Meet the Team
Jodi Hope Michaels
Executive Director
Jodi is the Executive Director at Colleagues, having joined the organization in 2016 following nearly two decades in international community development work, with a focus on human rights and social justice. She previously worked as a director of communications for an international network of local community organizations, as a community organizer for a theatre redevelopment project, and also spent several years working at a large foundation in Jerusalem, among other roles. Hailing from Canada, Jodi has a degree in Human Biology, with a focus on health in the developing world, from Stanford University.She has visited some 20 countries, both through her work and general interest in cultural immersion and exchange.
Ian Magnuson
Communications and Program Associate
Ian joined us in January 2021. He has a passion for international education and has been active in promoting citizen diplomacy for a decade. While studying at Western Michigan University, Ian co-founded the German Club and Western Model United Nations student organizations. He also holds an MPP degree from Michigan State University where he co-resurrected the Public Policy Student Association and interned for the State of Michigan. Ian is from Battle Creek and has since lived in Kalamazoo, Detroit, and Lansing. He also studied in Bonn and later completed a life-changing Fulbright assistantship in Leipzig, Germany. In his free time, he enjoys writing, video games, paddle boarding, advocating for climate and racial justice, and making pizza from scratch.
Our Board
Thomas Kostrzewa, President
Anna Popkova, Vice President
Michael Mortlock, Treasurer
Nicholas Baxter, Secretary
Michel Baradosa
Shabaka Gibson
Sarah Mansberger
Louise Potratz
Barry Reeser
Daniela Schroeter
Kevin Wordelman
Eric Zahrai
Our Committees
Communications and Branding
Workforce Development, Social Work and Outbound Exchange Planning
50th Anniversary (2021) Planning
Office and administration