We're a group of experienced, trained consultants based in the New York area, coming from backgrounds in organizational psychology, grantmaking, and social welfare. Our perspectives are diverse, but we're all rooted in our commitment to social justice and bring a healthy mix of idealism and realism to the work.
Melissa Extein, Psy.D. brings 20 years of experience consulting to organizations and groups, particularly those focused on philanthropy and social justice. Her work applies theories of emotional intelligence, group development, leadership, and embedded intergroup relations to guide organizations to understand themselves better and implement changes to improve effectiveness. Guided by these theories, Melissa’s approach to any engagement includes an examination of organizational dynamics related to identity (e.g. gender, race, age), power, and authority. She works with clients as partners, jointly participating in the creation of knowledge and the development of solutions. Her clients have included start-ups, foundations and other grantmakers, government, schools and universities, networks, advocacy campaigns, and non-profits inside and outside the US. Additionally, she advises professionals transitioning to the field of consulting from internal positions. She has taught organizational assessment and diagnosis, leadership, and group dynamics to graduate students at Columbia University, The New School, and the University of Pennsylvania. She previously served as Director of Strategic Learning, Research, and Evaluation for International Programs at American Jewish World Service. Melissa holds a Psy.D. in Organizational Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University and a B.A. from Yale University. She is accredited to administer the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) and is fluent in Spanish.
Corey Fenstemacher, Psy.D. has been developing talent and building organizational capability for over twenty years using customized assessment and feedback processes. She managed and grew talent in advertising and media before consulting to clients in finance, technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public and non-profit sectors. Her approach increases individual and organizational awareness, creating alignment around job demands, core competencies, performance, and strategic business objectives. She combines techniques from formal training in organizational psychology, professional experience within consulting firms, and experience as a human resource professional to achieve results for clients. Her clients include leaders at all organizational levels, from boards and CEOs to newly appointed managers. Corey holds a Psy.D. in Organizational Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University and a B.A. from Colgate University. She is certified in Prosci Change Management and a number of assessment tools.
Charlene Chen McGrew, Ph.D. conducts research and evaluation for non-profit organizations and is a part-time faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Policy and Social Practice. She specializes in organizational dynamics, leadership, religion and social work, cultural competency, community organizing and development, faith-based and non-profit organizations, the sociology of religion, and experiential learning. Previously, Charlene has held multiple roles at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School's Aresty Institute of Executive Education, including leadership staff member for the Executive Development Program and learning coach for the Women's World Banking's Advanced Leadership Program's Center for Microfinance Leadership. Her experience includes a wide range of teaching and research positions at places such as the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Religion and Social Policy Research and Center for Intervention and Practice Research, Eastern University, the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, the Young India Fellowship Program at Ashoka University in India, and Fundación ABRE in Spain. Charlene is a member of the American Evaluation Association and holds a Ph.D. in Social Welfare and an M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary and a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Gitta Zomorodi, M.S.W. advises social justice non-profits and philanthropic institutions through research and analysis of context, strategies, and portfolios. She supports donors in proposal evaluation, landscape mapping, and philanthropic advocacy. Her recent research focused on forced migration related to sexual orientation and gender identity in East Africa to strengthen responses by community-based organizations, service providers, funders, and other stakeholders. Other recent work included reviewing proposals, identifying capacity building needs, and providing recommendations for the first-ever round of grants of the Intersex Human Rights Fund at the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. Gitta previously served as a senior program officer at American Jewish World Service (AJWS), where she oversaw more than $1 million in grants promoting the natural resource rights and the sexual and reproductive health and rights of marginalized communities in Africa. Prior to that position, she was a senior policy associate in AJWS’s advocacy department, where she coordinated campaigns on a variety of human rights and social justice issues. She holds a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and a B.A. from Oberlin College.