Institute Leadership
Institute Leadership
Board of Directors
Nicole Hayes, PhD, President
Retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, Chief of Staff in the Department of Defense, and the Inaugural Desi Benet Social Change Fellow in the Institute’s second cohort. Nicole is now a Senior Fellow and plays an active role in the Institute's growth and development.
William Benet, PhD, Vice President
A Senior Fellow leading positive social change as educator, researcher, and activist who developed the Polarities of Democracy theory with 50 years of expertise in politics, peace & justice organizing, and community development
Lindsay Burr, Secretary
Partner with The Yarbrough Group, a mastery in polarity thinking who has worked and studied political science with a focus on the development of democracy for 20 years
Timothy York, PhD, Treasurer
A former firefighter, consulting as public safety and law enforcement professional with particular expertise in investigation, analysis, and quantitative research
Maurita Bryant, Director
A dedicated law enforcement professional committed to servant leadership and community-oriented principles
Bruce Carter, PhD, Director
A senior executive, professional team builder, and military veteran with expertise in domestic and global operations
John Hynan, Director
An educator and life-long union activist with a keen interest in workplace democracy and its relationship to democratic society
Chief Executive
Suzanne Rackl, MPhil, MM, CFRE, CFRM, Managing Director
A social sector leader with expertise in philanthropy, resource development, policy, and community engagement, a member of the Institute’s inaugural Fellows cohort, and doctoral candidate in Public Policy. Now a Senior Fellow, Suzanne was a Founding Fellow of the Institute and has lead the organization since 2019.
Emeritus Board Members
William Clements, PhD, Emeritus
Experienced policy analyst, professor, and administrator skilled in economic data analysis and community outreach
Barry Johnson, PhD, Emeritus
A Senior Fellow and the founder and sharer of Polarity Thinking™ changing mind-sets and approaches for over 40 years
W. Cliff Kayser, III, Emeritus
Senior Fellow, adventurer, and organizational development coach and trainer who has been a leader in the polarity thinking community for two decades
Keith Nalumengo, PhD, Emeritus
Born in Mongu, Zambia, an Institute Fellow with a doctorate in Public Administration from Walden University and a passion for positive social justice
Bruce Strouble, PhD, Emeritus
Executive Director at Citizens for a Sustainable Future, an Institute Fellow, and passionate about pursuing strategies that increase communities’ ability to achieve their vision of social justice
