
Our Staff
Get to know our global team at The Christensen Fund.
Get to know our global team at The Christensen Fund.

Carla F. Fredericks
Chief Executive Officer
Throughout her career, Carla’s work has focused on turning human rights principles into practice by bridging law, finance, global policy, and philanthropy. She chaired the original $1.7 billion Forest Tenure Pledge, among the most significant multilateral philanthropic commitments in the field to date. Previously she was a partner at a large national law firm in appellate litigation and then served as a law professor at the University of Colorado.
Learn more

David Allen
Controller and Purpose Aligned Capital Director
David Allen, Controller at The Christensen Fund since 2020, oversees accounting and financial procedures, ensuring resources are safeguarded with a mission-aligned approach. Previously, he managed operations and compliance at a Bayview District charter school in San Francisco, contributing to addressing educational inequity. Bringing a decade of nonprofit financial management experience, David, adopted from South Korea, celebrates his Korean and Midwestern roots. Residing in San Francisco with his family, he holds degrees from Kent State University and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and enjoys cycling.
Learn more

Hassan Roba
Director, Kenya Strategy
Hassan, The Christensen Fund's director of Kenya strategy since 2014, previously worked as a senior research scientist at the National Museums of Kenya, focusing on participatory resource governance and Indigenous knowledge. He held postdoctoral positions at the University of Bergen and the University of Kassel's DITSL, where he continues research and supervises graduate students. With a Ph.D. from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and an MSc from Addis Ababa University, Hassan is fluent in Swahili, English, and Borana, and resides in Nairobi with his family.
Learn more

Matt Aguiar
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Matt leads financial and operational functions at The Christensen Fund since 2019, enhancing organizational effectiveness. Previously COO at CollegeSpring, he expanded its reach by 40%. At Reading Partners, he contributed to its growth across six states over nine years.
Learn more

Stanislava Stancheva
DIrector of Grantmaking
Stanislava joined The Christensen Fund in 2013, leading values-aligned and trust-based grantmaking efforts. With degrees in International Economics and Political Science, she previously worked on designing grantmaking and technical assistance programs for the European Commission. Stanislava is based in California and enjoys spending time with her three children.
Learn more

Shannon Dworsky
Program Coordinator
Shannon is the Program Coordinator for The Christensen Fund, where she supports the program team and leadership in empowering communities to advance their inherent rights, dignity, and self-determination. A graduate of the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology, Shannon brings a wealth of experience in project management to her current position.
Learn more

Tatiana Amor
Director, Mexico Strategy
Tatiana joined The Christensen Fund in 2017 with over two decades of experience supporting Indigenous communities in Latin America. She specializes in Indigenous rights advocacy and territory protection strategies. Working across Mexico, she strengthens holistic approaches for Indigenous self-determination. Tatiana holds a PhD in Social Anthropology, focusing on Indigenous territories and land rights. Outside of work, she enjoys family, dogs, and books.
Learn more

Melissa Clyde
Director, US Strategy
Melissa Clyde, MSW (Diné), is a Native philanthropic leader, social worker, and trusted advisor with deep experience advancing Indigenous-led systems change and community well-being. Her work is rooted in a lifelong commitment to strengthening Tribal sovereignty, supporting community-driven solutions, and advancing equitable practices in partnership with Indigenous communities.
Learn more

