Diane Whitehead, President and CEO of Childhood International, has dedicated her career to issues that affect the lives of children and families. Diane specializes in children’s education, nonprofit leadership, management, strategic direction setting, and program development. As Chief Executive Officer, she is committed to building CE International’s organization reach, relevancy, and impact.

Diane’s quote to live by: “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” – J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Jonathan Apikian, Chief Operations Officer of Childhood Education International, brings extensive project management and strategic planning experience around programs that address the needs of the most vulnerable worldwide. His passion for working with local communities to develop sustainable solutions to some of the world’s most intractable issues keeps him inspired by the human spirit for change and resilience. As Chief Operating Officer, he ensures CE International’s operational and business management is underpinned by rigor, discipline, and structure.

One of Jonathan favorite hobbies is exploring different cultures through their food and cuisine—every dish has a story to tell about the people.

Dayana Garcia, Chief Program Officer of Childhood Education International, has dedicated her career to elevating the importance of early childhood care and education at all levels. She brings extensive experience in the oversight and management of projects, contracts, and grants. Her leadership experiences and style focus on collaborative practices, data-driven decisions, and the use of innovative technological solutions to solve complex education challenges. Dayana is passionate about early childhood development and inclusive education that supports access to quality and equitable services for all children and families around the world.

Dayana’s quote to live by: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Theresa

Alisa is an educator with over a decade of experience in foreign language pedagogy. She has taught Spanish, Russian, and English as a Second Language to learners of all ages. Outside of the classroom, Alisa writes language development curriculum for students in grades K-12 with a focus on interactive and technology-aided learning. She is passionate about training teachers – especially those working with vulnerable and language-minority populations – to be effective in their practice. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and holds master’s degrees from Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts with specializations in Education and Applied Linguistics.

Amlata Persaud, Global Education Specialist at Childhood Education International, is committed to work that supports equitable and inclusive provision of high-quality education for all persons around the world. She has worked in education research, training, project management and policy analysis roles in multiple countries around the world. As Global Education Specialist, Amlata supports the organization’s work in fostering education leadership and strengthening education systems as key pillars for educational reform.

Amlata’s favorite inspirational quote comes from a poem by Guyanese poet Martin Carter: “I do not sleep to dream, but dream to change the world.” (Looking at Your Hands, Martin Carter, 1950s)

Anne Watson Bauer, Director of Publications and Webmaster brings 30+ years of education publishing experience and guarantees timely production of CE International’s unique publications: Childhood Education Innovations, the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, and the online publication Childhood Explorer.

Anne enjoys walking through the woods and along the coastlines of Maine with her husband and German shepherd, taking thousands of photos.

Julie Kasper has an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a National Board Certified Teacher in English as a New Language. She taught in K-12 and adult education classrooms for more than 16 years, the majority of that time in secondary ESL classrooms in New York City and Tucson, Arizona. She served as Refugee School Coordinator for Tucson from 2014-2018 and joined the Center for Professional Learning (formerly Center for Learning in Practice) in the summer of 2018 to lead the Refugee Educator Academy initiative. In addition, Julie is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership as a University Fellow at the University of Arizona.

Kacy Kostiuk, Director of Communications, has more than 15 years of experience in communications, education, and intercultural exchange. She has led communications work at nonprofits and in university settings, and has taught English to language learners in the U.S. and abroad. She also served for five years as a City Councilmember in Takoma Park, Maryland, and was Chair of the National League of Cities Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee. In her free time, Kacy enjoys hiking, volunteering, and fiction writing.

Katherine Tek is an education professional with over 15 years of teaching and training experience and work on psychosocial support and social-emotional learning concepts for schools and international non-profit organizations. With a master’s in French language and literature, she has taught and worked on education projects in the U.S., Haiti, and Senegal. After completing a master’s in international education, she worked within mainly the U.S. emergencies space and focused on PSS/SEL programs. She is passionate about education quality and how we can all support children’s and teacher’s well-being and resilience building.  One of her favorite lines to stand by is from The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupéry: « On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. »  In English: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, as what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Meg Riley is a native of Minnesota and longtime resident of Arizona, where she lives with her husband and dog and her two daughters (during college breaks). After graduating from the University of Vermont with a political science degree, she returned to Minnesota to work on her master’s in teaching and start her teaching career. She has worked in a variety of education spaces, including eight years teaching middle school social studies and nine years teaching high school ESL. After leaving the classroom, she transitioned into managing federal AmeriCorps grants at Prescott College. These education grants were focused on implementing a community schools strategy in under-resourced public schools to reduce chronic absenteeism and increase graduation rates and postsecondary access to college and career. She later served as program director overseeing a large education grant and an economic opportunity grant utilizing AmeriCorps members working with preschool age to high school students and developing job readiness skills for opportunity youth. Meg continued working in federal grants at a large public school district writing grants and coordinating implementation of the funds, services, and monitoring for schools identified for federal improvement. In addition, she facilitated the Arizona cohort of the pilot Refugee Educator Academy and has assisted in the revitalization of the course.

Michelle Allen, Director of Operations, works to implement and manage smooth and efficient operations and systems to support CE International programs. With over 20 years of nonprofit organization experience, including extensive work in technology systems, accounting and budgeting, and office operations, Michelle is essential in maintaining the workflow at CE International.

Michelle enjoys riding her motorcycle and spending time with her grandchildren.

Nikki Merrill recently graduated magna cum laude from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and psychology. She brings experience working as a communications, marketing, and clinical psychology intern in education, legal, and therapeutic settings. She also writes weekly blog posts for World Athletics on topics related to gender equity. Outside of work, Nikki enjoys running, writing, and hiking.

Rachel Brown, Business Development Director, possesses unique multisector expertise that primarily focuses on global health activities in sub-Saharan Africa, along with extensive experience in the education, democracy and governance, and economic development sectors. Her remarkable profile includes the successful execution of the USAID-funded Mali Education Emergency Support Activity, a program designed to increase equitable access to basic education for children in the conflict-affected regions of Mali. Rachel’s experience and passion prove essential in identifying and engaging in mutually beneficial business opportunities for CE International and a wide array of international peers.

The most beautiful sunset Rachel has ever seen was hiking Huayna Potosi in Bolivia, where she was at about the same elevation as the Mount Everest base camp.

Yvette Gatilao Murphy, Senior Technical Advisor for Global Education, is passionate about ensuring equity and social justice through education and has dedicated her academic research and work to addressing issues that affect the most disadvantaged children and youth. She previously served as a United Nations representative for CE International and has Director of Education Diplomacy and Global Advocacy.

In her free time, Yvette enjoys photography and is an avid runner, having run multiple marathons and ultra-marathons.

Elisabeth Shuman serves on the advisory board of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, which works to uphold the rights of children everywhere, making her a key representative of CE International. Elisabeth has extensive experience working in several committees in the UN, organizing various conferences and outreach efforts, including communicating with CSO organizations in the Global South, allowing her to extend CE Internationals connections around the globe.

An insatiable learner, Elisabeth is trying to master the art of bicycle repair and learning Japanese with, in her own words, limited success.

Justine Heckmann, who has served as a UN Representative in Geneva for CE International since August 2016, has dedicated her professional career to human rights and international cooperation. She specializes in child rights working with the NGO Terre des Hommes Suisse, managing projects with a focus on children’s education, protection and participation. Justine’s frequent presence at Human Rights Council sessions and meetings organized by the Child Rights Connect network ensures CE International has place in the critical conversations surrounding child rights.

Specializing in South American projects, she lived in Bolivia working in an orphanage helping the children in their education process.

Dr. Christine Chen, Regional Advisor for the Southeast Asia Region, has dedicated her life’s work to promoting professional development and learning for early childhood educators for the well-being of children and their families. Dr. Chen is a former President of Childhood Education International, and she currently also serves President of the Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore (AECES). Her unbreakable bonds with both ECE professionals in her region and CE International create infinite possibilities for the organization in Southeast Asia Region.

Christine, when put on the spot, would sing for anyone, anytime

Dr. Esther Oduolowu, Regional Advisor for West and Central Africa, is a professor and chair of the Department of Early Childhood and Educational Foundation at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. She has worked for over 26 years in early childhood care and education, curriculum development, capacity building, and advocacy. Esther centers her work around holistic child development in a time when children are vulnerable due to issues such as poverty, pandemic, and closure of learning facilities.

Esther takes pleasure in reading and cooking.

Dr. Fortidas Bakuza, Regional Advisor for East Africa, is an Assistant Professor at the Aga Khan University – Institute for Education Development East Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

With a doctorate in Education Administration, Dr. Bakuza’s research has centered on education leadership and policy with specific interest on differences between enacted and implemented policies on early childhood education leadership.

Dr. Gabriela Arias de Sanchez, Regional Advisor for Latin America, has more than 30 years of experience working in early years education in both Argentina and Canada. She is a professor at the University of Prince Edward Island Faculty of Education. She is an advocate of promoting equal and meaningful learning opportunities for young children and their families.

Gabriela cannot resist Latino music…she will dance until the last song is played.

Guylaine L. Richard, MD, MPH, Regional Advisor for the Caribbean, has worked for over 25 years in the field of the field of public health, administration and education serving at-risk populations. She is the founder and chairperson of WISEOP, a non-profit organization dedicated to the attainment of self-sufficiency through education and leadership. She is the president of Guylaine Richard, LLC and seeks to share her expertise about family and community engagement to achieve positive outcomes for children and their families.

Guylaine lives by the phrase “I AM,” which stands for “Integrity, Accountability Matter.”

Justine Kamucoco Ngulube, Regional Advisor for Southern Africa, is an Early Childhood Development Consultant with UNICEF Nigeria. He is contracted to review Nigeria’ Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy and its Implementation Guidelines. Throughout his career, Justine’s unwavering desire is to improve quality and increase inclusive access in the field of Early Childhood Development in Southern Africa. This work has led him to design early childhood development interventions in many Southern African countries. His specific interests include monitoring and evaluation of early childhood development programs, inclusive early childhood development, ECD curriculum, and policy development.

Justine enjoyed visiting and seeing the midnight sun in Tromsø in Northern Norway. This natural phenomenon colored heaven and earth in a yellow-reddish light.

Samia Kazi, Regional Director for the Middle East, is a social entrepreneur, innovator, and partnership builder. She worked as a CEO of a leading ECE organization in the Middle East, called Arabian Child, supporting quality improvement, child protection, and early childhood education. The Huffington Post named her one of the top women who are reshaping early childhood education in the Middle East. As Regional Director for the Middle East, and with her vast experience, Samia’s guidance is central to guiding CE International’s strategy for working in the region.

Samia has four children and her favorite children’s book is The Giving Tree.

Araz Khajarian earned an MA in International Higher Education from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College. She has conducted and published research on academic research in Syrian universities, refugees access to higher education, the epistemology of quality in higher education and accreditation processes, and Organizational culture and context-relativity in Jordan. Araz holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and International Development from Salve Regina University, and a certificate in Business Administration from the Higher Institute of Business Administration in Damascus, Syria.

Serving as Technical Liaison between the Center for Professional Learning (formerly Center for Learning in Practice) and web development team, Laren is directing the development of our innovative online social learning platform. He serves as the web platform administrator and provides technical support and training to the team and course instructors. Laren has worked closely with the director, Diana Woolis, for over a decade on projects utilizing various social learning platforms. His background and education is in the graphic arts and web design. He is also a musician active in his own Cajun and Zydeco bands.

Sara Kassab is an educator with diverse experience, including as a science teacher, an English language teacher for refugees, and as a fellow with Teach for Lebanon. In addition to consulting on CPL’s Quality Holistic Learning Project and other global education projects, Sara is an English e-content developer at Qitabi 2, World Learning, as well as a mentor at Teach for Lebanon. She is completing he master’s degree in science education at the American University of Beirut, with a thesis focusing on translanguaging and conceptual change in the genetics classroom. Sara’s enthusiasm towards education extends beyond her job and responsibilities as she volunteers in many opportunities that strive to better teachers’ professional development.

Passionate about equity in education, Sarah Bracken has worked with diverse youth in public schools and non-profit programs since 2002. Before joining CPL (formerly Center for Learning in Practice) and the Refugee Educator Academy, Sarah was a secondary Language Arts and English Language Development teacher and instructional coach in Washington state, then Maryland, and finally in Alaska. She has a Masters in Teaching from The Evergreen State College and is Nationally Board Certified in English Language Arts.  Sarah currently makes her home in Chugiak, AK where she spends most of her free time with her family hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing.

Zlata Gromova, Senior Project Consultant with the Center for Professional Learning, is an L&D expert and consultant with 12 years of experience in private, corporate, and government sectors. Starting as a teacher, and later as a coach and corporate trainer, Zlata has always worked with adult learners. Zlata completed her PhD thesis on psychological aspects of resistance to organizational change, a key research interest which sits alongside her other interests in resilience, evidence-based approaches, empowerment, personal responsibility, well-being, edutainment, non-violent approaches, and feedback. As a manager and leader, Zlata has built and led several teams of educators and L&D specialists.

As a Ukrainian originally from Lugansk (Donbas), Zlata has lived through a full-scale war (twice), displacement, family separation, and estrangement. Her experiences of rebuilding life from scratch with a suitcase of 3 summer dresses and a pair of shoes and never going back home since 2014 is now paired with the experience of occupation, nuclear threat, and collective war trauma. But ultimately, she says, her experience is one “of resilience and doing the best one can with what they have where they are.” Zlata loves the show Friends.