The Skillman Foundation

The Skillman Foundation is excited to announce two new team members:

Jen DeNeal, Ph.D. is our new director of policy & systems. In this role she will lead the Foundation’s Policy & Systems grantmaking while helping to maximize opportunities to strengthen education policy at the city, county, region, and state levels to accelerate the positive transformation of Detroit’s education system.

Before joining the Foundation, Jen was the director of policy and research for EdTrust-Midwest, where she led the organization in developing policy research and recommendations with strong potential to raise student achievement and close opportunity gaps.

Believing strongly that zip codes should not determine educational outcomes, Jen began her career as a K-12 music teacher in rural eastern Arkansas. She then moved on to hold positions at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina State Board of Education, where she focused on teacher quality. She was instrumental in the launch of the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission to craft and revise educator and principal preparation policies. Jen also served as the associate director for ethics and policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sarah Jane Ocker is our new front desk concierge. In this role, she supports the Foundation in managing its front office logistics and meeting spaces, ensuring a welcoming space for our grant partners, community partners, and staff who reserve our conference rooms for meetings and events.

With over 15 years in hospitality, retail, and project coordination, Sarah Jane is passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued—working to foster trust, connection, and meaningful experiences wherever she goes. Grounded in empathy, equality, and open communication, she brings a well-rounded and strategic approach to her work, having devoted time to multiple different industries throughout her career, including floral design, hospitality management, and estate transition services. 

When you visit the Foundation, be sure to say hello to Sarah Jane at our front desk!

Other announcements:

We are in the process of hiring a Youth Philanthropy Fellow in partnership with the Council of Michigan Foundations. This is a brand-new role focused on deepening youth engagement in philanthropy. Click here to learn more and apply by July 23^rd.

Departing from the Foundation is Punita Dani Thurman who most recently served as a vice president supporting strategy development. We’re grateful for Punita’s tremendous contributions and know she will continue to be a fierce advocate for students.