Board of Directors
A committed team fueling the Academy of Hope’s transformative mission.
A committed team fueling the Academy of Hope’s transformative mission.
Paul Suijk was named President and CEO of The Teaching Company in May 2013. He joined the company in September of 2007 as their CFO.
With a wide variety of experience in executive positions at major corporations including Cadmus Communications, Danka Business Systems, James River Corporation and Royal Dutch Shell, Paul is exceptionally focused on bringing innovation and strategic business growth to Wondrium, formerly The Great Courses. He specializes in developing joint ventures and building partnerships.
Paul grew up in The Netherlands in an entrepreneurial family. He had an opportunity to study in the United States and after working in Bangladesh on a World Bank sponsored project, he moved back to The Netherlands and worked for Royal Dutch Shell for a number of years before emigrating to the United States.
Wondrium is a major, corporate partner for Academy of Hope, supporting learners with free access to Wondrium’s, vast array of online courses, hosting educational events for Academy of Hope and creating a widely viewed documentary in 2021 highlighting the journey of two AoH graduates Angel Harris and Todd Campbell.
Paul is married and has four children. He spends his free time with family and friends and loves boating, traveling, and working out.
Mark Kutner, a founding board member of the AoH Foundation, is the organization’s Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair. During the six years before the Foundation was established, he was a member of the AoH Adult Public Charter School Board of Directors serving as Board Chair and Finance Committee Chair from 2018-2020. During Mark’s tenure as Chair of the Board, he oversaw Board discussions about the Foundation and approval of the Foundation. Before retiring seven years ago, Mark was a Senior Vice President at the American Institutes for Research working on projects related to adult education and literacy including professional development and assessing literacy skills of adult learners, and workforce development.
Terry Salinger is an Institute Fellow and Chief Scientist for Literacy Research at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). For 25 years she has conducted research focusing on approaches for increasing access to high quality reading and writing instruction, especially for individuals of all ages who have struggled to become fully literate. Dr. Salinger’s professional experiences prior to joining AIR in 1997 include serving as the director of research at the International Literacy Association, where she led the Adult Literacy special interest group; conducting research on classroom-based assessment approaches at Educational Testing Service; and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in reading instruction and theory at the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Cincinnati.
She began her career with ten years as a New York City public school teacher, during which time she also did clinical intervention work with adult struggling readers and conducted workshops with parents on supporting their children’s learning. Dr. Salinger served as a member of the AoH board from 2012-2018. She served as vice chair of the AoH Board for two years.
Nina Benton is a native Washingtonian who is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. She has spent most of her career in the field of marketing and advertising having founded her company Mid-Atlantic Media Sales in 1988. Her clients included Hearst Magazines, American Express Publishing, Conde Nast, Ritz Carlton Hotels, and various scientific and technology journals including CELL and Signal. In 2004 she joined the Weekly Reader publication developing in-school curricula for pre-K through high school classrooms. She also worked for Discovery Communications in their education division.
Her strong interest in education can be traced to a story in The Washington Post, written by Courtland Milloy, in 1994 about an elementary school in Northeast Washington, DC. She and others formed the “Friends of JO Wilson” at that time and spent years raising funds to make improvements to the school facility, which included a new library, an art center, a ballet studio and a state-of-the-art playground for students, their families and neighbors. This relationship continues to this day as she is now a certified DCPS substitute teacher and occasionally finds herself teaching at JO Wilson.
As a lifelong learner, Ms. Benton’s passion for continued learning reflects the Academy of Hope’s mission “to provide high quality adult education and services that change lives and improve our communities.” She believes that introducing adults to new skills and/or developing skills adults already possess advances in personal and economic growth that were, perhaps, not adequately addressed during their early education.
Education creates confidence in adults which ultimately translates into a more stable and healthier lifestyle, a chance for individuals to participate more fully in their community, enhance career advancement and be an example of the power of education at all ages. Ms. Benton firmly believes that everyone, given the opportunity, can be a successful and involved participant in today’s world. Everyone has something to offer, and the Academy of Hope provides a pathway for individuals to fulfill their potential.
Mr. Meyer worked as a Journalist and Editor for the Washington Post for more than 30 years. He is a published author, and has worked as a consultant with companies, foundations, non-profit organizations, and associations conducting successful public education campaigns. Most recently, he conducted successful campaigns for the Business Roundtable and the World Wildlife Fund. Mr. Meyer also wrote the Semiconductor Industry Association’s annual report for several years.
Mr. Meyer visited more than 70 newspapers—including the Wall Street Journal, Baltimore Sun, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Oregonian, Seattle Times and Dallas Morning News— in more than 25 states, talking to editorial boards about public policy issues—including the Central America Free Trade Agreement, renewal of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign employees, increased government investment in basic science research and approval of free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. He has conducted successful public education campaigns for Compete America, a coalition of 200 companies and associations, including Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Procter & Gamble, the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In November 2004 Congress enacted legislation supporting Compete America’s position. Additionally, he has advocated increased federal support for scientific research on behalf of the Task Force on the Future of American Innovation. Meyer drafted “Better Leaders for America’s Schools: A Manifesto,” a position paper, sponsored by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and The Broad Foundation.
Meyer was a reporter and editor for The Washington Post for 32 years.
Lynn English is Managing Partner for English Hudson, a strategy and resource
development consulting practice with almost thirty years of experience in fundraising,
communications, executive search, strategic planning, and coaching for local, national,
and international nonprofit organizations, foundations, and other mission-driven
organizations. Lynn holds a B.A. in English from Georgetown University and a M.A. in
English Literature from the University of Maryland at College Park, with a concentration
in African American literature. She is the co-author of Winning Grants, Step by Step, 5th
Edition (Wiley Press, 2019). Lynn is a native Washingtonian and has proudly supported
Academy of Hope as a consultant and donor for more than a decade.
Kristina Francis is the executive director of JFFLabs. In this role, she oversees advisory,
acceleration, data, and investing initiatives that connect traditional systems with systems
disruptors to enable equitable economic mobility. Kristina has more than 20 years of experience
in corporate operations and entrepreneurial ventures focused on management consulting,
business development, software and data integration, and impact investing competencies.
Before joining JFF, Kristina served in a variety of roles of escalating authority with EsteemLogic,
Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, General Dynamics, and American Institutes for Research. In those
positions, she managed business portfolios valued between $10 million and $80 million and was
charged with driving growth, developing strong delivery teams, implementing innovative and
collaborative systems, and activating cross-sector partnerships. Kristina has a passion for
education, empowerment, and wealth building. She wants to make sure that all people,
especially women, have pathways to education and reliable pathways to solid jobs that lead to
rewarding careers and economic advancement. For some adults, this may mean learning new
skills at community college, obtaining a four-year degree online, working toward a promotion
with an employer, or pursuing entrepreneurship as a career. Kristina serves as chair of the
board of Black Girl Ventures and is a member of the board of CivStart. She is also a managing
member of The Marathon Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund; a member of Pipeline
Angels; and a co-host of the Get Found Get Funded podcast. When she’s not at work, Kristina
enjoys watching This is Us with her husband, Elliott, and raising her children, Nyla and Evan, to
fully operate in their genius! She also enjoys time with her 5-year-old Newfoundland, Onyx.
Al J. Browne is a trailblazer in community health design and innovation, currently at the
helm of the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Ward Infinity accelerator as the
Director of Community Health Design + Innovation. He is dedicated to advancing health
equity and technological innovation in underinvested communities to advance health
and wealth. His leadership has propelled the accelerator to equip eight groundbreaking
ventures, deploying over $1.5 million annually to drive sustainable health solutions.
Al’s tenure at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Verizon underscores his
strategic brilliance. At Carey, he revolutionized the MBA program by forming alliances
with over 50 corporations and embedding experiential learning into the curriculum,
where he designed and facilitated seven impactful MBA courses. At Verizon, he
managed a $33 million investment portfolio, developing educational technologies that
reached 3.5 million educators nationwide.
At AARP, Al’s strategic vision led to the creation of multimillion-dollar partnerships and
technology initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for seniors. His innovative
approaches attracted significant investments and collaborations with industry giants like
Amazon and Microsoft.
His work with the Community Preservation and Development Corporation was equally
transformative, pioneering initiatives such as a residential technology network and a
telemedicine program that significantly improved economic and health outcomes for
low-income communities.
Al’s commitment to democratizing entrepreneurship and AI has been revolutionary for underinvested communities. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, he has created
pathways for marginalized groups to engage in entrepreneurial ventures, driving
economic mobility and community development.
Al holds advanced degrees in forensic anthropology and psychology and has served as
an adjunct professor at Catholic University of America and Washington Adventist
University. His dedication to education, equity, and innovation is reflected in his
numerous board memberships, positioning him as a dynamic advocate for social
change and a visionary leader in the non-profit education sector.
Madi Ford serves as the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Audeo Partners. In this
capacity, she manages acquisitions, deal structuring, development, risk mitigation, joint
ventures, and equity and debt finance from a legal perspective. Ms. Ford has over a decade
of legal experience in real estate, including the entitlement, development, acquisition,
disposition, and financing of commercial real estate, in addition to general corporate
governance. She advises on risk mitigation and complex cross-functional matters relevant
to the ownership, asset management, and development of multi-family rental housing.
Previously, Ms. Ford served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at MidCity,
where she provided guidance on legal issues to corporate staff and led administrative
operations.
Prior to that, Ms. Ford served as director of legal affairs and business development at Edgewood Management Corporation and served as a corporate associate at Bingham McCutchen LLP. Ms. Ford is a graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law, where she was symposium editor for the Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law. She received her B.S. in Economics and Public Policy and the Law from Trinity College.
Ms. Ford is actively engaged in philanthropic efforts surrounding access to education,
economic empowerment and affordable housing. Madi also currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity D.C.-NOVA, and the President of The
Alice and Eugene Ford Foundation. She serves on the Leadership Council for The Greater
Washington Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness. She has
previously served on the boards of directors for two private companies, the Community
Services Foundation, and served as a member of the Board, the Vice-Chair and the acting
Chair of The Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School.
