Sujatha Jesudason, PhD, Executive Director
Sujatha’s passion for connecting innovation and social justice is apparent in her experience founding and leading several organizations, including CoreAlign. She works to inspire others to be curious and generous while keeping a sharp analysis on current trends and issues facing a wide variety of movements. Her past work ranges from community organizing in Milwaukee, to violence prevention in the South Asian American community, to policy advocacy on reproductive genetics in her role as founder and executive director of Generations Ahead. Sujatha earned a doctorate in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and is a leading voice on women’s rights, racial justice, movement building and the ethics of human genetics. When not working or traveling, she can also be found riding her bike, running, weightlifting or reading murder mysteries in her pajamas.
Sujatha’s passion for connecting innovation and social justice is apparent in her experience founding and leading several organizations, including CoreAlign. She works to inspire others to be curious and generous while keeping a sharp analysis on current trends and issues facing a wide variety of movements. Her past work ranges from community organizing in Milwaukee, to violence prevention in the South Asian American community, to policy advocacy on reproductive genetics in her role as founder and executive director of Generations Ahead. Sujatha earned a doctorate in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and is a leading voice on women’s rights, racial justice, movement building and the ethics of human genetics. When not working or traveling, she can also be found riding her bike, running, weightlifting or reading murder mysteries in her pajamas.
Rohan Shamapant, Senior Manager of Operations
Rohan is interested in unlocking the capability of organizations working to innovatively address major development issues at domestically and abroad. At CoreAlign, he is responsible for improving organizational capacity to achieve its mission, aligning operational, fund development, and programmatic goals, and developing and promoting a high-performing, impact-driven, positive, and collaborative organizational culture. Rohan previously worked at Arabella Advisors supporting a diverse portfolio of social change projects to scale their impact, and at the Naandi Foundation in India implementing programs to enhance maternal and early childhood healthcare and education. In his free time, Rohan serves as the Chairman of the Board for Breathe California Golden Gate and explores Sufi poetry and music. He is also a podcast addict.
Rohan is interested in unlocking the capability of organizations working to innovatively address major development issues at domestically and abroad. At CoreAlign, he is responsible for improving organizational capacity to achieve its mission, aligning operational, fund development, and programmatic goals, and developing and promoting a high-performing, impact-driven, positive, and collaborative organizational culture. Rohan previously worked at Arabella Advisors supporting a diverse portfolio of social change projects to scale their impact, and at the Naandi Foundation in India implementing programs to enhance maternal and early childhood healthcare and education. In his free time, Rohan serves as the Chairman of the Board for Breathe California Golden Gate and explores Sufi poetry and music. He is also a podcast addict.
Jessica Crosby, Operations Assistant
Jessica joins CoreAlign as an Operations Assistant after working in student affairs domestically and abroad. She is enthusiastic to bring creative solutions and interest in internal system building to CoreAlign’s Operations Team. She obtained a BA from UC Santa Cruz in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies. Her coursework and extracurricular activities during her undergrad solidified her interest in exploring creative and sustainable solutions for nonprofits to amplify their impact. In her free time, Jessica enjoys travel, experimenting with her slow cooker, and perusing the aisles of used bookstores.
Jessica joins CoreAlign as an Operations Assistant after working in student affairs domestically and abroad. She is enthusiastic to bring creative solutions and interest in internal system building to CoreAlign’s Operations Team. She obtained a BA from UC Santa Cruz in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies. Her coursework and extracurricular activities during her undergrad solidified her interest in exploring creative and sustainable solutions for nonprofits to amplify their impact. In her free time, Jessica enjoys travel, experimenting with her slow cooker, and perusing the aisles of used bookstores.
Sara Ochoa, Program Assistant
Sara is from the Bay Area and a Cal Grad who studied Integrative Biology and LGBT Studies. They enjoy merging both their creativity and scientific training to everyday situations and strive to make those ideas + processes accessible in ordinary conversation. Prior to working with CoreAlign, she worked with the Vagina Monologues at UC Berkeley on their Production Team, Biology Scholars Program, and was an Equality California Comcast Fellow working with the LGBT Caucus in Sacramento. On their free time Sara enjoys supporting art, reading, remaining calm, and living their life unapologetically.
Sara is from the Bay Area and a Cal Grad who studied Integrative Biology and LGBT Studies. They enjoy merging both their creativity and scientific training to everyday situations and strive to make those ideas + processes accessible in ordinary conversation. Prior to working with CoreAlign, she worked with the Vagina Monologues at UC Berkeley on their Production Team, Biology Scholars Program, and was an Equality California Comcast Fellow working with the LGBT Caucus in Sacramento. On their free time Sara enjoys supporting art, reading, remaining calm, and living their life unapologetically.
COREALIGN FACULTY
Maura Bairley, MA
Maura is a member of the CoreAlign consultant design team for the Speaking Race to Power Fellowship. Maura’s transformative leadership development practice is rooted in her 20-year commitment to anti-violence and social justice movements. As a facilitator, coach, and consultant, she helps individuals and groups develop the capacity to hold complexity and ability to work across differences of identity and authority. Maura holds a masters degree in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teacher’s College, where she is also an adjunct faculty member and advanced doctoral student. A native San Franciscan, Maura makes her home in Brooklyn with her partner, teenaged son, and chosen family.
Maura is a member of the CoreAlign consultant design team for the Speaking Race to Power Fellowship. Maura’s transformative leadership development practice is rooted in her 20-year commitment to anti-violence and social justice movements. As a facilitator, coach, and consultant, she helps individuals and groups develop the capacity to hold complexity and ability to work across differences of identity and authority. Maura holds a masters degree in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teacher’s College, where she is also an adjunct faculty member and advanced doctoral student. A native San Franciscan, Maura makes her home in Brooklyn with her partner, teenaged son, and chosen family.
Monica Dennis
Monica, co-founder of The Spirit of A Woman Leadership Development Institute, centers her work on cultivating leadership and healthy racial identity in girls and women of color. Currently, she provides training, coaching and leadership development to organizations and communities committed to racial justice and equity. In addition to serving as a core faculty member for the NoVo Foundation’s Move To End Violence initiative, Monica partners with the Drug Policy Alliance and a host of others working to infuse racial equity practices and policies into their work. She is currently the Regional Coordinator for the Black Lives Matter NYC network.
Monica, co-founder of The Spirit of A Woman Leadership Development Institute, centers her work on cultivating leadership and healthy racial identity in girls and women of color. Currently, she provides training, coaching and leadership development to organizations and communities committed to racial justice and equity. In addition to serving as a core faculty member for the NoVo Foundation’s Move To End Violence initiative, Monica partners with the Drug Policy Alliance and a host of others working to infuse racial equity practices and policies into their work. She is currently the Regional Coordinator for the Black Lives Matter NYC network.
Viveka Chen
Viveka is the lead facilitator of CoreAlign’s consultant design team and designed our popular Practice Circle program. She works with people purposefully creating transformative change in their own lives and for a socially just world. She is a facilitator, certified coach, organizational development consultant and leadership trainer with over 20 years of experience and a commitment to cultural competency and a strength-based approach. She brings a depth of experience designing and facilitating convenings that bring together leaders working on common issues seeking to build networks, movement and impact.
Viveka is the lead facilitator of CoreAlign’s consultant design team and designed our popular Practice Circle program. She works with people purposefully creating transformative change in their own lives and for a socially just world. She is a facilitator, certified coach, organizational development consultant and leadership trainer with over 20 years of experience and a commitment to cultural competency and a strength-based approach. She brings a depth of experience designing and facilitating convenings that bring together leaders working on common issues seeking to build networks, movement and impact.