Staff Directory
Michael Baltzer
Recruitment Manager
Public Allies Pittsburgh
mbaltzer@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-3022
Marketing and Communications Manager
Coro Pittsburgh
cbrooke@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2674
More information from Catlyn is coming soon…
Training and Learning Manager
Public Allies Pittsburgh
sarahc@publicallies.org
412-258-3021
Sarah Collier is the Training and Learning Manager for Public Allies Pittsburgh. A native of Baltimore, she adopted Pittsburgh as her hometown 8 years ago and loves the city more every year. After earning her B.A. in English from Goucher College, Sarah worked in education, neuropsychological research, case management, a women’s shelter, and a Center for Independent Living. In her role at Coro, Sarah is responsible for managing all aspects of the Public Allies 1st Year and Executive Allies’ training programs.
When she is not at work, Sarah enjoys lifting heavy things, acting as a coxswain for the Three Rivers Rowing Association, and eating. She is especially passionate about local food, local business, and disability rights.
Greg Crowley, PhD
President and CEO
gcrowley@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2689
Greg provides leadership for the organization, raising awareness about Coro in the community, managing relationships with funders, providing guidance in the design of programs, and overseeing a staff of twelve full-time employees. Prior to his appointment as president, Greg served five years as vice president and two years as Coro’s director of research. Greg has been instrumental in helping to launch several successful, regional multi-year leadership initiatives, including collaborative neighborhood planning that involved 150 residents of the South Hilltop (2006-2007), engaging over 300 adult citizens and students to contribute to equity in educational achievement (2007-present), preparing over 60 emerging leaders to run for public office (2009-10), and engaging over 100 residents to plan for community leadership succession in the Hill District, Uptown and the Northside (2009-present).
Greg served for three years as board vice president, and continues to serve on the board, of the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh, which seeks to develop in students a balance of intellectual achievement, spiritual growth, physical health and personal responsibility. Greg formerly served as co-director of the Program for Deliberative Democracy, a Carnegie Mellon-based applied research initiative to incorporate the informed voice of citizens into local policy and program decisions. In 2008 the program was awarded the League of Women Voters Good Government Award for its innovations in citizen engagement around issues ranging from climate change and health policy to public art and neighborhood revitalization. In 2010 the program worked in partnership with the Pittsburgh Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh, and Institute of Politics to conduct the first-ever Deliberative Poll in Allegheny County devoted to gathering informed citizen opinion on local government improvement.
Greg has held research and teaching positions at Oberlin College, the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University. He is a frequent speaker, and author of The Politics of Place: Contentious Urban Redevelopment in Pittsburgh (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2005) as well as numerous articles and reports on urban politics, deliberative democracy and civic engagement. Greg holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.A. from Teachers College Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
Lynn A. Hein
Business Manager
lhein@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2679
Lynn recently joined Coro Pittsburgh as Business Manager. In this role, she prepares the annual budget, financial reports to the board and foundations and the daily financial transactions. Additionally, she handles all matters relating to Human Resources. Lynn’s former positions include Assistant Controller for a large window manufacturing company, Marketing Director for a local children’s party center, and Staff Accountant for a major insurance broker.
Lynn currently serves as President of Pine Richland High School Boys Lacrosse and Core Team member of St. Richard Youth Ministry, served as President, Vice-President, Treasurer on various school, sports booster, and church affiliated groups, and volunteers for Family House.
Lynn holds a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing/Management) from Clarion University as well as an Accounting Degree from Robert Morris University.
Lynn lives in Wexford, PA with her husband, Dave, and three teenage boys.
Jennifer Holliman, MPA
Director of Project-Based Learning
Coro Pittsburgh & Public Allies
jholliman@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2670
Jennifer is the Director of Project-Based Learning, overseeing the catalytic projects for full-time and part-time programs, cultivating relationships with project hosts and partner organizations for both Coro and Public Allies Pittsburgh.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with her Master of Public Administration from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, concentrating in nonprofit management. While earning her degree, Jennifer worked at the University of Pittsburgh in higher academic administration in the School of Social Work and School of Medicine.
Jennifer is very passionate about her community and plays an active role in the South Side Community Council, serving as their University Relations Coordinator, helping to bridge the gap between residents and students and is also a member of their Green N At Committee, helping to revitalize the neighborhood. She is also a participant in the 2013-2014 Next Neighborhood Leaders – South Pittsburgh program.
Jamillia Kamara, M.Ed.
Training and Learning Manager
Public Allies Pittsburgh
jkamara@coropittsburgh.org
A Philadelphia native, Jamillia Kamara earned her Bachelors in Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She is the creator and founder of Smart = Cool (Smart Is Cool), a social service initiative that brings high value educational experiences to traditionally low-valued urban environments. Over the past 6 years, Jamillia has worked with over 600 inner city youth on projects including school poetry slams, oratorical contests, mentoring, support groups, stage plays, and the first “Smart Is Cool” spelling bee.
Jamillia is a member of the Pi Lambda Theta education honor society and graduated magna cum laude from Chestnut Hill College with a Masters in Elementary Education. She is an AmeriCorps alumnus, a Philadelphia Teaching Fellow, and a former classroom teacher.
Recruitment Manager
Coro Pittsburgh
rlobley@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2673
More information from Rebecca is coming soon…
Melanie Organ
Administrator
morgan@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2687
Melanie oversees various administrative functions at Coro Pittsburgh and manages additional duties in the areas of operations and development. Melanie’s more recent employment prior to joining Coro was with the City of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh Partnership and later with the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB), where she supported the founding Executive Director in the launch of the TRWIB in Pittsburgh.
Melanie received an Associate of Science Degree in Social Work from the Community College of Allegheny County. Originally from Mercer County, Melanie currently lives in the Pittsburgh area and enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Mary C. Parker
Faculty
Director of Training and Learning Development
mparker@coropittsburgh.org
412-208-0253
Mary C. Parker is the Director of Training and Learning Development, managing learning development for full-time and part-time programs. In her role, Mary oversees learning partnerships through recruitment of subject matter experts and trains participants on inquiry and facilitation.
Raised in Stone Mountain, GA Mary earned a Bachelor’s of Art in Sociology and a minor in Ethics from Emory University. Mary was brought to Pittsburgh by the Coro Fellows Program where she participated as a member of the Coro Fellows Class of 2012.
Prior to Coro, Mary worked in the nonprofit sector including two years of service with City Year, a national AmeriCorps program focused on keeping students in school and on track to graduation. Mary continues her service in Pittsburgh serving on the YWCA Young Leader Board and as a board member of New Voices Pittsburgh. In 2013, she was recognized as a Western Pennsylvania Rising Star at the Pittsburgh Service Summit hosted by Baker Leadership. In 2014, Mary was recognized by the Dignity & Respect Campaign as the May 2014 Dignity & Respect Champion.
Jessica Ruffin
Chief Operating Officer, Coro Pittsburgh
Site Director, Public Allies Pittsburgh
jruffin@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-3023
Jessica is the Chief Operating Officer of Coro Pittsburgh and the Site Director of Public Allies Pittsburgh, an AmeriCorps program that is in partnership with the Coro Center for Civic Leadership.
A Pittsburgh native, Jessica earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and her MBA from Chatham University.
Jessica is a firm believer in children’s activist, Marian Wright Edelman words, “Service is the rent we pay for living.” To that end, Jessica is extremely active in both her church and her community.
Jessica is a 2011 recipient of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 award, a 2006 graduate of the Coro Center for Civic Leadership’s Community Problem Solving Fellows Program, and a member of the seventh cohort of Serving Leaders’ Leaders Collaborative.
Michael Sider-Rose, PhD
Faculty
Senior Director of Programs and Learning Development
msider-rose@coropittsburgh.org
412-258-2672
Michael grew up in Philadelphia, where he had visions of becoming the next Mike Schmidt even though his little-league slugging percentage never reached triple digits. After college, he settled in Pittsburgh for a Ph.D. program in History. Eight years later Michael emerged from the library with a completed dissertation on religion and politics in post-WWII America. Keen to link the academy and the community, he took a position with Chicago Semester, an off-campus, experiential learning program. He worked there from 2000-2006 and enjoyed it so much that he decided to create a similar venture in Pittsburgh as part of The Pittsburgh Project. Michael was Director of Pittsburgh Semester from 2007 through 2008. In January of 2009, he joined Coro Pittsburgh, where he now serves as Senior Director of Programs. He designs curricula, develops new programs, trains and facilitates in programs, oversees internal efforts to develop the training capacity of staff, and spearheads contractual projects. In his spare time, Michael enjoys moving (biking, hiking), not moving (reading, seeing plays), and sampling food from around the globe (the perfect balance of moving and not moving). Michael has the great privilege of being married to Randi and father to Ana, Molli, and Eliza.