Jackie Foor
Executive Director
Jackie Foor became our Executive Director in May 2022, succeeding Mary Kay Babyak, who retired after six years in the top leadership role and 15 with the Consortium.
As Chief Organization Officer before her current appointment, Jackie collaborated with Mary Kay throughout her predecessor’s tenure, helping map the Consortium’s strategy as well as managing operations including programming, partnerships, and fundraising.
Jackie’s background has helped inform all aspects of the Consortium’s emphasis on future readiness. With degrees in Education and in Leadership & Nonprofit Management, she has held positions focused on workforce development both in schools and nonprofits. She brings leadership experience as well as expertise in program development, capacity-building, advocacy, and fundraising.
One of Jackie’s earliest posts was formative. Working at the time with adults who’d lost jobs amid the region’s industrial decline, she set her sights on eventually finding ways to help kids build the skills they need so that they’d be able to adapt throughout their lives to economic and job market changes.
Prior to joining the Consortium in 2013, Jackie had worked for the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Pittsburgh and the Mt. Lebanon Education Foundation. She also had worked previously with the Consortium’s predecessor organization, the Mon Valley Education Consortium (MVEC), writing grants and coordinating a statewide advocacy project around No Child Left Behind. Additionally, she has experience in adult education, both through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and Altoona Area School District.
When she’s not at work, Jackie might be found reading, taking walks, biking, or volunteering as a member of the Penn State Alumni Council. But her favorite pastime is food – cooking and exploring festivals, restaurants, and breweries all around the Pittsburgh region.
Aaron Altemus
Director of Professional and Student Learning
Aaron Altemus has worked in education for more than a decade, including as a teacher in the Wilkinsburg School District, and now across several Consortium programs. His experience has committed him to helping build a more equitable and sustainable learning community in the region that is grounded in empathy and collective problem-solving. Aaron enjoys collaborating with educators to create authentic learning experiences for students using Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Human-Centered Design (HCD). He studied PBL at the Buck Institute and earned certification as an HCD trainer through the LUMA Institute. In his spare time, Aaron can be found digging for old vinyl records, hiking across Pittsburgh’s many neighborhoods, or enjoying a cup of coffee and a good-hearted debate on his front porch in Dormont.
Aaron Altemus on LinkedIn | Email Aaron Altemus
Gina Barrett
Director of Partnerships
Gina Barrett brings an organizational background gained through previous work as a film production assistant and office manager to her responsibilities at the Consortium. She focuses on cultivating partnerships and directing many of our business partner-focused work, including our Future Ready Partnerships Conference. Other programs include Future Ready Leaders, Educator in the Workforce, and, historically, our mentoring work with Be A Middle School Mentor and our mentorship program with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). A colleague who connects easily with others, Gina has a talent for reaching into the community to continually expand the network of individuals, businesses, and organizations that can bring opportunities and experiences to youth in our partnering districts. When she’s off duty, she’s having fun with her family that’s often centered on food or travel. She’s a terrific cook, an avid reader, and is first on board for almost any ocean cruise.
Gina Barrett on LinkedIn | Email Gina Barrett
Sarah Brooks
Director of Professional and Student Learning
Sarah Brooks came to the Consortium with a background both in teaching and workforce development. Working across several programs, she applies perspectives from each to develop trainings in Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Human-Centered Design (HCD). She studied PBL at PBLWorks and earned certification as an HCD trainer from the LUMA Institute. Sarah is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and works to design programs that help educators support students who have historically been marginalized, as well as ensure that these values are incorporated into all of CPE’s work. When she’s not at work, Sarah enjoys adventures with her family and friends, whether on hiking trails, the water, or athletic fields.
Sarah Brooks on LinkedIn | Email Sarah Brooks
Leslie Collette
Chief Finance & Human Relations Officer
Leslie Collette is our Chief Finance & Human Resources Officer. A longtime veteran of the Consortium, she joined us fresh out of college and has been keeping us on budget ever since. Leslie has seen her responsibilities grow with the Consortium and has grown along with them. As you might expect, she’s a whiz with numbers and keeping track of a wide variety of details. When she is not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her family or in the dog park with her Husky-Lab mix, Oakley.
Leslie Collette on LinkedIn | Email Leslie Collette
Vicki Corwin
Office Manager, Director of Operations
Vicki Corwin has been with the Consortium almost since its founding. As our Office Manager, Director of Operations, she is our “front line.” Hers is the first voice most people hear when they call and the last pair of eyes on most of the written communications that come from us. She not only brings the institutional memory and insights that only someone with her tenure can offer, she also brings the meticulous attention to detail of someone who has worked as an administrative professional throughout her career. When she’s not busy catching our mistakes, fixing them, and keeping us organized, she’s having fun with her family and playing with her big, beautiful Yellow Lab, Shelby.
Vicki Corwin on LinkedIn | Email Vicki Corwin
Pamela Gaynor
Director of Communications
Pamela Gaynor is the Consortium’s Communications Director. She brings a background from both the media and nonprofit worlds to her work planning, executing, and engaging staff in efforts to raise public awareness of our mission and programs. She joined the Consortium in 2008 out of a longstanding interest in public education and the critical role it plays in equal opportunity. Just prior to joining the Consortium, Pam was Manager of Media Relations & Publications for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, a post that transitioned her into nonprofit communications from a 20+ year career as a business journalist. Outside the office, you’ll most likely find her walking her Wheaten Terrier; working in her garden; trying a new recipe; reading or teaching herself something new on YouTube.
Pamela Gaynor on LinkedIn | Email Pamela Gaynor
Frank Kamara
Program Associate, Partnerships Team
Frank Kamara became a Program Associate with the Consortium in 2019 after serving as an apprentice through Public Allies’ leadership preparation program. He brings experience as a youth mentor, program facilitator, and community organizer. Driven by a desire to empower community, Frank helps organize the Be a Middle School Mentor program that we offer in partnership with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. He also works with Ed Leaders Pittsburgh and serves as our liaison to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). When he’s not at work, Frank enjoys volunteering to encourage black community achievement and networking to introduce new resources to the communities where he lives, works, and plays. And as far as play goes, he’s always up for a soccer game.
Frank Kamara on LinkedIn | Email Frank Kamera
Christy Kuehn, PhD
Director of Professional and Student Learning
Christy Kuehn joined the Consortium in September 2018. Experienced in both academic settings and the nonprofit sector, she brings more than 10 years of experience as a high school English teacher as well as seven years working at the college level as an instructor and academic advisor. She was part of the team launching our Future Readiness Lab, a pilot undertaken in collaboration with The Heinz Endowments. Additionally, she supports our professional development programming. When she’s not at work, Christy loves Broadway plays and is a regular at the theater whenever they make their Pittsburgh debuts.
Christy Kuehn on LinkedIn | Email Christy Kuehn
Candice Murrell
Director of Professional and Student Learning
Candice Murrell joined the Consortium in September 2023 after previously serving as a Program Director in 2017. Her background spans the education, business, and nonprofit sectors where she has worked in program design and development, change management, and talent development. Fueled by a difficult K-12 education experience, Candice began her career as a 5th grade teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now with nearly 20 years of professional experience under her belt and as a mom of twins, she remains passionate about education both professionally and personally. Outside of work, she is actively involved with her community and loves spending time with her family
Candice Murrell on LinkedIn | Email Candice Murrell
Debbie Pixton
Director of Organizational Strategy and Special Projects
Debbie Pixton brings expertise in professional development for educators and organizing a region-wide collaboration around college and career readiness to her work at the Consortium. In her efforts to make connections across sectors and silos, Debbie actively engages in multiple Consortium teams including the Thriving Futures program, Human-Centered Design trainings, Communications, and Development. Outside the Consortium, she enjoys spending time with her family, supporting the arts, and connecting with friends.
Jennifer Sethman
Director of Organizational Strategy and Special Projects
Jennifer Sethman brings experience as a classroom teacher to her work with both educators and students. Among other responsibilities, she helped organize our Educator in the Workforce program and the Future Readiness Lab, a pilot project undertaken in collaboration with The Heinz Endowments. When she’s not at work, Jenn spends time with her family.
Jennifer Sethman on LinkedIn | Email Jennifer Sethman
