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About Literacy Advance
Transforming lives and communities through the doorway of literacy
Executive Director
Melanie Fisk
Melanie holds MSW and MBA degrees from the University of Houston and brings her driving belief in education as the way to a more just and equal society to her daily work. She also brings an extensive community development and human service background to the agency through her activities with organizations such as DePelchin Children's Center, Nobel Women's Initiative, PeaceJam of Greater Houston, TEFL International, TeenLine and People Against Rape.
Program Director
Kathryn Bauchelle
Kathryn has a background in education, working as a teacher of foreign languages and English literature in high schools in Australia and the UK, and serving as the Head of Faculty for Modern Languages for six years. Her work with the Jubilee Debt Campaign in the UK fueled her interest in social justice and community work, leading her to volunteer as an ESL tutor with Literacy Advance following her move to the United States. She was the Volunteer Coordinator for almost two years before becoming Program Director in 2011.
Development Director
Patricia McCracken
Pat holds an MBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and brings a wealth of experience in marketing and management from her experiences in the for-profit high tech world. More recently, Pat has blended her desire to give back to the community through volunteering with roles in development in non-profits. Pat has been a volunteer tutor at Literacy Advance for almost three years, and joined the staff as Development Director in 2011.
Community Program & Outreach Manager
Kathleen Dowling
Kathleen has a background in fundraising and alumni relations, and her passion for education led her to pursue a Master's degree in International Educational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has also worked with small grassroots organizations like The Q Fund, where she sits on the Board of Directors. She joined Literacy Advance as Outreach Programs Manager in 2011.
Program Manager
Diana Delgado
Diana holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education, and has experience working with high school students in the areas of language, geography, and psychology in her home country of Venezuela. Her experience as an ESL instructor for Even Start in 2005 led to her being hired as a Student Coordinator at Literacy Advance in 2007. One of the longest-serving members of the Literacy Advance staff, Diana currently holds the position of Program Manager.
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Anna Zubkova
Anna, whose native language is Russian, first came to Literacy Advance as a student in our ESL classes. After completing her classes, she became an office volunteer and helped lead our ESL alumni group. In March 2010, Anna was awarded the distinguished Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Excellence in Individual Achievement from ProLiteracy USA. She became the Volunteer Services Coordinator in 2011.
Special Projects coordinator
Jennifer Walters
Jennifer received her BBA in Marketing from the Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University. With a lifetime of volunteer experience at numerous charities, Jennifer decided four years ago that she wanted to utilize her background in marketing, business development, and sales in the nonprofit field. Over the last four years she has contributed to the Literacy Advance mission through her roles in both the Fund Development and Programs sides of the organization. Jennifer is currently the Special Projects Coordinator. Jennifer is passionate about literacy because it is a truly transforming gift that keeps giving for a lifetime and beyond!
