Margaret is a Managing Director with Deloitte Consulting. She’s focused on bringing her experience in research innovation and patient engagement to strengthen nonprofits, as well as federal and commercial life sciences programs. She joined Deloitte from FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute where she was Executive Director.

Leslie Thurman is a director of Global Programming and Events at the Milken Institute. She curates and leads public and private convenings across eight global locations for stakeholders, investors, philanthropists, government officials, and media.

Cheryl L. Evans, JD, leads the Lifetime Financial Security (LFS) Program of the Milken Institute’s Finance pillar. She frequently discusses a variety of issues related to financial security and retirement savings and has been cited in publications such as US News and World Report, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg News, MarketWatch, CBS News, Pensions & Investments, McKnight’s Senior Living, and TheStreet.

Kristen Fanarakis is an associate director at MI Finance, leading the small business policy and innovation initiative. The Milken Institute Small Business Policy and Innovation Initiative analyzes the macroeconomic trends and policies affecting small businesses and offers policy recommendations and solutions aimed at fostering an environment of inclusive prosperity. Her work engages and educates policy stakeholders to address the challenges small businesses face.

Michelle Stevenson is an accomplished global marketing leader, bringing more than 25 years of experience to her role as executive director, marketing and communications at the Milken Institute, where she oversees earned media, social media, the website, brand and design, publishing, thought leadership, and all marketing efforts.

Maxwell DeGregorio is a senior associate at MI Finance at the Milken Institute. DeGregorio works on the Institute’s FinTech Program, which focuses on access to capital, financial inclusion, compliance, and transparency. He writes the “FinTech in Focus” newsletter and co-programs the Institute’s FinTech content.

Daniel Pham, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. He utilizes his expertise in scientific research, neuroscience, science policy, communication, and advocacy to advise philanthropic partners on opportunities to make the biggest impact in various fields of science and health.

Ishita Das, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, where she leads cross-disciplinary projects. Her expertise lies in biomedical research, science policy, stakeholder engagement, workforce diversity, strategic planning, and project management.

Erika Stratmann is the director of communications, MI Health. She is a mission-driven communications and content development leader with a proven record of delivering measurable results to amplify thought leadership, engage communities, advance consumer education, and impact advocacy campaigns.

Chelsea Wendel is an associate director at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her work is primarily focused on managing the logistics, details and travel coordination across the pillar's broad portfolio of events.