New Faces & Roles at UWSCMI

Text box in blue that reads United Way of South Central Michigan New roles, new faces, next to a grid of nine headshots of people who have recently been promoted or joined UWSCMI.

New faces, new roles and a continued commitment to changing lives mark recent moves at United Way of South Central Michigan.

UWSCMI recently promoted these team members:

  • Jen Hsu-Bishop became Executive Impact and Equity Officer. Hsu-Bishop has been leading equity, people and strategy since joining UWSCMI in 2022 and will now provide leadership to the organization’s impact work.
  • Tammy Mills was named Director of Marketing & Communication. Mills brings extensive experience to this role, having joined United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region in 2016 and continuing as part of the merged organization.
  • Karen Townsend has been promoted to Senior Associate of Annual Giving. Townsend joined UWSCMI’s Resource Development team in 2022 and has been spearheading fundraising in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.

Joining United Way in key roles are the following:

  • Lakeesha Anderson comes to UWSCMI as part of the Finance Team, providing support for the organization as it continuously improves its financial function.
  • Rachel Cortez has joined us as a Program Associate with our CapCAN program, working with students and advisers in expanding our services and supporting the community in achieving their postsecondary goals.  
  • Spencer Haworth came aboard as Major & Planned Gifts Officer. Haworth previously served as Engagement Officer for the Bronson Health Foundation in Kalamazoo since 2019. He has been involved in development and donor relations for a number of nonprofits.
  • Alicia Nelson is part of our administrative support staff, welcoming visitors to the Kalamazoo office and also supporting RentAble and Small Business programs.
  • Liz Rodriguez recently joined UWSCMI as HR Generalist. She brings expertise in human resources, equity/diversity/inclusion and nonprofits, having served in various capacities with VOCES, ELLAS Michigan, and Kellanova/Kellogg.
  • Kate VanHorn has joined our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) team, offering counsel to individuals and households who qualify for free tax preparation.

“Our ability to impact our region depends on the expertise of our team,” said Chris Sargent, President & Executive Officer of UWSCMI. “I’m excited to see talented people take on greater responsibility, and equally thrilled as we add new talent to the mix.”

You can see all of UWSCMI’s staff and their roles on the Our Team page.