MI Philanthropy

Melissa Stevens is the executive vice president of Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, leading its work with individual and family philanthropists and foundations seeking to make a transformative, sustainable impact. Since co-founding Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy in 2015, she has overseen the creation and execution of philanthropic strategies that have influenced more than $3 billion in capital and built an unmatched network for donors to collaborate and amplify their impact.

Kelsey Barcomb, PhD, is a program manager for BD² and an associate director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team of Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Barcomb received her doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and completed postdoctoral training in the field of neuroscience.

Martine Polycarpe is the program coordinator for the BD² Integrated Network and a senior associate at the Milken Institute, where she supports the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration team.

Aggie McMahon Stephens, MSc, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. With a background in clinical neuroscience, she specializes in science philanthropy, research sector development, and global collaborations that maximize the impact of investments in science.

Kara Whelply is an associate director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. She leverages her expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, philanthropic funding, and therapeutic development to advise individual philanthropists and nonprofit organizations on methods to advance their mission and accelerate the development of treatments.

Adoma Addo is a senior associate on the Environmental and Social Innovation team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. With her passion for innovation and sustainable development in emerging markets, she supports work on the Institute’s innovation competitions.

Erin Ross is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at the Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. She applies her expertise in health systems, analyzing scientific evidence's role in health policy implementation and identifying ways the scientific and policy communities can collaborate.

Nadia Penrod,PhD, is an associate director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. In this role, she leverages her expertise as an interdisciplinary scientist in biomedicine and informatics to identify high-impact opportunities for philanthropic investment that promote science for the public good and have the potential to transform health.

Sylvie Raver is a senior director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Raver applies her expertise in neuroscience, neurodegenerative disease, mental health, and biomedical research to identify opportunities for philanthropic investments that can have a transformative impact on medical research and health.

Emily Baxi, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. A neuroscientist and educator, Baxi works with the pillar's SPARC team to advise foundations and philanthropists on the state of research so they are empowered to make impactful giving decisions.