Leadership and Administration
Adam Morfeld, JD
Executive Director and Founder
Adam Morfeld founded Civic Nebraska in 2008 with a group of politically diverse Nebraskans to create a more modern and robust democracy in the Cornhusker State. Since then, Civic Nebraska has grown to more than 100 full- and part-time staff who build youth civic leadership skills, increase civic life in our communities, and ensure nonpartisan and modern elections.
Adam graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in economics. He graduated from U. Nebraska Law in 2012. In 2016, Adam became an alumnus of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Senior Executives in State and Local Government course in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Adam was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2014 as the 46th Legislative District’s state senator. He was re-elected in 2018 and serves on the Education and Judiciary committees. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Doane University.
In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife Rachel, backcountry camping, traveling, running, working on his house near Nebraska U’s East Campus, and watching Husker football.
402.904.5191 office
adam.morfeld@civicnebraska.org
To schedule a meeting with Adam:
Julie Ward, julie.ward@civicnebraska.org
Sarah Walker, MA
Director of Development
Sarah, a 2019 University of Nebraska graduate, strengthens our fundraising efforts and expands our grants portfolio. Crafting persuasive funding requests for our program areas present an exciting writing challenge for Sarah, who studied political science and English. Before joining Civic Nebraska, Sarah spent two years in public relations departments and community organizing roles at various Nebraska nonprofits. She loves teaching, was an instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and continues to teach English coursework at Doane University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching soccer, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors.
- Grant writing and management
- Event planning support
- Fundraising support
- Researching and identifying fundraising avenues
- Laying the long-term groundwork to open a “Civic Madrid” branch office during her travels to Spain
Westin Miller, MA
Director of Public Policy
- Government relations
- Policy research
- Policy messaging
- Connecting Nebraskans with their senators
- Staff mixologist, whether he likes it or not
402.904.5191 office
Steve Smith
Director of Communications
Education: University of Nebraska, news-editorial journalism
Responsibilities:
- Media and public relations
- Storytelling
- Branding and marketing
- Media training
- Social media
- Stories about how information traveled before the Internet
402.419.4349 cell
402.904.5191 office
steve.smith@civicnebraska.org
Nicholette Seigfreid
Director of Human Resources
Nicholette works closely among all members of Civic Nebraska’s administrative team and plays a key role in ensuring a positive and successful work environment for our staff. She assists with hiring, onboarding, employee benefits administration, employee relations, and annual reviews. Nicholette also contributes to professional development planning. In addition to her work with us, Nicholette is an administrator at the Lincoln Jewish Community School and is president of the South Street Temple. She is also a certified diversity and inclusion trainer with Inclusive Communities. She lives in Lincoln with her family and her three cats.
Education: University of Arkansas, anthropology and Middle Eastern studies
Responsibilities:
- Hiring and onboarding new employees
- Administering employee benefits
- Professional development planning
- Managing internship program
- Managing volunteer database
- Creating and coordinating professional development
- Being at ease with her Siamese
402.904.5191 office
nicholette.seigfreid@civicnebraska.org
Jules Ward
Executive Administrator
As executive administrator, Jules keeps the executive director organized and on time. You can contact her if you need to make an appointment with Adam Morfeld or need organizational help with Civic Nebraska in general. Jules moved to Nebraska from Texas in 2009 after working for major corporations for 10 years. She then worked for the State of Nebraska for a decade, giving her an education on what it’s like to work in the private sector as well as being a public servant. She brought that dedication to Civic Nebraska in 2018, where she’s passionate about the mission and honored to help with all aspects of the organization. Jules likes to practice yoga, and she and her husband share their home with Lucy and Banjo, their terriers.
- Coordinating Executive Director’s calendar
- Civic Nebraska Board of Directors liaison
- Special projects like coordinating staff training, tracking strategic goals, creating internal newsletter content, and coordinating the Internal Leadership Academy
- Lunchtime recaps of real-crime TV documentaries
Bridgette Foerster
Finance and Operations Manager
Bridgette works across Civic Nebraska’s programs to support our staff and growth, in order to achieve administrative excellence. Bridgette is well-versed in the systems Civic Nebraska uses to manage finance, human resources, and organizational processes — and she’s a key resource for our staff.
402.904.5191 office
bridgette.foerster@civicnebraska.org
Alex Brechbill
Grant Writer
Alex coordinates our grant activities, drafts initial project summaries and funding proposals, tracks grant deliverables, writes and edits grant proposals, and compiles development reports for our growing organization. A native of Aurora and alumnus of Nebraska Wesleyan U., Alex was a fellow for The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska and later was an administrative assistant to State. Sen. Tim Gragert of Creighton in the Nebraska Legislature. He and his partner Sarah live in Lincoln’s Woods Park neighborhood with their Australian shepherd, Birdie. Alex enjoys woodworking and teaches beginning and intermediate woodcarving at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha and the LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln.
Education: Nebraska Wesleyan, political science
Responsibilities:
- Manages grants
- Maintains relationships with donors and funders
- Conceives, writes, and edits initial development proposals
- Identifies funding sources
- Sharing the differences between chisels, gouges, and mallets
402.904.5191 office
alex.brechbill@civicnebraska.org
Emily Priefert
Finance and Operations Coordinator
Emily joined Civic Nebraska as finance and operations coordinator in 2021. Emily, of Valparaiso, works across Civic Nebraska’s programs to support our staff and growth and to coordinate accounting and human resources. She also is the office and vendor coordinator. Emily is currently completing her associate of business degree from Southeast Community College, and she enjoys spending her free time with family, friends, and her dog, Roxy. She’s also recently discovered the fun of upcycling furniture.
- Sharing the differences between chisels, gouges, and mallets
402.904.5191 office
emily.priefert@civicnebraska.org
Youth Civic Leadership
Building the next generation of Nebraska’s civic leaders.
youth@civicnebraska.org
Kent Day, MA
Director of Youth Civic
Leadership Programs
Kent is an award-winning veteran public school teacher, having taught English, Gifted and Talented, and international studies. Beyond his 34 years in Nebraska public schools, he has trained and consulted in hundreds of U.S. schools and many abroad. This passion for education is now directed toward out-of-school-time programs, where he has found an outlet for creative energy and idealism. Kent lives in the Omaha area with his wife, Sandy, with whom he raised five children, and several dogs, birds, rodents, and reptiles.
Education: Dana College; University of Nebraska at Omaha, MA, English
Responsibilities:
- Out-of-school-time program development and supervision
- Program assessment and evaluation
- Partnership development
- Community engagement
- Youth civic leadership development
- Indoor gardener
402.554.3584
kent.day@civicnebraska.org
Shari Kimble
Youth Leadership Programs Manager
Omaha
Shari oversees day-to-day operations at Civic Nebraska’s Omaha after-school programs as well as its youth outreach programs. Shari has spent over 10 years guiding youth and adults at nonprofit organizations in the Omaha area. As a leader and trainer who is dedicated to program quality, Shari helps ensure that the youth of Civic Nebraska’s programs are best equipped to be tomorrow’s leaders. A lover of travel, Shari is always interested in trying a new food, meeting new people, and navigating new places. When Shari isn’t working or traveling, she’s spending time with her husband Charles, their son Isaac, and dog Sasha.
Responsibilities:
- After-school programs
- Program quality
- DHHS compliance
- Staff development
- Food taster / explainer / recommender
712.898.4211 cell
402.554.3584 office
shari.kimble@civicnebraska.org
Brianna White
Site Director, Sherman Elementary School Community Learning Center
Brianna provides daily after-school programming for over 115 Sherman Elementary students. Students are provided a meal, homework help and engaging, high-interest learning activities. A native of Omaha, Brianna worked in Georgia after graduating college before returning to her hometown and becoming involved in education. She enjoys gardening, dancing, and being involved in improving her community.
Education: Clark Atlanta University, business administration and supply-chain management
Responsibilities:
- Recruitment and communication
- Plan program, field trips and family nights
- Staff hiring, professional development
- Data collection and reporting
- Develop community partnership
- Posing for a photo to go next to “Woo” in the new edition of Clifton StrengthsFinder
402.457.6711 office
brianna.white@civicnebraska.org
Equasha Smith Gooch
Site Director, Lothrop Magnet School Community Learning Center
As the Site Director of Civic Nebraska at Lothrop Magnet in Omaha since 2017, Equasha has guided 14 trained and qualified staff and 150 students during program time to ensure all participants are safe and learning lifelong skills to become positive citizens. She has been working in after-school programming since 2004. Equasha has a passion for serving others and enjoys working for students and their families. She has a young daughter, who is her motivation to continue her education.
Responsibilities:
- Recruitment and communication
- Plan program, field trips and family nights
- Staff hiring, professional development
- Candle connoisseur
402.212.8897
equasha.smith@civicnebraska.org
Tracy White
Site Director, Lewis & Clark Middle School Community Learning Center
Making a difference in the lives of youth is Tracy’s No. 1 goal. She joined Civic Nebraska in 2017 as site director after serving five years as assistant site director at Lewis & Clark. Tracy has worked in several youth programs, including Belvedere Elementary, Hope Center for Kids and others for 15-plus years after transitioning from the business world. A native of St. Louis, Tracy loves a good strong cup of coffee to get her going. She enjoys creating digital designs and also has an Omaha baking and sweet-treats business with her daughters. She has instilled success principles in her daughters Kelli, Jessica, and Bre. Tracy also has been public relations director for the Nebraska First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ for 10+ years. In her spare time, Tracy loves to travel — and relax.
Education: University of Nebraska, business administration-marketing/industrial engineering
Responsibilities:
- After-school Programs
- Social Emotional Learning
- Classroom management
- Youth quality work methods
- Staff sweet-treat maven
531.299.2405
tracy.white@civicnebraska.org
Michael Bandy
School Community Coordinator, Northeast High School Community Learning Center
Michael leads Civic Nebraska’s Community Learning Center at Lincoln Northeast High School, working with the Rocket community to create effective programs for the teens participating in the CLC. Michael also directs daily CLC activities and builds neighborhood partnerships. He previously was a volunteer coordinator at College Possible. Raised in Omaha and an alumnus of Nebraska Wesleyan, Michael backpacked through South America after college, living and working in Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina. Most recently, he was a volunteer engagement specialist with College Possible. In his free time, Michael enjoys hanging out with his dog, Mago, and being outdoors. He’s a mountain biker and has recently started doing longer, adventure-style races and triathlons.
Education: Nebraska Wesleyan, international relations and political science
Responsibilities:
- CLC recruitment and communication
- Planning CLC programs, clubs, and community activities
- Staff hiring and professional development
- Data collection and reporting
- Developing community partnerships
- Dialing in on a gnarly berm before catching air on a rad booter
402.904.5191 office
michael.bandy@civicnebraska.org
Haroon Al Hayder
School Community Coordinator, Lincoln High Community Learning Center
Haroon’s role as the head of Lincoln High’s CLC means he advocates for students, families, and neighborhood residents; works with the Link community to create effective programs for teens participating in the CLC; and plans, schedules and directs daily CLC activities. A native of Iraq who came to the United States in 2016, Haroon has a passion for building strong relationships with students and community partners in his work building the next generation of civic leaders. Haroon lives in Lincoln, where he awaits a reunion with his wife Sipan, who remains in Iraq. Haroon also has family in Germany and Sweden.
Responsibilities:
- Recruitment and communication
- Planning programs, field trips, and community engagement
- Staff hiring and professional development
- Data collection and reporting
- Developing community partnerships
- Making dinner on his new air fryer
Education: Minnesota State University, communications studies and business innovation
Jacqueline Goering, MS
School Community Coordinator, Randolph Elementary Community Learning Center
Jacqueline guides our Community Learning Center at Randolph Elementary School in Lincoln. She creates effective before- and after-school programs for Roadrunner students taking part in the CLC. She also works to build partnerships that strengthen neighborhood families. Jacqueline previously led the CLC at Mickle Middle School, and before that, was associate director of youth programs for Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for four years. Her work at Randolph has special meaning to her because Randolph Elementary is Jacqueline’s neighborhood school. She and her fiance Aaron bought a home in the community in 2020. In her downtime, Jacqueline loves restoring antique furniture, being outside, heading to the lake, and hanging out with Aaron and their three pups, Meeko, Penny, and Roland.
Education: University of Nebraska, vocal performance music (B.A.); child, youth, and family studies with a focus on youth development (M.S.)
Responsibilities:
- CLC programming, recruitment, and communication
- Planning programs, clubs, and community-facing activities
- Staff hiring and professional development
- Developing community partnerships
- Pitching a new Discovery Channel show that mashes up Fixer Upper and Lucky Dog
Kara Nelson
School Community Coordinator, Raymond Central Before- and After-School Program
As Civic Nebraska’s school community coordinator for Raymond Central’s Valparaiso and Ceresco elementary school Before and After-School Programs, Kara advocates for youth, families, and community residents. She plans, schedules, and directs daily routines, activities, and operations of both sites. Kara also builds partnerships with community-based organizations, school staff, and community members to support the program’s goals. Kara lives on an acreage near Davey with her husband – and their chickens, four cats, a beautiful lab, and an irresistible pug, between visits from her college-age daughters. She enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, classic novels, and movies.
Responsibilities:
- Recruitment and communication
- Planning programs, field trips, and family nights
- Staff hiring and professional development
- Data collection and reporting
- Developing community partnerships
Civic Health Programs
Strengthening our state’s civic, social, and political fabric.
civic@civicnebraska.org
Nancy Petitto, MA
Director of Civic Health
Programs
Nancy Petitto is our director of Civic Nebraska’s civic health programs across the state, guiding staff, initiatives, and community partnerships to fortify Nebraska’s shared civic life. She previously served as director of Collective Impact Lincoln. Before that, Nancy worked at the University of Nebraska in academic, administrative, and research departments. Since 2017, she has served on the board of directors for GIRLPowR Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls in Lincoln and Nicaragua through educational and leadership programs. Nancy lives in Lincoln with her husband Scott, and their dogs, Frankie and Murphy.
Education: University of Nebraska, news-editorial journalism; M.A., educational administration-higher education administration
Responsibilities:
- Direct civic health programs and staff
- Develop and execute strategies from the Nebraska Civic Health Index
- Build and maintain strong community partnerships across Nebraska
- Lead civil discourse, media literacy, and community involvement workshops
- Gourmet coffee-maker for Civic Nebraska HQ staff
402.904.5191 office
402.202.3807 cell
nancy.petitto@civicnebraska.org
Alicia Phillips
Program Manager
Collective Impact Lincoln
Alicia coordinates all aspects of the Collective Impact Lincoln team, initiatives, and workflow. She also focuses on maintaining strong community partnerships and building neighborhood leaders and leading Community Builder Workshops. A native of Lincoln’s Near South neighborhood, Alicia earned a bachelor’s degree from Doane University in 2019. Before joining us, she was associate director at Hudson Bay Co. in Lincoln. She also has extensive experience in educating, organizing, and fundraising around a range of issues and for a number of nonprofit organizations. She loves reading and collecting books, watching documentaries, and hanging out with her son and her pets.
Education: Doane University, human relations
Responsibilities:
- Coordinating three-organization partnership to achieve initiative goals
- Managing policy efforts at local and state levels
- Building and strengthening community relationships
- Making an hour in a library or bookshop seem like only 10 minutes
Office: 402.904.5181
Kieran Kissler
Community Organizer
Collective Impact Lincoln
- Asset-based community development
- Community partnerships
- Grassroots initiatives
- Housing affordability
- Placemaking
- Volunteer leadership development
- Building the biggest civilization on the island
Daniel Bennett
Rural Civic Health Program Manager
Daniel supervises and builds civic health programs that affect Greater Nebraska, including the Civic Catalyst Communities Initiative and the Rural Civic Action Program. He also is a member of the team that updates the Nebraska Civic Health Index, hosts the Nebraska Civic Health Summit, and coordinates other special projects to help our towns and cities build civic health. A native of Omaha who spent five years in the Panhandle as a community planner for the Panhandle Area Development District, Daniel is based in Lincoln but travels regularly around the state. In his spare time, he enjoys percussion and vocal music, running, hiking, spending time with family, being involved in church, and volunteering.
Education: Iowa State University, Community and Regional Planning
Responsibilities:
- Rural Civic Action Program
- Civic Catalyst Communities Initiative
- Developing and evaluating rural civic health programs
- Research and outreach
- Challenging the executive director in number of miles hiked and run per year
Chris McCurdy
Education Specialist
As our education specialist, Chris leads Capitol Experience Days, one of Civic Nebraska’s flagship civic engagement programs. She also serves as a curriculum specialist across all programs. Chris is the coordinator of our Think Make Create mobile labs and oversees all aspects of our fleet of on-the-go STEAM maker spaces, which are designed for children of all ages and skillsets. Chris taught art in Lincoln Public Schools prior to joining Civic Nebraska. A Chicagoland native, Chris lived in Illinois and Wisconsin before coming to Lincoln. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2011. She finds joy in faith, family, friends, and foster parenting, and also likes reading, ceramics, gardening, and drawing. She and her husband Martin have four grown children and four grandchildren. They live in Lincoln with their canine family members, Scooby and Strider.
Education: University of Nebraska, art education
Responsibilities:
- Coordinates and conducts Capitol Experience Days for Nebraska middle- and high-schoolers
- Scheduling, maintenance, coordination, and deployment of all Think Make Create mobile labs
- Developing and sustaining new and existing curriculum for all communities we serve
- Building community partnerships
- Keeping co-workers engaged with cool new activities and games
402.904.5191 office
402.770.4851 mobile
John Cartier, JD
Director of Voting Rights
John is an attorney and graduate of U. Nebraska Law. Prior to coming to Civic Nebraska, John worked on several elections, including his own for Lincoln Public Schools board of education. Originally from Las Vegas, John moved to Nebraska in 2010 to attend Concordia University on a track and field scholarship and to study marketing and journalism. John has worked tirelessly to ensure that elections across the state are nonpartisan, accessible and modern. When not working, John enjoys spending time with his wife, sons, and cat. Occasionally, he can be found jogging along Lincoln’s beautiful MoPac Trail. Spare moments are spent chipping away at his personal goal to read a biography on every U.S. president.
Education: Concordia University, Nebraska, marketing and journalism; University of Nebraska College of Law, concentration in constitutional law
Responsibilities:
- Expanding voting rights for all Nebraskans
- Leading the state’s largest nonpartisan election protection program
- Researching and publishing reports areas related to election law and administration
- Defeating all challengers at Laser Tag
402.904.5191 office
john.cartier@civicnebraska.org
Margaret Marsh
Voting Rights Field Organizer
Margaret is our voting rights champion in Greater Nebraska, building policy initiatives, organizing campaigns, and building the Election Protection Program across the state. An organizer with a background in education, advocacy, and community engagement, Margaret believes that voting is essential to the civic health of a place. Margaret was an adjunct English, theater, and costuming professor at Central Community College-Hastings and Hastings College and is the creator of Shakespeare with Noodles, a youth theater group featuring props and costumes made with swimming noodles that provides free theater in local parks. Margaret is the mother of two grown daughters and the adopted mother to three cats and one three-legged dog. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and dancing.
Responsibilities:
- Advocate outreach and communication
- Policy initiatives and volunteer support
- Election Protection Program recruitment and training
- Statewide voting rights initiatives
- Coordinating voting rights events to engage lawmakers and elected officials
- Developing false confidence in her ability to fix anything by watching YouTube tutorials
Mike Forsythe
Voting Rights Field Organizer
Mike is a coordinator for our policy initiatives and organizes campaigns for policy-related issues. He also is a key member of our get-out-the-vote campaigns and the Election Protection Program. Mike organizes advocates for voting rights throughout the state, with a special emphasis on the Lincoln and Omaha areas. He retired in 2018 from Omaha Box Co. after 39 years of service, 25 of them as a production supervisor and also was a 2018 candidate for the Nebraska Public Service Commission — an experience Mike says reaffirmed his faith in civic engagement, civic health, and civil discourse. Mike and his wife Margo live in Omaha and have three grown children. He enjoys spending time with family, playing golf, birdwatching, listening to music, and long walks.
Responsibilities:
- Advocate outreach and communication
- Policy initiatives and volunteer support
- Election Protection Program recruitment and training
- Statewide voting rights initiatives
- Coordinating voting rights events to engage lawmakers and elected officials
- Jamming to live music and cheering on his favorite athletes
402.904.5191 office
402.490.4831 mobile
mike.forsythe@civicnebraska.org
Heather Engdahl
Get Out The Vote Director
Heather coordinates statewide get-out-the-vote initiatives for Civic Nebraska. Heather oversees the creation and implementation of educational, promotional, and actionable campaigns to enhance these efforts. In 2020, Heather also led Civic Nebraska’s key role in Nebraska Counts, a coalition to increase 2020 census self-reporting. An Omaha native and graduate of Concordia University, Heather interned at Nebraska Appleseed, where she helped coordinate different programs and disciplines.
Heather also has independently authored five research studies. She presented her recent work at the 2019 Society for Personality and Social Psychology annual meeting. She enjoys spending time with family, lifting weights, watching football, and writing.
Responsibilities:
- Ensure all eligible Nebraskans can register and vote
- Coordinate promotion and education initiatives
- Volunteer recruitment and training
- Working with Nebraska Counts coalition to ensure best “Get Out The Count” practices
- Coordinating events to engage hard-to-reach populations
- Explaining how correlation does not equal causation
402.904.5191 office
402.676.9406 mobile
heather.engdahl@civicnebraska.org