Meet the NCDD Team
Keiva Hummel, Executive Director Keiva Hummel (she/her) is an equitable engagement practitioner and has served the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) since 2014. She supports the NCDD community by growing and strengthening connections in the network, coordinating communications on the NCDD Blog and social media, and supporting the last three National Conferences on Dialogue & Deliberation. She graduated cum laude from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Communication Studies, Minor in Global Peace, Human Rights and Justice Studies, and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution Studies. Keiva can be contacted at keiva [at] ncdd [dot] org. Courtney Breese, Director Emeritus (former E.D.) Courtney has been involved with NCDD since 2010 in various roles, including Executive Director, Program Director, Conference Manager, and serving on the NCDD Board. She supports NCDD now on specific projects, most notably the American Library Association's Libraries Transforming Communities Initiative. She is a trainer, mediator, and facilitator with a passion for helping people connect and learn from one another. Courtney was introduced to dialogue & deliberation as a student at Franklin Pierce University, where she received a Bachelors in Social Work and Counseling. Courtney can be contacted at courtney [at] ncdd [dot] org. Roshan Bliss, Director of Democracy Innovations Roshan Bliss is NCDD’s former Youth & Student Engagement Coordinator, and in his current role, he is leading the charge on a project to bring the transformative work of our field to television audiences around the country via the Democracy TV project. Based in Denver, Roshan is a certified mediator and has over a decade of experience in public engagement and deliberative process, including helping launch and manage Denver’s first-ever participatory budgeting processes. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Purdue University, and did his graduate studies in conflict resolution at the University of Denver with a focus on civic theory, participatory democracy, and collaborative governance. Roshan can be contacted at roshan [at] ncdd [dot] org. Ismael Cordová-Clough, Communications Coordinator Ismael Cordová-Clough (he/him) is a Chicago-based strategic leader committed to advancing equity and systemic change, particularly for marginalized communities. With expertise in communications, community engagement, and coalition-building, he applies data-driven strategies to enhance inclusivity and program impact. Currently pursuing an MPPA at Northwestern University, Ismael blends nonprofit and government experience with policy insights. He has led initiatives improving healthcare access, civic engagement, and stakeholder collaboration. A passionate advocate, he has served on DEI and civic boards and received awards for his public service. At NCDD, he refines communication strategies to foster inclusive dialogue and empower diverse communities. Ismael can be contacted at ismael [at] ncdd [dot] org. Joy Williams, Office Manager NCDD has grown from a Coalition of 50 in late 2002 to a Coalition of more than 700 members and 28,000 subscribers. Processing new members and renewals, coordinating and managing our database, member directory and listservs, and managing our financial records are critically important to NCDD’s effectiveness, and Joy has managed all of these things swimmingly since early 2006. Joy can be contacted at joy [at] ncdd [dot] org. |