Heather was hired in September 2017 as executive director to officially launch MindCORE, a key initiative under the “Mapping the Mind” initiative from Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences. MindCORE is designed to unite researchers, programs, and initiatives involving human intelligence and behavior across the University with new programs for outreach, research, and education related to the study of mind and brain. Heather previously was the managing director of the Botswana-UPenn Partnership, the Perelman School of Medicine’s global health program in Botswana focused on HIV/AIDS and TB treatment during the time when the program grew from four to more than 250 employees (2008-2017). From 2003-2008 Heather was the associate director for the S. S. Huebner Foundation for Insurance Education housed within the Wharton School. Prior to coming to Penn, she worked as a project manager for a communications agency and later with a pharmaceutical services start-up.

Heather received her BA in political science from Villanova University and an MPA and certificate in nonprofit management from Penn’s Fels Institute of Government. She has served two terms on the University Council’s Committee on Campus and Community Life and has volunteered as dog foster to Philip, a human remains detection dog, and Ugo a police K9 in Trenton, through Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center. Heather lives in West Philadelphia with her husband and son, where she also serves on the boards of directors for Calvary Center for Culture and Community, the University City Historical Society, and the Woodlands (where she’s had her most interesting role to date chairing the cemetery committee).