GLADC Leadership

Kenann F. McKenzie, M.Ed., Ph.D. is the Director of the newly created Generous Listening and Dialogue Center (GLADC) at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life. She previously served as the Director of the Aspire Institute at Boston University, supporting the preK-12 educational sector with professional development opportunities rooted in social justice and community engagement. She has taught courses in research methods and the foundations of education.

Dr. McKenzie has a multinational, multicultural framework that shapes her approach to education and research. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 7 and grew up in New York City. For the last 20 years, she has worked in the higher education sector as an academic counselor, researcher, lecturer, policy analyst and administrator. She has also worked as a K-12 administrator. Prior to leading Aspire and now GLADC, she served for several years as the Executive Director for the National Board of Education Sciences (NBES) with the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. McKenzie has a BA in Africana Studies from Cornell University, a M.Ed. from the University of Virginia in Social Foundations of Education, and a Ph.D. in Politics and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She lives in Beverly, Massachusetts with her family. Dr. McKenzie serves on the Beverly School Committee and is the producer of the Aspiring Spirit Podcast, which focuses on a shared vision for collective good.

Deborah Donahue-Keegan, M.S.W., Ed.M., Ed.D. serves as the Associate Director of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Center (GLADC), is a Senior Fellow at Tisch College, and oversees the Center's Social-Emotional Learning & Civic Engagement (SEL-CE) Initiative. She is also a Lecturer in the Tufts Department of Education, as well as a member of the university-wide Bridging Differences Task Force, the Tufts JED Campus committee, and the university's Mindfulness and Resilience Collaborative.  

Deborah holds a B.A. in History from the College of the Holy Cross, an M.S.W. from Boston College, and Ed.M., Ed.D. degrees from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She serves as an Advisor for SEL4US, a national SEL advocacy organization. Deborah co-founded and co-leads the Massachusetts Consortium for SEL in Teacher Education (MA SEL-TEd). She has authored articles and chapters focused on Social-Emotional Learning, contemplative practices, and educator professional development. Deborah is co-author of the forthcoming book, EQ Goes to College: An Emotional Intelligence Framework for Colleges and Universities (Kendall Hunt Publishing). Deborah's research and teaching focus on ways that transformative social-emotional learning can be leveraged for well-being, equity, belonging, and racial literacy in K-12 and higher education environments.

Ji Hyang Padma, Ph.D. is the Buddhist Chaplain at Tufts, and liaison to the Tufts Generous Listening and Dialogue Center. She has combined an academic career with her role as a Zen teacher. She has fifteen years’ experience in college chaplaincy, and directed a graduate program in comparative religion and philosophy in San Diego. She has written two books: Living the Season: Zen Practices for Transformative Times (2013) and Field of Blessings: Ritual and Consciousness in the Work of Buddhist Healers (2021). 

James J. Fisher serves as the Program Administrator of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Center (GLADC) at Tisch College. He provides support and coordination for programming and communications at the GLADC. James holds a B.A. in Black World Studies and History from Miami University and an M.A. from the Ohio Contemporary History Institute. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D., focusing on music and governance.

Helena Vaughan (she/her) serves as a program assistant of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Center (GLADC). She helps support the programming for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and coordinates K-12 professional development within the Boston Public Schools. Helena holds a B.A. in Justice and Peace Studies from Georgetown University and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at Boston College, with a focus on adult mental health. Having grown up internationally, Helena brings a global perspective and understanding to all work she does.