Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RIF of NOVA's board members are former or current teachers and librarians, small-business owners and authors, parents and grandparents. They bring a wide variety of experience to the job of getting books into the hands of children in Northern Virginia.

The Board of Directors and its Executive Committee meet five times a year: September, November, January, and March. An annual luncheon meeting is held in May or June to recognize board and community members who have made a significant difference in NOVA RIF's operations. (Note: All meetings during the pandemic have been held via Zoom.)

Please contact us if you're interested in becoming a volunteer board member. New ideas and creativity are so welcome, even if you can devote only a smidge of time! Click here to find our volunteer form.

(l-r) Board members Chris Bury, Bradley Vineyard, Lisa Keathley, Nancy King, and Chris McLaughlin at an April Book Bash celebrating 50 years of books for NOVA kids

(l-r) Board members Sari Warren, Sheryl Leeds, Nancy King, Justina Johnson, and Hazeline Harris staff the book table at a May Book Bash at Alexandria's John Adams School

JUSTINA JOHNSON, President

JAMES ABRAMS, Vice President

ELIZABETH PROMEN, Recording Secretary

MELISSA HINKSON, Corresponding Secretary

JO ANN ABRAMS, Treasurer

SHERYL LEEDS, Financial Secretary

MAUREEN MCLAUGHLIN, Sunshine Secretary

BOOK ORDERING CHAIRS
Paula B. Powell
Elaine Liebesman

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Lisa Keathley

FUTURE OF RIF; CONTRACTS CHAIR
Nancy King

AREA CHAIRS

Alexandria
Glenna Orr

Arlington
Ann Godfrey

Fairfax East
Chris Bury / Liz Promen

Fairfax West
Chris McLaughlin

Prince William
Sheila Adams Gardner

AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS

Jeuli Bartenstein
Dora Sue Black
Carylee Carrington
Aisha Fallen
Hazeline Harris
Nadine James
Sheila Jonas
Gayle Kelley
Jennifer Morrow
Melba Smith-Dudley
Lois Toomer
Bradley Vineyard
Sari Warren

Meet our Newest Board Members: Aisha Fallen, Sari Warren, and Jennifer Morrow

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Aisha Fallen attended Mount Vernon High School and matriculated to the University of Virginia where she earned her B.S. from the Commerce School and J.D. from the Law School. With a schoolteacher for a mother, Aisha began her love of learning at an early age. Chief among her favorites were Nancy Drew mysteries, Beverly Clearly fiction, and anything written by Judy Blume.

Aisha works in the education field as a Senior Resolutions Counsel at United Educators, a Bethesda, MD-based risk retention group. Since 2016, she has been a member of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. There, she conceived of and executed the chapter's inaugural Youth Cultural Book and Arts Festival, a day-long event featuring prominent and local children's authors and books.

Aisha lives in Lorton, VA, with her husband, Joe, 13-year-old daughter, Camille, and eight-year-old son, Chase, with whom she loves to read aloud -- and laugh about -- such favorites as If You Ever Want to Bring An Alligator to School, Don't. Daughter Camille reported on RIF NOVA's 2021 Book It For Books 5K for Scholastic Kids Press. Find that by clicking here.

Sari Warren has been an avid reader and book lover her entire life. She turned that love into a 10-year career with Fairfax County Public Schools as an elementary school librarian. One of her favorite parts of the job was that she was able not only to teach but to develop relationships with every student in the school. She loved talking to students about books and matching readers with books that they loved!

A big believer in the idea of books being “mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors”, she worked hard to diversify the library collection and to buy books that excited the students. In addition, she supported teachers, ran multiple student and staff book clubs, and hosted many author visits. Prior to becoming a librarian, Sari was a CPA, a consultant, a small business owner, and a mom raising her three (now almost) grown children.

Sari is excited to join the board of RIF of NOVA so she can continue her involvement in providing great books to children. She loves children's books and is excited to be a part of an organization that feels as strongly as she does about the power of books for kids!

In July 2017, Jen Morrow opened Bards Alley Bookshop, an independent bookstore at 110 Church Street NW, Vienna, VA. After experiencing the wonder of her son learning to read, Jen knew she had to find a way to bring a bookstore to her community. Jen chose the name “Bards Alley” to represent a place "whose curated inventory showcases classics alongside new discoveries from both beloved and debut authors -- think Shakespeare meets Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley." Bards Alley’s mission is to promote literacy, engage with the community, support sustainability, and encourage localism.

Prior to opening Bards Alley, Jen spent 20 years working in the government contracting community. Her first position was with the Department of the Navy, and she later moved to the private sector. Jen and her husband Scott are raising two strong readers, Ethan (9th grade) and Tess (7th grade), along with three cats who aspire to be bookstore pets someday.

2021-2022 Reading is Fundamental of NOVA Board Awards

RIF of NOVA gives annual awards to those who have contributed in significant ways to the organization's operations and successes.

McNamara Award: The highest honor is the Margaret McNamara Award, named in honor of Reading is Fundamental's founder, Margaret McNamara. Learn more about her history here. This award is given to one individual or organization annually.

Jerry Shelton Award: The Jerry Shelton Award for Longevity of Service is given to a long-time board member who has been actively and continuously involved with NOVA RIF, serving in a variety of ways and continuing to advance the goals of the organization. This award is given to one board member annually.

Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Support of NOVA RIF: This award is made to individuals, groups, or organizations for outstanding support of NOVA RIF. The recognized support can be for a particular program, an event, or for some other activity supporting our mission. There is no limit on the number of Special Commendation Awards given in a specific year.

The 2021-2022 McNamara Award was given to the 54 original members who served on the RIF of NOVA board at the time of the organization's founding in 1972. Board member Jeuli Bartenstein accepted the award on behalf our founding members.

The Jerry Shelton Award, named for long-time supporter Jerry Shelton, was given to board member and Fairfax West area chair Chris McLaughlin. She has served the board in many capacities -- as president, in a variety of committee chair roles, and as a dedicated supporter and inspiring leader.

2021-2022 Special Commendation Awards were given to:

Jim Abrams, board Vice President and Donor Book program organizer

Marcia Brugger, retiring Prince William County NOVA RIF liaison, Dumfries Elementary School

Paxton Head, Donor Book program volunteer

Glenna Orr, board member, Alexandria area chair, special event organizer (John Adams Book it For Books; Alexandria Book Bash)

Bradley Vineyard, board member, special event organizer (Book it For Books, Golden Gala)

Marcia Brugger, retiring Prince William County NOVA RIF liaison, Dumfries Elementary School

Remembering Board Member Emma Akens Williams

Emma Williams (r) and Melba Smith-Dudley (m) presented the 2019 Prince William County Area Award to NOVA RIF liaisons Cari Hammel (l) and Carrie Roop (not pictured) for their exceptional work to promote reading at Bel Air Elementary School

RIF of NOVA board member Emma Akens Williams passed away in late September 2021 after a courageous 19-year battle with breast cancer. Emma will be remembered so fondly by the NOVA RIF board not only because of her many years of service to our organization but also because of the kind and wonderful person she was. Here is just a sampling of comments:

“She always encouraged me. She brightened a room. So positive. She is a special angel now.” (Dora Sue Black)

“Emma was a dedicated librarian and teacher who loved to open young minds to the joy of reading.” (Chris McLaughlin)

“Emma fought breast cancer for 19 years, and for many of those years she served on the board of RIF of NOVA. Not once did I hear hear a single word of self-pity nor a single word of complaint. Rather, her words were directed at children, books and reading, and always, always about the children we served through (NOVA) RIF. Emma had the kindest, most gentle soul. I have missed her for a long time and now will miss her forever.” (Sheila Jonas)

"Oh sweet Emma! I will surely miss her. She was always kind to me." (Melissa Hinkson)

From the time she was a young girl, Emma loved children and books. The daughter of a coal miner and homemaker, she knew she would become a teacher one day. After graduating high school as valedictorian of her class, she continued her education at William and Mary College, completing her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After moving to Northern Virginia in 1966, she started teaching at Fred M. Lynn School in Prince William County.

After Emma and husband Ben had children, Emma stayed home with them to “jumpstart their education,” and furthered her own education at the same time. She completed her master’s degree in elementary education and later earned a master’s degree in library science. She served at several elementary schools in Prince William County, including Saunders, Kilby, and Neabsco, along with Woodbridge and Rippon middle schools. She concluded her 41 years in Prince William County Schools at River Oaks Elementary as the school’s first librarian when the building opened in 1990.

In her retirement, Emma continued to be active in her educational society, Delta Kappa Gamma, Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, PWCS Retired Teachers Association, Prince William Education Association (PWEA), and the Stafford Historical Society. In her lifetime of work, Emma Williams left a legacy with hundreds of children who grew to love reading because of her inspiration and guidance.

Board Member Spotlight:
Melissa Hinkson

Melissa Hinkson received a Teacher Tuesday shout-out from Arlington schools as part of an effort to highlight teachers who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Melissa is a fifth-grade teacher at Hoffman-Boston Elementary School in Arlington. She did her undergraduate work at Daemen College and is "a proud graduate alumna of Howard University," where she earned her masters degree in education with a specialization in reading. While at Howard, Melissa says, "I was proud to look around and see people who looked like me, who believed in me, and who encouraged me to be the absolute best I could be. My full circle moment was when I became a faculty member in the School of Education," where she taught children's literature and other methods classes for seven years.

In addition to being on the NOVA RIF board, Melissa is a member of the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Both her sons attended Hoffman-Boston, and she volunteered and subbed there for many years. When her younger son went to college, she decided to take a position teaching at her "favorite" school! In her words, "Teaching is not what I do, it's who I am."

Board Member Spotlight:
Carylee Carrington

Carylee Carrington joined the RIF of NOVA board in 2019. A longtime writer and storyteller, she became an "accidental author" of a children's book when her older son started kindergarten and was told by a child on the playground that he should be playing with kids of his own "complexion." Carylee responded by writing Everyone, Just Like Me, a picture book about a boy who needs glasses, which encourages kids to embrace their individual differences. She published another children's book, Pretty Hair, in 2019. Carylee's books are featured on our New Books...with a NOVA Connection page.

Carylee is host and executive producer of a children's literary program, "The Read with Carylee Show," on YouTube. She also authors a blog called "Get Caryed Away." Learn more about Carylee Carrington on her website: www.caryleecarrington.com.

Board Member Spotlight:
Dora Sue Black

Dora Sue Black was named a Teacher of the Year at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Arlington in 2019. As a librarian, Dora Sue nurtures the love of reading among students who might otherwise visit the school library only once a week. She has been with APS for more than 30 years. When she was reading specialist at Arlington's Barcroft Elementary School, she also served as a RIF of NOVA liaison, staging book distributions for children at that school who have few to no books at home.

During her entire career, Dora Sue has positively influenced the lives of countless students by making education an adventure. Listen to her video to hear her passion about teaching!

Board Member Spotlight: Glenna Orr

Author and RIF of NOVA board member Glenna Orr recently celebrated her sixth children's book — Remembering With the Heart, Stories by America's Finest — at a dinner and book signing at St. Rita's Church in Arlington. The book features conversations with veterans who reside at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Washington, DC.

During more than 20 years of involvement at AFRH, Glenna has grown to know and love the residents and their stories. With her nonprofit organization, The Kind Kids, she brought veterans and children together with the goal of fostering inter-generational contact and communication.

In the resulting book, the veterans tell children about their experiences in the armed forces and bring to life the histories of their lives.

EMERITUS COUNCIL

Rita Blodgett
Pam Jackson
Gloria Johnson
Audrey June
Mia Mason
Maxine McLeod Miller
Ruby Osia
Lynda Johnson Robb
Ramunda Young