Staff Update February 2012
From AFSWiki
Staff News
We are pleased to introduce and welcome.....
New Hires…
Carol Walsh joined AFS-USA as a Visa, Program Information Coordinator. She comes to us with AFS experience, including volunteering and working as a seasonal Interview Coordinator for NSLI. Her professional experience ranges from customer service in the hospitality industry to non-profit work with immigrant and senior populations, and includes several years of work as a certified legal assistant – a great combination of skills and background for working with AFS participants and visas. Please join me in welcoming Carol.
Melvin Harmon has joined AFS-USA as the Director of New Product Development. Melvin brings to the position almost 30 years of experience in international education, volunteer and program management. He is experienced in all aspects of managing international exchange programs, including marketing, training, program content development, participant support, student and host family recruitment, and the general promotion of organizational goals.
Most recently Melvin worked as the Director of Strategic Marketing and the Director of Participant Support at CIEE. Prior to these positions, he was a Regional Director with World Learning.
AFS is not new to Melvin. He was previously an AFS-USA staff member for eight years from 1986-1994 when he held a variety of positions including State Director for the Midwest and later for Northern California and the Southwest. From the then Los Angeles office, he served as the Support Manager for all participant support in the western states. He is also an AFS returnee, Year Program to Malaysia. Please join me in welcoming Melvin back to AFS USA!
Andrianna Betts who has joined AFS-USA as a Regional Hosting Coordinator. Andrianna is a recent graduate of Scripps College, where she earned a B.A. in Media Studies. She has been working as a seasonal Hosting Coordinator from July 2011. Andrianna will continue to work with the three teams she works with currently, Appalachian, Capitol, and Ohio River Valley. Welcome Andrianna! Caitlin Schneider – SP Hosting Coordinator
Tonya Muro Phillips who has joined AFS-USA as the Director of School Outreach & Education Partnerships. Most recently Tonya worked as the Director of Programs for the Global Nomads Group (GNG) (www.gng.org), an international education non-governmental organization that fosters dialogue, understanding and peaceful coexistence among the world’s young people via interactive technology. In this role Tonya managed a variety of international educational media projects that incorporated public diplomacy through global education in the classroom, and involved kindling a keen interest among secondary school students worldwide on global issues of worldwide concern.
Tonya recently had some experience working with AFS-USA on the AFS-USA/GNG One LENS media literacy project, incorporating both physical and virtual exchanges between students in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. She's thrilled to start working at AFS and contribute to the mission. Welcome Tonya!
Caitlin Krutsinger who joined AFS-USA as an Outbound Programs Coordinator. Caitlyn recently returned from three years of overseas work for the US Peace Corps in Mozambique. Her Peace Corps experience included remote volunteer coordination and project management, training design and delivery, facilitating planning, team building, and event planning. In the US, Caitlin has also worked in higher education, scholarly writing, and, most recently, sales. In addition to English, Caitlin is fluent in Portuguese and Changana, and still knows a fair amount of Spanish, which she honed during a high school study abroad program in Perú. She is now pursuing a career in International Education and is a welcome addition to AFS-USA. Welcome Caitlin!
Camille Paquette who has joined AFS-USA as a Program Development Coordinator. Most recently, Camille was the Maryland Supervisor of Ken's Krew, a non-profit organization committed to providing access to good jobs and professional training for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She also worked for Americorp where she oversaw 390 volunteers nationally and internationally. She graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in Philosophy and minors in Women’s Studies and Asian Studies. During her time at St. Mary’s, she spent a summer in India studying Hinduism as well as a summer in Italy working as a chef. Camilla has lived and worked abroad in Thailand and Chile and is fluent in both languages. Welcome Camille!
Erin Tamaki who joined AFS-USA as a Participant Support Assistant. Erin has spent over 5 years studying and working in Japan and is fluent in Japanese. She has worked as an independent translator in the US and in Japan. Erin coordinated orientations and provided administrative and emergency support for participants in the JET Programme in Japan. She also served as an AFS liaison. Please join me in welcoming Erin!
Caitlin Schneider who has joined AFS-USA as a Regional Sponsored Programs Hosting Coordinator. Caitlin came to AFS as a seasonal hire working on the Temporary host family project after completing her Master’s in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Caitlin has studied abroad in both Northern Ireland and Ukraine, while also having the opportunity to live in Arusha, Tanzania. There she participated in research and projects with Arcadia University, the UN, and the East African Community, while also working with an international public health organization on capacity building projects. In addition, her time working as a community organizer in New Orleans has added to her experiences in volunteer development, program management, and cross cultural communication. Please join me in congratulating Caitlin!
Timothy King who joined AFS-USA as a Hosting Operations Coordinator. Tim has been working with AFS in various seasonal positions since June, and before that worked in the social health sector in addictions outreach and homeless services. He has been interested in working in non-profits since graduating from Goucher College in 2009, but has worked in sales, publishing, customer service, and order processing, and tutoring along the way. He has always been passionate about music, and in his spare time he plays in and writes music for a band. Welcome Tim!
Congratulations to the following employees on their promotions….
Marilyn Stotts - NSLI-Y Program Manager
Alexis Aggawal - Inbound Sponsored Programs Manager
Damayonti Rowe – Senior Manager, Volunteer Resources
Mary Jo Brock – Director of Team Development
Jim Laden – Director of Learning and Volunteer Resources
Richard Dollery - Director of Hosting Recruitment
Emily Turner – Sponsored Programs Hosting Coordinator
Kirsten Synder- Returnee Initiative Specialist
Jennifer Anderson – Hosting Operations Manager
Brianna Warren - Outbound Programs Coordinator
Team Development Specialists
Marla McLeod-Ali will be working with the Grand Canyon & Las Vegas Teams. Marla has been with AFS since February 2003. Originally, she was hired as a Participant Support Assistant and moved into her current role as a Regional Hosting Coordinator in April 2010. In high school, she spent a year in Brazil as a Rotary exchange student. Marla has a Master's Degree from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT and an undergrad degree from Portland State University. Her first full day in the role will be Monday, January 30, but she will be participating in daily TDS training calls and webinars starting on Tuesday January 17.
Evelyn Volpa will work with Steinbeck Coast & California Central Coast Teams. Evelyn came to AFS in May 2010 as the part-time Community Developer for the Steinbeck Coast Team and moved into a full-time role as a Volunteer Development Coordinator in early 2011. Prior to AFS, she worked a number of years as an independent contractor and was the President of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District for 8 years. She received her Bachelor's Degree from San Jose State University.
Tara O'Connor will be working with the Kansas City Team. Tara came to AFS as an Outbound Programs Coordinator in December 2010. Prior to that, she did contract work as a FLEX program recruiter in Tajikistan & Kazakhstan, was a Fulbright Fellow in Kyrgyzstan for a year, had an internship with CARE International in Afghanistan, and was a teacher in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan from 2002-04. She received her Master's in International Development and Social Change from Clark University and has an undergrad degree from Whittier College. Her first full day in the role will be Monday, January 30, but she will be participating in daily TDS training calls and webinars starting on Tuesday January 17.
Carolyn Sharratt will be working with East Metro & West Metro Teams. Carolyn came to AFS in January 2009, first as the Coordinator of Office Services and Volunteer Administration and then in the role of Senior Volunteer Development Coordinator for the last year. Carolyn is an AFS returnee who spent her year in Spain and she and her husband were a welcome family in the fall of 2010. She has a Master’s in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Metropolitan State University, a mini MBA in Non-profit organization from St Thomas University, and an undergrad degree from Drake University. Carolyn's first full day in her new role will be Tuesday January 17.
Sarah Krile will be working with the Milwaukee and Waukesha & West Teams. Sarah has been with AFS since February 2006, first as a Regional Field Coordinator, then as a Senior Hosting Coordinator before becoming a Volunteer Development Coordinator in early 2010 and a Senior Volunteer Development Coordinator in early 2011. Prior to AFS, Sarah spent two years in Moldova in the Peace Corps, as a Community and Organizational Development Consultant. Sarah's experience with AFS goes back to high school, when her family hosted several times. Sarah has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Hamline University and a BA from Lawrence University. Sarah’s first full day in her new role will be Tuesday January 17.
Terri Frid will work with the Carolinas Team. She came to AFS in May 2010, as the part-time Community Developer for the Carolinas Team. In the last two years, she has been very successful in building an AFS chapter in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina, which has gone from hosting 1-3 students per year to 13 students in 2011-12. She also has past AFS volunteer experience as the Team co-Chair, co-Sending Coordinator, and Volunteer Coordinator prior to coming to A
Chelsea Smith will work with the Greater Puget Sound Team. Chelsea brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a TDS, including several years as a member of the Sending staff and experience with community organizing during her time with AmeriCorps. She also brings warmth, enthusiasm and a commitment to volunteer development.
