Hamid Karimianpour is the Founder and CEO of the Institute for Democratic Discourse, where he leads research and initiatives focused on the cultural, social, and institutional conditions that shape democratic discourse in practice.

Karimianpour pursued advanced study in philosophy at the University of Oslo in Norway and earned an MBA from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. He brings a cross-disciplinary and comparative perspective to questions of free expression, informed by formal training in philosophy, economics, and business, as well as lived experience across multiple national contexts.

His work examines the gap between formal constitutional protections for speech and the practical, perceived freedoms that influence whether individuals feel able to participate openly in public debate—particularly within academic, civic, and institutional environments.

Karimianpour has written extensively on issues related to free speech, censorship, and democratic discourse, with essays and analysis published through independent platforms and widely read digital outlets. His work emphasizes evidence-based analysis and seeks to translate theory into actionable insights for institutions and policymakers.

In addition to his research and writing, Karimianpour teaches at the University of Virginia, where he engages regularly with students in an academic setting. Earlier in his career, he owned and operated an art gallery, an experience that informs his appreciation for creative expression, cultural dialogue, and the practical challenges facing independent voices and institutions.

As CEO of the Institute for Democratic Discourse, he is responsible for setting the organization’s strategic direction, overseeing research programs, developing partnerships, and ensuring sound governance and financial stewardship. He works closely with the Board of Directors and affiliated researchers to advance the Institute’s mission of strengthening democratic discourse through principled, independent, and nonpartisan inquiry.

He resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Donald Jennings is a board member of the Institute for Democratic Discourse

Mr. Jennings is a seasoned executive, humanitarian leader, and project developer with decades of experience spanning international infrastructure, telecommunications, sustainable development, and human rights advocacy.

In addition to serving on the board of the Institute for Democratic Discourse, he is the co-founder and director of ImaniWorks, a human-rights nonprofit organization formally recognized by the United Nations. Through this work, he has focused on community-based development, environmental stewardship, and social impact initiatives that integrate education, sustainability, and economic opportunity.

In addition to his nonprofit leadership, Mr. Jennings manages a 116-acre organic agritourism farm featuring protected streams, miles of hiking trails, and active beaver habitats. The property includes the largest labyrinth of its kind in the United States, a 12-site camping venue hosted through Hipcamp, and serves as a living model for sustainable land use. The farm is currently undergoing a major expansion, including the construction of a 20-acre solar array and collaborative planning with the Orange County Board of Supervisors for a new technical-vocational institute to be located on ten acres of the property.

Prior to retiring from corporate leadership, he managed large-scale domestic and international projects for heads of state and senior government institutions, including the King of Saudi Arabia, Anwar Sadat, and leadership of the Pakistan Space Agency. His work involved complex, high-stakes infrastructure and technology initiatives across multiple continents.

In the United States, he led the design and build-out of broadband business networks across the top ten Metropolitan Statistical Areas. During this period, his company, Wireless Facilities Inc., was the world’s largest outsourcing firm in its sector.

Mr. Jennings brings together global executive experience, public-private collaboration, and a long-term commitment to sustainability, education, and human dignity—bridging international leadership with local, place-based impact.

He lives in Orange County, VA.

Leo Gomez is a board member of the Institute of Democratic Discourse.

Mr. Gomez brings more than two decades of experience supporting faculty research in the departments of politics and history at the University of Virginia. Over the course of approximately twenty years, he contributed to academic research, scholarly publications, and instructional support across multiple areas of political and historical inquiry. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gomez lived and worked in San Francisco for four years.

He holds a master’s degree in history, with a specialization in the First World War. Mr. Gomez has been actively involved in the editing of scholarly articles and books addressing First Amendment issues and free speech, reflecting a sustained engagement with constitutional law, democratic theory, and public discourse.

In addition to his academic and editorial work, Mr. Gomez remains civically engaged, dedicating significant time to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in Charlottesville. His combined background in academic research, editorial work on free expression, and community service brings valuable perspective to the Institute’s governance and mission.

Mr. Gomez lives in Charlottesville, VA.

Jamie Honigman has had a highly successful career in the human capital industry. He has repeatedly demonstrated his talent for bringing out the very best in the companies for which he has provided leadership and direction.

Honigman earned a master’s degree in human organizational science from Villanova University and a B.S. degree in Sociology from St. Joseph’s University.

He spent the formative years of his professional career with SmithKline Beecham, where he progressed to the position of Director of Human Resources for eleven states in the Southeast – representing more than 3,500 employees. He returned to Philadelphia to accept the position of Director of Human Resources at Comcast, where he forged new systems for effective staffing, compensation/benefits and employee relations. He also quarterbacked the successful implementation of PeopleSoft for the corporation. From there, he assumed the position of Vice President of Human Resources for Home Health Corporation of America. In his tenure there, he helped to lead the company through its development from a local company to a major, publicly traded 5,500 employee power in the industry. He played leading roles in the merger and acquisition of several companies. Over his entire career, Honigman has played major roles in more than a dozen major mergers and acquisitions.

Honigman was then selected as the Vice President of Human Resources at XLConnect. He built HR processes and systems that were key factors in the company’s rapid growth and success. XLConnect’s success attracted the attention of Xerox. They made XLConnect their first acquisition in almost five years, purchasing the company for $440 million in cash. The company’s name was changed to Xerox Connect and Honigman continued on in an expanded role that included significant contributions to the systems and processes of Xerox. The lure of the startup company seized him, and he agreed to become the Vice President of Human Resources and Operations at EMAX Solutions. After two years of growing and improving the company, EMAX was sold to SciQuest for more than twenty times earnings.

Honigman served as Vice President of Global Human Resources at TMP Worldwide Executive Search in New York City, where he held overall responsibility for all aspects of human resources across the multinational organization. In this capacity, he also played an active role in business development for the firm’s human capital consulting services.

In 2001, Honigman transitioned from corporate leadership to consulting, founding CBIZ’s HR consulting practice in the Northeast and subsequently leading the firm’s national practice. In 2005, he was appointed Director of the Talent Strategies practice at Aon Consulting. He successfully grew that practice over three years before deciding to create HR inTune in 2009. HR inTune enjoyed 10 profitable and successful years before being purchased by Alera Group in October of 2019. Since joining Alera, the firm has grown from $1M to well over $2M in revenue. Honigman has achieved the President’s Club invitation for all four years (including being 3^rd out of 1,500 producers in 2022).

Honigman is actively engaged in the community and has served on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Camphill Soltane, St. David’s Golf Club, and The Children of the Father Foundation. He resides in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, with his wife, and they have two daughters.

Project Coordinator & Research Specialist | Executive Support | Development & Content Operations | Development & Youth Engagement | Event Specialist | Donor Relations | Grants & Executive Support

Stephanie Grant is a development and research professional with over 13 years of experience supporting donor-funded initiatives, international development programs, and mission-driven organizations. Her work bridges strategy and execution, translating complex research, stakeholder priorities, and program data into clear, compelling narratives for funders, boards, and executive leadership.

She has supported projects and institutions affiliated with the World Bank Group, USAID-funded initiatives, UN Women, and regional research bodies, contributing to proposal development, monitoring and evaluation (MEL), reporting, and cross-functional coordination. Stephanie is particularly skilled in building organized grant infrastructure, standardizing messaging, and preparing funder-ready materials that align institutional vision with measurable outcomes.

With an academic background in philosophy and a career grounded in research and development operations, she brings analytical rigor, clarity of thought, and a calm, solutions-oriented approach to nonprofit growth. Her experience spans youth engagement, gender equity policy, international research collaborations, and stakeholder communications across public, private, and civil society sectors.

At the Institute for Democratic Discourse, Stephanie contributes to the development of grant strategy, institutional messaging, and fundraising infrastructure in support of strengthening democratic dialogue and open inquiry.

Olga Alentyeva has worked in nonprofits and social services for 12 years, with experience in private and public funding ranging from local to federal government programs. She has a BA in Economics and International Relations and is currently working on her MS in Applied Economics.