Who We Are
Our Team
Nancy Coffee - President & CEO
Nancy joined the Academy in 2004 from ArtsMemphis, where she was VP and raised over $3 million each year. Prior to moving to Memphis 9 years ago, Nancy was Program Officer at the Council on Foreign Relations in Chicago. Her work in international affairs landed her on the cover of Newsweek as the face of "Generation Global." Nancy began her career as an Account Exec at Leo Burnett, helping to launch Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes in China and playing a lead role in the agency’s innovation initiative. She received her B.A. in Government from Dartmouth; wrote her undergraduate thesis in political economy at London School of Economics; and received her M.A. with highest distinction from University of Chicago. She was born and raised in Boulder, CO and is an identical twin. She and her husband, Brad Silver, have one son. Nancy was named to the Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, and has received MPACT’s Active Leadership Award for the Stax Museum of American Soul Music Grand Opening.
Susan Chase - Senior Vice President
Susan joined the Leadership Academy (then Goals for Memphis) in 1996 after a long career as a volunteer in the Memphis community. She played an instrumental role in the organizational change that became the Leadership Academy. Prior to joining the Academy, Susan served as President of the Memphis Jewish Community Center and President of the National Council of Jewish Women. She also served as a director for Facing History and Ourselves, the Volunteer Center, Planned Parenthood of the Mid-South, and was Chair of the Community Board Institute. Susan is a graduate of the Leadership Memphis Class of 1988. She received her B.A. in English in another lifetime. Susan was born and raised in Marianna, AR. She and her husband, Barry Chase, have two daughters and two granddaughters.
Mya Donald - Communications Specialist
Mya Donald is a Memphis native and 2010 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Communications. Prior to joining the Leadership Academy as the Communications Specialist, Mya worked as a Marketing intern for the Memphis Grizzlies. She serves as the Public Relations Co-Chair for the Memphis Urban League Young Professionals as well as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis. Mya enjoys traveling, particularly shopping excursions, Memphis basketball and discovering new places in the city.
Rashana Lincoln - Director of Community Engagement
Rashana joined The Leadership Academy in May 2010 after working in the family business, Mayweather Catering for several years. A native Memphian and graduate of Clark Atlanta University with a B.A. in Business Administration, she has had years of marketing and event planning experience ranging from corporate luncheons to political fundraisers. She worked for Harold Ford, Jr. as Special Assistant before pursuing her law degree at The University of Tennessee. Upon completing her studies in Knoxville, she returned to Memphis to work as Accountant Clerk for the film Hustle & Flow directed by hometown favorite Craig Brewer. Rashana is a proud resident of the Soulsville community, Team Max volunteer, member of the Brooks Museum, MPACT Memphis and Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. She spends her free time traveling and holding referees to task during Memphis Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies games.
Roderick Moses - Director of Fellows
Rod is Director of Fellows for The Leadership Academy. In this position he is responsible for the Fellows Program, which is a 12 month leadership development cohort of emerging leaders in the city of Memphis TN. The program focuses on community engagement, self-awareness, building relationships and community action. Before coming to the Academy Rod spent 10 years with Nike, Inc. in various IT related positions and 1 year with Siemens IT Solutions as the Technical Site Lead for the Nike TN account. Rod has a degree in Computer Science from Jackson State University. He grew up in Muncie, IN before settling in Memphis in 1994.
Rod works with many nonprofit organizations such as Memphis Prep, Girls Inc., JIFF and a host of others to building their organizational capacity through the Community Action Project portion of the Fellows program. Over 100 projects are sustaining some of Memphis’ most important nonprofits. He is also responsible for class fundraising, enlistment and leads the Fellows Alumni Board.
Rod is a bible teacher and mentor with within his church community, and a graduate of the Academy Masters program. He is blessed to have his wife Erika and their 3 children, daughters Christian and Salem and son RJ.
Karen "Didi" Ozasa-Crandall - Office Manager
Didi is the Academy’s Office Manager. Didi works closely with the Director of Fellows and does various other tasks to keep the organization running smoothly. Originally from Monterey, California, she has lived and traveled all over the world and is fluent in Japanese. Didi is a devoted mother of two and previously worked as a teacher's assistant at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis.
Jill Turner - Vice President
Jill works with the Academy Masters and also leads the Academy's fundraising efforts. Jill returned to Memphis in December 2007 after working for two years as the Mid-Atlantic Region Marketing Manager for Holland & Knight law firm in Washington, DC. Prior to moving to DC, she worked in the marketing department for Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC in Memphis and spent 8 years in account service with two advertising agencies.
Jill has a degree in Marketing from Mississippi State University. She grew up in the Mississippi Delta and also lived in Arkansas and Louisiana.
She has been a member of the Junior League of Memphis (JLM) since 2002. Over the past 9 years, she has had the opportunity to work with The Salvation Army Smiles Program and the Ronald McDonald House Sights and Sounds of Memphis committee. Last year she served as both the Staffing and Volunteer Chair for the JLM 5k for Kids, Taking Steps to End Childhood Obesity and the recorder for the Membership Council. She’s also served as Transfer Chair for the League and welcomed newcomers who were transferring to the Junior League of Memphis from other leagues. In 2010, Jill was recognized at the JLM Membership Volunteer of the Year. Jill is a 2008 graduate of the Academy Masters program, a member of Leadership Memphis, Class of 2011. In 2011, she was named to the Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40. She has also participated in Common Ground and volunteered with the Special Olympics. Jill enjoys traveling and watching college football.