Global Indiana Leadership
Ms. Martha Martin, Executive Director
Ms. Martin’s experience in training in human resource topics like emotional intelligence and organizational behavior, her present studies in global leadership, and her personal knowledge of the education industry carry a breadth of experience and knowledge to her work with Global Indiana. She brings experience, education and passion to everything she does. She has a great deal of experience in higher education, program development and curriculum development. Ms. Martin’s education is broad and extensive. She has an undergraduate degree in biology and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Towson University, and is completing her dissertation for a PhD degree in Global Leadership at Indiana Institute of Technology. Her graduate studies in global leadership have dealt heavily with providing excellent leadership coupled with a clearly communicated vision. She has also lived and worked in Japan and taught in a dual language (Japanese) immersion classroom. Currently Martha serves as the Responsible Officer (RO) for the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program. She lives in Fort Wayne, IN, having relocated from Baltimore, MD. She is married and proud Mom to two grown children and a wonderful German Shepherd.
Ms. Martin’s experience in training in human resource topics like emotional intelligence and organizational behavior, her present studies in global leadership, and her personal knowledge of the education industry carry a breadth of experience and knowledge to her work with Global Indiana. She brings experience, education and passion to everything she does. She has a great deal of experience in higher education, program development and curriculum development. Ms. Martin’s education is broad and extensive. She has an undergraduate degree in biology and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Towson University, and is completing her dissertation for a PhD degree in Global Leadership at Indiana Institute of Technology. Her graduate studies in global leadership have dealt heavily with providing excellent leadership coupled with a clearly communicated vision. She has also lived and worked in Japan and taught in a dual language (Japanese) immersion classroom. Currently Martha serves as the Responsible Officer (RO) for the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program. She lives in Fort Wayne, IN, having relocated from Baltimore, MD. She is married and proud Mom to two grown children and a wonderful German Shepherd.
Dr. Joel Olufowote, Board Advisor
Dr. Joel Olufowote is the Executive Director for Inclusive Excellence on the residential campus of Indiana Wesleyan University and associate professor of political science in the Division of Social Sciences and Business. Serving on the IWU- Marion senior administrative cabinet, Olufowote oversees the Office of Intercultural Learning and Engagement, the central residential hub dedicated to creating and maintaining student belonging, purpose, and thriving through the institutional pursuit of inclusive academic and co-curricular excellence. In addition to these primarily roles, Dr. Olufowote is a frequent speaker on inclusive administration, inclusive pedagogy and culturally responsive curriculum, at post-secondary institutions, and presents academic workshops and professional continuing education on topics such as implicit biases, non-violent communication, power and privilege, inclusive leadership, among others. Most currently, Olufowote is a 2019 National Inclusive Excellence Leadership Academy Fellow, 2019 State of Indiana Achievement in Education Awardee, awarded by current Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and serves as an advisory board member for Global Indiana at the Sagamore Institute, located in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Olufowote is married to Dr. Rachael Olufowote, professor of marriage and family therapy at Abilene Christian University and practitioner of the trade at Family Piece Counseling in Kokomo, Indiana. Drs. Olufowote are parents to Abigail Grace Olufowote, age 5 months, lover of cuddles, food, being awake, and babbling. Dr. Olufowote’s academic interests are primarily based on the ways power and influence are experienced in relatively unconventional political contexts. As such the domains of sport, music, and the church, are oft-investigated areas of research and scholarly pursuit for Olufowote. In tangential relation to Dr. Olufowote’s administrative duties, insight into how societal and institutional culture shape perspectives of justice is a burgeoning area of inquiry.
Dr. Joel Olufowote is the Executive Director for Inclusive Excellence on the residential campus of Indiana Wesleyan University and associate professor of political science in the Division of Social Sciences and Business. Serving on the IWU- Marion senior administrative cabinet, Olufowote oversees the Office of Intercultural Learning and Engagement, the central residential hub dedicated to creating and maintaining student belonging, purpose, and thriving through the institutional pursuit of inclusive academic and co-curricular excellence. In addition to these primarily roles, Dr. Olufowote is a frequent speaker on inclusive administration, inclusive pedagogy and culturally responsive curriculum, at post-secondary institutions, and presents academic workshops and professional continuing education on topics such as implicit biases, non-violent communication, power and privilege, inclusive leadership, among others. Most currently, Olufowote is a 2019 National Inclusive Excellence Leadership Academy Fellow, 2019 State of Indiana Achievement in Education Awardee, awarded by current Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and serves as an advisory board member for Global Indiana at the Sagamore Institute, located in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Olufowote is married to Dr. Rachael Olufowote, professor of marriage and family therapy at Abilene Christian University and practitioner of the trade at Family Piece Counseling in Kokomo, Indiana. Drs. Olufowote are parents to Abigail Grace Olufowote, age 5 months, lover of cuddles, food, being awake, and babbling. Dr. Olufowote’s academic interests are primarily based on the ways power and influence are experienced in relatively unconventional political contexts. As such the domains of sport, music, and the church, are oft-investigated areas of research and scholarly pursuit for Olufowote. In tangential relation to Dr. Olufowote’s administrative duties, insight into how societal and institutional culture shape perspectives of justice is a burgeoning area of inquiry.
Dr. Richard Bonaccorsi, Business Development
Dr. Bonaccorsi is the Vice President of International Operations for Harrison College. Inside Indiana Business adds, "Bonaccorsi has extensive international experience working in China, Mexico, and other countries in Latin America, establishing worldwide operations and partnerships with universities and major global companies. He comes to Harrison College from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he spent more than eight years as director and senior lecturer in graduate management programs. He also has extensive experience developing, recruiting and negotiating international and U.S. programs, establishing exchange programs, and launching certificate programs. Bonaccorsi previously consulted DePauw University, assisting with the implementation of the China Collaboration initiative."
Dr. Bonaccorsi is the Vice President of International Operations for Harrison College. Inside Indiana Business adds, "Bonaccorsi has extensive international experience working in China, Mexico, and other countries in Latin America, establishing worldwide operations and partnerships with universities and major global companies. He comes to Harrison College from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he spent more than eight years as director and senior lecturer in graduate management programs. He also has extensive experience developing, recruiting and negotiating international and U.S. programs, establishing exchange programs, and launching certificate programs. Bonaccorsi previously consulted DePauw University, assisting with the implementation of the China Collaboration initiative."
Mr. Donald Cassell, African Initiatives
Donald Cassell directs Sagamore's Africa portfolio. He recently published a case study on the newly established Philanthropy Secretariat in Liberia. The case study is being published in the Liberian Studies Journal, a journal of scholarship and research on Liberia. Mr. Cassell also oversaw the development of the Indiana-Africa Connections Project, a database of over 250 Hoosier organizations with ties to Africa. Additionally, he serves as the host of Sagamore’s Fellows Program.
Previous to his role at Sagamore, Mr. Cassell spent 20 years working as an architect in Indianapolis. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Construction Specification Institute (CSI). A native of Liberia, Mr. Cassell graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Cassell also studied at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his Master of Divinity. Donald also serves as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program.
Donald Cassell directs Sagamore's Africa portfolio. He recently published a case study on the newly established Philanthropy Secretariat in Liberia. The case study is being published in the Liberian Studies Journal, a journal of scholarship and research on Liberia. Mr. Cassell also oversaw the development of the Indiana-Africa Connections Project, a database of over 250 Hoosier organizations with ties to Africa. Additionally, he serves as the host of Sagamore’s Fellows Program.
Previous to his role at Sagamore, Mr. Cassell spent 20 years working as an architect in Indianapolis. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Construction Specification Institute (CSI). A native of Liberia, Mr. Cassell graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Cassell also studied at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his Master of Divinity. Donald also serves as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program.
Mrs. Jennie Thompson, Board Treasurer and Secretary
Mrs. Thompson is an administrator for the Central Indiana Educational Service Center. She has been a faithful volunteer bookkeeper for Global Indiana since its beginning days. Mrs. Thompson is a detail-oriented professional with a history of working in community groups that partner with both business and government entities. She currently works to keep the invoice structure for the J-1 Teacher Exchange program up to date and accurate.
Mrs. Thompson is an administrator for the Central Indiana Educational Service Center. She has been a faithful volunteer bookkeeper for Global Indiana since its beginning days. Mrs. Thompson is a detail-oriented professional with a history of working in community groups that partner with both business and government entities. She currently works to keep the invoice structure for the J-1 Teacher Exchange program up to date and accurate.
Jill Woerner, Intercultural Learning Director
Jill Woerner is a Spanish teacher at University High School of Indiana. She also serves as the Central States Conference on the Teaching for Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) delegate to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Board of Directors leading the Professional Learning Committee. She volunteers with AFS Intercultural Programs and Partners of the Americas engaging others in international exchange. Her previous work includes serving as the Global Learning and World Languages Specialist for the Indiana Department of Education, Administrator for Zionsville Community Schools and Spanish teacher in both South Madison Community School District and the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. Jill resides in Westfield, Indiana with her husband and step-children where she enjoys traveling, scrapbooking and hosting gatherings to bring people together. Jill also serves as a mentor for visiting teachers for the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program and as the Intercultural Learning Director leading the Bilateral Educator Exchange Program.
Jill Woerner is a Spanish teacher at University High School of Indiana. She also serves as the Central States Conference on the Teaching for Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) delegate to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Board of Directors leading the Professional Learning Committee. She volunteers with AFS Intercultural Programs and Partners of the Americas engaging others in international exchange. Her previous work includes serving as the Global Learning and World Languages Specialist for the Indiana Department of Education, Administrator for Zionsville Community Schools and Spanish teacher in both South Madison Community School District and the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. Jill resides in Westfield, Indiana with her husband and step-children where she enjoys traveling, scrapbooking and hosting gatherings to bring people together. Jill also serves as a mentor for visiting teachers for the J-1 Teacher Exchange Program and as the Intercultural Learning Director leading the Bilateral Educator Exchange Program.
Interested in joining our Board? We welcome your interest and passion! Please send an email to [email protected] - we will get back to you right away.
