Ellen is the Executive Director of the Vermont Afghan Alliance.

Maureen Scanlin is Deputy Chief of Party of the USAID Integrated Land and Resource Governance II (ILRG II) Program, which is implemented by Tetra Tech ARD, based in Burlington, VT. The ILRG II program works with USAID missions, operating units, host country governments, civil society, the private sector, and local communities to develop inclusive, innovative and replicable strategies to clarify tenure and property rights and resolve land-related conflicts. ILRG II’s approach to land and resource governance supports a broad range of development goals, including combating climate change, promoting food security, supporting biodiversity conservation, enabling gender equality, preventing and mitigating conflict, and supporting sustainable urbanization and enabling localization.

Maureen has twenty years of experience in tenure and property rights, natural resources management, democracy and governance, and public health. She has worked in Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Her interest in exploring and working internationally was sparked by her experience as a Student Ambassador to Japan with the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, and she later went on to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia (2006-09). Maureen has a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in DC, and an M.S. in Management of Sustainable International Development from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT.

Gail has been one of Shelburne's best “cheerleaders” as part of her work with her husband Ken and their business Shelburne Vineyards. Read Gail’s Full Bio

My name is Mohamedou Diop, known to many people byMohamedas one of the shortened versions of Mohamedou. I am currently the Director of Multilingual Learner Programs at Winooski School District, a Champlain Valley Educator Development Center (CVEDC) Board Member, and a Vermont State Board of Education Member. I am a very respectful leader/human being, knowledgeable, observant, and a great listener who provides constructive feedback; it has never been the state of my way or the highway. I am open to learning even more, and I value different perspectives.

I am originally from Mauritania, North West Africa; nowadays, I am an American citizen and I call Vermont home. Before I arrived in the United States of America, I taught French and English as a second language and was also a school administrator. I worked for the U.S. Embassy as a French instructor. I also worked as a translator and an interpreter from French to English and vice versa for many organizations such as the Washington Post, the United Nations, the World Food Program, the Mauritanian Government, etc. As an educator, my proudest accomplishment among many is having worked effectively with my colleagues and mentored many students from different parts of the world, some of whom have already graduated from college and are in the workforce. Running into some of those former students and getting a phone call or an email from them gives me a joy I can hardly describe!

Here's a quote about me from one of my colleagues from Winooski School District:

"We are thrilled to welcome Mohamedou into this important Leadership role. As an educational leader, Mohamed has exceptional credentials and extensive experience. He also brings his multicultural background, which will provide valuable insight into the cultures of the students we serve," said Kate Grodin, WMHS Co-Principal.

Education is essential to me because it helps us understand our world and navigate it better. Through education, we can also better understand and respect each other. I'll continue to build upon this belief while I serve on the Vermont Council On World Affairs Board of Directors. I also intend to work closely with all Vermont Council On World Affairs Board Directors and any stakeholders we collaborate with to overcome challenges we might run into and celebrate our accomplishments.

Thank you, Vermont Council On World Affairs, for welcoming me to your team. I am ready and excited to join you as a Board Director. I also extend my gratitude to everyone involved in the Vermont Council On World Affairs' essential work to better our world, and I am thrilled to be a part of this incredible journey.

Sincerely, Mohamed Diop

Polly Ericksen is the Director of the UVM Food Systems Research Institute, a position she has held since December 2022. Prior to that, Polly spent most of her career working internationally, bridging research and development activities related to agriculture, food systems, and global environmental change. She has extensive experience working and living in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. She holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science, and M.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.A. in History from Swarthmore College. She has extensive experience working in, leading, and managing teams, along with resource mobilization.