentration from Strayer University.

Jackie actively pursues professional development through lifelong learning and maintains a strong passion for digital communications and technology which involves managing web and digital platforms to boost engagement and operational effectiveness.

JoAnna Leon has over 20 years of experience in association management and is currently the Director of WERC Membership & MHI-CICMHE at MHI. She leads strategic membership initiatives, enhances industry-academia collaborations, and develops workforce development programs. She also manages VIP engagement for the WERC Annual Conference, fostering connections between industry professionals, educators, and emerging leaders.

Previously, she served as Administrator for Chapter & Member Services at PCMA, where she oversaw 17 regional chapters, optimized leadership development programs, and successfully increased membership engagement.

JoAnna has completed the ReadyMe Leadership Academy, Association Membership Growth Certificate, and MHI Industry Leadership Program. She actively contributes to the association community as the Membership SIG Chair for the Association Forum and as a mentor in MHI’s Leadership Program.

Her thought leadership extends to webinars and publications on workforce development, student-industry collaborations, and membership retention strategies. She has been recognized for her contributions with the Greater Midwest Chapter PCMA President’s Award.

JoAnna holds a strong passion for fostering professional communities, supporting industry educators and students, and driving membership growth. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband and taking long walks with her dogs, Bo and Logan, and mentoring her two daughters as they enter adulthood and the association community in their first jobs after college.

Justine Medina is currently the Membership and Operations Manager at the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA), formerly known as the Native American Journalists Association. Her day-to-day duties include administrative tasks for membership recruitment and retention, managing the overall communications plan for the organization and managing two programs the Indigenous Media Awards and the Indigenous Media Initiative. Justine started at IJA in July 2021 and wishes to continue to grow in the association community.

Justine’s previous roles include community organizer for California Native Vote Project, Native American recruiter for UCLA and UCI, and contracted work for Indigenous Circle of Wellness and HoganHorse Studio. She also served as a graduate assistant for the International Career Advancement Program at the University of Denver. 

Justine received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science from California State University of Los Angeles after transferring from Rio Hondo Community College, and a Master’s in International Administration from the University of Denver. She recently completed a non-profit management certificate from the University of Irvine Division of Career Path.

Viviana Urdaneta Melo is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the EMDR International Association. She oversees and guides content development, curation, and selection of educational offerings provided directly by the Association. She oversees staff and programming of the Racial Equity Support Initiative (RESI), a program of the EMDRIA Foundation. She works closely with the Executive Director, the board of directors, and EMDRIA staff to implement key initiatives to ensure the association remains a leader in providing the highest standards of excellence and support for mental health therapists who specialize in trauma treatment and EMDR therapy.

Viviana is dedicated to fostering Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) by developing and supporting initiatives that empower diverse communities. She is committed to creating innovative programs, materials, and resources to enhance professional development.

Previously, she served as Chair of the task force for Racial Equity Initiative, Co-chair of the Public Practice and Diversity Special Interest group, and Member of the EMDRIA Conference Committee as well as President of Latinos Against Domestic Violence in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. She has worked in diverse leadership positions as a therapist, advocate, and supervisor in university settings, domestic violence agencies, mental health centers, and private practice.

Viviana received her Bachelor’s in Electronic Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali, Colombia, and her Master’s in Social Work and Master’s of Divinities from Baylor University.

Michael Pereira, CAE, CDMP, is a dynamic association professional with a passion for innovation, collaboration, and building organizations that make a difference. With experience across marketing, strategic communications, education, data analysis, and technology, he brings a cross-functional perspective to solving challenges and delivering member value. 

Michael’s career began in Brazil’s aviation sector, where he developed expertise in performance optimization and strategic planning. Since transitioning into the association world in 2017, he led initiatives in education, learning technologies, and member engagement at ACTFL, supporting language educators through scalable digital strategies. 

Currently at the School Nutrition Association (SNA), Michael leads integrated marketing efforts, national campaigns, and digital engagement strategies that have driven record-breaking growth and expanded the reach of SNA’s mission. His work strengthens the brand, advances advocacy for school meals, and fosters deeper member connection. 

In addition to his professional role, Michael is a dedicated volunteer leader and a passionate advocate for mentorship, DEIA, and the next-gen leadership development in the association space. He serves as a Board Director for Association Latinos, chairs ASAE’s Young Professionals Advisory Committee. Michael was also recognized as a 2022 ASAE NextGen Scholar and 2023 Inspira Award recipient by the Association Latinos for his leadership and contributions to the association community. 

Known for his mix of strategic thinking, creative energy, and collaborative spirit, Michael brings people together around ideas that move organizations forward. He’s committed to helping shape the future of associations in a way that’s more inclusive, impactful, and drives meaningful change. 

Vicky Schneider is the Chief Strategy Officer of The American Institute of Architects (AIA). In this role, she guides strategic initiatives, identifies and activates opportunities for collaboration and leadership across the organization and with our partners, and ensures that the work of AIA adheres to the strategic goals set for in the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Her portfolio includes Legal & Business Affairs, Strategic Operations, Governance, and Awards.  Prior to joining AIA, Vicky spent nearly 20 years at Johns Hopkins Institutions establishing new programs, cultivating internal and external relationships, guiding strategic vision, and increasing organizational efficiencies at the Center for Talented Youth, The School of Medicine’s Center for Epigenetics, and in Development and Alumni Relations. Vicky began her career as a SAS programmer, operations manager, and client trainer supporting research at the National Institutes of Health.

Vicky holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in biology with minors in service learning and science education. She holds a Master of Science in the science of learning from Johns Hopkins University, as well as Executive Certificates from both the Academy of Women in Leadership and Innovation & Human-Centered Design from Carey Business School, and Project Management from the University of Massachusetts. She has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives, a recognition of her expertise and leadership in the association management field.

Mariel Solomon is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has worked at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for 8 years. In her current role, Mariel leverages her experience as an SLP to facilitate teams of ASHA staff and volunteer members who develop and update the ASHA Practice Portal—a resource platform that enhances knowledge translation of clinical research to support clinical decision making for ASHA’s 241,000 members. In her previous role at ASHA, Mariel developed resources through ASHA’s National Center for Evidence-based Practice that brought speech-language pathology research to clinical audiences and promoted evidence-based practice.

Mariel is a dedicated servant leader who is intentional about uplifting underrepresented voices and building community. As a Filipina American association leader and someone who has experienced disability in the past, Mariel strives to enhance inclusion and accessibility in the association community. At ASHA, Mariel is a champion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. She leads the Diversity Team, an employee resource group that provides staff with learning opportunities to increase empathy, learn from each other, deepen cultural humility, and foster meaningful interpersonal relationships.

Mariel’s commitment to developing her skills as an association leader deepened when she was selected as a 2022 ASAE NextGen Scholar. Currently, she is completing her third term with ASAE’s Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC). She recently led the YPAC subcommittee that implemented educational programming to empower young association professionals. Mariel is also an active member of the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Association Community Group. Through the AANHPI Association Community Group, she contributes to cultivating a vibrant network of AANHPI association professionals and increasing their representation in association leadership.

Prior to working at ASHA, Mariel served as a full-time school-based SLP. She assisted elementary-aged students with various communication impairments—helping them access their curriculum and express themselves. In addition, she educated her students’ peers, teachers, and families/caregivers on how to honor the diverse ways that students communicate.

Mariel earned a bachelor of science degree in speech-language-hearing sciences and a master of science degree in speech-language pathology from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She maintains the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).

Ashley Turner is an accomplished accreditation and compliance leader with extensive experience in continuing education, regulatory compliance, and program development. She currently serves as the Director of Accreditation and Compliance at the American Psychiatric Association (APA), overseeing Joint Accreditation for all APA educational activities and managing accreditation for over 75 external organizations through the APA Joint Provider Program. Under her leadership, APA has successfully maintained Joint Accreditation, expanded interprofessional education programs, and enhanced compliance with ACCME, ANCC, ACPE, and other accreditation standards.

Previously, Ashley was the Manager of Quality Assurance and Special Projects at the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA). She evaluated accreditation standards, developed compliance policies, and coordinated nursing program applications and site visits. Before that, she served as Office Manager at Glen Echo Surgery Center and Medical Front Office Supervisor at Capital Digestive Care, where she optimized operations, improved patient services, and implemented cost-saving measures.

Ashley’s background also includes service as a Human Resource Specialist in the United States Active National Guard, where she managed payroll, benefits, and personnel readiness.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and has completed professional development programs, including the ASAE Certificate Program in Association Management, ASAE ReadyMe Program, and ASAE NextGen Leadership.

With expertise in accreditation standards, project management, and association leadership, Ashley is committed to advancing compliance frameworks, fostering interprofessional education, and driving continuous improvement in accreditation and continuing education programs.

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field or endeavor."  This quote by Vincent Lombardi resonates with my belief that one's commitment to excellence transcends any and everything that one does.

With more than two decades of experience, Janet has steadily climbed the ladder in the association industry to become the Member Lead for Worldwide ERC® (WERC) as well as Membership and Operations Manager for Smithbucklin, where she uses her experience to create a membership and operations department focusing on database migration/implementation, data analytics, improving customer experience, and other operational goals (i.e. membership engagement, recruitment, retention, etc.).  She works closely with all departments to develop promotional opportunities for current and future members. Janet’s knowledge of WERC members and the industry is very instrumental to achieving both successful member engagement and the highest levels of customer service satisfaction with our members across all media channels. Also using her knowledge of the industry, Janet serves as staff liaison to multiple committees/working groups within WERC as well as all regional relocation groups where she develops and nurtures strategic alliances.

Being a native Washingtonian, Janet was hit by the political bug and interned for various political organizations and was a former elected official in Montgomery County, Maryland. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Maryland Democratic Party.

After joining Worldwide ERC®, Janet achieved her Senior Global Mobility Specialist, Talent (GMS-T®) designation. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Notre Dame of Maryland University as well as a Graduate Certificate in Political Management from the George Washington University and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives.