News Article
ACLS Welcomes New Staff
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce four new additions to the ACLS staff who will support its evolving portfolio of programs, as well as the organization’s operations.
Nike Nivar Ortiz joined ACLS as Program Officer for US Programs on January 9, 2023. John Zepke started as Program Associate for US Programs on October 31, 2022 and Katie Reis as Program Associate for Higher Education Initiatives within the President’s Office on March 20, 2023. ACLS also welcomed LaToya Jackson as Events Manager on January 10.
Nivar Ortiz, Zepke, Reis, and Jackson all bring crucial knowledge and skills to ACLS as it continues to convene members of our community and advance strategic efforts to create and sustain a more socially responsive, diverse, and equitable academy for the 21st century.
 Nike Nivar Ortiz |  John Zepke |  Katie Reis |  LaToya Jackson |
Nike Nivar Ortiz most recently served as a Teaching Fellow at University of Southern California working across the Comparative Literature and Latin American and Iberian Cultures departments. He has a PhD in Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture from the University of Southern California, with a focus on Latin American Studies and Media Studies. He also holds a BA from Vassar College in English and Hispanic Studies.
Before joining ACLS, John Zepke served at a nonprofit devoted to educational documentaries. He graduated from Princeton University with a BA in East Asian Studies and a certificate in International Diplomacy.
Katie Reis previously worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and an editorial assistant at a publication written by and for youth focusing on the liberal arts. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Government and a minor in Global Health.
Prior to joining ACLS, LaToya Jackson worked at the City University of New York (CUNY). She has a BA in psychology from Hunter College, CUNY and is currently earning her MS in business management and leadership from the School of Professional Studies, CUNY.
