Six new staff members joined the foundation in recent weeks. They will support Kresge’s American Cities Program and the Executive, External Affairs and Communications, Grants Management, Investments, and Talent and Human Resources departments or teams.

Katie Van Dusen has joined Kresge as a program officer for the American Cities Program. They join the foundation after working as a consultant for McKinsey & Company, where they developed grantmaking strategies and a framework for excellence for CEOs in philanthropy. They hold two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan and an MBA with a dual concentration in finance and design & entrepreneurship from Case Western Reserve University.

Kelly Bailiff has joined Kresge as executive assistant to the CFO/CAO and general counsel. She previously served as a consultant at Accenture where her work spanned various aspects of project management, including change management, training strategy and development. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and a master’s in industrial/organizational psychology from Wayne State University.

As a communications officer, Jordan Duckens supports the American Cities and Human Services Programs. Previously, she served as a communications strategist at Kresge Arts in Detroit, where she was involved with celebrating metro Detroit artists through promotion and community partnerships. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a master’s in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University.

Supporting Talent and Human Resources, Jenny M. Garnica-Bermejo is the department’s new team assistant. Most recently, she worked at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) as an HR assistant, where she supported recruitment efforts, onboarding processes, and staff engagement activities. She holds an associate degree in business with a focus in accounting from Henry Ford College.

Allie Levine is an associate investment director focused on the public market portfolio. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a senior investment associate at the University of Michigan Investment Office. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan and has been a CFA charter holder since 2021.

The foundation’s newest grants management associate, Amani Strong, supports the Arts and Culture Program in her new role. She comes to Kresge after serving as program director for the Transforming Power Fund in Detroit. She holds a bachelor’s degree in gender and health from the University of Michigan, with a dual minor in medical anthropology and global media studies.