Nicaragua Country Director

Christina's involvement with nonprofits began when she volunteered for a domestic violence organization while pursuing her BA in Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She went on to spend eight years working with domestic violence victims, incarcerated females, and at-risk youth. In 2009, Christina received a Master in Public Management from SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy. She completed her graduate practicum at the World Health Organization and went on to spend two years working with the Nicaraguan Ministries of Health and Education in a rural community. Christina is currently pursuing a Master in Public Health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and was selected to receive the Emerging Global Public Health Scholars Award. Prior to joining Manna Project, Christina worked as a Research and Evaluation Associate for Safe Horizon, the largest victims' services agency in the US.

Ecuador Country Director

Carolyn's love of Ecuador began when she first arrived in 2011. After working with an isolated Kichwa community for six months, Carolyn rejoined society to join a local nonprofit organization, where she led volunteers and interns on their cultural exchange and development journeys. Carolyn brings passion and experience to MPI Ecuador through a diverse background in international development and small business operations. Since graduating from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in Film Studies and Spanish, Carolyn has taught English, led high-school study abroad trips, managed a nonprofit organization, worked as a translator and interpreter, and even started and operated her own restaurant in Tena, Ecuador! In addition to leading MPI's Ecuador team, Carolyn is pursuing a Graduate Certificate from the Public Health Department of the University of South Florida in Social Marketing for Social Change. She has lived in Indiana, Massachusetts, Florida, Spain, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. Her hobbies include swimming in rivers, riding horses, hiking in the jungle (or the Andes!), and meeting new people and cultures.

Nicaragua Site Coordinator

Austin first became interested in nonprofit work and international development when he lived in Ecuador from 2005 – 2006 and saw unmet needs that he knew didn’t need to exist. Since then, Austin has received a Masters of Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University in 2014, and gained 6 years of nonprofit experience along the way. His most recent role was with a large hunger-relief organization in Seattle, Washington, sourcing millions of pounds of donated food from manufacturers, farmers, and distributors. Austin and his wife Kelsie have always planned on transitioning into international nonprofit and education work, and they are thrilled to now be in beautiful Nicaragua. He is excited to be a part of the Manna Project team and believes the organization has a smart and sustainable business model that makes a positive difference in the lives of everyone involved. 

Community Relations Advisor

Nancy served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and Volunteer Coordinator in Ecuador from 1999-2001 after graduating from Washington State University with a BS in Animal Sciences. Upon her return to Washington State, she worked as a domestic violence victim’s advocate at a local shelter and then later for over ten years in the prosecutor’s office. In her free time, she became involved in her local community as a fitness instructor, holding certifications as a Group Fitness, Zumba, and CrossFit instructor. Nancy, her husband, their two kids, her mother, and their dog returned to Ecuador to stay in December 2014. Nancy loves the country of Ecuador and all it has to offer!

Meghan developed a passion for the community fostered in a multicultural learning environment while studying abroad in Manchester, England. In the intervening summers, she facilitated leadership programs for international high school students in Germany. Meghan received her BA in English from the University of Central Florida in 2005 and spent a year fighting cancer before joining the executive team at Full Sail University. In this role, Meghan had the privilege of coordinating philanthropic efforts in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in nonprofit communications and development, and she soon joined Global Teams, an organization that sends volunteers from 25 countries. Meghan joined Manna Project in 2014. Having personally benefited from the work of several nonprofits, Meghan believes in the importance of connecting people with life-changing resources and loves working with our volunteers and partners to empower effective, mutually-beneficial, and community-driven development. 

Director of Finance and Administration

Haleigh majored in Accounting at the University of Kentucky and discovered her sense of adventure and travel over the course of several trips to Europe. After obtaining her Masters in Accounting from the University of Central Florida and CPA certification, Haleigh worked at an accounting firm in the Orlando area.  Haleigh is excited to share her accounting and financial knowledge to help Manna Project reach its developmental and financial goals. She enjoys working for an organization committed to developing personal relationships and enriching communities in Latin America. Haleigh is also an accomplished athlete. Drawing on her experience as a collegiate swimmer, she also coaches a local swim team.