Meet the Indy Reads Team.
Want to join the team at Indy Reads? Check out our current open positions.
Maria Thereza Bastos
InstructorMaria Thereza teaches an Indy Reads English Language Learning (ELL) class. Thereza holds a doctorate in literacy, culture, and language education from Indiana University in Bloomington, a Master of Arts in teaching English as a second language from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Portuguese from the Universidade Federal do Pará in Brazil. She enjoys traveling, learning about world cultures, dancing, photography, and spending time with her family.
Lee Bennett
Volunteer & Engagement CoordinatorLee Bennett coordinates our volunteer recruitment, orientation, and training and supports fundraising and outreach efforts. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Studio Art and Art History from Indiana University. Lee is an experienced nonprofit professional who channels her passion for art and literature through Read Write Books, under which name she publishes Quotidian magazine. She is excited to connect our community with meaningful opportunities to support Hoosiers on their path to literacy.
Kathy Chejfec
InstructorKathy Chejfec is an instructor in our High School Equivalency Fast Track program. Kathy graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education with an emphasis in the teaching of English. Kathy has always been involved in some form of teaching, including 15 years as a junior high language arts teacher. After leaving the classroom, she advised high school students with college applications, essays, and scholarship opportunities. During this time, Kathy also volunteered with a local literacy-based program, tutoring adult English Language Learning students seeking citizenship. After living her entire life in the Chicago area, Kathy and her husband recently moved “south” and are now proud to be part of the Indianapolis community! Outside of the classroom, Kathy loves playing guitar, attending live music events, reading, and visiting her adult children.
Casey Culp
Bookstore ManagerCasey Culp manages Indy Reads’ community bookstore. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in writing and literacy from IUPUI. She also holds a Master of Arts in English with a concentration in literature from IUPUI. Casey has previously interned for Genesis and The Ray Bradbury Center. Before finding Indy Reads, Casey worked for two small independent bookstores on the Northside of Indianapolis. Casey loves watching adults and families sharing their stories with each other in our community bookstore.
Drew Daner
InstructorDrew is an instructor in our Fast Track program, supporting High School Equivalency (HSE) students. She has taught mathematics across a wide range of grades, from early education to high school. In addition to her work in math education, Drew is passionate about robotics and STEM, actively engaging in mentorship and volunteer work. A proud Sycamore alumnus of Indiana State University, she also enjoys being an active member of several book clubs. Drew believes that mathematics is a universal language that everyone deserves to learn!
Carrie Dickerson
Lead InstructorCarrie Dickerson teaches adult learners in our English Language Learning (ELL) program. She holds a Master of Science in education from Indiana University Indianapolis, as well as a graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Ball State University. Carrie brings a wealth of experience to her teaching, including eight years as a public-school elementary teacher and additional experience teaching English Language Learners in virtual settings. Carrie is passionate about fostering inclusive, welcoming learning environments where every student feels known, valued, and safe. Outside the classroom, she enjoys diving into a good book—or audiobook—and spending quality time binge-watching TV shows with her husband and their two young adult daughters.
Sam Ferrante
Communications & Development ManagerSam Ferrante manages Indy Reads’ internal and external communications to further our vision of 100% literacy for all. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of Fredonia. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing with a concentration in poetry from Butler University. Sam has spent the last decade writing, editing, teaching, and facilitating workshops and events in New York, San Diego, Paris, Belfast, and Melbourne. She hopes to spend the next decade right here in Indianapolis, continuing to work alongside Hoosiers using literacy to make our entire community better.
Paul Finegan
InstructorPaul Finegan teaches adult learners in Indy Reads’ English Language Learning (ELL) program. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and economics from Indiana University—Bloomington. Paul has also earned a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) certificate from the University of Toronto. Before joining Indy Reads, he worked as a professional guitarist, a home builder, and a financial analyst. Empowering his students to succeed and leading a dedicated team of volunteers toward that end is his raison d’etre. Paul enjoys listening to Shostakovich at high volume until his wife can’t stand it anymore. Otherwise, he’s usually hiking, running, biking, traveling, or reading a book.
Sam Halter-Rainey
Bookstore AssociateSam Halter-Rainey acts as the associate within the community bookstore here at Indy Reads. A graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in sociology, Sam now applies his years of independent bookstore experience gained in Columbus, OH to aid Indy Reads’ literacy education efforts. A self proclaimed “nifty nerd” Sam’s a big believer in the individual and communal benefits that books, puzzles, and board games bring to the table.
Andrea Haltom
InstructorAndrea Haltom teaches pre-HSE courses at Indy Reads. Andrea holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Capella University as well as postgraduate degrees from Indiana University (Composition Studies) and Capella University (Higher and Adult Education). Andrea has worked in education for over 10 years, specifically working in adult education since 2017. Andrea is a full-time professor at Western Governor’s University and teaches part-time at Ivy Tech Community College. Andrea is passionate about providing accessible student-centered education to adults looking to better themselves and their future.
Darci Hawxhurst
Vice President of Community ImpactDarci Hawxhurst, M.S. Ed. has the honor of ensuring that our student-centered programs are impactful, inclusive, and effective in supporting every single learner to meet their personal goals and express themselves in the ways most meaningful to them. She is a child brain developmentalist, neurological evaluator, certified health coach, a member of the Conscious Feminine Leadership Academy, a writer, speaker, teacher, and literacy expert who believes that every human being is brilliant and has vast learning potential. As the homeschooling mother of a formerly brain injured child, she devoted years to helping her daughter outgrow a long list of disability labels to become a successful college student and entrepreneur. When not learning alongside the members of the Indy Reads community, Darci can be found writing her first memoir, growing her dad’s favorite tomatoes, playing with her golden retriever, Bella, or riding her bike through the beautiful, hilly forest of southern Indiana, which is the ancestral homeland of the myaamiaki, Lënape, Bodwéwadmik, and saawanwa people.
James Hensley
InstructorJames Hensley teaches adult learners in our English Language Learning (ELL) program. He holds a Master of Science in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education from Indiana University, and is currently working on his Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Purdue University Global. James has previously taught adult learners in a variety of settings and has spent 22 years teaching English as a Foreign Language in South Korea. James understands the power of language and education and believes all learners have the right to a transformative education which caters to their specific personal and professional needs and goals. When he’s not teaching, he loves spending time with his wife and two wonderful children visiting the countryside and enjoying Korean cuisine.
Greta Herbertz
InstructorGreta Herbertz is a teacher in the Indy Reads English Language Learning (ELL) program. She has a Master of Arts in teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Linguistics from Indiana University in Bloomington. She brings experience teaching English to both children and adults in classroom and individual settings. Greta is a language learner herself, having studied Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Hindi, and is currently learning Haitian Creole. She is passionate about creating spaces where language and difference are celebrated. Greta spends her time reading books from around the world, playing board games with friends, and doing crossword puzzles.
Jemiya Jacob
Bookstore AssociateJemiya Jacob has a deep love of reading books that center marginalized people’s fight for liberation and world building. Hailing from New Orleans, her passions for love, political education, and community care have led her to creating a budding community organization starting with intentional online book conversations. New to Indianapolis, Jemiya is excited to get to know the city and its people and serve the community. She brings years of experience working in the nonprofit field, customer service, and administrative jobs to Indy Reads. Jemiya can’t wait to contribute to Indy Reads’ vision of 100% literacy for all!
Alice Johnson
InstructorAlice joined Indy Reads as a teacher for adult learners in our High School Equivalency (HSE) program. She taught middle school language arts for 40 years before retiring in 2014. Alice earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of Indianapolis. She began volunteering for Indy Reads in a Pre-HSE class three years ago, followed by two years in an HSE class. Watching students move closer to attaining their HSE diploma is especially rewarding. Alice also enjoys spending time with family and friends, and the chance for extensive travel. She has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Lydia Johnson
Vice President of OperationsLydia Johnson manages Indy Reads’ daily and long-term operations and staffing needs. Previously working in an administrative capacity at a for-profit college in Indianapolis led Lydia to seek a way to use her organizational and system-making skills in the nonprofit sector. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing with a concentration in poetry from Butler University. Lydia is a freelance writer and poet who also teaches writing workshops and leads book discussions for the Indiana Writers Center and other organizations in Indianapolis. Lydia loves music, thrifting, collecting records, and reading. She believes that the work we do at Indy Reads matters because we help students learn and grow via adult education which in turn helps families become stronger and more stable.
Ruba Marshood
Chief Executive OfficerRuba Marshood oversees Indy Reads’ programs, brand, and growth to advance Indy Reads’ vision of literacy for all. A social justice leader, Ruba came to adult literacy and education after a decade of international community development work in Kenya, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, and other parts of the world. She returned to the US with an eye on local impact and brought her international perspective to the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (now EEC), where she launched their trademark Destination Workforce program, emphasizing the power of collaboration to create meaningful, student-centered transformation. An alumna of the Princeton AlumniCorps’ Emerging Leaders program, Ruba received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland and her Master of Environmental Management and International Development from Duke University. Ruba proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Museum of the Palestinian People, the first of its kind in the nation’s capital. A first-generation American who grew up in New Jersey, Ruba is fluent in Arabic, and a published photographer and photo-editor. She moved to Indy to become a Hoosier and embrace her role at Indy Reads in the summer of 2022. Ruba is inspired daily by the potential of literacy and education to advance society and by the wonderful team she gets to work alongside toward advancing this possibility. She enjoys exploring the city with her kids, dancing, and good food with great company.
Brandi Metzger
Fundraising AssistantBrandi Metzger (she/her) assists with strategizing and executing fundraising efforts that enable Indy Reads to serve adults and families. With extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, Brandi is committed to harnessing her passion for writing to drive positive change. She is a playwright, screenwriter, short story writer, and poet. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Oberlin College in Ohio. A firm believer in lifelong learning, she sees education as an ongoing journey that doesn’t end when we “grow up.” Brandi loves cats, watching movies, and thrifting to discover Indy’s hidden treasures.
Jean Miller
Executive AssistantJean Miller uses her nonprofit administration skills to support chief executive officer Ruba Marshood in advancing Indy Reads’ vision of 100% literacy for all. Jean has more than 20 years of experience serving a variety of nonprofits as both an employee and a volunteer. Most recently, Jean served as the director of administration for Indiana Recycling Coalition/Circular Indiana. She is an avid reader and is a member of two book clubs, so a workspace with a bookstore is a dream come true! Jean is a proud Purdue graduate who is passionate about social justice and enjoys hiking, camping, exploring new places and restaurants, plant-based cooking, theater, live music, and spending time with her husband, two young adult children, and two dogs.
Raquel Ravinet
Senior Director of Finance and EngagementRaquel Ravinet manages finance and engagement for Indy Reads. She was a volunteer for the Greater Indianapolis Literacy League in the 1980s, which went on to become Indy Reads. Raquel has more than 30 years of experience in the Indianapolis nonprofit sector, including as program director for the Indiana Library Federation and executive director of the Neighborhood Self-Employment Initiative and The Children’s TherAplay Foundation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and communications from Hanover College. Raquel believes in the transformative power of learning and is honored to help Indy Reads advance its vision of 100% literacy for all.
elle roberts
Community Programs Managerelle manages community programs at Indy Reads. elle is a facilitator, artist, and writer with a “sharp oyster knife” in the words of Zora Neale Hurston. They have been a public educator and community builder for over a decade, collaboratively organizing grassroots groups and professionally serving local nonprofits based in Central Indiana.
elle’s practice as a whole person is rooted in a loving relationship with our living and breathing Earth, the Combahee River Collective Statement, restorative justice principles, and teaching as learning as teaching. They make new worlds possible by connecting people through storytelling. elle is usually enjoying sun medicine, rollerskating on the empty end of an outdoor tennis court, watching anime with their kid, belly laughing with friends and family, and studying their Black literary ancestors like Toni Cade Bambara and June Jordan.
Do you want to know more about what “all pronouns” means and why elle spells their name with all lowercase letters? Click here for short answers to your questions.
Mary Roberts
InstructorMary Roberts is a part of the education team as a Literacy Foundations Instructor at Indy Reads. Her past experience includes teaching students with learning differences in Wayne Township Schools. She has been a teacher of all ages and an administrator in both the elementary and secondary levels. Mary retired from Wayne Township after serving there for 37 years. Mary holds Masters’ degrees from Butler University in Education/Special Education, Counseling, and Educational Supervision and Administration. She believes that teaching at Indy Reads just continues her commitment to all learners who are attempting to meet their goals of better accessibility in their every day lives. In Mary’s spare time, she loves to read, listen to music, and participate in The Indianapolis Women Chorus.
Becky Schlomann
Academic Operations DirectorBecky champions Indy Reads’ students and team members through instructional support, logistics oversight, and data management. Years ago, Becky’s experience as a volunteer English Language Learning (ELL) tutor inspired her to go to grad school to become a K-12 teacher. After a decade in the classroom, her career evolved to include teacher professional development, nonprofit management, and higher ed operations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Knox College and a Master of Fine Arts in Drama and Theatre for Youth from the University of Texas at Austin. So, when she’s not at work, you can probably find her directing, acting in, or writing plays. She also loves hiking and spending time with family members, both biological and chosen. Becky is passionate about the power of stories—and literacy—in building a more equitable, empathic society.
Chris Simmons
Student Services ManagerChris Simmons manages student services by leading enrollment, orientation, and coaching efforts with adult learners. He holds a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Education in occupational training and development, both from the University of Louisville. Chris is committed to community service and making the world a better place from the grassroots up, often one person at a time. Chris enjoys cars, cooking, sports, celebrations, working, and relaxing with his wife, two sons, extended family, and many friends. His greatest joys come from helping others to improve their life situations.
Gyalene Torres
Program AssociateGya supports Indy Reads’ programming by managing student data, supporting family and community programs in our community bookstore, and helping students enroll. She has a Bachelor of Arts in art history from the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus. Working in the coffee industry for nine years, she developed her customer service, training, leadership, and organizational skills. Some of her passions are community service, reading romance novels, social justice, and spending time with her family. Gya’s name once appeared in a book. After crossing paths with Indiana author, Jennifer Niven, she promised to include her name in her next novel, Breathless, and she did. Gya enjoys sharing her love of reading with students and their families through our literacy programming.
David Turner
Lead InstructorDavid teaches adult learners in our High School Equivalency (HSE) program. He has been teaching for 20 years and has been working in adult education since 2015. He got his Bachelor of Music in music education from the University of Indianapolis and taught elementary music prior to 2015. He also got licensure in Middle School Mathematics, and then switched to adult education, working in an adult male correctional facility. It was there that he not only realized his passion for teaching math but also that he has an immense passion for helping adults who are in need of a second chance at their education. He has worked in similar capacities for other HSE programs and currently also works full-time at an adult charter high school. He still enjoys music performing and teaching as a hobby, mostly in a religious capacity. David lives in Plainfield and has a wife and three teenage children.
Sheramie Velazquez
InstructorSheramie Velazquez is a teacher for an English Language Learning (ELL) program at Indy Reads. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from IUPUI, with concentrations in STEM and Spanish Literature. She brings recent classroom experience to both children and adults, which mainly focus on science, Spanish, and cultural studies. As a teacher, she is dedicated to fostering environments that embrace language and cultural differences. When she’s not working, she enjoys reading (pretty much anything), writing, coloring, cooking, spending time with her family and messing with her two dogs, ensuring that they don’t have a minute of peace.
Daisy Velez Collazo
Intake/ELL CoordinatorDaisy Velez Collazo coordinates enrollment for our English Language Learning (ELL) students and plays a large role in coaching Indy Reads students as they work toward achieving their goals. She has a Bachelor of Arts in elemental education. Daisy graduated from dietetics school and is also a Certified Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Advocate in Florida. She is a member of the Brown County Rock Club, the Tecumseh Lodge Education Group, and the Indiana Archaeological Society. Daisy likes photography, hiking, geode hunting, camping, traveling, painting, gardening, yoga, and dancing. She enjoys working with students and their families in Indy Reads’ programs.