Board & Staff
JOHN ALLISON
John Allison is an Executive in Residence at the Wake Forest School of Business. He is a member of the Cato Institute’s Board of Directors and Chairman of the Executive Advisory Council of the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. Mr. Allison was president and CEO of the Cato Institute from October 2012 to April 2015. Prior to joining Cato, Mr. Allison was chairman and CEO of BB&T Corporation, the 10th-largest financial services holding company headquartered in the United States. During his tenure as CEO from 1989 to 2008, BB&T grew from $4.5 billion to $152 billion in assets. He was recognized by the Harvard Business Review as one of the top 100 most successful CEOs in the world over the last decade.
YARON BROOK
Yaron Brook, PhD, is chairman of the board of the Ayn Rand Institute. He is coauthor, with Don Watkins, of In Pursuit of Wealth and the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government and the host of The Yaron Brook Show on TheBlaze Radio and BlogTalkRadio. A former finance professor, he has been published in academic as well as popular publications, and his opinion-editorials appear in major newspapers. He is frequently interviewed on national TV and radio. Dr. Brook is an internationally renowned speaker, and lectures on Objectivism, business ethics and foreign policy at college campuses, community groups and corporations across America and throughout the world. (See here for his Expert information.)
LOREN CORLE
Mr. Corle, a recently retired entrepreneur, started as a piping contractor in 1982 and grew his business into an international concern with offices in the USA, The Netherlands, Brazil, and New Zealand. His company, RELCO LLC, provides customized, design-build processing systems and equipment for dairy and food manufacturing plants in over 30 countries and on all 6 inhabited continents. He sold the company in 2020 to a division of Koch Industries. He then turned to a list of interesting projects that had long been on his mind. Today, he maintains a consulting business and is involved in local business organizations. These include a business-funded and directed high school accredited course for young entrepreneurs where he is vice-chair of the board.
ONKAR GHATE
Onkar Ghate, Ph.D. in philosophy, joined ARI in 2000, after a brief but successful tenure in the finance industry. A year later, he launched ARI’s Objectivist Academic Center (OAC), which substantially expanded the Institute’s teaching and training activities. Dr. Ghate acts as a senior editor and instructor. He is also responsible for providing philosophic direction and oversight for the Institute’s many projects. (See here for his Expert information.)
ROBERT MAYHEW
Dr. Mayhew, Ph.D. in philosophy, is professor of philosophy at Seton Hall University. He specializes in ancient philosophy, and has recently completed books on Aristotle’s lost work on Homer and on Theophrastus’ On Winds. His most recent work on Ayn Rand is an annotated edition of her previously unpublished play The Unconquered (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014).
LARRY SALZMAN
Mr. Salzman is the Vice President for Litigation, Policy, and Research at Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF). He is also an adjunct professor at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law, supervising a PLF-sponsored property rights and economic liberty litigation clinical program. His law practice has focused on property rights and economic liberty. Earlier in his career, he spent ten years in business as co-founder and CEO of an e-commerce company.
TARA SMITH
Tara Smith is professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. A specialist in moral, legal, and political philosophy, her books include Egoism Without Permission: The Moral Psychology of Ayn Rand’s Ethics; Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System; and Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist. (See here for her Expert information.)
TAL TSFANY
Tal Tsfany is the president and CEO of the Ayn Rand Institute. Mr. Tsfany has been an entrepreneur, investor and executive in the software world. He has built and grown successful teams and businesses in Israel and the United States. Mr. Tsfany is a co-founder of the Ayn Rand Center Israel.
TYLER ASHBY
Tyler Ashby is responsible for the marketing and promotion for ARI’s content team. He collects data on article and video performance, contributes to content production, and helps to inform ARI’s growth strategy.
KIRK BARBERA
Kirk Barbera manages donor and prospect accounts, as well as fundraising dinners and events for ARI’s development team. Kirk has also worked as a student relations coordinator for ARI Campus. He graduated from the Objectivist Academic Center in 2013.
BEN BAYER
Ben Bayer, Ph.D. in philosophy, teaches at the Ayn Rand University, lectures and gives interviews for ARI. He writes for and is an associate editor of ARI’s online journal, New Ideal. (See here for his Expert information.)
JONATHON BRAJDIC
Jonathon Brajdic oversees the growth and operations of ARI’s student programs. These include ARI’s Free Books initiatives, nonfiction reading groups, and annual essay contests on Ayn Rand’s novels. Prior to working at ARI, Jonathon participated in ARI’s seasonal internship program. He holds a BS in architecture.
AMBER BROWN
Amber Brown helps plan, manage and execute marketing campaigns. She comes from two decades in the outdoor industry with an emphasis on introducing brands to the US market. Her background in brand development guides her overall goals. She holds a BS in psychology and graduated from the Objectivist Academic Center in 2011.
MARCOS CARBONELL
Marcos Carbonell oversees the design, implementation, and maintenance of software products and IT infrastructure essential for ARI’s operations and projects. He holds a BSc in computer science and is a graduate of the Ayn Rand University. He is keen on advancing artificial intelligence, guided by the principles of Objectivism.
YONATAN DAON
Yonatan Daon manages relationships with Objectivist communities and local organizations worldwide. He organizes speaking tours in Europe and Australia and coordinates webinars in South Asia and Africa. He is also involved in development research.
TRISTAN DE LIEGE
Tristan de Liège, Ph.D. in philosophy, is a teaching assistant at the Ayn Rand University.
JONATHAN DIVIN
Jonathan Divin manages ARI’s social media channels and assists with other digital marketing tasks. He participated in ARI’s student internship program in 2012 as well as the Objectivist Academic Center during his time as a college student, where he received support from ARI to run a successful campus club.
SIMON FEDERMAN
Simon Federman is responsible for rehousing and cataloging items in the Ayn Rand Archives. In addition, Simon provides design support for the Ayn Rand Institute Press and for the development, marketing, and product teams. Simon began volunteering for ARI in 1985 prior to starting work for the Institute part time in 1997 and full time in 2001.
VINNY FREIRE
Vinny Freire manages the information technology at ARI, providing digital infrastructure and support for the organization’s operations and projects. He has over 25 years of experience consulting and executing digital products. He holds a BA in fine arts and multimedia with a minor in advertising and communication.
ONKAR GHATE
Onkar Ghate, Ph.D. in philosophy, is chief philosophy officer, senior fellow, and ARI board member. He is a contributing author to many books on Rand’s fiction and philosophy. He leads ARI’s intellectual development program, serves as a senior editor and instructor, and provides philosophic oversight for the Institute’s projects. (See here for his Expert information.)
ZIEMOWIT GOWIN
Ziemowit Gowin is a Ph.D. student in philosophy at the University of Warsaw, and works mainly in contemporary ethics and philosophy of well-being. Ziemowit is a teaching assistant at the Ayn Rand University.
DAVID GULBRAA
David Gulbraa is the Donor Services Specialist at ARI, handling customer service for contributors and prospects. He helps run conferences and special events.
AUDRA HILSE
Audra Hilse manages the digital aspects of the Ayn Rand Archives, including data about the holdings and digitized archival material. She is working to make the Ayn Rand Papers and other collections available online. She graduated from the Objectivist Academic Center in 2009 and holds a BA in history and an MA in Library and Information Studies.
JEFF JANICKE
Jeff Janicke provides administrative support for the business operations team and lends occasional project support to other departments. He worked in the insurance industry for many years as an agent. His background includes business operations and management.
ELAN JOURNO
Elan Journo writes and speaks for ARI, specializing in foreign policy, and is a senior editor of ARI’s online journal, New Ideal. He is the author of What Justice Demands: America and the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict, co-author of Failing to Confront Islamic Totalitarianism, editor of Winning the Unwinnable War, and a contributor to Defending Free Speech and A New Textbook of Americanism: The Politics of Ayn Rand. (See here for his Expert information.)
BRANDON LISI
Brandon Lisi is a historian who assists with physical and digital projects for the Ayn Rand Archives. He also writes articles for ARI’s online journal, New Ideal, and for Ayn Rand Today, based on his archival research. Brandon holds a master’s degree in history and is a graduate of the Ayn Rand University.
KEITH LOCKITCH
Keith Lockitch oversees ARI’s educational programs, especially the Ayn Rand University and the ARU Graduate Center. He teaches courses on writing and on the foundations of science. Keith also writes and speaks for ARI and serves on the editorial board of ARI’s online journal, New Ideal. He holds a Ph.D. in relativistic astrophysics. (See here for his Expert information.)
STEWART MARGOLIS
Stewart Margolis manages donor and prospect accounts, as well as fundraising dinners and events for ARI’s development team. Prior to working as an account manager, Stewart worked with the Free Books to Teachers program, Campus Clubs program, and the Objectivist Academic Center.
AMANDA MAXHAM
Amanda Maxham is an astrophysicist with a passion for helping heroes find purpose and achieve great things. She mentors Ayn Rand University students and brings special ARI projects to life.
MIKE MAZZA
Mike Mazza, Ph.D. in philosophy, teaches at the Ayn Rand University. He develops written content for ARI and helps manage the Institute’s intellectual outreach programs.
DONNA MONTREZZA
Donna Montrezza proofreads copy and assists with a wide variety of projects, including for the Ayn Rand Archives and ARI Campus. Over the years, she has proofed and copyedited the published works of many Objectivist authors.
HAILEY O’BRIEN
Hailey O’Brien supports the marketing team in multiple ways, including data analysis, reporting and copywriting, and also manages ARI’s events. She is a long-time Objectivist and is excited to be supporting ARI.
RICARDO PINTO
Ricardo Pinto is a BA student in philosophy and a graduate of the Objectivist Academic Center. He currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
ROMY SALGADO
Romy Salgado is a senior accountant responsible for bank reconciliations, revenues, payments, and most of the month and year-end accounting closing activities, as she is knowledgeable about GAAP. She is assistant to the controller in all accounting and HR operations.
STEVEN SCHUB
Steven is a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio, a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and has starred in 25 feature films and television shows. He was the singer of two rock bands: The Fenwicks and HaSkaLA. He is a happy husband and proud father of two. Steven is a graduate of the Objectivist Academic Center and is thrilled to be helping ARU students achieve their goals.
RAY SCHUUR
Ray Schuur is being trained as a junior fellow at ARI to take on future intellectual work at the Ayn Rand University and beyond. Ray is also a doctoral candidate in philosophy with research interests in the history and philosophy of science, and of medicine and psychiatry in particular, as well as ethics, bioethics, and political philosophy.
DAN SCHWARTZ
Dan Schwartz teaches at the Ayn Rand University and assists with other education programs at ARI. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals on Francis Bacon and the philosophy of scientific method in the 17th century.
JEFF SCIALABBA
Jeff Scialabba oversees the operations of the Ayn Rand University. He collaborates with faculty to design and implement its curriculum, and manages ARU’s admissions process, administrative staff, and coaching practice. He also supports the ARU Graduate Center. Jeff is a graduate of the Objectivist Academic Center.
KATE SHERWOOD
Kate Sherwood provides administrative support to the Ayn Rand University’s operations team, providing customer support with enrollment, applications, payments, and scheduling. She also maintains ARU’s Launch Pad program, connecting students and companies in ARI’s network. Her background includes several years in administration and education.
SARAH SILVERMAN
Sarah Silverman is the project manager for ARI’s content team. She helps to manage, coordinate, and integrate the content team’s output. She holds an MA in philosophy and graduated from the Objectivist Academic Center in 2010.
AARON SMITH
Aaron Smith, Ph.D. in philosophy, teaches at the Ayn Rand University and develops educational content for ARI’s e-learning and intellectual training programs. He also writes, lectures, and gives interviews for ARI. (See here for his Expert information.)
NIKOS SOTIRAKOPOULOS
Nikos Sotirakopoulos, Ph.D. in social sciences, teaches at the Ayn Rand University and manages ARI Europe. He is the author of Identity Politics and Tribalism: The New Culture Wars.
ANNA STEINBERG
Anna Steinberg directs ARI’s fundraising team and handles donor and prospect accounts. She graduated with a BS in finance and accounting. Anna brings experience in management of complex projects in IT, finance, and in mergers and acquisitions.
CLYTZE SUN
Clytze Sun handles data analysis and database management for all areas at ARI, working closely with the tech team. She holds a BS in statistics and an MS in information systems management, earning both degrees at Carnegie Mellon University.
TAL TSFANY
Tal Tsfany is the president and CEO of ARI. He has been an entrepreneur, investor, and executive in the software world. He has built and grown successful teams and businesses in Israel and the United States. Tal is a co-founder of the Ayn Rand Center Israel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and an MBA in business management.
AGUSTINA VERGARA CID
Agustina Vergara Cid writes and speaks for ARI, focusing primarily on immigration policy and its intersection with philosophy. She is also a teaching assistant at the Ayn Rand University. Agustina holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in law and is a graduate of the Objectivist Academic Center.
DON WATKINS
Don Watkins oversees ARI’s marketing efforts. He is the bestselling author of six books, including most recently Effective Egoism: An Individualist’s Guide to Pride, Purpose, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
SAM WEAVER
Sam Weaver holds a Conceptual Education Fellowship at ARI. He is a teaching assistant at the Ayn Rand University and develops other educational programs and materials. He also writes and speaks for ARI, focusing on issues in the field of education. Sam holds a BA in English and graduated from the Objectivist Academic Center in 2019.
ALEX WIGGER
Alex Wigger provides research and support for content development, data analysis, and reporting, and oversees student relations for ARI Campus. He has a BA in philosophy and graduated from the Objectivist Academic Center in 2018.
GERALDINE YUMPING
Geraldine Yumping manages the finance, accounting, HR operations, and facilities requirements at ARI, and supervises the support staff under the business operations team. She holds a BS in accountancy and is a certified public accountant who has extensive experience in audit and the nonprofit industry.