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Clockwise starting from bottom (spiraling inward):
 Site Director - Mark HandShreveport, Louisiana
mark@mannaproject.org
About Me:
I
graduated from Vanderbilt in 2006 with degrees in International
Political Economy (yes, I made that one up) and Religious Studies.
After graduation I spent time working with nonprofits in Washington DC
and Botswana, before heading back to my hometown of Shreveport, LA to
spend time as a social worker and plan for Manna Project Ecuador.
After two years here in Ecuador, I´ll either be headed toward graduate
school, a post-conflict country, or back to Louisiana (which at times
resembles a post-conflict country).
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 Luke LockwoodShreveport, LA/ Houston, TX
ljlockwood@gmail.com
After graduating from Louisiana Tech with a political science
degree, Luke joined the Ecuador team in late November of 2007.
Since then, he has taken charge of the site's finances, taught literacy
to the kids in the community, and led and organized several volunteer
groups. Prior to Ecuador, Luke started the MPI-LaTech chapter of Manna
Project International, was president of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and was
involved in leadership positions with several other organizations on
and off campus. After completing his term with MPIE this coming
December, Luke plans to work, save, and prepare for law school.
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 Seth HarlanLittle Rock, AR
An inveterate outdoorsman and traveler, Seth
spent most of college outside or out of country. When he wasn't
traveling himself, he was helping create marketing strategies for the
Vanderbilt Study Abroad Office, planning spring break trips for
MPI-Vanderbilt, or leading a team for Vanderbilt's Dance Marathon. As
a senior, Seth also contributed greatly to the development of the State of Tennessee's micro-lending program.
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Indiana University
eliah@mannaproject.org
After graduating from Indiana University in 2008, I came to Ecuador to
work for MPI. Most of my efforts in school went toward finding ways to
travel and I spent time in Ecuador, Chile, Madagascar, and South Korea
(well, at least a little time). Ecuador is a place of extreme beauty
and injustice and they both make me want to work here. While with MPI,
I hope to expand microcredit lending opportunities for locals and
address environmental concerns in the Valley. After this year, I'll be
returning to the states to build on the ambiguities of my International
Studies major.
*****
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Denver, Colorado
holly@mannaproject.org
Hailing from Denver, Holly loves being able to call Colorado her home
base, and is thankful the mile-high city has (somewhat) prepared her
lungs for the thin Ecuadorian air. In her four years as a student at
Vanderbilt University, Holly spent her time swimming for the school
club, teaching with ArtReach, leading for YoungLife, rowing for the
crew team, as an executive member of her sorority Chi Omega, and a
published poet for the Vanderbilt Review. As her 2008 graduation date
drew nearer, the spring-time appearance of an Oswaldo Guayasamín
exhibit at Vanderbilt stood as the deciding factor behind her decision
to join the Manna Ecuador team. Having graduated with a dual degree in
English and Political Science, Holly looked to Manna as a way to
explore her other passion, art, by leading art classes in the
communities which the Ecuador team calls home. Holly counts letters,
thrift-store tee shirts, and The Chimney as three of her favorite
things.
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 Jocelyn Lancaster
Southern Methodist University
jocelyn@mannaproject.org
Hola a todos! I graduated this May from Southern Methodist University
in Dallas with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Business and Spanish.
I spent my undergraduate years acting in many different roles, from
sorority officer, to orientation leader, study abroad student, and
psychology research lab assistant. Though I spent a portion of my
adolescent years living somewhere in Central Ohio Suburbia, I consider
the great state of Texas my true home! During my time here in Ecuador,
I am excited to explore and experience the colorful culture while
working hard to achieve our service goals in the rural community of
Conocoto. Following my year in Ecuador, I plan to return to Dallas to
pursue a career in managerial/executive consulting. However, I'm
keeping my options open because who knows what tomorrow will bring!
Hasta pronto.
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 Duncan Fulton
Vanderbilt University
dunc@mannaproject.org
I graduated from Vanderbilt in 2008 with a degree in Spanish and
European Studies and a minor in Mangerial Studies. In college I was
active as a Co-Chair of the Music Group, Advising Member of the Honor
Council, and as a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. During summer breaks,
I served as an intern both in the U.S. Senate and also at the Center
for American and International Law. Having long wanted to move abroad
after graduation, I decided to work for MPI Ecuador after
graduation, teaching classes and helping run our microfinance
initiative in the country. After my year in Ecuador, I will attend
Tulane Law School in New Orleans.
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Johns Hopkins University
serena@mannaproject.org
Hello, Hola, Ni Hao! As a Shanghai native, I have resided in MN, MS,
CT, MD, and SC, and can now proudly call Quito my new casa. I am a 2008
alumni of Johns Hopkins University majoring in Behavioral Biology, as
well as an aspiring health care provider with ambitions to develop
cultural competency skills needed to effectively serve as a global
citizen. As an undergrad, I was a member of Students Educating and
Empowering for Diversity (S.E.E.D.), Kappa Alpha Theta, and was also a
peer health educator, an admissions representative, student adviser,
research assistant, and Chinese tutor. I also studied at Fudan
University in Shanghai for a semester, interned for the CT Health
Foundation, and volunteered at several clinics in Baltimore. I am
looking forward to becoming a part of the community, learning about
Ecuadorian culture, becoming trilingual, and developing lasting
relationships with the local communities that we will be serving.
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University of Colorado, Boulder
dana@mannaproject.org
Dana Conway, the most recent addition to our
Ecuador project, joined the Manna team in late September 2008.
Beginning her undergraduate studies in Missoula, Montana, studying
abroad for a year in Granada, Spain, and finishing up her bachelors
degree in Sociology at the University of Colorado, Dana's love for
travel clearly influenced her educational pursuits. During college Dana interned
with a probationary youth program assisting at-risk juveniles in
custody. Upon graduating she began working with adults under
probationary constraints facing drug and alcohol offenses. Placing
a high priority on serving others, Dana is excited to be in a place
where she is able to assist people in a community who are actively
seeking help, rather than individuals who have been forced to accept
it.
Dana has always had a strong passion for
adventure, continually seeking new encounters with diverse cultures
through all of her travels. After engaging with people from Europe,
Africa, and India, it only made sense to make South America her next
destination. While she will undoubtedly miss the notorious 300 days of
Colorado sunshine and the Rocky Mountains as her backyard, Dana is
confident that her transition to the endless Ecuadorian sky and Andes
Mountains will soon become a very comfortable second home.
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