Lisa A. Tallman

Lisa A. Tallman is an Instructor in the MS in Learning and Organizational Change Program at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), and Executive Director of the Community Food Navigator, a nonprofit focused on food sovereignty in underserved Chicago communities. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Master’s in English (Technical Communication) from Eastern Michigan University.

Her career spans over 20 years leading strategic initiatives in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, including roles as Vice President of Data and Information Management at Easterseals National, and Senior Director of Knowledge Management at the YMCA of the USA. She specializes in digital strategy, organizational culture, and bridging technical and human-centered approaches to drive social impact.

Her work emphasizes leveraging technology and data systems to strengthen community resources, particularly in areas like resource distribution, knowledge-sharing platforms, and cross-sector collaboration. She has pioneered online data collection systems and revitalized communities of practice in national organizations.

Advising & Grants: No formal advising relationships or grants mentioned in the text. Her roles focus on operational leadership and strategic execution rather than academic mentoring.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Community Food Navigator and collaborates with national organizations like Easterseals and the YMCA through strategic partnerships aimed at community empowerment and resource equity.