Staff

Meet the people behind Global Pathways Institute.

William C. Symonds

Director

Bill Symonds is Director of the Global Pathways Institute (GPI) and Professor of Practice at Arizona State University. Previously he served as Director of the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education from 2008- 2013.

william.symonds@globalpathwaysinstitute.org

Jeff Abraham

Senior Strategic Consultant

Jeff Abraham focuses on the long term business plan and strategy for sustaining the Institute. He has previously held numerous executive and consulting positions in a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations. Jeff came to GPI thanks to Experience Matters and its Encore Fellow program, which enables retired executives to launch “encore careers” in the non-profit world.

jeffreymabraham@yahoo.com

Jim King

Encore Fellow

Jim assists GPI with the Coalition for Career Development and the Career Development Demonstration Project. Prior to serving as an encore fellow, Jim worked at the pharmacy benefit manager, CVS Health, and with a technology start-up, Myndshft, Inc.

jking32@asu.edu

Board of Directors

Global Pathways Institute activities and governance are led by its Founding Board of Directors, the leaders who helped create GPI in Arizona. There are currently 17 members.

Jim Zaharis

Board & Executive Committee Chair

Vice President of Education, Greater Phoenix Leadership

Richard Condit

Executive Committee Member

Sundt Construction (retired)

Sybil Francis

Executive Committee Member

Executive Director, Center for the Future of Arizona

William Symonds

Executive Committee Member

Director, Global Pathways Institute

Elizabeth Cantwell

Vice President of Research Development, Office of Knowledge and Enterprise Development, Arizona State University

Katherine Cecala

President, Junior Achievement of Arizona

Eric Eilertsen

CEO, Experience Matters

Dick Foreman

President and CEO, Arizona Business & Education Coalition

J. Phillip Hardin

CEO, YouScience, LLC.

Paul Luna

CEO, Helios Education Foundation

Kim McWaters

CEO, United Technology Institute

Darcy Renfro

Chief of Staff, Office of the Chancellor, Maricopa Community College District

Thom Reilly

Chancellor, Nevada System of Higher Education

Carolyn Warner

Education Consultant, former State Superintendent and Chair, CTE Quality Commission

Jeff Wasden

President, Colorado Business Roundtable

Glenn Wike

Senior Philanthropic Advisor for Education, Arizona Community Foundation

Vince Yanez

Vice President, Arizona Student Success Initiatives, Helios Foundation

Supporters

Initial financial support for GPI was provided by a coalition of Arizona business, philanthropic and government entities. Their contributions enabled Global Pathways Institute to begin its important work on the four pillars. GPI continues to seek, identify, and work with funders that share the same vision.