Our Staff

Sarah Louise Smith

Executive Director

Sarah Louise Smith, a native of Tuscaloosa, AL, graduated cum laude from Williams College with a B.A. in political economy. She is currently pursuing an MBA at The University of Alabama (May 2012). She has worked in various capacities for Impact since 2006. Smith is a member of Birmingham’s Rotaract Club, the PARCA Roundtable, the Alabama Leadership Initiative, and the Board of Directors of the N. Joyce Sellers Educational Excellence Foundation for the Tuscaloosa County Schools.


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Channing Kennedy

Program Manager

Channing Kennedy, a native of Athens, AL, graduated magna cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in May 2009 with a B.A. in history and political science and a Distinction in Leadership Studies. Channing was a Harrison Honors Scholar and was inducted into numerous academic honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa. Before beginning work at Impact in January 2010, Channing worked as a program assistant in the Hess Center for Leadership and Service at Birmingham-Southern College.


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Christopher Mosco

Fiscal Officer

Christopher Mosco, a native of Birmingham, AL, graduated magna cum laude from Emory University in Atlanta in May 2008 with a degree in economics. Christopher was a member of the varsity track team and earned the University Athletic Association’s All-Academic Recognition honor. He was named to the Phi Eta Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies. Chris completed a finance internship for Matahari Department stores in Indonesia. He plans to attend business school.


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Lindsey Thomas

Program Coordinator

Lindsey Thomas, from Greensboro, AL, graduated summa cum laude from The University of Alabama with a degree in human development and family studies in May 2007. While at UA, she worked in the Office of the President. She also completed internships for Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge and Child Abuse Prevention Services. Lindsey works full-time at the Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility at UA and contributes time to administering Impact projects on campus there.


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AmeriCorps Members

Malcolm Albin

Second-Year Team Member: SaveFirst Marketing & Outreach Coordinator

Malcolm Albin, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduated with a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan in 2010. While at Michigan, Malcolm worked as an intern in the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan, in the Special Prosecution Unit. He also worked as a youth soccer coach and sports camp counselor. He served as President of his Pledge Class in Alpha Delta Phi. Malcolm plans to attend law school.


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Kathleen Shelton

Second-Year Team Member: SaveFirst Coordinator

Kathleen Shelton, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated summa cum laude and No. 1 in her class with an interdisciplinary degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Birmingham-Southern College. Kathleen served as the editor-in-chief of The Compass. In BSC’s inaugural Stump Entrepreneurial Challenge, Kathleen was awarded second place for her proposal for a student-developed microcredit initiative. Kathleen plans to pursue a career in law and/or economic development.


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Alexandra Austin

Regional Coordinator

Alexandra Austin graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in May 2011 with a degree in accounting and a minor in business administration. She was an active member in the Commuter Student Union for four years, serving two years as Treasurer and two years as President. She tutored elementary students in mathematics and interned with SaveFirst as part of her senior accounting project. Alexandra plans to obtain her C.P.A. license and begin a career in the accounting field.


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Helen Barnes

Regional Coordinator

Helen Barnes, a native of Alpharetta, GA, graduated cum laude with honors from The University of Alabama in May 2011 with a B.A. in anthropology and a minor in business. Helen was a member of the Women's Rowing Team, earning a Varsity letter and two-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar Athlete Award winner. Helen was engaged in multiple philanthropic events to raise funds and awareness for women's heart health. Helen plans to attend graduate school.


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Courtney Champion

Regional Coordinator

Courtney Champion, a native of Albertville, AL, graduated magna cum laude from Auburn University with a degree in political science. She spent two years raising money for juvenile diabetes research as a philanthropy coordinator for her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. She spent a summer studying political science and European politics in Vienna, Austria. Courtney was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She plans to obtain a law degree.


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Lorie Creel

FocusFirst Coordinator

Lorie Creel, a native of Cullman, AL, graduated cum laude in May 2009 from The University of Alabama with a B.A. in religious studies and a minor in computer-based honors. Lorie served as Elliott Society President, an Alabama Action Leader, and Upward Basketball coach. Lorie owns a tutoring company with the goal of helping students succeed in math. She has earned a black belt in U.S. Yoshukai Karate. Lorie is currently pursuing her Alternative Master’s of Elementary Education.


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Chris Fite

Regional Coordinator

Chris Fite, a native of Decatur, AL, graduated summa cum laude from Samford University in May 2011 with a major in history and a minor in classics. Chris served as a coordinator for service projects in Perry County, AL. He completed archival internships at the Birmingham Public Library, Morgan County Archives, and Samford University Library. He studied abroad in Italy, Greece, India, and Bhutan. Chris plans to attend graduate school to study history.


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Lane Gilmore

Regional Coordinator

Lane Gilmore, a native of Birmingham, AL, graduated cum laude and with University Honors from The University of Alabama in May 2011, majoring in international relations and minoring in Spanish. Lane served as an ESL tutor for the Tuscaloosa County Schools, a volunteer at Holt Elementary, and a volunteer for SaveFirst. She has done social science research, was actively involved in Alpha Delta Pi, and participated in a study abroad program in San José, Costa Rica. She plans to attend graduate school.


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Em Gormley

Regional Coordinator

Em Gormley, a native of Lansing, Michigan, graduated from Oberlin College in May 2011 with a B.A. in art history and anthropology. Em served as an Accessibility Coordinator for the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association. Em also served as a workshop facilitator for the Oberlin Multicultural Resource Center and taught storytelling and creative writing workshops for adults with developmental disabilities. Em plans to attend graduate school in visual studies or art history.


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Brendan Griffin

Regional Coordinator

Brendan Griffin, a native of Gaylesville, AL, graduated magna cum laude as a Harrison Honors Scholar from Birmingham-Southern College in May 2011 with a B.A. with disciplinary honors in philosophy and a minor in political science. Brendan served as a member of the college Honor Council and as a Southern Ambassador for the college admissions office. Brendan volunteered with both FocusFirst and SaveFirst during his undergraduate study and plans to attend law school.


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Linn Groft

Regional Coordinator

Linn Groft, most recently from Florence, AL, graduated summa cum laude with University Honors and as a Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility Scholar from The University of Alabama in Spring 2011 with a degree in Global Studies in Community Health and Development and minors in Economics and Documentary Film & Justice. While at UA, Linn studied and volunteered in Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda. Linn plans to attend graduate school.


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Allison Herren

Regional Coordinator

Allison Herren, a native of Nashville, TN, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history from Birmingham-Southern College in 2011. Allison was active in the Harrison Honors Program, which facilitated her studies abroad in Costa Rica. Allison was also selected for a Hess Fellowship, which allowed her to work at the YWCA Central Alabama, where she focused on statewide data for the availability of affordable housing. Allison plans to attend graduate school.


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Tasnuva Islam

Regional Coordinator

Tasnuva Islam, a Bengali-American from New York City, graduated Pi Sigma Alpha from Brown University in May 2011 with a degree in political science and public policy. While studying at Brown, Tasnuva was active in theater and worked for Rhode Island for Community and Justice, where she worked with members from both public and non-profit organizations to find ways to divert youth from the juvenile justice system. She plans to pursue a Master’s in social work and a J.D.


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Kate Jarrett

Regional Coordinator

Kate Jarrett, a native of Millbrook, AL, graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2011 with a degree in finance and a concentration in financial management. Kate participated in the Global and Community Leadership honors program and the School of Business honors program. She worked as an intern for the UA Health Services Foundation. Kate also interned in Dublin, Ireland, for an NGO that works with refugees and asylum-seekers. Kate plans to attend graduate school.


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Jacqueline Koncsol

Regional Coordinator

Jacqueline Koncsol, a native of Birmingham, AL, graduated summa cum laude and with University Honors from The University of Alabama in May 2011 with a degree in mathematics and a minor in biology.  She participated in Art to Life and served as a mentor at Matthews Elementary and Central High. Jacqueline played clarinet in the Million Dollar Band and Wind Ensemble and was a member of the 2007 UA intramural volleyball championship team. She plans to attend graduate school.


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Nikita Maladkar

Regional Coordinator

Nikita Maladkar, from Madison, AL, graduated cum laude and with departmental honors in business from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in August 2011 with a degree in medical industrial distribution with minors in biology and chemistry. She was awarded the “Most Outstanding Student in Industrial Distribution” and served as an Orientation Leader, a Business Student Leader, and a Teaching Assistant for the Honors Academy. She plans to attend medical school.


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Addie Mancuso

Regional Coordinator

Addie Mancuso, a native of Birmingham, AL, graduated magna cum laude and with University Honors from The University of Alabama in December 2010 with degrees in classics and history. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Eta Sigma Phi and Order of Omega honor societies. Addie also volunteered with the Good Samaritan Clinic and Matthews Elementary. She spent a semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Addie plans to attend graduate school.


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Kaitlin Nobles

Regional Coordinator

Kaitlin Nobles, a native of Pinson, AL, graduated cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in 2011 with a degree in economics. Kaitlin served as Re-entry Advisor within the International Programs office and as a Resident Advisor. She was an active member in the Honors Program and the school’s Mortar Board. She spent one semester participating in a study abroad program in Peru. She plans to attend graduate school to study international and poverty economics.


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Beth Reinwald

Regional Coordinator

Beth Reinwald, of Somerset, PA, graduated magna cum laude with University Honors and English Honors from The University of Alabama in 2011 with degrees in English and Spanish. Beth participated in Alabama Action, was an active member of Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, and spent a semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain. Beth wrote an honors thesis through the English department and has been published in the Marr’s Field Journal. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies.


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Sonda Sengupta

Regional Coordinator

Sonda Sengupta, from Prattville, AL, graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.S. in neuroscience and B.A. in philosophy. She was a member of the Science and Technology Honors Program, serving on the program’s student committee for three years with one year as the co-chair of the executive committee. She has assisted in research programs for institutions in the U.S. and abroad in topics ranging from meteoritics to ADHD. She plans to attend graduate school.


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Cassie Stokes

Regional Coordinator

Cassie Stokes, of Grand Bay, AL, graduated cum laude and with University Honors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Spanish. She holds a Master’s degree in public health with a focus on health care organization and policy. Cassie served as a volunteer translator for Cahaba Valley Healthcare and with the Birmingham Crisis Center. She also participated on UAB’s Mock Trial team for two years, winning several awards. She plans to work in public policy in Alabama.


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Nicole Thurmond

Regional Coordinator

Nicole Thurmond, from Atlanta, GA, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a degree in psychology in 2011. Nicole was a member of the Honors College, Deck Dawgs, and Kappa Alpha Theta. She volunteered as a tutor and mentor at the Thomas Lay Foundation and was a member of UGA's HERO. She also worked under a professor conducting research in elementary schools to help improve reading. She plans to attend graduate school.


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Laura Weathers

Regional Coordinator

Laura Weathers, a native of Sulphur Springs, TX, graduated cum laude from Texas Tech University in May 2007 with a degree in sociology. She also earned a master’s degree in sociology from Texas Tech. Laura served as the president of the sociological honor society, Alpha Kappa Delta. She has presented her research at sociological conferences across the country. Laura plans to further pursue her passion for applied sociology and continue working in the nonprofit sector.


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Parker White

Regional Coordinator

Parker White, a native of Montgomery, AL, graduated summa cum laude from The University of Alabama in 2011 with degrees in English and classics. Parker served as an editor for the student literary magazine Marr’s Field Journal, a copy editor for The Crimson White, and a radio show host for WVUA, for which he was named Best Specialty Show Host two years in a row. He was named Outstanding Senior in the English department. Parker plans to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer.


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Logan Yates

Regional Coordinator

Logan Yates, a native of Montgomery, AL, graduated from the University of Alabama's New College in 2011 with a degree in music, culture, and community engagement. Logan helped to found UA's Radical South Zine Archive, the New College Listening Library Syndicate, and the Affinity Program, a community enrichment program within New College. He was awarded the Fran Geddes Outstanding Service to New College Award. Logan's studies will continue after his time with Impact.


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