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Polly Dolan holds a Master’s degree in International
Administration, and has been living and working in Eastern and Southern Africa since 1996. From 1998-2002, Polly coordinated
community development and environmental conservation projects for CARE in Tanzania; and since that time she has continued
to work in health, education and vulnerable children programming areas as an independent consultant. Polly believes
that educating girls is a cornerstone to overcoming poverty and social injustice in Tanzania. Polly resides in Tanzania
and also serves on the SEGA board.
To contact Polly, click here
To see a statement from Polly on education, click here.
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Ashley Devery has worked as public relations and
marketing specialist for 18 years. This has enabled her to develop a strong network of media contacts across the USA. She
has always been a firm supporter of education in her local community, volunteering with various organizations such as the
YMCA. Ashley visited several local school during a trip to Tanzania in 2006 and returned home with the staunch belief that
education is a critical component of any plan to end poverty.
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Juma Said Ally, a native Tanzanian, has worked extensively
in relief, environmental, conservation, and community development in his home country. He worked for CARE International for
three years before moving to the US in 2000. Juma currently works as a contract coordinator at the Clinical Laboratory and
Standards Institute (CLSI) in Pennsylvania. He firmly believes in the magnificent potential of the people of his home country
and brings his unique understanding to the work of Nurturing Minds.
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Ashley Moran has been an educator for 18 years and her
experience in this sector is vast. She has supervised student teachers, conducted training workshops, and was a founding teacher
at the Connecticut Friends School. In 2005, she spent 5 weeks touring private and public schools in Tanzania, meeting with
administrators and teachers. It was during this time that Ashley realized that her experience in creating positive school
communities in the US could translate into a valuable resource to the school communities of Tanzania.
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Tracey Dolan, board president of
Nurturing Minds, has used her Masters Degree in Adult Education in a variety of administrative and teaching positions over
the last 20 years. She is a strong advocate for experiential learning and personal passion as a call to self-discovery and
vocational exploration. Tracey brings to the board her life experiences, skills, and insights to support Tanzanian girls who
desire to pursue service to their communities and beyond. To contact Tracey, click here |
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After a 2005 visit to Tanzania, Tom Wales was deeply affected
by all that he experienced there. Throughout his trip, he witnessed the profound impact of women on Tanzanian society and
his interest was sparked in the education of girls. He serves on the board, bringing not only his Tanzanian experience, but
a self-starter mentality. Tom and his family were instrumental in the delivery of supplies to New Orleans after Hurricane
Katrina and he has Red Cross experience. Currently, he resides in Vermont where he manages investments and real estate.
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Laura De Dominicis holds a Masters degree in International Affairs and has worked on economic development and
conservation issues for over 10 years. From 1999-2000, she coordinated an alternative income generating project for CARE in
Tanzania. This project supported female artisans from eight villages who were able to export their crafts through an importing
business that Laura initiated. She also has extensive experience fundraising for prominent causes. Today, she resides in Massachusetts
with her family and is thrilled to assist Nurturing Minds in helping to educate young girls and give them an opportunity to
advance in the future.
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L Clarke Blynn has a B.S from Cornell University
in the School of Hotel Administration. For 27 years, he has built and managed hotels in and around Philadelphia. He devotes
much of his free time to volunteering in local organizations. After visiting Tanzania in 2001, he was able to draw on past
experiences and fully understand that the key to positive future global development is education. As Board Chair, Clarke offers
his leadership, development, construction, and financial expertise to the ongoing project of Sega Girls’ School.
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Kendall Webb has been largely instrumental in the development of online charitable
giving, working on the founding team of More.com and serving as the principal founder of JustGive.org, created in 1998. As
a Harvard undergraduate, she also helped launch the WorldTeach program and later volunteered in Uganda. For the past 10 years,
she has been an expert voice in Internet giving, offering her expertise to many organizations and companies that are incorporating
charitable giving programs.
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With a B.A in Fine Arts and a Master’s in Education, and trained as an architect, Lori
Llerandi currently teachers Art in a middle school outside Boulder CO, for the past four years. She and her family
visited South Africa in 2008 and after, felt compelled to begin doing her part to affect change in the lives of underprivileged
African girls. Lori brought her experiences back to her students and now works to educate them about challenges faced by African
girls. She has also involved her students in fundraising efforts for the Sega Girls School School and provides architectural
consulting to the expansion of The Sega Girls School.
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Stacey Woodland has been involved in greater Philadelphia nonprofit
organizations for over twenty years. She has advocated for many causes, many of which have been hunger or relief issues impacting
women. Currently, she serves as the Membership Development Director for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. Stacey also
works closely as a member with the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Families.
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Sherely Young holds an M.S in Education
from the University of Pennsylvania. She brings experience in a wide range of careers to the Nurturing Minds board; including
a history teacher and the founder and executive director of two health clinics for women. Sherley has been active on over
10 boards in the Philadelphia area that focus mainly on education and health care/family planning. She has also led over 30
build trips for Habitat for Humanity International, many of which have been to Africa. Sherley is passionate about Africa
and believes that educating girls is the best way to help communities.
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Lynda Spence has led a diverse professional life, first in publishing with Doubleday
and Co. and with University of California Press. Following her stint in this industry, Lynda moved into the travel industry,
founding her own travel company in 1982 in Massachusetts. After selling her company a decade later, Lynda still works as an
independent travel consultant, creating custom trips for individuals and small groups. Throughout her life, she has also been
active as a volunteer with a number of groups ranging from the Junior League, to North Beach Citizens, a San Francisco organization
serving the needs of at-risk community members. Lynda is an avid traveler, visiting the farthest-flung corners of our earth,
where her deep commitment to the equality of women was solidified. She believes that education and economic independence are
keys to closing the equality gap, particularly in lesser developed nations.
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Marion Ballard is currently active in multiple
Washington D.C area organizations which includes the Executive Committee of Montgomery Women, board member of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington
and Levine School of Music. Upon
graduating from Smith College and receiving a degree in Mathematics, Marion participated in Operation Crossroads Africa, a
precursor of the Peace Corps. With a partner, Marion was involved in the founding of DataPlus, Inc., a software development
firm that assisted nonprofits with fundraising software. Today, she holds two Master's degrees in Business Administration
and Mathematics, from American University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.
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Special
International Advisor Witney W. Schneidman,
Ph.D., President, Schneidman Associates International Dr. Witney W. Schneidman, Special International Advisors to
Nurturing Minds, has an extensive background in African affairs and economic development. Earning a Ph.D and a M.A in International
Relations from the University of Southern California, and University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, respectively, he served
in the Clinton administration in the State Department bearing regional responsibility for Southern Africa. Dr. Schneidman
was involved with many decisions and legislation involving African interests, including the Africa Growth and Opportunity
Act. Dr. Schneidman’s experience in world affairs is vast. Prior to his time in the State Department, he worked for
the World Bank as a Senior Policy Analyst and was Senior Vice President at Samuels International Associates. He made frequent
visits to South Africa while working for the Responsibility Research Center. Aside from various writings on African economic
and political issues, he has also served as a commentator for CBS News, CNN, NPR and South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.
Susan Hannah - Foundation Advisor
to Nurturing Minds, has been involved in international development and conservation for the past 30 years. After obtaining
a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Georgia and a M.A. and M.Phil.in Anthropology from Columbia University, she spent
two years in Kenya for her doctoral research, examining the “broker” role of non-profit organizations involved
in income-generation and water projects, especially as they related to women. Since then, she has devoted her energies to
raising funds for conservation and development, serving as Director, International Support at Wildlife Conservation Society
and NE Executive Director, at CARE. In addition, Susan is an inveterate global traveler, including a 20-year
career with Pan Am which began her lifelong affair with Africa. As a student and eyewitness to development, and underdevelopment,
over the years, she strongly believes that the way forward for any country is through education, training, and economic opportunity
for all. She considers it an honor to work with Nurturing Minds in its pursuit of girls’ education and economic advancement
in Tanzania. Rebecca Manley - Since 1988,
Rebecca Manley, Strategic Planning Advisor, has worked as an educator and specialist in
the development of adolescent girls. She is the founder of Multiservice Eating Disorders Association (MEDA), Inc, a national
group dedicated to the promoting of girls and the prevention of eating disorders. She brings extensive knowledge of board
development, nonprofit organizations, and fundraising to Nurturing Minds.
Beth Miller - Bookkeeper and Donor Database Manager. She has considerable experience in banking, working in high-level
positions at Virginia National Bank and at First Pennsylvania Bank. Upon her retirement, she started the Haverford Swim Club,
a 501(c)3 corporation, serving as both treasurer and President during her tenure on the Board.
Lola Georg - a former board member of NM, now continues in an advisory role as the Nonprofit Development and Social Internet
Networking Advisor. For 15 years, Lola worked for the non-profit Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) as Vice
President of Finance and Member Services. CLSI provides standardized best practices for accurate laboratory testing worldwide.
They partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the capacity of laboratories in several African
countries (including Tanzania) to detect HIV/AIDS. Today, she is employed by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting as Director of Business
and Finance. With one of her two Masters degrees in Pastoral Care and Counseling, Lola also
finds time to volunteer her services those who cannot afford to pay for therapy. April Kelly - developed
her passion for the people and continent of Africa after traveling to East Africa as an instructor for Outward Bound. She
led climbing trips to Mt. Kilimanjaro, taught rock climbing and camping skills, and assisted in the development of students’
interpersonal and leadership skills. Now back in the United States, she continues working administratively with Outward Bound.
She assists Nurturing Minds in providing opportunities for Tanzanian girls that will expand their horizons and help them make
positive life choices. Chris Hammarsjkold - began her professional life began as a primary school educator in Philadelphia,
followed by a time as Director of Admissions at a special needs school. Following a career change, she began working in the
healthcare industry performing software installation and education. She strongly advocates a single-sex educational environment,
and after a 2007 trip to South Africa and Botswana, she began serving Nurturing Minds in her role as Student Sponsorship Coordinator.
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