Fiza Shah, Chief Executive Officer Of Dil
Fiza Shah was born in Quetta, Pakistan, moving to the United States in 1980. Educated in Pakistan, England and the United States, Ms. Shah initially worked in health care administration as manager of the Lakewood Medical Group. In 1997, Fiza founded Developments in Literacy (DIL) and under her leadership, the organization has successfully established hundreds of schools and educated tens of thousands of children throughout Pakistan’s four provinces, and is committed to providing education that equips students and teachers with academic competencies and life skills. office@dil.orgHashmat Saeed, Chief Financial Officer
Hashmat Saeed has been involved with Development in literacy from its inception. She is the Chief Financial Officer and served on the Executive Board. Hashmat oversees development in literacy’s finances and works with the Benefit Committees to manage the fundraising finances. Outside of DIL, she also volunteers with the Assistance League of Long Beach, a philanthropic organization dedicated to serving the underprivileged as well as victims of abuse in Long Beach. office@dil.org
Kendra Puryear, Executive Director
Kendra began her career in non-profits at CASA of Orange County in 2005, after graduating with a B.A. in History and Political Science from Vanguard University. She continued her career in fundraising at The Raise Foundation and Orange County United Way. Her passion is connecting people to causes that matter to them and her personal life mission is to lend her voice to those whose voices go unheard. Kendra’s educational background and travels abroad have fostered an interest in international relations. She believest hat living in a global society means that all of our fates are connected by a common thread. She often quotes Martin Luther King Jr., saying, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Kendra@dil.org
Brenda Erlinger, Program Development Director
Brenda Erlinger joined Developments in Literacy in 2011 as Program Development Director. She holds a M.A. in International Development from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. In her position at development in literacy, Brenda leads research and development of new and innovative initiatives that result in increased impact and capacity. Current projects in her portfolio include DIL’s USAID funded mobile learning for teachers, assessment based reading interventions for students, and programs aimed at expanding opportunities for DIL graduates. Brenda@dil.org
Annie Field, Curriculum Director
Annie serves as Director of Curriculum for Developments in Literacy. She holds a Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in International Education Policy. In her position with Developent in literacy, Annie regularly travels to Pakistan to conduct teacher trainings, monitor educational progress, and implement new initiatives. Annie@dil.org
Jennifer Rodriguez, Finance Manager
Jennifer Rodriguez majored in Business Management at Fashion Institute Design Merchandising (FIDM), where she started her career in the fashion industry. She has 15 years experience in accounting, of which 11 years has been working in the non-profit sector. Prior to joining DIL in 2012, she has worked for non-profit organizations such as Liberty Hill Foundation as Accounts Manager and the California State Parent Teacher Association as an Independent Controller. She has managed numerous government grants, federal, state and local city agencies and managed numerous audits. As an independent consultant, she has helped organizations restructure their accounting departments, as well as assisted in their leadership and management. Jennifer@dil.org
Heather Carr, Chapter Relations Manager
Heather Carr serves as the Chapter Relations Manager for Developments in Literacy. She has worked as the Development and Administrative Assistant at Mercy For Animals, and as the Program Relations Director and Outreach Coordinator at the Levantine Cultural Center. She graduated from the University of Iowa, earning a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Religious Studies. She studied Women’s Studies in Religion, with a focus on gender and sexuality in Islam, at Claremont Graduate University. She speaks Zulu, Koine Greek, and is currently learning Arabic and Urdu. In her role at DIL, Heather supports the DIL and YOUR DIL (young professional) chapters across the United States with coordinating and managing special events from start to finish, fundraising, chapter development, and sharing the impactful work DIL does. Heather@dil.org
Why is DIL different?
Focus on Girls’ Education:
65% of Development in literacy’s student population is female. The national literacy rate for women in Pakistan stands at 38%.
Addressing the Needs of Rural Educators and Students
Child-Centered Education:
Child-centered education emphasizes creativity and critical thinking skills. Development in literacy’s approach results in improved student retention and learning outcomes.
Activity-Based Lesson Plans:
In this inquiry-based approach, students develop knowledge and understanding through learning activities.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The key to the success of Development in literacy’s projects is a robust monitoring framework and complete financial transparency.