Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties, NJ Inc.
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Our Team


Staff Members


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cbarcelos@lvaep.org

Cristhian Barcelos
Executive Director

   Executive Director for LVA, Essex & Passaic Counties brings his successful leadership skills to the organization. With his hands-on management style, he has been an integral part of the LVA administrative team since 2001. His expertise includes strategic planning, programming, grant writing and reporting, negotiations and technology. Cristhian also serves as the Director of the New Community Corporation – Adult Learning Center in Newark and as President Elect of New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning. Prior to coming to LVA, he was the former Managing Director of Uruguay’s second largest modeling agency. His strong commitment to literacy is further exemplified by being a board member of NJALL and the Literacy Committees for Essex and Passaic Counties. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Labor University of Uruguay in Montevideo and an associate’s degree in graphic and web design.

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cangus@lvaep.org

Catherine Angus
Tutor Support Specialist

Catherine Angus is an ESL teacher with a background in the non-profit sectors of education and human rights. She has taught and advocated for immigrants, students, and young people in Canada and the U.S., as well as in the United Nations and its partner organizations in Latin America. Her teaching method is largely based on her own experiences of learning French and Spanish, and from navigating the immigrant experience herself. Her teaching philosophy is one that begins with empathy for her learners, and demands regular self-reflection. Catherine received a bachelor’s degree from Queens University and a master’s degree from the University of Guelph, both research-intensive institutions in Ontario, Canada. She earned a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from The New School.

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rbenali@lvaep.org

Russell Ben Ali
Social Media & Newsletter Coordinator

​ Russell Ben Ali is the Social Media and Newsletter Coordinator for LVA Essex & Passaic Counties. He is a retired newspaper reporter whose career included stints as a staff writer at The Star-Ledger, New York Newsday, the New York Daily News, and the Los Angeles Times. As a journalist his work also appeared in publications like The Guardian (London, UK), The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and others. A former LVA volunteer tutor, and former recruitment and training coordinator, Russell currently helps manage our English-Spanish Language Exchange. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baruch College, City University of New York.

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jchavez@lvaep.org

Jorge Chavez
Data Processing Coordinator

   Jorge Chavez brings his expertise in both technology and people skills to LVA Essex and Passaic Counties and is currently LVA’s Database Administrator.   Along with lending his talents to LVA, he is employed by First Friends NJ & NY and also the American Red Cross.  Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Jorge was on the front line of the International Rescue Committee.  There, with his caring demeanor, he supported newly arriving refugees to the United States by providing immediate aid (food, shelter, and clothing), survival resources (housing, employment skills, how to seek medical attention), English classes and community orientation.   Jorge demonstrated his excellent customer service skills at Rico Foods and at Felix Chavez Inc where he was employed as an Executive Assistant.  Jorge earned a bachelor’s degree from San Marcos University in Lima, Peru and is a volunteer tutor for LVA.

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mramirez@lvaep.org

Rosa Marisol Ramirez
Student Coordinator

   Rosa Marisol Ramirez, the Coordinator of Students for LVA Essex and Passaic Counties, brings a strong sense of business management and creativity to her position. In her hometown of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Marisol worked as an architect who planned and designed homes. In the US, Marisol became an educator and has taught English as a Second Language, math and computer skills at institutions such as Essex County College and the Adult Learning Center of New Community Corporation in Newark, one of the nation's largest community development corporations. When she is not working, Marisol enjoys visiting museums with her family. She holds a master's degree in architecture from LAICA Vincente Rocafuerte University.

Board of Trustees


Sally E. Rice, President
Supervising Librarian and Coordinator of Adult Services, East Orange Public Library (retired)
srice@lvaep.org

Harsh Parikh, ​Vice President
Principal at PGIM, Prudential Financial, Inc.
hparikh@lvaep.org

   Sally Rice is the President of the Board of Trustees of Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties, Inc. She has been a leader in literacy for almost four decades, first as Supervising Librarian and Coordinator of Adult Services for the East Orange Public Library and now as a retiree since 2006. Sally became active in literacy as the library’s representative to the Essex Literacy Consortium in the 1980’s. Through this work, she was invited to become a member of the Board of Directors of LVA Essex County. She continued her board service when the Essex and Newark LVA organizations merged in late 1993. Sally served as President from 1995-2006 and again from 2009 to date. She served as Board Secretary from 2007-2008. Other volunteer leadership positions include her work as a founding member and the first President of the Government Documents Association of New Jersey. Sally served on the Bernie L. Edmonson Community Education Center Advisory Council in East Orange and on several committees for the New Jersey Library Association. Sally earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the American University in Washington, D.C. and a Master’s of Library Science from Rutgers University. She is also an active board member for her local public library Friends organization.
   Harsh Parikh is a Principal at PGIM, the Global Investment Management Business of Prudential Financial, Inc. Prior to PGIM, he was Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Strategist at BNY Mellon Investment Management. He also worked for GMAC RFC and Countrywide Capital Markets in portfolio management and fixed income research respectively. Harsh earned his advanced business degrees from the University of Southern California and the prestigious EDHEC Business School in France. Harsh did his undergraduate studies in Computer Engineering at Gujarat University, India.

   Harsh brings his expertise to the Literacy Volunteers of America board as a result of his passion to give back to the community in which he lives and works. He enjoys providing investment advice and business development plans to help grow organizations.  Harsh, passionate about education, says he thoroughly enjoys teaching languages as well.


Jordan Fried, Treasurer
Product Manager for Anti Money Laundering (AML) Solutions at NICE Actimize

Jamie Stieger, Secretary​
Executive Director, Administration & Finance, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

   Jordan Fried has a successful career in business where he is known for his ability to build and implement service management solutions that provide breakthrough improvements in revenue, unit cost and customer satisfaction.  He is currently Product Manager for Anti Money Laundering (AML) Solutions at NICE Actimize in Hoboken, New Jersey.  At NICE Actimize he is responsible for the design and Product Lifecycle for three Products focused on reporting of suspicious activity and identifying potential or actual sanctions violations.  Past positions include roles in IT, Strategic Planning, Product Management and Finance at firms such as JPMC, Credit Suisse, Bank of America, and AT&T Corporation.  Other current volunteer activities include Bridges Outreach to the Homeless. Jordan has held past Board positions at Temple B’Nai Or in Morristown, He earned his B.S. in Economics from Cornell University and MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
  With nearly two decades of experience in the business world, Jamie Stieger has always had one focus:  helping to make people’s lives better. Jamie is currently the Director, Administration & Finance, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center at Rutgers University.  Jamie advises the executive director and also coaches senior leaders at FXB, which is committed to improving the health of vulnerable women, children and families, including those affected by HIV.
 
  She implemented training programs for healthcare providers to better improve HIV care in the United States.  Jamie also developed a 24-hour crisis response program for victims of sexual assault. Prior to that, she provided crisis counseling and referrals to parents of children with disabilities. Jamie’s humanitarian efforts are a complement to our dedicated board. Jamie earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Health from Rutgers and a Bachelor of Arts and Social Work from the University of New Hampshire.


Mariella Andrade
Social Worker

   Social worker Mariella Andrade, a native of Riobamba, Ecuador, is the rape hotline manager for Family Service League/SAVE (Sexual Assault and Violence Education) of Essex County. She is responsible for the assessment, counseling, and education of victims of sexual violence, ensuring that they receive supportive counseling to reduce and cope with trauma and are connected with vital services available in the community. She has previously served as a counselor and social worker for various organizations.
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   Mariella is bilingual and has worked as a substitute public school Spanish teacher. She holds an associate’s degree in education from Essex County College and attended Rutgers University, where she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work. She also has earned certification as an advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault victims and is a board member of the Anti-Racism Committee at SAVE of Essex County.


Kathleen Mollica
Director, Passaic Public Library (retired)

Maria Roman
Early Childhood & Special Education Teacher

   Kathy Mollica is an active tutor and a trainer of tutors for LVA, an organization to which she has belonged and contributed to for more than 20 years Kathy is a career librarian.  She retired as the director of the Passaic Public Library and once worked as the library's assistant director.  In her retirement, she works part-time as a reference librarian for the Hawthorne Public Library, where she also heads the literacy program for LVA.  Kathy is president of the Zonta Club of Passaic/Clifton, an organization that is active in community affairs.  She earned a master's degree in library science from Pratt Institute in New York City.
   Maria Roman is a bilingual, early childhood and special education teacher in Passaic County schools. Her approach to teaching is straightforward and commendable: She believes that students fare best when they are encouraged to keep open minds and think creatively, and when teachers inspire them to do so. If lifelong learning were a movement, Maria could easily be its spokeswoman. In addition to her university degrees, she has earned more than a dozen certificates in teaching and educational leadership. Maria earned an associate degree in art at Essex County College and, at Montclair State University, a bachelor’s in English literature with a minor in psychology, and a master’s degree in early education, and education and teaching students with disabilities. Beyond the university and the classroom, Maria is the owner of a photography studio, an enterprise that specializes in commercial photography, marketing, advertising, public relations, and brand building and awareness.


Nancy Tinney
Reference Librarian and Branch Manager, East Orange Public Library

   Nancy Tinney brings years of library and public relations experience to the Board of Trustees of Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties. At the East Orange Public Library, where she is known as an exceptional reference librarian and branch manager, Nancy delivers comprehensive reference and technological services to patrons, all while supervising 12 full- and part-time library assistants. She also represents the library at community outreach events and serves on its marketing committee - - experiences that help her fortify LVA’s relations with the libraries we so depend on. She has a background in business, as well as in information services, and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a master’s degree in library and information science from Pratt Institute.

Trainers


Mary Kao

Mary O’Connor

   Mary Kao joined LVA Essex & Passaic Counties as a tutor in 2001 and is one of our longest serving volunteers. An artist and teacher of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, she became a trainer in 2007 and has since turned hundreds of volunteers into eager tutors, using her unique style of teaching with easily obtainable pictures and paper art. Mary grew up in India, speaks several languages, and grew passionate about literacy and education after observing obstacles faced by her mother, who was discouraged from attending school as a child in China. Mary was named NJALL “Teacher of the Year” in 2018 and LVA “Educator of the Year” in 2014. She earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Washington State University.
   Mary O’Connor is a trainer, a tutor of multiple students, our tutor support specialist, and a lead workshop presenter at LVA Essex & Passaic Counties. In a 43-year career in education, she worked as an English teacher in the New York City school system, a religious studies teacher at several New Jersey Catholic high schools, and an assistant principal and principal at Marylawn of the Oranges Academy in South Orange. She retired in 2008.  She became an LVA tutor in 2010 and a trainer in 2013. Mary was named NJALL “Teacher of the Year” in 2014 and has also won LVA’s “Educator of the Year” award. Mary earned a bachelor’s degree at St. John’s University and a master’s degree at Seton Hall University.


Darnelle Richardson

Carolyn Van Doren

   Darnelle Richardson has been a leader in adult education for almost 30 years. She has been a Master Trainer with Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey since 2005 and has recently joined LVA Essex & Passaic Counties’ roster of tutor trainers.
 
   Darnelle ‘s studies in education and business led to her current position at the Jersey City Public Library Literacy Program where she wears many hats. Darnelle is  Program Coordinator, Tutor Trainer and Instructor.  She leads a team of staff and volunteers to achieve the best possible outcomes for the diverse population of students her organization serves.
 
   Along with working with basic literacy and ESL students in improving their speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension of English, Darnelle also finds time to teach Public Speaking classes.
 
   Darnelle has been a member of Toastmasters International, Jersey City since 2005. She received the Distinguished Toastmaster award in 2013, the organization’s highest educational/leadership honor.

   A retired human resources manager who has recruited and hired more than 100 technical employees for IT and engineering jobs, Carolyn Van Doren is both an LVA literacy tutor and a trainer of basic literacy and ESOL tutors. She joined the organization as a volunteer in 2008. Carolyn is the former vice-president of the Girl Scouts of Essex County and also served as a national delegate, a board member and the chairperson of several committees for the organization. In her management career, Carolyn specialized in finding positions for displaced workers, negotiating with labor unions, arbitration, and employee grievance procedures and policies. She is a contributing writer for the Minority Interchange Newsletter. Carolyn received a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a master’s degree in Industrial Relations from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in Counselling from Upsala College.


Contact Us
90 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 | (973) 566-6200 x225
195 Gregory Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055 | (973) 470-0039

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