Our Board

SHC's all volunteer Board of Directors consists of eight members who serve a one year, renewable term. Board members meet quarterly and participate actively in both governance and programs.

Elahe Darabi
Merritt Groeschel (Staff)
Aliya Husain
​Nancy Liebermann

Meira Neggaz
Loan Nguyen
Kate Talbot (Staff)
Aerlande Wontamo

Elahe Darabi

Elahe Darabi joined the SHC Board of Directors in 2019. She loves to share her experience as a refugee resettled in the US, as well as her language skills, to help others find their feet. Elahe currently works at Foodhini, a local immigrant catering business. Prior to that she worked as a community interpreter in Turkey while studying for an arts degree.

Aliya Husain

Aliya Husain joined the SHC Board of Directors in 2020. During her 20+ year career at the World Bank, Aliya has helped countries develop solutions to reduce poverty and build shared prosperity. She is currently a Country Officer for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti in the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa Department.  Her most recent focus is on how the World Bank can best support Yemen as it confronts war and a resulting humanitarian crisis.  Prior to the World Bank, she worked at the Inter-American Development Bank for 4 years. Aliya speaks fluent Urdu.  She received her B.A. from Williams College and her Masters in Public Policy at Harvard University.  She is a native Washingtonian and lives in Arlington Virginia with her husband, daughter, stepson, and two dogs.

Nancy Liebermann

Starting as a volunteer SHC tutor in January 2017,  Nancy has worked with Syrian and Afghan families in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. Nancy brings her experience as a longtime Executive Director of a DC nonprofit organization focusing on affordable housing for people with mental health challenges. She has served in various Board roles at Temple Sinai where she is currently engaged in reproductive health and rights and antiracist initiatives. As an attorney, she represents low income individuals with legal issues arising from debt. Her mom was a long-time ESOL teacher and she is proud to continue her legacy.

Meira Neggaz

Meira Neggaz joined the SHC Board of Directors in 2020. Meira is the Executive Director of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). Before joining ISPU, Meira was the Senior Program Officer for Marie Stopes International (MSI), a leading international health organization working in 42 countries. Formerly, Meira was the first Executive Director of WINGS in Guatemala, the Guatemalan Country Representative for Curamericas, and the Intake Team Leader at the Big Brother Association of Greater Boston.  She holds a BA from Huron University, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and an International Health Certificate from Boston University.

Loan Nguyen

Loan is a founding member of the SHC Board of Directors. As a refugee whose family fled post-war Vietnam in 1979, Loan cares deeply, and continuously advocates, for refugees and immigrants. Loan wants to ensure for all refugees, a transition and path forward in America that is supported by friends and community. Loan practices environmental law and regulation with the federal government, and volunteers for a variety of civic and pro bono organizations outside of her professional practice of law.

Aerlande Wontamo

Aerlande Wontamo joined the SHC Board of Directors in 2019. She is Director of Permanent Supportive Housing program at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. Prior to that, Aerlande was Regional Director for Lutheran Social Services (National Capital Area) where she worked in the Refugee & Immigrant Services program. Aerlande has extensive experience in community outreach, education, and capacity building focused on the needs of vulnerable populations.

Our Program and Admin Team

Merritt Groeschel

Merritt is Founder and President of SHC working to shape SHC programs, goals and vision for the future, building thriving futures and giving families tools to succeed in their communities. She began as the leader of her church’s effort to resettle a refugee family from Syria, and through that experience was inspired to initiate a one-on-one tutoring program to other local English learners.  She is passionate about working with new members of the community, sharing local knowledge and a love of metro DC.

Kate Talbot​

Kate is Co-Founder and VP of Operations and Finance for SHC. Her background in the non-profit field includes working to promote civic engagement through social media and student education at inner-city Catholic schools. It wasn’t until a friend invited Kate to help tutor English to resettled refugees, that she saw first-hand the challenges newcomers face extending well beyond language barriers. Every day Kate is inspired by the kindness, generosity and warmth of the people and families she assists.

Yasmina Mudarres

Yasmina is Co-Founder and VP of Programs and Outreach for SHC. Yasmina has devoted her career to advancing advocacy, policy and service delivery programs, especially as they relate to women's health, also working on projects in the MENA region. She understands that navigating U.S. programs and systems is challenging for specialists, let alone for newcomers. She enjoys welcoming new families to our community through SHC and helping them access the services they need.

Our Education Team

Julie Kierski

Drawn to SHC's unique model of child-friendly English classes, Julie Kierski joined SHC as a teacher. She is also SHC's Tutor Education Coordinator and supports tutors in their one-on-one work with their tutees. She has taught English in the U.S.A., Cambodia, the Philippines, and online to students of all levels, from beginning to advanced, and English for professionals. After serving in the U.S. Peace Corps as an English education volunteer, she got her Master's degree in Teaching ESL from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She is thankful to be a part of the community of diligent students, dedicated tutors, and committed staff at SHC.

Amal Abuldood

Amal joined SHC as Early Childhood Enrichment Teacher in spring 2019 working with SHC preschoolers while their moms attend classes. Amal's dream has always been to become a teacher, leading her to complete a 90 hour pre-service training for child care providers that work in a pre schooling child care setting. Several years after arriving in the US with her husband and two young sons, as refugees, she looks forward to further improving her English, and becoming an American citizen, so she can help other newcomers succeed in the US.

Sara Anderson

Originally a lawyer at the US department of Health and Human Services, Sara qualified as a TEFL teacher after retiring from DHSS in 2013. She started volunteering with SHC not long after her Church sponsored an Afghan family through the LSS Good Neighbor Program. She has taught English at the Lado International Institute, the Washington English Center. At SHC, she works closely with pre-literate English Language Learners. Sara enjoys working with families from different backgrounds including Syria and Afghanistan.

Domi Long

Domi has spent over 20 years teaching in a variety of K-12 settings, and holds master's degrees in both special education and library science.  She obtained TESL certification through the CELTA program and has taught at the Washington English Center, where she discovered her love of teaching English to adult learners. Domi loves learning from others about their cultural backgrounds and looks forward to getting to know SHC families. She is also actively involved with Habitat for Humanity International, leading volunteer building trips abroad.

Sarah Simmons

Sarah joined SHC in 2017 and helped launch SHC's first English language classes. She believes that education empowers families and individuals to develop communication skills and gain a deeper understanding of American values and culture.  For over 20 years, she has taught English, history, government, and art to teens and adults. Sarah hold two masters degrees in education and history as well as a certificate to teach TESOL/TFEOL/ ESOL. She enjoys creating classes that are fun and challenge students to think deeply and ask questions that cause ripples.

Muska Stanakzai

Laila Sultan