Service with Manna Project: Nicaragua 2005-2006
Current Title and Employer: President, The David Weekley Family Foundation

"My time at Manna Project was one of the most formative years of my life. I was empowered by the autonomy that Manna Project instills in its Program Directors to take ownership, not only of the work we were aiming to accomplish, but of my role within the community at large. This quality has been ever-present in my work since, whether working with big companies on corporate responsibility or running an entrepreneurial MBA program."

Service with Manna Project: Ecuador 2009 - 2010
Current Title and Employer: Senior Financial Economist, FDIC

"My time with Manna Project really opened my eyes to what life is like outside the United States. It helped me become a better global citizen and gain firsthand knowledge of some of the economic issues facing developing countries, which has proven invaluable in pursuing a graduate degree in economics."

Service with Manna Project: Ecuador 2007-2009
Current Title and Employer: Co-founder, Assemble Coaching & Consulting

“My two years with Manna Project in Ecuador have continued to shape my career. Some of my fellow volunteers remain my closest friends and (hopefully) future coworkers, and some of what we learned - how to interact with other organizations, manage projects, work within a team - has accelerated my career significantly.”

Service with Manna Project: Co-founder; Nicaragua 2004-2005
Current Title and Employer: General Surgery Resident, University of Texas Health Science Center

"Manna Project, its communities and its mission, made a huge impact in my life. My MPI experiences empower me to more closely relate with the growing Latino patient population and to appreciate to a greater extent the blessings, opportunities, and privileges we are afforded in the United States."

Service with Manna Project: Nicaragua 2005-2006
Current Title and Employer:
Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

"My initial interest in Nicaragua grew from a visit as part of a college course surveying the economics, politics, and culture of several Latin American countries. Although I thought I was well prepared to understand the challenges faced by Nicaraguans, my year of service with Manna Project opened my eyes to the real challenges faced by those struggling to make ends meet and to provide decent living conditions and education for themselves and their families. When I left, I felt that I had gained more from my time amongst the people of Cedro Galán and Chiquilistagua than I had contributed to their lives and community."

Service with Manna Project: Nicaragua 2004 - 2005
Current Position and Employer: Real Estate Development & Urban Planning Project Manager, Carmel Partners

“I really enjoyed working with a group of ambitious young people with such diverse interests and backgrounds to build places and programs that made great social and physical impact on communities. Now in real estate development, I work with experts in a wide variety of fields to create places that make neighborhoods better and communities stronger. I'm better at and really enjoy collaborating across disciplines thanks to Manna Project.”

Service with Manna Project: Nicaragua 2012-2013
Current Title and Employer: Executive Director, Lacrosse the Nations

“My time spent with Manna Project has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I developed incredible relationships and made memories that I will cherish forever. I'm certain that a part of me will always be involved with Manna Project in one way or another."

Service with Manna Project: Ecuador 2012-2013
Current Title and Employer: Legislative Director for Congressman Bruce Westerman

"My year with Manna Project was a wonderful experience which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Not only was I fortunate enough to spend it with an amazing group of people but I learned a lot about myself both personally and professionally. Having a number of roles taught me how to balance my work load and showed me the importance of being well-organized."

Service with Manna Project: Nicaragua 2008-2009
Current Title and Employer: Program Officer - English Access Microsponsorship Program, AMIDEAST

"One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a Manna Project Program Director is the importance of recognizing your program's stakeholders and their values. Whether they are 6 year old Nicaraguan boys, local teachers, or multi-million dollar donors. By keeping this in mind, I have successfully advanced my career in international exchange programs while also pursuing a Masters in Public Health."

Global Strategy, Paypal

Annie first got involved with MPI as a sophomore at Vanderbilt University and served as the VP of Global Programs for MPI's Vanderbilt campus chapter her senior year. Annie recently moved to San Francisco to join PayPal’s Global Strategy Team. Previously, she worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, focusing primarily on financial inclusion by offering formal financial services to low-income families. She lived in Bogotá, Colombia for a year doing research on the same. Annie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Spanish from Vanderbilt University.

Co-Founder, Manna Project International

As one of Manna Project's founders, Lori has been a vital part of the MPI team since graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2004 with degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education. Lori's involvement began when she helped charter the organization in January of 2004. In September 2004, Lori and 9 others journeyed to Nicaragua where they founded MPI's first international site. Lori taught preschool and designed and implemented the first art and literacy programs. Lori acted as the Nicaragua Country Director before stepping into the role of Executive Director. She now serves on the Board and lives in Orlando, Florida with her family.

Front Row: Natalie Ball, Julie Sawyer, Brittny Randolph, Erica Crosley, Katy Clements, Christina Palazzo (Country Director)

Back Row: Connor Smallwood, Gretchen Heine, Juliene Joyner, Elena HogenEsch, Dana Hanley, Sam Schadt

Not pictured: Robert Grundmeier, Blair McGee, Alexa Rothenberg

Front Row: Catherine Althaus, Jessa Armstrong, Amelia Hulbert, Carley Clement

Back Row: Fred Schick, Evan Quinnell, Sydney McKenney

Not Pictured: Virginia Green, Katherine McCaw, Ann-Lowry Brown, Michael Weiner, Allegra Mangione 

Front Row: Martha Lee, Michael Graham, Kayla Sloane, Carissa Chen

Back Row: Christina Palazzo (Country Director), Liz Rosenbaum, Shanelle D'Alessio, Daniel Lewis, Heidi Tso, Jessica Whitney

Not pictured: David Schmid, Maria Molinaro, Madeline Drake, Hank Cohen and Mike Fisher

Front Row: Marina Wells, Kristin Sorenson, Amanda Rasch, Kelsey Williams

Back Row: Nancy Shattuck (Country Director), Melissa Picon, Monique Lara, Alex Saal, Emily Pratt, Everett Phelps, Gabby DeMarco

Executive Director

Dana’s interest in nonprofit work was sparked while pursuing her B.A. in International Development at Clark University, where she had the opportunity to intern at various nonprofit organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran Social Services of New England. She first joined MPI Nicaragua in 2014 as a Program Director after receiving her M.A. in Community Development & Planning. During her first year in Nicaragua, she fell in love with the communities that MPI serves and was impressed by the organization’s holistic and sustainable approach to development. After a year of working in MPI's educational and business development programs, Dana decided to extend her contract to work with MPI as a Senior Program Director for two more years before joining staff as the Assistant Country Director for MPI Nicaragua. After the Nicaragua site unfortunately had to close in 2018, Dana transitioned to a Development Manager role, and then became the Development Director in Fall 2022. In 2023 she started as the Executive Director and is thrilled at the opportunity to continue to be a part of the Manna Project team! She lives in Hawaii with her husband and two children.

Finance and Administration

As one of Manna Project's founders, Lori has been a vital part of the MPI team since graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2004 with degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education. Lori's involvement began when she helped charter the organization in January of 2004. In September 2004, Lori and 9 others journeyed to Nicaragua where they founded MPI's first international site. Lori taught preschool and designed and implemented the first art and literacy programs. Lori acted as the Nicaragua Country Director before creating and stepping into the role of Executive Director. Lori served as the Executive Director until 2016 when she stepped down to focus on her family. She continues to be involved with Manna Project as the Financial Manager and as a board member. She lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and two sons.

Co-founder and Strategic Communications Advisor, Paddle Consulting

Alaina first became involved with Manna as a student at Vanderbilt University. She volunteered with MPI in Ecuador and Nicaragua her sophomore and junior years and served as the VP of Fundraising & Development for MPI’s Vanderbilt Chapter her senior year. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, Economics and Corporate Strategy, Alaina moved to Madrid, Spain, to teach English in a primary school for 2 years before moving to NYC to begin her career in strategic communications. She currently lives in Denver, CO, where she is co-founder and a strategic communications advisor at Paddle Consulting. She is also co-founder and director of marketing & communications for RISE Zambia, a scholarship fund for aspiring healthcare professionals in rural Zambia. Her commitment to providing education and opportunity to deserving communities brought her back to MPI to join the board in 2019.

Brock joined MPI's Board in January 2020. He served as a Program Director for one year with Manna in Ecuador.

Country Director

Sarah brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role. With a Master's degree in Conflict Transformation and Sustainable Development and a background in program management, training and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, Sarah is dedicated to making a positive impact in Latin America. Her diverse skill set and unwavering commitment now drive her to humbly support and guide the next generation of changemaker volunteers in grassroots community development. Sarah's passion for fostering sustainable change is matched by her personal life. She is joined on this journey by her two wonderful sons and her supportive husband, who collectively inspire and motivate her in her mission.

Communications + Institutional Relations Manager

Abby comes to Manna from a background in experiential education focused on meaningful, symbiotic cultural exchange internationally. Most recently, she developed and ran community development projects in rural Costa Rica. Abby is a Linguist by education and is interested in social understanding and biases derived from language. Currently, Abby lives in Costa Rica with her cat.

Site Manager

Mirka joined Manna’s team in March 2025 as our Shandia Site Manager. Born and raised in Quito, Mirka has always been passionate about the outdoors and adventure. Eight years ago, she moved to the Amazon to study Ecosystem Engineering at Ikiam University, where she discovered the vital role that local communities play in maintaining ecological balance. Throughout these years, she has been deeply involved in community-based tourism, working closely with indigenous groups who generously share their traditions, customs, and knowledge. Mirka enjoys being the bridge between locals and foreigners, fostering meaningful exchanges that leave a lasting impact on both sides. She is excited to embark on this new challenge, supporting both volunteers and communities in their journey toward sustainable development!

Program Director

Program Director

Crystal joined the on-site Manna team in September 2024. She is from Des Moines, Iowa in the United States. Crystal recently graduated from the University of Iowa in May with a degree in Microbiology and a minor in Spanish. She is currently applying to medical school and plans to matriculate in the fall of 2025. During her time at the University of Iowa, Crystal spent two weeks in Costa Rica and Panama teaching English with a local youth language and culture studies program. Her interests consist of swimming, thrifting, and traveling to new places! She is beyond excited to invest her time and efforts into the community in Shandia and to support Manna programs!

Program Director

Luke comes from Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States. He joined Manna in August 2024. He is a recent graduate from St. Olaf College, where he studied political science, international relations, and race and ethnic studies. While in college, he spent a semester studying abroad in Seville, Spain. In his free time, Luke enjoys running, swimming, watching TV, and doing puzzles. He is excited to teach English to Shandia youth, improve his Spanish, learn some Kichwa, and try new Ecuadorian foods.

Program Coordinator, Spring 2025

Dahlia joined Manna in January 2025. She is from Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and is currently a student at Northeastern University, working toward a Bachelor's degree in international business, with a minor in economics and a concentration in finance. Dahlia is passionate about sustainable development and hopes to leverage her degree to drive impactful solutions in global markets, contributing to a more sustainable future. She first fell in love with Latin America when visiting Panama and Colombia in middle school, and she is thrilled to be back in the region. In her free time, Dahlia loves to sing, paint, read, and travel. She is excited to integrate into the Shandia community, practice her Spanish, and work with Manna!

Program Coordinator, Spring 2025

Mary joined Manna Project International in January 2025. Originally from New York City, she is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences at Northeastern University, with a minor in International Affairs. She is eager to apply her background in environmental research and experience working with children to her time in Ecuador. In her free time, Mary enjoys hiking, working on creative projects, improving her Spanish, and immersing herself in the local culture. She looks forward to helping MPI foster long-term impact while gaining hands-on experience in sustainable development.

Program Coordinator, Spring 2025

Heidi Ho excitedly comes to Manna as a co-op student from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is majoring in public health and journalism and minoring in Spanish for healthcare. Originally from Mcallen, Texas, she is the public health program coordinator for MPI and hopes to improve her Spanish during her time in Ecuador. In her free time, she likes trying new food, dancing and playing the piano. 

Program Coordinator, Spring 2025

Leo Saunders, a gap year student from San Francisco, California, is set to matriculate at Colorado College next year. During this year of non-traditional learning, he seeks to gain meaningful experience in service, ecology, and non-profit administration. In his free time, Leo enjoys reading, running, and photography—a skill he is actively developing. Leo looks forward to connecting with the community in Shandia, learning Kichwa, and gaining valuable insights into ways of life different from his own.

Virtual Intern

Josue is from Puyo, Ecuador, and joined Manna in 2024. He grew up taking English classes with Manna in Sangolquí, which sparked his passion for languages. He recently graduated from St. John Bosco High School in Los Angeles and he wants to study physics, with a focus on quantum gravity, in Europe. Josue speaks English, French, and German as well as Latin and Italian, and enjoys running, reading literature, and exploring new languages.

He is excited to give back to the organization that first inspired him and to gain nonprofit experience supporting community projects.

Virtual Program Coordinator

From January through March of 2024, Linda joined the MPI on-site team in Shandia as Program Coordinator while taking a sabbatical from her work in BI strategy. During that time, amongst other activities, she initiated MPI’s first Ecotourism program. This initiative aims to co-create with the local community an even more sustainable and diverse touristic structure. Now back in her home country of Germany, Linda continues to volunteer in her spare time with MPI. This way, she aims to work with the people of Shandia to further foster an economically, ecologically and socially sustainable and thriving community.