Board of Directors

Janelle Bondor was one of the founding members of the ACTL Board of Directors in 2009.  She is also a passionate traveler and volunteer like Jennifer, and she saw the needs of underfunded students and schools firsthand.  Janelle shares the ACTL commitment to improving the educational opportunities for students abroad and for those in underfunded schools in the US.  With volunteer and teaching experience in South America, Asia, and Africa, as well as the United States, Janelle expands our international and local connections.  

Julie Niehaus was added to the Board of Directors in the Summer of 2011.  Jen requested Julie to be a board member because of their close working relationship as well as Julie's belief in providing opportunities that empower girls and women from all over the world to strive to be their best. Julie also brings a host of business experience particularly in management and marketing areas.  Julie is happily retired and in her spare time is a swimmer, a reader and plays with the dogs who visit the beach where she lives.

Dainess Maganda was born and raised in Tanzania, East Africa. She received her Ph.D. Language and Literacy at the University of South Carolina, USA. Currently, she is the Director of the African Languages, Literatures and Cultures program in the Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies Department at the University of Georgia, USA. Maganda teaches Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Swahili language classes as well as Culture and Identity Linkages of the Swahili with the Outside World. She also teaches African Oral literature, Introduction to African languages and culture and how to teach less commonly taught languages. Maganda’s research interests lie in the field of language, literacy, and comparative education with special emphasis on examining language ideology, promoting linguistic diversity, and creating literacy resources. Maganda focuses on advancing minority languages use in schools. Maganda is also a poet with a passion to encourage people to honor and cherish their varied identities.

Furthermore, Maganda takes students to Tanzania to study abroad. She received grants from the Department of Education to take educators of K-12 to Tanzania to gather firsthand materials to enhance their teaching about various aspects of Africa. She is a proud winner of the excellence in teaching award at the University of Georgia and has received numerous recognitions for her significant contributions to students’ careers. Her recent publications include Africa’s Identity Revolution in the 21st century (2022);Why Do You ask Me? Kwa nini waniuliza mimi? (An English/Swahili bilingual book) (2021) & The Beauty of Diversity: Seeing the value of Identity through a journey in Serengeti (2021). The books are available at Imaduka.com and on Amazon.

Pamela Jewett joined A Chance through Literacy's board in 2011 and was one of Jennifer’s colleagues at the University of South Carolina.  She and Jen were co-researchers who explored the impact of a whole school read on students, teachers, and the larger community as well as the languages of content area literacies. They also shared a passion for children’s and young adult literature and spent hours discussing literature for children of all ages.  Pamela is honored to be a part of ACTL’s Board and feels privileged to support their mission of providing access to educational opportunities for underserved students in this country and around the world.