Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change

David Behringer is a Program Manager in the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise. Prior joining the Business School in December 2021, David managed his own company for 15 years, providing private tours of the contemporary art galleries in New York City and developing a subscription service for art-centered educational video and audio content. David was born in Seattle and studied Art History at Western Washington University.

From 2002 to 2024, Melissa Berman served as the founding President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., an innovative nonprofit philanthropy service launched by the Rockefeller family.

Hattie Bestul is a Program Manager with the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise, bringing program development and event production experience to her role. With a background in arts nonprofits and community music programs, Hattie has worked in various educational settings supporting middle school through collegiate-level students. Prior to her current role, Hattie was the Program Manager with Face the Music, Kaufman Music Center’s contemporary music program for teens.

Archana’s mandate is to increase the talent drawn from diverse communities. To do this successfully, she harnesses the power of connection and collaboration. In her role, Archana defines a comprehensive learning and partnership strategy to build educational curriculum and enable skills and career development. Through her design of impactful and scalable learning journeys, the development and deployment of experiential learning content, and facilitation of career preparation workshops, Archana aims to transforms career programming, content and delivery.

Brendan Hasenstab is a Communications Specialist for the Climate Knowledge Initiative at The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise, within Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He handles writing and editing of content on subjects at the intersection of climate and business with the aim of creating a more just and sustainable planet for all of us. 

Karen Hasher is Program Manager of the Fund for Social Ventures. She received a Masters of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University; an MBA in Finance from Drexel University; and a B.S. in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University.  

Sandra Navalli, OAM, is an adjunct faculty and Managing Director of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia Business School, which educates leaders to use business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and management tools to address social and environmental challenges. The Institute offers courses, experiential learning programs, research, and community-focused initiatives, including the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures which provides seed grants for social and environmental ventures.

Gwendolyn Shufro is the Senior Director of Tamer Center Executive Education in the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise. In this role, Gwen is head of executive education programs for nonprofit professionals. Prior to her current role, Gwen managed the Nonprofit Board Leadership Program and founded the Tamer Center Awards Breakfast.  She provided support to a variety of curricular initiatives including Bridging the American Divide and the Capital for Good Conference.

Bruce Usher is a Professor of Professional Practice and the Elizabeth B. Strickler '86 and Mark T. Gallogly '86 Faculty Director of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia Business School. The Tamer Institute educates on the use business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and management tools to address social and environmental challenges. Professor Usher teaches courses on climate change, finance and business, and is a recipient of the Singhvi Prize for Scholarship in the Classroom, the Lear Award, and the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

* It's pronounced like "juggernaut" without the "jug."

Gernot Wagner is a climate economist at Columbia Business School. His research, writing, and teaching focus on climate risks and climate policy.

Dan Wang is Lambert Family Professor of Social Enterprise and (by courtesy) Sociology at Columbia Business School, where he is also the Co-Director of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change.  His research examines how social networks drive social and economic transformation through the analysis of global migration, social movements, organizational innovation, and entrepreneurship.