Meet the Board

Annie Foster-Ahmed

Chair

Annie Foster Ahmed received her Master’s Degree in Science Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY) and a B.S. in Biology from Daemen College. Prior to joining the CAS team in 2014, she served as the Associate Director for Pre-College Programs at the University of Maryland and was responsible for the day-to-day management of two TRiO Programs: Upward Bound and Upward Bound-Math/Science Programs. Both programs were funded by the U.S. Department of Education and were designed to prepare low-income and first-generation college students for success in college through academic, personal and social development. Her professional activities have centered around: program management, proposal writing, teacher training, staff development, and enhancing learning and study skills. Her passion and expertise is in helping students succeed and achieve their personal and academic goals by employing brained based learning strategies. She has presented on these topics at various conferences including the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (MEAEOPP) and the National College Learning Center Association. Currently, she serves on the Operations Boards for both the ACES Program and for Culture Shock, DC, a non-profit dance company in the Washington-Metropolitan area. She is also a member of Leadership Montgomery, Class of 2019.

Martin Blank

Vice Chair

Martin Blank retired as president of Institute for Educational Leadership where he worked for more than 25 years. A major focus of IEL was on helping young people and adults with disabilities gain access to the workforce, which included attention to their literacy skills. He focused personal attention on the relationship between schools and their communities. In addition, he worked on a wide array of education, community development and human services programs, always in non-governmental organizations that give him an understanding of what it takes to make a small nonprofit organization successful – vision, leadership, strategic thinking and partnerships to name a few. He has relationships with organizations in the County that are working to improve the lives of children and families, most importantly, the Linkages to Learning Initiative which works with children and their families in high needs school in the County.

Donnell Jackson

Treasurer

I was born and raised in Maryland.  I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and graduate degrees from George Washington University. I hold a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Public Finance.  In addition, I am pursuing a CPA.  I have spent over 30 years working in Banking as a Regulator, Risk Manager and now a Consultant. My interests include fitness, tennis, racquetball, golf, horseback riding, bicycling and motorcycles. I joined the Board because education is very personal issue to me.  I grew up in a low-income community and witnessed how the lack of education creates limited opportunities.  Individuals are relegated to working unskilled jobs and barely surviving. These individuals have so much potential but lack the guidance and support from the community.   We must do better as a village. I am proud to be a member of the Board and look forward to serving the LCMC.

Denise Pinkowitz

Secretary

Denise Pinkowitz is a former educator and researcher who has been a high-performing volunteer with LCMC for four years. She has served as a tutor and as a member of the Fundraising Committee at LCMC. In addition to her service with LCMC, Denise has more than 14 years’ experience as a coordinator and fundraiser for Walking Warriors Battling Breast Cancer and Avon 39 Walk to End Breast Cancer. In these fundraising capacities she specialized in identifying and soliciting individual donors. She possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills and seeks to continue developing relationships in the nonprofit field of adult education.

Rhea Roper Nedd

Director

Dr. Rhea Roper Nedd’s academic and professional career has focused on advocating for equity and access for low-income, 1st generation, and traditionally underserved populations for over 15 years. At the University of Maryland she is a leader of the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Taskforce charged with implementing D&I strategic initiatives to bring about systemic changes of inclusive practices in the workplace. She leads D&I trainings for faculty, students, and staff, and spearheads “diversity dialogues,” facilitating conversations and devising training curricula for leadership on topics such as “Privilege and Oppression, Mentorship & Retention of Diverse Groups, Dynamics of Gender Identity, etc.”

Over the years Dr. Roper Nedd has been the recipient of various awards and recognitions. Most notably, she was the two-time recipient of the Ralph Bunche Award for Research in International Affairs from Howard University. She was recognized as a graduate student fellow by The American Academy of Political and Social Science, and was also a Mayoral Fellow of then, Mayor Martin O’Malley of Baltimore City, Maryland. Dr. Rhea Roper Nedd earned her Ph.D. from Howard University in 2007, her Master of Arts from The Catholic University of America in 2002, and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2000.

See her full bio here

Jeff Schwartz

Director

Jeff Schwartz is the Founder and President of Ashton Manor Environmental. Established in 2002, Ashton Manor is a Montgomery County-based full service, environmental and commercial landscape company. Jeff has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from the State University of New York and a Master’s in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins. Jeff is a life-long Montgomery County resident who is incredibly passionate about giving back. In addition to running a $15 million, 100 employee small business, Jeff believes that when you are faced with a need, you are obligated to step up with both personal and professional resources. Many people believe in community and education. Jeff lives it with his work and family time.

Jeff is particularly proud of his involvement with the Literacy Council of Montgomery County. Jeff has invested in supporting over 10 percent of the Ashton Manor workforce to completing the LCMC’s curriculum, providing his employees with fundamental English-language skills that will benefit them both personally and professionally. Jeff is an avid ski patroller, hunter, cyclist, and lives in a restored 1700’s Farm House with his two children and dog in Brookeville, Maryland.

Dr. Christi Hay

Director

Christi Hay, MD MPH is a California native who now calls the Washington Metropolitan area home. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Biology from Stanford University, a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan and her Medical Degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She completed her pediatric residency at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She is a board certified general pediatrician, who is the founder and sole owner of Palisades Pediatrics, an intentionally small pediatric care practice in Washington, DC. 

Dr. Hay is very active in her community and has a commitment to volunteerism. She is an At-Large Board Member of the DC- American Academy of Pediatrics, she participates in the Medical Society of District of Columbia (Nominating Committee 2021-2021), the Medical Society Alliance Foundation(Board Member), The PVAC Fund (Board Member) and the Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Educational Development Committee Co-Chair). Dr. Hay is excited to work with organizations that support underserved and under resourced communities, with a special focus on education issues

Lyn J. Jacqueline

Director

Lyn J. Jacqueline is an Audit professional who brings over 12 years of compliance and industry leadership experience. With a focus on risk assessment, fiscal management, internal controls, and information privacy, her breadth of experience including working for some of the most notable organizations in the country, including the FBI, U.S. Office for Civil Rights, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Alongside her professional career as an Auditor, Lyn is also an education advocate who uses who knowledge, skills, and abilities to promote equity and access for low-income, minority, and traditionally underserved populations. To this end, she is a former School Board Member of Prince Georges (PG) County Public Schools and currently serves as a Board Member within the University of Maryland’s Prince Georges County Alumni Association.

Lyn is homegrown… born and raised in Washington D.C. and attending D.C. and  Prince Georges County public schools. She received a Bachelor’s (BA) degree in Political Science and Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park, and she has a Master’s degree (MBA) in Public Administration. She is currently completing a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Business and Organizational Leadership and anticipates completion in 2023.