Megan Felt
Program Director

Megan Felt was a student in Norman Conard's class, and is one of the founders of the Life in a Jar project that began in 1999, which discovered Irena Sendler. Megan was named a National Coca-Cola All-American Scholar for her community service. She was also selected to the 2nd team USA Today All-American Academic Team for 2003. She is a graduate of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. About the development of the Life in a Jar project Megan says, "During my freshman year in high school, we discovered the story of an amazing woman named Irena Sendler, and our research began. We thought the Irena Sendler Project would end after the National History Day competition, but to our surprise, the project had taken a life of its own. The first time I met Irena, I was amazed by her wisdom and grace. Her courage and love can tear down any barrier. She has challenged us to continue her story and inspire others. This is a tremendous task we will all try to achieve for the rest of our lives." As the program director Megan works with teachers and students all over the world developing projects. View the projects pages to learn more.

Maria Bahr
Education Specialist

Maria Bahr has joined the Lowell Milken Center as an Education Specialist. Maria is a graduate of Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in English. She has taught in Kansas for fifteen years. Maria is a successful teacher who specializes in writing and project-based learning. With the help of the Lowell Milken Center, one of her students received national history recognition last year. Maria will continue teaching, but will work at the center in the area of grant writing, curriculum, and project development concerning unsung heroes. For the past twenty-two years, she, husband Jerry, and family have lived in southeastern Kansas. Her father, Stephen Schrader, is a former Kansas Master Teacher.

Jaime Walker
Director of Development

Jaime Walker recently earned the distinction of having graduated from college, cum laude, in only three years, with a degree in business finance from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. A graduate of Ottawa High School in Ottawa, Kansas, where she was valedictorian of her class, Jaime says, "My life has changed by working on the Life in a Jar play and meeting the wonderful people of the Milken Family Foundation." Jaime has returned to Pittsburg State University for work on her MBA, but continues to work at the Center.  

Dr. Jane Foley
Senior Advisor

As senior vice president, Milken Educator Awards, at the Milken Family Foundation, Dr. Jane Foley oversees the selection and notification of Milken Educators, coordinates the Milken National Education Conference, and works with state agencies on state events related to the Awards. In 1994, she was honored as a Milken National Educator for the state of Indiana.

Dr. Foley serves on the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Advisory Board which provides guidance for the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)™, a comprehensive school-based reform to attract, retain, develop and motivate talented people to the teaching profession.

Dr. Foley is also director of the Milken Scholars, a Foundation initiative that helps outstanding young men and women achieve their academic and professional goals.

She is senior advisor for the Lowell Milken Center, a Kansas-based initiative that supports projects aimed at teaching respect and understanding throughout America and the world. Dr. Foley is also president of the Center's advisory board.

She is senior advisor to former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. William Bennett and leads a team of Milken Educators working together to advance the use of his American History books, America: The Last Best Hope, Volumes I & II, in schools across the country.

Dr. Foley also leads a Foundation project to disseminate an interdisciplinary curriculum guide based on The Children of Willesden Lane, a World War II memoir by Grammy-nominated pianist Mona Golabek that serves as a rich learning resource for schools.

Dr. Foley was a public school educator for 24 years, serving at the elementary and high school levels as both teacher and principal. Before coming to the Foundation in 1998, she was principal of Flint Lake Elementary School in Indiana, which, under her leadership, attained state and national recognition in the areas of school restructuring, professional development, technology integration and student achievement. Dr. Foley received her Ph.D. from Purdue University, and her honors include the International Society of Educational Planning Outstanding Dissertation Award, Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honorary and Who's Who in the World.

LMC Volunteers

The Lowell Milken Center has volunteers who help in many areas. Here are four of those who help reach the LMC's mission: Bob Webster, Melina Lawson, Robert Nelson, and Janet Braun.