Staff Biographies

Patricia Donnelly has been serving as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia since the summer of 2002. She has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, most of which has been in education and the performing arts. Her previous positions included director of development and public education for the Woodstock Center at Georgetown University and associate director of admissions at Marymount University. Her professional expertise is in program management, fund development, and administration. Patricia has a BA in economics from Mary Washington College and an MS in organizational leadership from Marymount University. She serves on the Board of the Virginia Literacy Foundation and WETA's Community Advisory Council, and serves on the executive committee of the Virginia Literacy Leadership Council. She received the 2007 Nancy Jiranek Award for Leadership Excellence in Literacy, and is a graduate of Leadership Arlington, class of 2003. Outside of the office, Patti enjoys gardening, cycling, winter sports, and the performing arts. pdonnelly@lcnv.org

Ruba Marshood Afzal has been involved with LCNV as a Basic and ESOL volunteer tutor since May 2011, and joined the staff as Director of Volunteers in October 2011. She has over seven years of non-profit and NGO experience in health and environmental policy, advocacy and outreach, and grassroots community organizing. A first-generation American, Ruba has always enjoyed traveling and learning from others. She returned to the US in 2011 after three years in Papua New Guinea, where she worked as the Youth Volunteer Coordinator and Program Advisor for a network of youth groups working for social change. During that time, she developed her interest and expertise in informal and participatory education. Ruba earned her BSc in Biology from the University of Maryland and MA in Policy and Environmental Management from Duke University. She continues to volunteer with the LCNV and other social service organizations in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. A DC United supporter, Ruba keeps her cool after a bad game by practicing her Latin and Middle Eastern moves on the dance floor, cooking, photography, and reading a good book.volunteers@lcnv.org

Katie first connected with LCNV in 2006, when she became an AmeriCorps member, a position she held for two years, teaching a total of sixteen classes. In 2008, she became a program assistant for the Council's tutoring and classroom programs, a position which has allowed her to explore the potential of migrating training resources and teaching materials to an online environment. She graduated from James Madison University with a BA in art history and completed an internship the Smithsonian American Art Museum. She grew up in a diverse first-generation American family and has always maintained an interest and participation in the visual and performing arts. kbeckman@lcnv.org

Elise, the Director of Tutoring Programs, has been involved with LCNV for many years. Before joining the Council's staff in 2004, she was a LCNV volunteer, tutoring in both the Basic and ESOL programs and serving as an ESOL Placement Advisor. Elise graduated from Harvard University with a BA in government. She has a Masters degree in education from the University of Chicago. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, she taught ESOL in the North Borneo part of Malaysia for two years. She has extensive experience working in program administration and as a researcher in education-related projects. A devoted fan of the Washington Wizards, she enjoys reading and taking long walks with her dog, Jax. tutoring@lcnv.org

Molly Chilton holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Education from Fordham University and a Master's degree in Special education from Hunter College. She taught elementary and middle school for many years and is currently working on a PhD in Educational Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center. She has participated and led several studies on various facets of language and literacy and is interested in methods of enhancing and adapting instruction for learners with special needs. When not working you can find her chasing her two young boys or possibly stealing an hour to read a book or do some yoga! basiclit@lcnv.org

Suzie Brindle Eaton has been with LCNV as the Senior Director of Development since August 2009. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in social work with a minor in economics from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining LCNV, Suzie worked as a community organizer for Clean Water Action and as a development associate with Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council. Suzie’s favorite time of year is autumn because it means cheering for her Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Panthers, and fantasy football team. She also enjoys reading, running, and cooking new recipes. seaton@lcnv.org

Natalie Espinoza has been the Executive Assistant of LCNV since January 2011. As the first point of contact for LCNV learners, she is responsible for providing students with information, managing general office administrative duties, and translating LCNV publications. Natalie is currently working on her undergraduate degree. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and take long walks with her dog, Ziba.info@lcnv.org

Erin Finn has been with LCNV since September 2004, first as an AmeriCorps member, then as the Family Learning Program Director from 2005-2008 and finally in her current position as Classroom Program Director since 2008. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in sociology from the University of Tennessee. Erin enjoys trying new recipes, cheering for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers rowing team, and spending time with her family, friends, and golden retriever.efinn@lcnv.org

Waddah M. Kittab has been serving as the Information Technology Specialist of the Literacy Council since October of 2011. He possesses ten years of experience in the fields of Information Systems and International Development, serving various local and international organizations such as the United Nations, Research Triangle Institute, United States State Department, and Intelligence and Defense Solutions. His knowledge and experience with managing databases, web data analysis, as well as computer troubleshooting has been crucial to designing and implementing LCNV’s database expansion. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and reading.wkittab@lcnv.org

Randi has been the Senior Director of Operations of the Literacy Council since September 2008. She is responsible for financial and accounting issues, as well as human resources. A Florida CPA for over 25 years, Randi’s previous positions in the non-profit sector include Director of Finance and Accounting for the Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds and Controller of the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. Her educational achievements include: a B.A. in French; M .Ed. in Foreign Language Instruction from SUNY at Buffalo; and an M.B.A. from Florida International University. Randi taught ESOL in Colombia, both at the university and high school levels. She also taught classes to executives of U.S. corporations doing business in Latin America. Locally, Randi has been part of the Adult ESOL teaching staff with Fairfax County Public Schools. Occasionally, she is spotted substitute teaching at LCNV.rlittman@lcnv.org

Carisa Coburn Pineda is the Family Learning Specialist for the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia. Carisa has been with the Council since 2004, first as a lead teacher for the Family Learning Program and then as program staff in 2005. Carisa has over ten years of experience in children's literacy and family engagement in education, having formerly worked at Reading Is Fundamental as well as the National PTA. Carisa has a BA from Occidental College with a double major in English & Comparative Literary Studies and Spanish Literary Studies. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in Fiction from the University of Maryland, College Park. Carisa is a fluent native Spanish speaker; she spent her childhood in Latin America and the Caribbean and graduated from high school in Costa Rica, her mother's home country. She enjoys spending time with her son, writing, traveling, and exercise.familylearning@lcnv.org

Ines Rivera joined the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia in August 2011. Prior to joining LCNV, she worked at the Fabretto Children's Foundation for five years as the Communications and Design Manager. Ines has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Virginia Tech, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from American University. She is a published journalist, literary translator, and poet. Fluent in Spanish, Ines spent the majority of her childhood summers in the Dominican Republic and Argentina. When she is away from LCNV, Ines teaches at Northern Virginia Community College. In her free time, she paints, reads, and lovingly spars with her pets - Tango, Osa, and Maga.communications@lcnv.org

Mary joined the LCNV staff in June 2011. Mary has over 15 years experience working in non-profit organizations in the areas of research and education. She most recently managed an education database and has a variety of writing experience from letters and short articles in membership publications to RFPs and report writing. These skills relate directly to her development work at LCNV in managing the donor database, special events and grant writing. In her free time, Mary enjoys traveling and photography, especially in National Parks. mtack@lcnv.org

Serife Turkol has been with LCNV since 2006, first as a lead teacher for the Family Learning Program and ESOL Learning Center and then ESOL Learning Centers Specialist since April 2011. Serife holds a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Language Education from Middle East Technical University and a Master's degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education/TESOL from Southern Connecticut State University. Prior to moving to Virginia, she worked as an interpreter in a wide variety of settings, such as hospitals, courtrooms, schools and conferences in Connecticut. She is a certified crisis counselor and enjoys knitting and butterfly watching with her son. learningcenters@lcnv.org