UpSkill America & Guild Announce Third Cohort of Education and Career Mobility Fellowship

UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute and Guild are proud to announce the third cohort of the Education and Career Mobility Fellowship, a unique development program designed to support HR professionals in their efforts to build effective programs, connect opportunities, and create positive outcomes for employees across the workforce and the businesses that employ them.

“We are delighted to welcome this new class of Fellows,” said UpSkill America Senior Director Haley Glover. “Supporting these leaders, who are joining a thriving community of alumni, to advance in their work and careers creating real value for their organizations and opportunities for their workforces is so rewarding. This is an incredibly impressive group.”

The Fellowship is created in partnership with Guild. Guild partners with the country’s most innovative employers to help them identify, develop, and mobilize talent — empowering workers to gain skills for in-demand roles, and companies with the workforce agility to thrive amidst disruption. Participating Fellows will connect with experts on a range of issues, including HR, corporate learning and development, higher education policy and systems, academic innovations, and state and federal policies.

The Fellowship is an 11-month program, convening from December 2025 through October 2026. Fellows will collaborate and solve problems with their peers and receive tailored coaching and mentoring from experts and practitioners. They will have opportunities to build their public profiles and influence, while building a professional network for future growth.

“We are thrilled to welcome this third cohort of Fellows, made up of practitioners who are responding to disruption and actively shaping the future of workforce development,” said Bijal Shah, CEO of Guild. “At a time when talent strategy must be treated as business strategy, it is critical that we equip emerging leaders with the tools, insights, and networks to drive real impact. By building a shared community of learning and innovation, this Fellowship continues to move the entire field forward.”

The Fellows will meet in person for the first time January 14-16 in Indianapolis, and two additional convenings will take place in 2026. The third cohort is a group of professionals who are poised to make a difference for the workforces they support, and for their communities. UpSkill America and Guild are honored to have the opportunity to support the Fellows and to continue elevating the committed, caring professionals who are working to bring education and career mobility to employees across the country.

2025-26 Education and Career Mobility Fellows

• Quentin Bradley, Director Talent Management, Ochsner Health
• Andreah Churchill, Manager, Organizational Learning & Development, AdventHealth
• Faye Davis, Senior Director, SINA Communications
• Dr. Aaron Franklin, Manager, Workforce Development, Rush University System for Health
• Caitlin Hicks, Talent Development Specialist, Main Line Health
• Hannah Holmgren, Chief Operating Officer, Making Space
• Wallee Keating, Business Program Manager, Talent & DEI, Rocket Companies
• Rebecca Loftis, Strategy Manager, Talent and Organization, Accenture
• Kendall Murray, Senior Manager, Learning & Development, CAPTRUST 
• Erin Pearson, Talent Outreach Strategist, Children’s Nebraska
• Erin Perry, Vice President, Talent Management and Total Rewards, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Erika Peterson, Executive Director, Organizational Development, Wells Fargo
• Elizabeth Pittman, Program Manager, Workforce Development, CoorsTek, Inc
• Harris Rollinger, Senior Program Manager, Hidden Talent & Early Careers, KeHE Distributors
• Ashleigh Sotelo, Career Navigation & Skills Strategy Lead Consultant, Allstate
• Dolores Toledo, Director, Workforce Development, Children’s Health
• Aaron Veerasuntharam, Product Manager, Cisco
• Vianca Villegas, Senior Manager, Skills & Assessments, Lennar
• Erin Voss, Manager, Education Strategy & Analytics, McDonald’s Corporation
• Margie Weiner, Associate Director of Extended Learning & Enrichment, DREAM Charter Schools
• Jenny Yeung, Senior Program Manager, Career Choice, Amazon
• Rodney Young, Talent Management Program Manager, Regions Bank

Learn More

For more information about the Fellowship, contact UpSkill America Associate Director Chelsea Miller: [email protected]

About UpSkill America

UpSkill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers. We seek to create a movement of employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers working collaboratively to implement education, training, and development strategies that result in better jobs and opportunities for front-line workers, more competitive businesses, and stronger communities. Follow us on LinkedIn and learn more at upskillamerica.org

About Guild

Guild partners with the country’s most innovative employers, including Chipotle, Target, Walgreens, JPMorgan Chase, Hilton, Spectrum, PepsiCo, Tyson, and more, to build the talent needed for today and a resilient workforce for tomorrow. Guild helps employers identify, develop, and mobilize internal talent — enabling workers to gain skills for in-demand roles and companies to stay agile. By connecting employees to real-world learning, coaching, and career support, and providing companies with actionable talent insights, Guild transforms all talent into high-impact contributors and positions companies for long-term, sustainable growth. For more information, visit https://www.guild.com.