OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marie Chiodo, DWMarie Chiodo works as a consultant to nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad. She has also served as a member of the Dominican Leadership Conference NGO at the United Nations, focusing on women's and ecological issues. Marie has a Masters in Theological Studies and a Masters in Organizational Development. She has served on an International Justice Commission and in leadership in her congregation, the Daughters of Wisdom. Marie has been to El Salvador and works with Anne Marie Gardiner in promoting and marketing Salvadoran crafts. She serves as Secretary of the SEW Board.

Leslie FlynnLeslie Bixler Flynn is a design specialist who graduated from University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree. After working for an Architectural Firm in Washington, D.C. and an Interior Designing Company, Leslie directed her creative energies to raising four children ages 9 through 5. Leslie informally provides innovative designs for home and non-profit's rehab. When not supervising children's school and recreational activities, Leslie assists SEW with promotional materials.

Patrice FlynnPatrice Flynn is an economist and social worker who works with nonprofit organizations to measure their roles, functions and contributions to society. Most recently, Patrice worked in Saudi Arabia where she helped establish the first private university for women as part of the building of civil society.

Patricia Flynn, SSNDPatricia has worked in many parts of the world experiencing the variety of cultures, religions, political ideologies and government structures on four continents. A member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Pat was an elementary school teacher and principal mostly in Appalachia or in the inner city. As principal in an all-black school following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Pat came to understand the root causes of racism, the pervasive oppression of people of color, and eventually oppression of many people in many forms. She became committed to ways and processes that would lead to reconciliation and healing as a way of life.

As an administrator in her religious congregation, Pat served as Supervisor of Schools, Coordinator of Apostolates, Provincial Councilor and Leader of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. From 1987-1998, Pat was engaged in coordinating the work of SSND in twenty-seven countries. She continues to be committed to the struggles for religious freedom, racial equality and the empowerment of women. Pat works as a facilitator in Silver Spring, MD.

Anne Marie Gardiner, SSNDSister Anne Marie Gardiner is a woman who believes the empowerment of women will change the world into communities of justice, peace, mutual respect and care of all generations. In earlier ministries, Anne Marie received a Masters in Religious Education and a Masters in Social Work. In 2003, with funding and support from her Baltimore Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, she began Salvadoran Enterprises for Women (SEW). SEW is now an independent nonprofit organization. Together with the Board, Anne Marie works for the economic and social development of Salvadoran women by funding employment opportunities. She is Executive Director of SEW.

Tom HowarthTom is the Director of the Father McKenna Center at Saint Aloysius Church in Washington, DC. He has been a frequent visitor to El Salvador since 1991. Tom served in government and politics in Washington since the mid-1970's and served as a legislative aide to Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and as vice-president of Peyser Associates, a government relations firm where he represented cities, transit systems and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Tom served as director of community relations for Jubilee Housing from 2002-2005. Tom holds degrees from the University of Connecticut and the LBJ School at the University of Texas.

Fr. Joseph Nangle, OFMFather Joe Nangle is on the pastoral team at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in South Arlington, Virginia with special responsibility for Spanish-speaking parishioners. He participates with the ForMission Program of the Religious Formation Conference which assists formation directors in their work of introducing new members into religious orders and congregations. Father Joe has a long history of service to the poor in Boston, New York and fifteen years of service in Bolivia and Peru. He brought his knowledge of the Latin American Church reality to his work as analyst at the United States Mission Association and at the International Justice and Peace Office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He served for eight years as Justice and Peace staff for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and for twelve years in leadership with the Franciscan Mission Service.

Father Nangle's latest book "Engaged Spirituality: Faith Life in the Heart of the Empire" relates some of his reflections on the rich experiences in Latin America, subsequent retreat work, and life as a person of faith in the heart of the American empire.

In his book, Birth of a Church, Father Joe describes his experiences with the poor in South America and the relationship of their poverty to economic and political decisions made in the United States.

Father Joe lives in Assisi Community, an intentional Catholic community comprised principally of lay men and women in Washington, D.C.'s inner city

Claudia RodriguezClaudia is from Cojutepeque, El Salvador. She came to the US in 1996 on a Fulbright Scholarship to study Economics at Montana State University. After her graduation she moved back to El Salvador where she worked for four years in the Research and Regulations Unit of the Superintendency of Pensions, the governmental institution that supervises the social security system in El Salvador. After marrying her husband Geoffrey who she met in Montana, they moved to Takoma Park, Maryland where both are active in the community.

Claudia has worked as a liaison to the Latino community for Maryland Representative Ana Sol Gutiérrez, and at CASA of Maryland helping Latino and African immigrants develop financial skills. Claudia recently got her Master's degree in International Development from American University where her research topic was the impact of remittances on economic development. Claudia is active in the Latino community in Washington D.C. She enjoys reading, growing vegetables in a community garden and spending time with her family and friends.

Mary Beth SchluckebierMary Beth is a Philadelphia native and a recent graduate of the University of Scranton (class of 2009...go Royals!), where she studied Counseling and Human Services as well as Spanish and Theology. Inspired by the Jesuit call to justice and service, Mary Beth spent a semester living and learning with the Casa de la Solidaridad program in El Salvador. While both accompanying and being accompanied by the Salvadoran people, she experienced the reality of the Third World and the authentic meaning of solidarity. She returned to El Salvador for a month the following year while studying Liberation Theology with University of Scranton President, Fr. Scott Pilarz, S.J. Her time spent in El Salvador has shaped her heart and person and she is eager to work with SEW and remain connected with the women of El Salvador.

Mary Beth is currently a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Mission Corps., where she works and lives as a full-time volunteer in the Latino community in North Philadelphia. She is most grateful for her life and love of the world around her. She also loves grilled cheese.

Veronica TicasVeronica was born to Salvadoran immigrant parents and feels very privileged to be able to serve on SEW's Board of Directors. She is very passionate about women's empowerment and development. She earned a Masters Degree in Sociology at St. John's University and a Masters Degree in Gender and Peace Building from the United Nations mandated University for Peace, in San Jose, Costa Rica in July 2007. She is currently working as the Director of the Social Justice Ministry promoting faith in action for Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia in New York City.