Board Member Bios

Marlene is currently the Director of the Compliance Division for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), External Civil Rights Division. Marlene previously Law Clerked for South Carolina’s Worker’s Compensation Commission and also researched Social Security Administration regulation at Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson & Delgado, LLC. as a Law Clerk.

She holds two undergraduate degrees from the College of Charleston and earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Marlene is an Active Duty veteran of the United States Air Force and is currently a Commissioned Officer in the South Carolina Air National Guard.

Nancy is currently the Senior Manager of Member Engagement for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP).

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is the area’s regional chamber of commerce and privately-funded economic development organization. Their members employ more than a quarter of a million people in the Buffalo Niagara region. By mobilizing members and strategic partners around common goals, they grow private investment and jobs in Buffalo Niagara through advocacy, business development, and convening. The BNP has been working to make Buffalo Niagara a better place to do business since 1844.

Country of Origin: USA

Has lived/worked in: Kenya

Ishmael is an experienced educator and entrepreneur. He has worked as a Dean within the Achievement First and Success Academy high-performance charter school networks in New York City. He currently works as an Associate for CT3 Education, a consultancy firm dedicated to providing professional development that transforms the quality and culture of education for traditionally disenfranchised youth.

He has spent his professional career extending quality education opportunities to children living in underserved communities. This includes his work as a trainer of academic coaches, teacher, school leader, and academic dean. His work has included time spent in various cities across the US, as well as stints in Nairobi, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa.

He holds a BA in psychology from John Jay College CUNY, NY, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Liberty University.

As a Rotarian, Suzy brings to our board her life-long dedication to volunteerism and community service. She also brings her public service experience, including time with the Erie County Board of Electors and US Census Bureau. She has as an extensive background as an HR professional as well as an HR Instructor at the Higher Education level.

Country of Origin: USA

Has lived/worked in: South Korea, Germany, Kuwait, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh

Chris is the founder and CEO of Buffalo Creek Academy Charter School, located in Buffalo, NY.

Chris Manning grew up in Pasadena, California and Phoenix, Arizona. He served 13 years in the United States Air Force, where he lived and worked in Montana, New Mexico, Washington D.C., South Korea, Germany, Kuwait, and Japan. He remained overseas after his military service and became an educator. Chris taught within and led various schools in Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh. During his time abroad, he was completing his dissertation in which he focused on how to develop strong community relationships when he decided to return to the US and found a school. He then joined the BES Fellowship and founded Buffalo Creek Academy Charter School in Buffalo, NY.

Chris holds an AA in Criminal Justice, a BA in Military Management and Program Acquisition, a M.Ed. in Instructional Design and Technology, a Post-Master Certificate in Educational Leadership, an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership, and a Doctoral Degree in Management.

In addition to his formal education, he completed a year-long Certificate of Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a year-long Fellowship with Building Excellent Schools as a 2018 Fellow (post-doctoral).

Lisa is currently the Donor Relations Manager at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. Her role at HWI consists of annual fundraising, event managing, major gifts coordinating, and supporting the current Cryo-EM Campaign.

She began her career serving as a Congressional Liaison for the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and jumping on the campaign and fundraising side when the Congresswoman faced redistricting into Buffalo. After a successful campaign, she became the point person in the Congresswoman's Buffalo Office for two years.

She then went on to serve for 15 years at the Women and Children’s Hospital. During her 15-year career at Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, Lisa oversaw major events, worked on major gift solicitations, grants, the annual fund, public relations, and marketing. She played an integral role in helping to raise the $52 million fundraising goal to help build the new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital a year and a half after completion and opening.

Lisa serves on the boards of Graycliff Conservancy and the School of Management Alumni Association at the University at Buffalo. She is also a member of Women United at United Way of Buffalo and Erie County and currently serves as Fleet Captain at the Niagara Sailing Club.

In March of 2019, she began the Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle that brings together professional women of all backgrounds to support small not-for-profits that serve women and children in the eight counties of WNY. In September 2021, the circle expanded by forming a second chapter in Charlotte, NC.

Lisa has recently been honored as a finalist for the prestigious Athena Award and recognized as a Women of Influence by Buffalo Business First.

Country of Origin: Canada

Has lived/worked in: China, Kyrgyzstan, and Bulgaria.

Jason is an experienced school leader who currently operates in Europe and Asia. He has led international schools in Kyrgyzstan and China. He was also the founding head of an international school in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Jason brings to our board his experience in providing high-quality education options to international youth by collaborating with teaching staff from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. He also brings his experience as a school leader and as an administrator of International Baccalaureate and Cambridge Assessment International Education curricula.

Jason has travelled the globe as both an educator and an avid marathon runner. Jason is a certified IBDP Program Teacher and Administrator and a trained/experienced Cambridge Teacher and Leader. In additional to completing the year-long Programme for Aspiring Heads with the Council for COBIS - Council of British International Schools, he is completing his M.A.Ed./principal licensure from the Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia.

Country of Origin: US

Has lived/worked in: Ghana, Africa

Marie is currently a program director at CNSI. Marie brings to our board her project management expertise and her intimate knowledge of Africa.

She is an expert in the area of project management and has held senior project management positions in some of the largest corporations in the US. For example, her previous roles include time spent as a Project Manager at Northrop Grumman, Engineering Process Improvement Manager at Dfuse Technologies, Inc., and Director of Program and Project Management (Public Sector) at Magellan Health.

Marie is a certified project management professional (PMP), and she holds a BS in Business Management, an MS in Software Engineering, and a Doctorate in Management (ABD) with a concentration in information systems and technology. Marie is currently located in Accra, Ghana. However, she travels to the US throughout the year for business purposes.

Country of origin: India

Has lived/worked in: India, Bangladesh, and the UK.

Ruchira is a global leader in education. She is currently the principal of Sancta Maria International School, Hyderabad. Her prior leadership roles include her time at Cambridge Assessment International Education as the Regional Director for South Asia and at the British Council as Head of Business Development (Schools) for India.

Ruchira holds a Masters of Arts from the University of Cambridge and Master’s in Medical & Psychiatric Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has recently been awarded the Certificate in School Management and Leadership by Harvard Business School and Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Ruchira brings to our board her invaluable knowledge of the status of education in South Asia, her experience of partnering with global agencies for the benefit of children, her perspective as an experienced school leader, and her passion for unlocking the potential of young people. #education #leadership #school

Country of Origin: Pakistan

Has lived/worked in: Kyrgyzstan and the UK.

Dr Nadeem is currently a Lecturer at the University of Derby, UK.

Prior to teaching, Simon’s career was in Healthcare Administration. He was the Assistant Administrator of the Kunshar Christian Hospital in Ghari Habib Ulla, KPK, Pakistan and later the Administrative Director of the Christian Hospital Tank in Tank, Pakistan.

Dr. Nadeem later moved to Central Asia, where he began his career as an educator. His past experience includes stints as an Associate Professor at the University of Central Asia and as a High School Business Studies Teacher at Cambridge Silk Road International School.

Dr Nadeem has his Executive MBA from Preston University, an MBA from the American University of Central Asia, and his PhD from the University of Derby, where his research focused on Circular Economics.

Country of Origin: UK

Has lived/worked in: Zimbabwe and Hong Kong

Channon is currently the Vice President, Commercial (Global) at SkillerWhale. Channon has been working in education technology for the last 10 years.

His career has taken him to the furthest corners of the globe. He is a graduate of the University of Warwick. His past experience includes stints as the Sr Business Development Manager at BridgeU and Commercial Director at Decoded.

Channon brings to our board a truly global perspective regarding the reach and impact that educational technology has around the world

Country of Origin: Guyana

Has lived/worked in: USA

Andre is currently the principal of Harlem Preparatory Middle School (HPM) in Harlem, NY. HPM is a part of the Democracy Prep Public Schools, a national network of high-performance schools serving students all across the boroughs of New York City as well as Louisiana. Mr. Geddes has over 20 years of experience as an educator. He has also taught and led in Success Academy Public Schools, the highest performance charter school network in the Northeast (USA).

Andre is a founding board member of Buffalo Creek Academy Charter School (BCA) in Buffalo, NY.