Staff
Jennifer Alkezweeny
Program Director
Pronouns: she/her/hers
(503) 241-0543 x123
I’ve been Oregon Humanities' program director since 2020. I support the team of folks who make Oregon Humanities programs happen, provide leadership for the organization's vision, and connect with organizations and communities to explore new initiatives. In this role, I enjoy meeting folks from all over the state, understanding what’s important in communities, and thinking of creative ways to get folks talking and listening to one another. I have created learning spaces around the country and globe and love that moment when it’s hard to get folks in the room to quiet down. I’m a deep believer in experiential learning, harnessing the knowledge in a room, finding your learning edge, and the power of silence.
Ask me about: partnering with Oregon Humanities, Reflective Conversation Training, or anything about Oregon Humanities programs.
I’ve been a volunteer facilitator with the Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families for over 20 years. In my free time I can be found experimenting in the kitchen, tending my backyard habitat, or exploring in my kayak.
Karina Briski
Communications Lead: Digital Strategy and Community Engagement
Pronouns: she/her/hers
As a member of the communications team, I’m involved with editing stories for our various publications, promoting programs like So Much Together and Humanity in Perspective, managing our social media strategy, and creating our newsletters. I love that my work allows me to connect with so many different people, those who have been involved in our work for years and those who are just discovering it. Maybe most of all, I love that I get to help in sharing the incredible stories and transformative work of people and communities around the state.
Ask me about: submitting work for publication; partnering with Oregon Humanities on events, storytelling, or communications; staying human while being extremely online; braised cabbage recipes
I moved to Oregon in 2015 after a decade of living in small towns and large cities around the country. I now live with my family in the North Tabor neighborhood of Portland, where I love to cook, go to the movies, read, and work with my hands.
Adam Davis
Executive Director
Pronouns: he/him/his
(503) 241-0543 x114
I’ve been the executive director of Oregon Humanities since 2013 and directed the Center for Civic Reflection in Chicago before that. In these jobs, I’ve trained thousands of discussion leaders across the country, facilitated hundreds of community and workplace discussions, moderated onstage conversations with community-builders, office-holders, and authors, and worked on organizational planning, support, and growth. I host Oregon Humanities’ podcast and radio show, The Detour, and I’ve edited books including Taking Action, The Civically Engaged Reader, and Hearing the Call across Traditions.
Ask me about: anything and everything having to do with Oregon Humanities, community conversations, and how we might work together.
I currently sit on the boards of the High Desert Partnership, the Federation of State Humanities Councils, and the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon, as well as the advisory board of the North Star Civic Foundation. I received my PhD from the University of Chicago, and I used to lead wilderness trail crews in the Pacific Northwest.
Vicky Hart
Development Associate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
As a member of the development team, I coordinate fundraising appeals several times a year and help with grant proposals. I also collaborate on donor stewardship, cultivation, and engagement activities. Since I live in Northeast Oregon, you can also find me organizing Oregon Humanities programs and building connections in rural communities.
Ask me about: opportunities to support Oregon Humanities’ work, especially in eastern and rural parts of the state.
I joined Oregon Humanities in 2022 as a fully remote worker. My experience includes public universities, outdoor recreation, and faith-based nonprofits. With a background in both journalism and literature, my life has been about words and questions, reading and typing, for a long time. I enjoy breakfast food, campy movies, and long walks in the Blue Mountains.
Julia Martinez Soto
Development Director
Pronouns: she/her/hers
(503) 241-0543, ext. 118
I joined Oregon Humanities in July 2021. As a development professional, I bring experiences in grant writing, event sponsorships and program leadership. I most enjoy helping organizations thrive through integrated and relationship-based approaches.
Ask me about: the many ways you can support Oregon Humanities’ work across the state.
I’m originally from Pennsylvania and have called Oregon home since 2004. I began working with nonprofits after almost a decade as an engineer. In my free time, I love working on craft projects, trying out new recipes, and playing in the mountains with my family.
Carolina Rios
Development Assistant
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Since joining Oregon Humanities in January 2022, I have provided administrative support to the development team and assisting wherever possible. My responsibilities include managing the organization’s donor database, supporting donor stewardship, assisting with event planning, and managing our gift acknowledgment process.
Ask me about: your donations or the various ways to support Oregon Humanities’ work
While I was born in California and have lived in many beautiful states, I consider Oregon my true home. I find solace in solitude, but my passion for meaningful connections and deep conversations drives my interactions with others. Whether engrossed in a good book, exploring the outdoors, or indulging in creative pursuits, I find joy in the balance between reflection and engagement.
Alexandra (Ally) Silvester
Communications Lead
Pronouns: she/her/hers
alexandra@oregonhumanities.org
As a member of the communications team, I lead our Community Storytelling Fellowship. I'm also the editor of Beyond the Margins and the associate editor of Oregon Humanities magazine. When I'm not working on our publications, I write and edit stories about Oregon Humanities' programs.
Ask me about: how to submit an essay for publication or what our 2025 Community Storytelling Fellows are working on.
I was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia, and I came to the US to study literature and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College. Before joining Oregon Humanities in 2021, I worked in higher education and for literary nonprofits. Outside of work, I facilitate writing workshops for Write Around Portland and spend a lot of time reading. I live in Southeast Portland with my partner and our two cats.
Lucy Solares-Steger
Program Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
l.solares@oregonhumanities.org
I provide administrative and logistical support across all of our programs, including grants; I like to think of my work as fine-tuning the gears of the great programs my colleagues have built. I also coordinate our Dear Stranger letter-exchange program and support the Oregon Poet Laureate in managing their appearances across the state. I started at Oregon Humanities in December 2020.
Ask me about: registering for any of our programs, who to talk to more in-depth about a particular program, how our letter-exchange works, how/when you’re getting paid for your work with us, how/when you can apply for a grant, how to host the Oregon Poet Laureate in your community, and any questions in Spanish (¡hablo español!)
I am a multicultural, lifelong Oregonian of Guatemalan and Midwest American heritage, currently residing in Tigard. I’m fortunate enough to speak both English and Spanish fluently, so please reach out to me in either language! In my time off, I like to read about activists doing great work in the world, dabble in the world of cosmetics, eat delicious food, laugh a lot, and play with my dog, Piper.
Alexandra (Alex) Stoehr
Program Manager: Grants
Pronouns: she/her/hers
971-361-9892
As grants manager, I oversee all Oregon Humanities’ grant making. Through our Mini Grants for Rural Libraries and Public Program Grants, I help connect libraries and organizations with funding in support of their humanities projects and events.
Ask me about: Anything related to our grant programs—how to apply for a grant, whether a proposed project might be a good fit, and any questions on navigating post-award processes.
I'm a native midwesterner, and my family and I have lived in the Portland area since 2015. Prior to joining Oregon Humanities in 2024, I codirected a local arts and culture nonprofit and worked in higher education marketing and communications. In my spare time, I enjoy low-risk outdoor pursuits and being present with my family and friends.
Ben Waterhouse
Communications Director and editor of Oregon Humanities magazine
Pronouns: he/him/his
b.waterhouse@oregonhumanities.org
(971) 361-9893
I lead all of Oregon Humanities’ communications and publications efforts, including the magazine, the Beyond the Margins essay series, The Detour podcast and radio show, and overall marketing strategy. I’ve worked at Oregon Humanities since 2012.
Ask me about: submitting work to Oregon Humanities’ publications, story pitches, the Community Storytelling Fellowship, partnering with Oregon Humanities to share stories or promote events, or the Portland area’s performing arts ecosystem. Hablo Español.
I grew up on Kalapuyan land in Scio, Oregon, near the confluence of the North and South forks of the Santiam River, and I now live in the shadow of an extinct volcano in Southeast Portland. I serve on the board of the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and occasionally write about theater in the Pacific Northwest for Oregon ArtsWatch.
Anna McClain
Producer, The Detour
Pronouns: she/her
I began working with Oregon Humanities in 2025 as executive producer of The Detour podcast and radio show, leading production efforts to share big questions, nuanced conversations, and relevant ideas with Oregonians across the state and beyond. I think of this kind of work like collage: bringing together essential elements to create a dynamic, engaging, and informative whole.
I grew up near Seattle, WA and have lived in Portland for the last 14 years. I’ve worked in podcasting and audio documentary since 2015, with roots in the Pacific Northwest noncommercial radio and music industries, as well as the local Russian speaking community. I enjoy getting outside with my chihuahua, Pippin, baking, listening to podcasts, and reading.