CPPR Announces Fourth Cohort of Kansas Future Fellows
CPPR is pleased to announce the fourth cohort of the Kansas Future Fellows program (KFF). Since 2021, the 9-month fellowship has brought together leaders from public and private sectors across Kansas to work towards shaping a better future for children and families in the state. This year’s program welcomed a select group of professionals working in the public sector and community-based organizations to build a heightened understanding of the state’s early childhood system.
“Each year, the Kansas Future Fellows program evolves to meet the moment—and this year, it emphasizes systems-level collaboration and long-term impact. It reflects where the early childhood field is headed and what it needs next,” said Sara Gardner, CPPR Assistant Director, who will lead the cohort.
The 2025-2026 cohort includes 15 fellows from across the state, and the fellows met on July 21–22 to kick off the start of their fellowship. With support from Watershed Advisors and CPPR’s continued partnership with Jake Dunagan, the fellows will learn how to apply futures thinking strategies and principles to the challenges they see today to envision long-term possibilities and strengthen the community connections KFF has been building for four years.
Over the course of the fellowship, participants will co-design future scenarios, chart new solution pathways, and reimagine critical leverage points for meaningful change. They will act as social inventors—generating bold ideas and collaborative strategies to build a more resilient early childhood system. This cohort will expand and energize the growing statewide network of Future Fellows, amplifying their collective vision for a thriving Kansas.
“We’re building a future where families feel supported, connected, and seen,” said Amber Dejmal, 2025-2026 KFF and CEO of Behavioral Training Solutions.
2025-2026 Future Fellows Cohort
Nichelle Adams
Social Service Program Collaboration Deputy Director
Kansas Department for Children and Families
Linda Buchheister
Children’s Behavioral Health Manager
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Jennifer Burgardt
Child Care Zones Coordinator
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Mariah Chrans
Programs Director
Community Health Council of Wyandotte County
Betsy Davis
Director of Community Services
McPherson County Community Foundation
Amber Dejmal
CEO
Behavioral Training Solutions
Jarvis Doleman
Director of Child Care Operations
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Robin Hansen
CEO
Customized Early Education
Sarah Minshull
Director of Innovation, Program, and Strategy
Child Care Aware of Kansas
Jessie Piper
Assistant Professor
Washburn University
Melissa Schoenberger
Early Childhood Systems Specialist
Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund
Christi Smith
Executive Director
Child Care Aware of Kansas
Mandi Waugh
Program Director
Child Start, Inc.
Madeline Wegner
Child Health Consultant and Help Me Grow Kansas State Lead
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Lisa Williams
Kansas PAT Program Coordinator
Kansas State Department of Education
The Kansas Future Fellows (KFF) program was created by CPPR to support and inspire community leaders across Kansas to work towards shaping a better future together. Each year a new cohort is selected, and fellows from previous cohorts build upon their experiences in the program to advance visions for the future across the state. To learn more about KFF and how CPPR will provide the tools and opportunities to develop and promote community-specific solutions, visit the program’s webpage and read more below:
- Future-Ready: AAI and CPPR’s Commitment to Strategic Foresight
- Civic Foresight Group Reflects on Shaping the Gateway to a Futurist Mindset
- CPPR Hosts Futures Thinking Workshop For Middle School Students
- How AAI’s Center for Public Partnerships & Research Draws On “Futures Thinking” in Their Work
- CPPR’s Unique Program Provides for Statewide Change Around Issues Affecting Children and Their Families