Our Board of Directors

Sam Cannova

Lisa Hayes

Jessica McManus Warnell

Sam Cannova currently serves as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. A 2021 graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s Program of Liberal Studies, Sam worked in JIFFI for four years, including leading the organization as COO and CEO. Passionate for leveraging entrepreneurship for social impact, Sam has a range of experiences in economic and international development, social entrepreneurship, and ethnographic research. Sam now lives in Chicago, where you might find him reading in Lincoln Park, or escaped for another hiking trip.

Jessica McManus Warnell is the Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, and a Teaching Professor of Management & Organization. She teaches undergraduate and MBA courses in business ethics, sustainability, inclusive leadership, and business and culture in Japan. Jessica is a past recipient of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME) North America Chapter Award for Teaching Excellence. Her current research explores business students’ values orientations, inclusive business and business education, and sustainable businesses and communities. She served as a visiting teaching and research fellow at Reitaku University in Chiba, Japan. A Faculty Fellow of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and of the Pulte Institute for Global Development, and Affiliated Faculty of the Environmental Humanities Initiative, the Gender Studies Program, the Initiative on Race and Resilience, the Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI), the Poverty Studies Minor, and the Sustainability Minor, Jessica is the author of Engaging Millennials for Ethical Leadership: What Works for Young Professionals and Their Managers, part of the Giving Voice to Values collection on corporate social responsibility.

Jack O'Leary

Cristin Pacifico

Emily Pohl

Cristin is a Florida native who has made a home in the Midwest. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Cristin majored in Finance and International Peace Studies. Her passion for entrepreneurship drove her involvement in various start ups, including co-founding JIFFI and holding positions at Vennli, a South Bend based SaaS company, and Home Chef, a Chicago-based meal kit start up. Cristin has a breath of experience in Finance and Investments from Robert W. Baird, JPMorgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Equifund Partners and Irish Angels. Cristin founded the Joseph Academy Junior Board in Chicago, a school system that helps students with severe behavioral, emotional and learning disabilities, and mentors first generation students attending college through the Schuler Scholar program.

Emily Pohl is a 2020 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and participated in JIFFI for 4 years, leading the group as CEO during her senior year. She is currently employed as a full-time associate at L.E.K. Consulting.

Jacob Stanton

Zach Thompson

Rachel Tomas Morgan

Jacob Stanton is the Chief Financial Officer of Holler-Classic Automotive Group, an Automotive News Top 100 dealership group based in Winter Park, FL, and MARC Media Group, a growing multi-channel media company. He is an executive committee member of CrossMarc Services, a real estate brokerage, leasing, management, and investment firm. Previously, Jacob was the Director of Financial Operations for a TSX-traded dealership group’s U.S. operations and Assistant Vice President of Acquisitions for a REIT specializing in the sale-leaseback of dealership properties. Jacob graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA in finance and economics. He co-founded JIIFI and has been a board member since JIFFI’s founding. Jacob was previously a member of the University of Notre Dame’s Ireland Advisory Council. 

Zach Thompson currently works at the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union as a full-time Senior Manager of Business Development. He is a financial service professional with a strong background in individual financial planning and management.

Luis Zapata

Luis Zapata graduated with honors from Tec de Monterrey (ITESM Campus Queretaro) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. In 2006, he received a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, where he served as President of the Society of Hispanic MBAs. Luis is Vice President of Financial Wellness at 1st Source Bank and teaches Personal Finance and Banking Courses at Indiana University South Bend’s Leighton School of Business and Economics. He currently serves as a Finance Council Member at Christ The King and St. Adalbert’s Parish, SCORE Mentor Volunteer, and Board Member of Junior Achievement of St. Joseph County. From Mexico City, Luis has a daughter, a son, and a grandson. He enjoys golf, soccer, poker, and of course, Notre Dame Football.