Dr. Mark Bergel, Co-Founder, Executive Director, Board Chair

Mark has nearly 40 years of leadership in poverty and health-related initiatives. He has founded and led multiple organizations that have impacted hundreds of thousands of people in poverty. Honored as Washingtonian of the Year and inducted into multiple halls of fame in our nation’s capital region, Mark has received numerous regional, national, and international awards. He also recognizes that these hold little meaning unless we solve the problems in front of us. Mark received his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his Masters and Doctoral degrees from American University, where he also taught for 15 years.

Dr. Pamela Loprest, Board Vice President

Pam recently retired after more than three decades at The Urban Institute, where she was a Senior Fellow and Labor Economist at the Income and Benefits Policy Center. Pam’s research focused on policies to enhance the economic well-being of disadvantaged persons through work. Pam received her Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Katherin Ross Phillips, Co-Founder, Board Treasurer

Katherin worked for many years studying the reach and effectiveness of policies that support low-income working families. Katherin has written and taught on myriad aspects of poverty, and her experiences have helped shape everything we do at The Shared Humanity Project. Katherin received her Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her Masters and Doctoral degrees from Syracuse University

Polly Poffenroth, Board Secretary

Polly is a mental health counselor with extensive experience working with adolescents and adults in diverse settings. She holds a Masters of Arts degree in Community Counseling and a Masters of Science degree in Health Education and Promotion.

Lisa Stranksy, Board Member

Lisa has been instrumental in the development of multiple nonprofit organizations focusing on poverty eradication. Lisa has also been a top producer in the Washington area residential real estate market for the last 20 years and was recognized by the Wall Street Journal and Real Trends as one of the top 1000 agents in the country. Lisa earned a Bachelors from Miami University and a Masters from American University.

Amra Kandic, Associate Director

Amra is a Bosnian refugee whose early experiences of displacement, scarcity, and resilience have shaped her lifelong commitment to expanding opportunities and strengthening communities. She possesses extensive experience in research, communications, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. Her work focuses on building cross-sector collaborations, mobilizing action, and creating clear, data-driven solutions to complex challenges. She holds degrees from the University of Connecticut, Dartmouth College, and Syracuse University.

Samantha Samarelli, Director of Communications

Sam brings to the Shared Humanity project a strong background in communications, research, and community engagement. As a mental health counselor, she has worked closely with diverse populations, many of whom have faced long-standing barriers to rising out of poverty. This has inspired Sam to pursue substantive, data-driven solutions. Sam also brings to SHP a background in managing digital communication strategies and overall campaign logistics.

Derek Pruitt, Web Designer

Derek oversees all website and website-related content for SHP. With more than a decade of experience, he has become a specialized expert in coding design and development. Derek attended the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith for Communications.

John Phillips, Advisory Committee Chair

After his recent retirement from a successful career as a trial attorney and partner at Bartlit Beck, John now serves as the Chair of The Shared Humanity Project’s Advisory Committee, launching in June 2025. John also serves as a mentor and career preparation coach at The Master’s Apprentice Program in Denver, Colorado. In this position, John supports young adults’ development into skilled construction trades. John holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.S. in Political Science from Northwestern University.