PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#2025FlinnBrown–Thirty Arizonans from across the state — representing a wide range of professionals, ideologies, and lived experiences — have been selected as the 17th cohort of the Flinn-Brown Fellowship, a flagship program of the nonpartisan Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation.
United by a shared commitment to public service, they join a statewide network of leaders working across differences to shape Arizona’s future.
The 2025 Flinn-Brown Fellows represent the breadth of Arizona’s talent and dedication needed to meet Arizona’s complex challenges. The cohort includes elected officials and public servants at the state and local government levels, educators, nonprofit and university executives, business leaders, entrepreneurs and others interested in addressing Arizona’s most pressing public policy issues.
This summer, the new Fellows will begin their journey through the Flinn-Brown Academy, a rigorous 12-session public policy institute starting in August. They will join the Flinn-Brown Network — now 495 Fellows strong —for the annual Flinn-Brown Convention, a statewide convening focused on professional development, collaboration, and the shared pursuit of civic leadership that strengthens Arizona.
“The Flinn-Brown Fellowship is more than a learning experience—it’s a call to service,” said Dawn Wallace, Flinn Foundation vice president, civic leadership. “It affirms that lasting change in Arizona comes from everyday people who pair their commitment to service with the knowledge and relationships needed to navigate policy and solve real-world problems.”
The Flinn-Brown Academy’s interactive all-day sessions will focus on the state budget, demographics, education, health care, human services, the environment, infrastructure, criminal justice, and more. Facilitators include top elected and appointed officials and subject-matter experts, while former legislators Stan Barnes of Copper State Consulting Group and South Mountain Justice of the Peace Rebecca Rios will lead discussions from differing political perspectives.
The 2025 Flinn-Brown Fellows, including positions, cities, and counties of residence, are:
- The Honorable Danya Acosta: Owner, Luca D’Cobre; Mayor Pro-Tempore, City of Douglas, Douglas, Cochise County
- Veronica Aguilar: Vice President, Recruitment, Teach for America, Scottsdale, Maricopa County
- Ashley Anderson: Associate Director, People and Talent, Arizona State University, Maricopa, Pinal County
- Isabel Booth: Administrative Fellow, CommonSpirit Health, Glendale, Maricopa County
- Tori Bourguignon: Executive Director, Amberly’s Place Family Advocacy Center, Yuma, Yuma County
- The Honorable Roberta «Birdie» Cano: Emergency Substitute Teacher, Winslow Unified School District; Mayor, City of Winslow, Winslow, Navajo County
- Eric Chalmers: Principal & Founder, Resilient Strategies Arizona, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- Natalie Collings: Chief Deputy Recorder, Mohave County Recorder’s Office, Kingman, Mohave County
- Thomas Collins, J.D.: Executive Director, Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Tempe, Maricopa County
- Sophie Dessart: Manager, Communications & Public Affairs, Florence Copper, Florence, Pinal County
- Erin Ford Faulhaber, J.D.: Deputy Director, Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- Nick Hilton: Director of Community Relations, University of Arizona, Tucson, Pima County
- The Honorable Khara House: Senior Writer, C4 Innovations; Councilmember, City of Flagstaff, Flagstaff, Coconino County
- Katie Hurst: Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Association for Economic Development, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- Juliana Manzanarez, J.D.: Founder & Principal Attorney, Via Law Group, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- Michael Marquess: President & CEO, Mother Road Brewing Company, Flagstaff, Coconino County
- Joshua Munoz: Associate Director of Public Policy, First Place AZ, Tempe, Maricopa County
- The Honorable Shaandiin Parrish: Executive Staff Assistant to First Lady Phefelia Nez, Office of the President and Vice President, Navajo Nation; Council Delegate, Navajo Nation, Kayenta, Navajo County
- Ryan Peters: Strategic Initiatives Director, City of Chandler, Gilbert, Maricopa County
- The Honorable Violeta Ramos: Managing Director of Leadership Programs, ALL in Education; Governing Board Member, Osborn School District, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- The Honorable Kristen Randall: Air Program Manager, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality; Governing Board Member, Pima Community College, Arivaca, Pima County
- Matthew Schumacher, Ed.D.: Superintendent, Clarkdale-Jerome School District, Cottonwood, Yavapai County
- Rebecca Serratos: Adjunct Faculty, Yavapai College, Prescott, Yavapai County
- Elizabeth Slater: Chief Executive Officer, Youth On Their Own, Tucson, Pima County
- Jay Smith: Forest Restoration Director, Coconino County Flood Control District, Flagstaff, Coconino County
- The Honorable Laura Terech: Executive Director, Arizona America250 Commission, Office of Arizona Secretary of State, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- Sara Torres: Science & STEM Professional Learning Consultant, Torres Enterprise, Tucson, Pima County
- Joseph Urrea: Emergency Management Coordinator, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gilbert, Maricopa County
- Oye Waddell: Chief Executive Officer, Hustle PHX, Phoenix, Maricopa County
- Andre Whittington: Executive Director, Growth Partners Arizona, Phoenix, Maricopa County
The committee of Arizona leaders that selected the 2025 Fellows following two days of interviews at the Flinn Foundation included:
- Rosellen Papp, C.F.A.: Partner and Research Director, L. Roy Papp and Associates; Vice Chair, Treasurer, Flinn Foundation Board of Directors
- Laura Smallhouse Canning: Vice President, Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation
- Ben Henderson: Director, Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting, 2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow
- Jaime S. Chamberlain: President, Chamberlain Distributing Inc.
- Holly Figueroa: Tribal Liaison, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice; President, Arizona Rural Health Association
- The Honorable Matt Salmon: Special Advisor, Office of University Affairs, Arizona State University; Former Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives
- The Honorable Anna Tovar: Realtor, My Home Group; Former Commissioner, Arizona Corporation Commission; Former Mayor, City of Tolleson; Former State Senator
The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership was established in 2011 by the Flinn Foundation to create a statewide network dedicated to addressing and solving Arizona’s long-term needs and issues.
“The Flinn Foundation sees the Flinn-Brown Fellowship as a long-term leadership development service to Arizona,” said Tammy McLeod, Ph.D., Flinn Foundation president and CEO. “The education, resources, and connections provided to the Fellows enable them to take the next step in their leadership goals, whether in their local community or at the state Capitol, and support policies that lead to an improved quality of life in our state.”
Meet the 2025 Flinn-Brown Fellows
Contacts
Brian Powell, Flinn Foundation Communications Manager, 602-744-6806, [email protected]
Dawn Wallace, Flinn Foundation Vice President, Civic Leadership, 480-326-1628, [email protected]
