In this issue of The Citizen, meet our newest Board members, get a back-to-school look at our high school Ambassadors program, read about a compelling panel discussion on religious freedom and civic trust, step into our History Dinner tribute to President Reagan and Justice O’Connor, and meet new members of the O'Connor Institute staff.
Announcing New Board of Directors Members
The O'Connor Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of new Board members and the election of board officers who will help guide our organization’s continued progress. Board Officers include Phil Francis, Board Chairman; Gay Firestone Wray, Board Co-Chair; Timothy C. Louis, Vice Chair; Dr. Rufus Glasper, Board Secretary; and Brian Scott, Board Treasurer.
We congratulate the following for their election to the Institute Board of Directors:
Noreen Bishop Hill | J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Managing Director
Noreen is Managing Director and Market Manager for the J.P. Morgan Private Bank, leading a Phoenix-based team that delivers wealth management, credit, fiduciary, and investment strategies to clients across Arizona. She joined J.P. Morgan in 1987, moved to Arizona in 2008, and later became Chase's most senior woman executive in the state. She serves on the boards of Jobs for Arizona's Graduates, Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Arizona Community Foundation, and Providence College's School of Business.
Barbara J. Dawson | Snell & Wilmer, Firm Chair
Barbara chairs Snell & Wilmer, guiding the strategy of its 17-office footprint and more than 500 attorneys. A nationally recognized investigations and litigation partner, she has chaired the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation and served on its Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, and previously chaired the board of Lex Mundi, the world's largest network of independent law firms. She also co-founded Arizona's first HIV/AIDS legal clinic.
Peter S. Fine | Banner Health, CEO Emeritus
Peter led Banner Health as president and CEO from 2000 until his retirement in 2024, growing it into one of the nation's largest nonprofit health systems with more than 55,000 employees across multiple states. He remains connected to Banner in an advisory capacity and stays active in health technology and investment circles.
Laura C. Giles | Ballard Spahr, Partner
Laura is a corporate attorney at Ballard Spahr focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and complex commercial transactions, with a notable practice representing athletes, entertainers, and sports organizations. She serves as the firm's Firmwide Hiring Partner and leads its Sports and Entertainment Initiative, and serves on the boards of Visit Phoenix and the Children's Museum of Phoenix.
Polly Levine | Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Polly is a chef, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and the longtime owner of Chestnut Lane Fine Foods, a local favorite known for fresh, from-scratch cooking. She and her husband, Jonathan, are major supporters of Jewish life and education, including a $10 million gift toward a new Jewish student center.
Congratulations to Our 2026 O'Connor Institute Ambassadors Scholarship Recipients
The O'Connor Institute is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2026 John Jay Fetzer Memorial Scholarship and the inaugural Deloitte Foundation Arizona Scholars Program — six student leaders chosen for their civic engagement, academic achievement, and commitment to civil discourse. All are active members of the O'Connor Institute Ambassadors Civics & Debate Club, our free, nationwide program for high school students.
John Jay Fetzer Memorial Scholarship
Eli Kagel of Brookline, MA, is an advocate for medically fragile patients whose research on compassion in emergency care has appeared in national bioethics journals. His volunteer work includes working with Parkinson's disease patients. Eli will attend the University of Pittsburgh.
Emma Moroz of Staten Island, NY, has logged 446 hours of community service, including an internship with the Richmond County District Attorney's Office. She is a two-time recipient of the Gold President's Volunteer Service Award and will attend Lafayette College this fall.
Deloitte Foundation Arizona Scholars Program
Anastasia Bradley of Tucson, AZ, has volunteered more than 415 hours with Teen Court, doubled her school book club's collection, and illustrated for an international children's health book series. She will attend the University of Arizona.
Lily Piepenbrink of Chandler, AZ, has spent six years with the National Charity League and earned the President's Volunteer Service Award three years running. She will attend Mercer University.
Jose Sandoval of Mesa, AZ, is an Eagle Scout and a longtime volunteer with Jose's Closet, which provides clothing and food to foster families. He will attend Grand Canyon University's Honors College.
Lucas Tam of Chandler, AZ, organized monthly donation drives for the Swift Youth Foundation, responding each month to a different community need. He will attend the University of California, Irvine.
“This scholarship program reflects a commitment to investing in the next generation of thoughtful, engaged leaders,” said Ken Udenze, Arizona managing partner and marketplace leader, Deloitte LLP. “These students have demonstrated dedication to civic learning, critical thinking, and leadership, and we are proud to support their education journeys.”
“At the O'Connor Institute, we believe informed and engaged citizens are essential to a strong future,” said Sarah Suggs, President & CEO of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. “These scholarship recipients exemplify the leadership, curiosity, and commitment to civic participation that Justice Sandra Day O'Connor championed throughout her life.”
Students interested in joining O'Connor Institute Ambassadors and future scholarship opportunities can visit the link below.
The Institute Joins Global Ties Panel for a Conversation on Religious Freedom
On August 12, the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute joined Global Ties Arizona for its Global Café, "Religious Freedom in the U.S.," held at the Chandler Museum in partnership with the City of Chandler. The Institute's Liam Julian served as a featured panelist alongside Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke and the Rev. Monica Whitaker of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, before a delegation of civic, religious, and community leaders from around the world visiting through the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.
The panel explored how local government, civil society, and faith communities work together to build public trust and strengthen civic participation. The Institute is grateful to Global Ties Arizona for the invitation and looks forward to future opportunities to share Justice O'Connor's legacy of civic engagement with audiences at home and abroad.
History Dinner Save the Date: Dinner with Ronald Reagan & the 1980s
The Institute will pay tribute to President Ronald Reagan and the impactful 1980s era, commemorating the 45th anniversary of his historic appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor as the first woman to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
6:00 PM Reception | 7:00 PM Program and Dinner
The Phoenician | Scottsdale, Arizona
Distinguished Guest Speaker: Douglas Brinkley
Distinguished Moderator: David Trulio
Dinner Co-Chairs: Nancy Hanley Eriksson & Ron Eriksson and Christine & David Gustafson
Mark your calendars and don't miss our Annual HIstory Dinner!
New Institute Staff: Welcome To The Team
Jessica Collins, Controller
Jessica Collins serves as Controller for the O'Connor Institute, bringing more than a decade of accounting and financial leadership to the role. A Summa Cum Laude graduate in Accounting from Grand Canyon University, Jessica previously served as Controller at Elizabeth Academy, a school dedicated to students with learning differences, where she led day-to-day accounting and mentored her team. Outside of work, she stays active in her community through large-scale volunteer service.
Nicole Hamilton, Education Programs Manager
Nicole Hamilton joins the O'Connor Institute as Education Programs Manager, bringing 14 years of classroom experience to her new role in civic education. After earning degrees in Political Science and Education from Colorado State University and Regis University, Nicole spent 14 years teaching 8th-grade Social Studies, sparking curiosity in hundreds of students and leading their annual class trip to Washington, D.C. She previously served as a Camp O'Connor Camp Counselor and as a Constituent Advocate in a U.S. Congressman's office.
Lily Oswald, Data & Administrative Coordinator
Lily Oswald serves as Data & Administrative Coordinator for the O'Connor Institute. A graduate of Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business with a degree in Marketing, Lily previously worked as a Project Coordinator at White Tie Productions in Phoenix, managing sales pipelines and cross-team workflows for large-scale event production.
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