A Fulcrum Discussion on DEI Between Hugo Balta, David Nevins & Kristina Becvar

David L. Nevins serves as co-publisher of The Fulcrum. Additionally, Nevins serves as co-founder and Board Chairman of the Bridge Alliance. Nevins brings business acumen, vision and a tireless this-must-and-can-be-done zeal to the burgeoning movement to bridge divides to transform the political process. As a business leader, Nevins excels at building bridges between people and organizations from the right, left and center for civilized conversation and then action.

He co-founded the Bridge Alliance because, as he says, “No matter how well managed and how well funded anyone organization is, significant political reform will not happen without an alliance to further collaborative interactions. Together we can and will raise the collective impact of all.” He is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, with a focus on the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, he established and continues to work with The Nevins Democracy Leaders program at Penn State University. Nevins graduated with honors in economics from Penn State in 1969 and received an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Kristina Becvar‘s professional journey has been nothing short of transformative. From a background in legal operational and change management, she followed her curiosity to explore the world of data analytics and research methods, opening up new career paths for herself. After dedicating years to optimizing legal service management and delivery, Kristina felt a strong desire to explore the potential of data analytics and research methods and explore new career paths.

Returning to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she had previously earned her B.A. in Business Studies, Kristina pursued and successfully earned an M.S. in Data Analytics and Computation for Social Sciences. This two-year endeavor solidified her expertise in data analytics and research methods, preparing her for the challenges ahead.

Beyond her professional interests, Kristina is deeply engaged in nonviolence advocacy, particularly for those affected by war and conflict in conflict zones and international security. Her experiences as the spouse of a disabled combat veteran have contributed to her desire to bring about positive change in this field. During her M.S. pursuit, Kristina delved deep into her passions while serving as a project manager at the Human Security Lab, supervising research on topics like nuclear taboos, Ukrainian conscription law, and post-U.S. withdrawal civilian voices in Afghanistan.

Kristina remains eager to continue honing her skills and actively seeks opportunities to collaborate on future research endeavors. Her interests are diverse, spanning areas such as human security, combat veteran narratives, environmental justice, and conflict resolution on both domestic and international fronts.

Connect with Kristina on LinkedIn

Hugo Balta serves as the Director of Solutions Journalism & DEI Initiatives at The Fulcrum. He also serves as a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund. An accredited solutions journalism trainer, Balta nurtures a newsroom culture that focuses coverage on responses to social issues as well as the problems themselves. The goal is to present the public with a truer, more complete view of complex challenges and opportunities, helping to drive more effective citizenship. The award-winning journalist has led newsrooms in multiple markets and platforms, including The Chicago Reporter, WBBM News Radio, Telemundo, NBC, CBS, and ESPN. Balta is the Publisher of the Latino News Network (LNN), overseeing seven local independent and national digital news outlets in the U.S. Balta is the only person to serve twice as President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). He was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2016. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago, where he teaches journalism courses focused on all aspects of newsroom collaboration in covering local news.

Connect with Hugo on LinkedIn