UMass Donahue Institute

From 2017 to 2020 Dr. Johan Uvin was president of the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. where he facilitated and implemented the institute’s five-year strategic plan. He also founded Strategy Advising, a consulting practice that provides strategic advising services to senior leaders in education, workforce development, educational technology start-ups, and non-profit organizations.

Dr. Uvin served at the U.S. Department of Education from 2009-2017. He coordinated all strategy development for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) with a staff of 80 and over $1.7 billion in resources. He also led policy development and implementation for adult education, career and technical education, community colleges, national and international efforts focused on youth not in education, training, or employment, and market-based outcome-driven alternative funding models for education and workforce development. 

Dr. Uvin earlier held various leadership positions with the Rhode Island Department of Education and with the Commonwealth Corporation in Boston. He has also managed projects and programs in the Massachusetts Department of Education and a number of non-profit organizations in Boston.  

Dr. Uvin received 2020 Harvard Alumni Council Award for outstanding contributions to education in the U.S.

He received his master’s of education in international education and doctor of education in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University.  

City Year Podcast: On this episode of "Why We Matter", Dr. Uvin discusses his path to leadership and the importance of cultivating young people's skills and providing opportunities for success.

Jacqueline Adams has been of service to the UMass Donahue Institute since 1997. In the role of Senior Finance and Compliance Manager. Ms. Adams oversees all financial operations and compliance activities for the organization, ensuring robust fiscal stewardship and adherence to regulatory standards. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Adams has been instrumental in driving financial integrity and operational excellence, supporting the Institute’s mission to deliver impactful services to a wide variety of clients. Her deep institutional knowledge and strategic insight empower informed decision-making and sustainable growth, reinforcing the institute’s reputation for excellence within the campus and beyond.  

Committed to fostering transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, Ms. Adams plays a key role in aligning financial practices with organizational goals and compliance frameworks, safeguarding the Institute’s resources and enabling successful program outcomes.

Ms. Adams received her degree in economics from the College of the Holy Cross and utilizes her facilitation, strategic planning and change leadership management certifications in all aspects of her work.

Jennifer Gordon is a social science research professional with more than 25 years of experience leading the design, management, and implementation of applied research, program evaluation, and public policy projects. In addition to her responsibilities as a member of the UMDI Executive Team, Ms. Gordon manages the business operations of the Applied Research and Program Evaluation group.

Ms. Gordon has an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in quantitative methods and program evaluation from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Suzanne Tanty has been with the institute since 1997, serving in numerous human resources, finance, and administrative capacities in various business units. She is currently serving as the institute’s senior human resource & personnel manager. Ms. Tanty oversees all HR and personnel matters for the institute’s approximately 165 employees, ensuring compliance with university and governmental regulations. Suzanne serves as the primary advisor at the executive level on all HR/personnel-related issues and acts as the primary HR liaison between the institute and various UMass Amherst departments. In addition, Ms. Tanty manages recruitment and staffing actions, provides training on HR and labor allocation topics, and has represented the institute in union contract negotiations. Her leadership extends to supervising staff, developing HR process improvements, and supporting performance management and audit activities.

Carol Anne McGowan, M.A., M.B.A. works closely with the executive director to develop and implement management strategies, systems, and practices across the Institute. She is directly responsible for overseeing all fiscal and human resource functions. Previously, she served as the organization’s director of administration and finance. Ms. McGowan first joined the Institute in 2000 as a member of the Financial Management, Education and Training (FMET) team. She spent over 10 years with FMET developing curriculum and instructing in the areas of government finance and accounting for the U.S. Department of Defense. In addition to her role as associate director, Ms. McGowan has developed a credited course on post award management of grants and contracts, which she will teach on occasion through UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management.

Ms. McGowan received her master's of arts in human resources and organizational development from Webster University and a master's in business administration from UMass Isenberg School of Management.