From the Quad to the C-Suite: How Three Puget Sound Alums became Nonprofit Leaders

Curious about the philanthropic sector and how people working for nonprofits try to change the world while still making a living?
Wondering about how your career could unfold once graduation is over?
Musing on how people become recognized leaders?

Come hear three Puget Sound alumni share how they went from the Quad to the C-suite, all while trying to make the world a better place! 

Join us Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Tahoma Room for a lively conversation and refreshments with alums Maria Kolby-Wolfe ’92, CEO of Washington Women’s Foundation; Jill Nishi ’89, CEO of Philanthropy NW; and Jennifer Teunon ’93, CEO of the Medina Foundation as they share tales from the working world about what it takes to become a leader from the University of Puget Sound!
 

Speaker Bios

Prior to her role as CEO of Philanthropy Northwest and The Giving Practice, Jill Nishi '89 served in various leadership capacities at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, most recently as the director of strategy, planning & management and chief of staff for the U.S. Program. As a local government leader, she served as the director of the City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development. Jill previously established her own independent consultancy for philanthropic, nonprofit and government clients; and was a management consultant with Deloitte in their public sector practice.  

Jill is a fourth-generation Japanese-American and Seattleite, raising a teen, tween and pandemic puppy alongside her husband. She recently hung up her running shoes for a pickleball racquet. Passionate about sharing the stories of the Asian American experience, she serves as board co-president for the Wing Luke Museum.

Jill received a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Puget Sound, where she is trustee emeritus.
 

Maria Kolby-Wolfe '92 is President and CEO of Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF) and a part-time instructor at the University of Washington in Nonprofit Management. 

Previous to WaWF, Maria served in a variety of development and communication roles at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Seattle Symphony, Path with Art, ACT Theatre, the Museum of Pop Culture, and Swedish Medical Center Foundation. She is also an experienced board member, having served on the boards of TeamChild, Rainier Valley Food Bank, Allied Arts Foundation and the Global Leadership Forum. 

Maria was raised in Bellingham, WA, graduated from the University of Puget Sound with degrees in English and History, and achieved doctoral candidacy in American History at Northwestern University. Her passions and beliefs align directly with her work: Food, Art, and Justice for All.
 

Jennifer Teunon '93 has been the executive director for the Medina Foundation since 2013 and has worked in the nonprofit sector for thirty years. 

Before becoming Medina’s executive director, Jennifer was a partner at Luma Consulting, a firm that specializes in helping nonprofit and philanthropic organizations with strategy, planning, research, and program design. For eight years before Luma, she worked for the Medina Foundation as a program officer and eventually as the acting executive director. Prior to that, Jennifer worked as a foundation administrator for The Laurel Foundation. 

Before working for foundations, Jennifer spent two years as the managing director for Book-It Repertory Theatre and five years at Treehouse, an organization that helps children and youth in the foster care system. As Treehouse’s second employee, she helped develop the first programs and eventually led the fundraising activities as a development associate.

​Jennifer has volunteered with the Washington Women’s Foundation, the Northwest Children’s Foundation, United Way of King County, Crisis Connections, the Pride Foundation, and Express Credit Union, King County’s first low-income credit union. She is currently on the BECU Foundation Board, the MIDD Advisory Committee for King County, and the Kindering Advisory Council. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in English.