2024 Leadership Team

Nigel is currently building a stronger future for our four-legged friends and helping them find forever homes as the Director of Philanthropy, Partnerships at Austin Pets Alive!. Prior to APA!, Nigel was the Corporate Relations Manager at the Central Texas Food Bank and prior to that he worked on corporate partnerships at Circuit of The Americas. In total, Nigel has over 10 years of experience working with corporate partners to reach their philanthropic and marketing goals. In addition to being the current President of YNPN Austin, he loves playing soccer on the weekends, tennis every chance he can, hiking a local trail, camping, catching a local show or trying new restaurants. He also loves traveling the world with his partner, cuddling up and watching tv and everything in between.

Esmé is the Development Manager at Decriminalize Sex Work, a national organization that works to end human trafficking and promote public health and safety through the decriminalization of consensual adult prostitution. She relocated to Austin, TX from Iowa/Minnesota in 2021 and began her nonprofit career in development at Girls Empowerment Network. This is her third year serving on the board for YNPN (and she still loves it!)

Elyssa is new to the Austin area and excited to support YNPN communications. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, she has served in AmeriCorps VISTA, for multiple nonprofit boards, and volunteered a plethora of hours to create sustainable impact in our community. You may find Elyssa on weekends trying new restaurants, thrift shopping, concert-going, or simply at home cuddling her two cats. 

Alyssa currently serves as the Development Coordinator for American Gateways, an incredible organization providing immigration legal services throughout Central Texas. Originally from North Texas, Alyssa is proud to now call Austin home. She has a B.A in Sociology and Spanish from St. Edward's University and an M.S. in Applied Sociology from Texas State University. In her free time, you can find her doing yoga, hiking, or snuggled on the couch with a good book and her dog.

Maggie will be serving as the new VP of Programming. She has been a part of the YNPN Austin community as a member, committee member, and vice chair since 2019 and is excited to step into this new leadership position. Currently, Maggie serves as a National Senior Advocacy Advisor with the American Heart Association. She is an experienced public health professional with a passion for collaborating
with community leaders to identify and implement equitable solutions that tackle the root causes of health issues. Prior to joining the American Heart Association, Maggie has worked with several Texas based non-profits focused on addressing food insecurity and social determinants of health across the state. Maggie received her Master of Public Health, with a focus in Global Health, from Oregon State
University. In her free time, she likes to go on walks with her new puppy Poppy, watch trashy reality TV shows, and plays on a local women’s Gaelic football team.

Megha Uppal was brought up in Arlington, TX.  She moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas, where she was actively involved in the Multicultural Engagement Center that helped strengthen her ties to, advocate, and serve the Asian American community. Megha is a social-tech entrepreneur that focuses on innovation and building community for the aging population at Aspire to Age, PBC. 

Nikky Woodson commits much of her personal and professional life to the development of leadership and social impact as an advocate for today's youth and women around the nation. Her endeavors for empowerment activations implement social-emotional learning and life-skill programs ranging from "Girls2Women" focusing on teen development, teen mothers, single parent adult women, with some facing domestic violence and abuse.
Her personal quote: "You can find me somewhere in between inspiring others, protecting my peace, and executing my goals." 

Shelby is the Regional Business Operations Coordinator at American Red Cross Serving Central and South Texas where she focuses on managing fleet, facilities, and financial/administrative functions. Shelby has been in the nonprofit field for five years with experience in finance, operations, volunteer management, and donor relations.

Originally from Michigan and relocated to Austin in 2022 to get more exposure to the nonprofit community. Shelby holds a bachelor’s degree in community development with a concentration in health sciences and a master’s degree in administration with an emphasis in philanthropy and nonprofit organizations from Central Michigan University.

In her free time, Shelby enjoys yoga, nature walks and reading

Dylan is the Development Operations Manager at Central Texas Food Bank, having previously led CTFB's food recovery program for two years. His professional passion is ending food waste, and he works with national programs like Food Waste Prevention Week and the Zero Food Waste Coalition.

Dylan was raised in Maryland and holds a degree in English from Amherst College. In another life he played professional baseball in Europe. He's an avid golfer and tennis player, cook, and history buff, and also enjoys doing nothing with his wife and chihuahuas.

Ana has almost 10 years of experience working in marketing and communications, half of which have been in the nonprofit sector.  She combines her profound passion for philanthropy and social issues - especially those that affect women and youth of color - with her experience in marketing and content strategy. Ana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Marketing from the University of Texas at El Paso and currently is the Marketing Director at Girls Empowerment Network. She is thrilled to join YNPN as the Social Media Chair and honored to be able to serve the community through this position. 

Originally from the border region of Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas, Ana feels more at home when surrounded by diversity, community, and good Mexican food. She loves embracing her bicultural upbringing and loves exploring different cultures through travel and language. 

Christine currently serves as the Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager and Grant Writer at Refugee Services of Texas, a nonprofit serving refugees, survivors of human trafficking, and other displaced populations in 7 sites across the state. She has over 10 years of experience working and volunteering with both nonprofits and cause-based businesses in Texas and Florida, including the Amala Foundation, Clinic For the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, and the CSR group. She credits her successes to the women who have mentored and taught her along the way, including Ashley Faye, Jen Lucas, and Julie G'Vitale, and hopes to be as valuable a resource to emerging nonprofit leaders as others were to her. 

Christine earned her bachelor's degree in Business Management with coursework in Nonprofit Management. She is passionate about the study of ethics, corporate social responsibility, and continuously searching for new ways to improve herself and her community. In her free time, Christine enjoys reading (sci-fi crew, send the rec’s), hiking with her spouse and corgi, and  creating woven tapestry, knit, and modern embroidery art pieces.

coming soon!

Brianna (or Bri) is a new and fun-loving Austinite! She moved to Austin from Dallas, and she moved to Texas in 2019. Eager to explore a big city with entertainment, shopping, and good eats, she moved to Texas the day after she graduated from Indiana State University. During her time at ISU, she gained invaluable knowledge and experience that helped her mold her into the person she is today.

Brianna is employed at Central Texas Food Bank as the Child Nutrition Program Manager. She is a fierce advocate for helping underserved and diverse communities receive necessities, including nutrition, healthcare, and housing resources. She has worked in the Child Nutrition realm for five years and has ample experience with CACFP, SFSP, College Hunger, School Pantry, and Weekend Backpack programs!

Amanda is the Clinical Services and Training Director at Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service. A licensed social worker, she supervises therapists and clinical interns, provides therapy to individuals and families, and oversees programming. For the eleven years that she’s lived in Austin, Amanda has worked in the nonprofit sector, seeking opportunities to empower people of all races, genders, sexualities, and abilities.

A born and raised Texan, Amanda got her Bachelor’s in literature from Rice University in Houston, and then pursued a Master’s of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas in Austin. They enjoy yoga, playing video games, travel, creative writing, and cuddling with their dog and cat.

Brie is the founder and principal consultant of BWR Communications, where she supports clients across industries through research, writing, and fundraising. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Texas at Austin and is passionate about strengthening mission-driven organizations through her work and volunteer activities. Brie is a Michigan native and loves Austin almost as much as she loves Ann Arbor (Go Blue!). In her free time, she enjoys snuggling with her dogs, teaching herself woodworking, and buying too many houseplants. 

Michelle is the Director of Annual Giving at Creative Action, specializing in individual giving, Board management, and overseeing their CRM database, DonorPerfect. Within Creative Action, she actively contributes to the Social Justice Coalition, co-leading the Neurodiversity & Disability working group while engaging in the Transparency working group. Her 7 years in non-profit roles, including positions at the Blanton Museum of Art and the Austin Film Festival, have honed her expertise.

Excitedly embarking on her inaugural year as a Programming Vice Chair on the YNPN Board, Michelle brings her passion for philanthropy and community involvement. She proudly holds Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and History from the University of Texas at Austin.

Outside her professional commitments, Michelle delights in roller skating, indulging in movies, embracing new hobbies, and exploring trails with her beloved pup, Lily.

coming soon!

Kina was born on a US Air Force base in the United Kingdom and spent her childhood moving around military bases. She relocated to Austin from the St. Louis area in 2011 to attend the University of Texas, where she studied Sociology. Kina enjoys advocating for others and is enthusiastic when it comes to supporting EDI efforts. She’s excited to join the YNPN and assume the role of EDI programming chair. In her free time, Kina enjoys spending time with her two kids, hiking, traveling, and being outdoors.

Teja is a recent graduate from the University of Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. He currently works as a technology consultant in the government sector and helps at-risk & underprivileged Louisiana residents receive Medicaid benefits. Generally, he is passionate about helping his local community through fundraising and volunteer work. Teja is excited to learn more about the Austin nonprofit scene and make an impact where it’s needed.

In his free time, Teja enjoys reading fantasy novels, working out, and exploring both local & abroad.

Rachael currently serves on the Benefits and Emergency Services team at the Central Texas Food Bank where she supports a diverse community experiencing food insecurity. She has been fortunate to live internationally and travel the world at a young age, which informed her values of compassion and service. She is passionate about building positive change in her community through personal growth, collaborative initiatives and grassroots movements. She has lived in Austin for over 20 years and holds a degree in Spanish and Anthropology from Austin College. She is delighted to join YNPN Austin as the EDI Governance Chair. In her free time, you can find her immersed in the music scene, supporting live music in Austin, going to obscure music festivals or volunteering for the local community radio station.