About
HFLI

A non-profit leader and educator with 25 years of experience in dynamic learning environments, Deborah Parizek drives HFLI’s efforts to provide workshops, programs and site coaching that pair effective education and human-centered design approaches, empowering learners to lead transformational change in, with and for their community. She is known for cultivating the conversations, empathy, and capacity critical to addressing complex challenges. Deborah was recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business in 2018 Notable Women in Nonprofits report, and by Corp! Magazine as a 2019 Most Valuable Professional.

Prior to joining HFLI in 2005, Deborah designed and directed extensive teacher leadership development programs for multiple school systems and earned the distinction of Master Teacher from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She served as one of the founding teachers of Henry Ford Academy in Dearborn, Michigan, helping shape its vision and write curriculum for many of its core components, including the Senior Mastery Process. Deborah earned an M.A. Educational Studies, an M.A. in Chinese Languages and Literature and a B.A. in Chinese and Russian Studies, all from the University of Michigan.

A thoughtful champion of Design Thinking’s role in changing how we learn and lead, Deborah is a frequent presenter at national and local events, consistently sharing actionable information with real-life applications.

As Director of External Relations, Lisa is a connector who creates learning opportunities through stories, experiences, and partnerships. She is responsible for all facets of strategic communications and is the contact for media inquiries. Lisa started working with HFLI in 2006, and has been an integral part of HFLI’s growth, including the continued development of HFLI’s work with Design Thinking programs and the planning, launch and ongoing activities of all of HFLI’s Henry Ford Academies. Lisa has more than 25 years of broad marketing and communications experience in both in education and business, and continues to grow through experiences such as the Points of Light Civic Accelerator Cohort 8, in which she played a central role as the HFLI team manager. Prior to her work at HFLI, Lisa was a senior account executive with The Devon Group; during her nearly seven years at the PR firm she managed client, press and analyst relationships, garnering positive national coverage and awards that catalyzed business results for clients. Lisa graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Miami University in Ohio and earned an M.S.A. with a concentration in health services from Central Michigan University. She was a 2013 AFP Detroit Chapter Fisher Fellow, and was awarded a 2014 NSPRA Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship.

Sonya supports the continued development of a strong team and solid foundation at HFLI through her leadership of financial reporting, budgeting, internal control policies and procedures, and human resources. She brings more 18 years of experience in accounting and finance to HFLI. Most recently, Sonya was the accounting manager for Ilitch Charities and Little Caesars Amateur Sports in Detroit, responsible for the accounting, budgeting and financial reporting for the non-profit entities; in 2015, her peers and the executive management team recognized her with the Fiscally Responsible core value award. Previously, Sonya was the accounting associate for the Clairmount Group PLC in Detroit where she provided financial services to non-profits, religious organizations and charter schools. She was also the assistant controller for Family Home Health Services, conducting all month-end closing and financial reporting, and she began career as the accounting manager at John Adams Mortgage. Dedicated to others, Sonya currently serves on the Board of Directors for Black Family Development Incorporated in Detroit. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Ossama contributes to the strength of our schools and organization by overseeing the strategic planning and implementation of administrative, infrastructural, operational and instructional technologies of HFLI and HFLI’s network of Henry Ford Academies. As a part of that work, he also supervises and provides mentoring and training to school-based technology coordinators. Ossama is an experienced IT leader, project manager and solution architect, with a track record of 13 years of experience in defining and building IT infrastructure and operations. He came to HFLI from Pratt Institute, where he contributed to the institution’s academic IT services for nearly 11 years; in his most recent role, he directed the operations of Pratt’s academic computing facilities which include the computer labs, the digital output centers, the institute’s laptop program and the technology enhanced classrooms and lead a team of 11 technology professionals. Prior to his work at Pratt, Ossama was an educator for nearly 10 years, most recently at the Crescent School in New York, where he taught computer classes to students in grades 9 – 12, maintained the school’s servers, network and workstations, managed a new computer lab setup project, and researched and proposed new technology initiatives. Ossama earned his M.S. in Information Systems at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, CUNY and his Bachelor’s degree in English Education at Mansoura University in Egypt.

Iffa uses Design Thinking to empower organizations to develop and advance innovative programs, strategic plans, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 

As the Program Manager for the El-Hibri Foundation (EHF), she led projects focused on building capacity of nonprofit leaders through its Executive Nonprofit Management Trainings, advancing the inclusion of minority communities and building working groups focused on collective action. Prior to that, Iffa was the Senior Development and Research Dissemination Officer at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). 
 
Iffa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Michigan-Dearborn, a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Wayne State University and Project Management certification from Georgetown University.

Gwen manages daily accounting activities for HFLI, coordinates all logistics for staff and hands-on learning programs, and makes sure the HFLI team has all of the tools needed to do their jobs. Before joining HFLI, Gwen was a design coordinator and project manager who coordinated custom pottery projects from design through fabrication for three of the Pewabic Society’s designers. Her ability to develop operational efficiencies grew out of her more than 15 years at Bon Secours Cottage Hospital/Henry Ford Health System, where she earned roles of increasing responsibility, from patient accounting clerk, to supervisor, and ultimately financial services analyst.

Kirsten Bondalapati facilitates, design, and coordinates HFLI Design Thinking and youth entrepreneurship workshops, experiences and fellowships that focus on social impact. She brings a unique perspective to the role, with her combined experience in community engagement, public health, Design Thinking, and small business development. Previously, Kirsten worked as a health policy fellow at the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation, where she provided policy analysis and analytic support for a variety of health policy and community health projects, including issues related to healthcare reform and mental health. She also worked in operations at Healthy Detroit, helping to develop the Detroit nonprofit organization. She was a fellow in the Challenge Detroit program, and worked in research and data analytics at Hospice of Michigan. Kirsten earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Health degree from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. An entrepreneur herself, Kirsten founded the photo booth company, Bondo, with her sister-in-law in Detroit.