Heather Tsavaris currently leads Human:Kind at the Columbus Foundation where she both directs community well-being measurement and spearheads efforts to promote well-being through participatory design projects across the community.

Heather has worked across sectors– including the federal government, the private sector, and the philanthropic sector– to develop and implement innovative and award-winning solutions to some of the world’s most difficult challenges.

Heather’s time in government included more than a decade at the U.S. Department of State and an additional year at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where she served in senior roles focused on understanding and developing cutting-edge solutions that countered terrorist recruitment. In addition, Heather’s work at the Gap Foundation, Cisco’s Entrepreneur Institute, and Innovation Fund America focused on creating and scaling national and international programs that promote economic and social well-being for under-resourced young people and communities.

Heather’s formal degrees include an MBA from NYU and an MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University. Heather has also studied and more recently, coached design thinking at Stanford’s d.school.