Our Team

“As a woman born in the United States, I grew up in a society that REQUIRED me to go to school. Had I been born in South Sudan or Burkina Faso, for example, I would not have had the same opportunity for education, financial independence, and complete self-determination.”

Although education is a global human right, the unfortunate reality is accessibility to education depends entirely upon the country in which girls and women are born—this is what drives Nicole Hughes to support Circle of Sisterhood. Her involvement with CofS has enabled a greater understanding of the educational discrepancies between geographies and the urgency with which we must work to make sure all girls have access to quality education.

In her role as IBM’s North America sales lead for data science and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, Nicole works with Fortune 500 companies to modernize and transition workloads to the cloud. She is in a unique position to observe technology barriers that are additional education equity hurdles for girls and women in developing countries where access to the same global educational resources and job opportunities as developed nations are limited by little to no technology experience.

“I believe the democratization of coding and AI APIs will not only set the world free from the social media ‘dilemma’ we are currently in and generate opportunities for creation of new solutions, but it also presents opportunities for invention and entrepreneurship which can be obtained by turning an amazing idea into an application.”

Nicole studied communications with an emphasis in journalism at Washington State University where she joined Delta Delta Delta Fraternity’s Theta Nu Chapter. Upon graduation and the inevitable search for communications or marketing-related jobs, her writing skills ultimately caught interest in many different industries and got her foot in the door in unexpected places. Now after decades of a trailblazing career path that has coupled her passion for problem-solving with elevating women in an often male-dominated field, she lends her expertise and experience to volunteerism that creates similarly powerful opportunities for other women. As a Tri Delta alumna, she has served the fraternity’s three governance-focused boards—the Tri Delta Executive Board, Tri Delta Foundation, and Tri Delta Housing Board—and currently serves as the chair of her city’s Economic Development Commission.

“Education unleashes potential for earning, for self-determination, for an upward trajectory that can never be taken away. The work of CofS is inspiring because it breaks down the barriers of cultural circumstances that affect education to create a future of growth and development for girls and women who otherwise may never have those opportunities.”

“There is a uniqueness to the CofS Foundation in its mission and approach to grantmaking that, I feel, promotes success. The Circle of Sisterhood taps into the collective influence of sorority women to help remove educational barriers for girls and women. American higher education historically excluded women, and when women were eventually given the opportunity to attend college, they were met with substantial resistance on campus, in society, and in their own homes. Sororities provided safe spaces for their voices to be heard and to support each other educationally. Today’s sorority experience is quite different, but the core ideas of giving women a supportive space and a voice while serving others persists. Who better to look to as a partner to remove barriers of education for others?”

April Adams is an Environmental Engineer with over twenty-five years of experience in government, corporate and nonprofit sectors. In the environmental nonprofit sector, April has served in both grantmaking and grant receiving capacities. In addition, she provided program management and analytical support for 99 electric grid modernization projects totaling $8B under the Department of Energy’s Smart Grid Investment Grant Program (SGIG), funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Under an EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office Grant, April ran a voluntary pollution prevention program, Businesses for the Bay, which encouraged superior environmental performance through development and implementation of environmental management systems and source reduction programs. It was personally very rewarding when businesses learned that by reducing pollution at the source, they could both dramatically reduce their pollution footprint while increasing their profitability (a win-win).

April’s undergraduate studies were at West Virginia University (WVU). As an initiate of Alpha Xi Delta, she developed leadership skills and learned the importance of philanthropy and the recognition of needs in others. After graduating from WVU, April attended Johns Hopkins University earning a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering. April has stayed engaged with Alpha Xi Delta serving as a Territory Academics Director and has executed multiple leadership roles in other volunteer service organizations.

“My education has given me autonomy I would not have had otherwise, and each level of education has yielded more and more independence. My grandmother, from a young age, touted the importance of being an educated woman. She eventually earned an associate degree, but her road to higher education was difficult and nonlinear. Knowledge and financial independence, thanks to my education, has helped stabilize the family income, provided a safety net for my parents, and allowed me to give back and to be an informed participant in my community. CofS grants help girls reap these benefits of education in the United States and around the world.”

“Why be involved? I’ve had the privilege to travel the world as a woman. To see the disparities that exist for women when they are denied education and opportunity. Women suffer, children suffer, communities suffer. The world needs women to lead, love, and lift communities, and education is the number one equalizer to unlock a better future. Many sorority women have helped lead the way on women’s education and issues at home. And, while women in the U.S. still have a way to go, we owe it to our sisters around the world to lift as we climb. To create ladders out of poverty and violence through education.”

Amber Garrison Duncan’s connection to the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation goes back to its earliest days, assisting with creating assessment protocols to document the learning and impact of CofS Trek participants. She has been an invaluable resource for support and guidance ever since. Amber joined Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity’s Epsilon Chi Chapter at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), where she first experienced the bond all sorority women have through education and empowering one another. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from TWU, Amber later earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M University and a doctorate from the University of Oregon.

As a current Strategy Director for Lumina Foundation, Amber’s career focuses on philanthropy in education. She also has 15 years of experience as a student affairs campus-based professional and has a wealth of valuable knowledge that directly supports the Cofs mission. Before joining the Lumina team in 2013, Amber served as Director of Student Affairs Assessment and Research at the University of Oregon; Director of Family Programs and Commencement at the University of Oregon; a First-Year Experience Instructor at Florida State University; an Intake and Investigations Coordinator at the University of Michigan; and as Assistant Director of Housing and Greek life at Hope College.

A commitment to service has driven Amber to share her time volunteering with a variety of organizations. Previously, Amber served in a variety of volunteer roles for Alpha Gamma Delta and ultimately served three years on International Council as the International Vice President- Collegians. She has also served as Board Chair of Oregon Women in Higher Education and currently serves on the Diversity Committee for Indianapolis School on Wheels and Board of Directors for Texas Woman’s University Foundation.

Amber brings to the CofS Board of Trustees a fantastic ability to set strategic vision and goals that translate into meaningful grantmaking and impact. The Lumina Foundation’s mission aligns closely with CofS, and Amber’s work focuses on making learning opportunities beyond high school available to all. Amber describes both her career and CofS Trustee role as work to “create the most good, for the most people, in the largest way possible.”

The CofS cause is especially poignant for Amber as a small-town girl from Texas who knows firsthand how education has transformed her life and created opportunity. Amber and her partner John live in Indianapolis and have three cats moonlighting as gladiators─Leonidas (Leo), Spartacus (Sparty), and Perseus (Percy), who are “Instagram hogs” to follow at @leospartyperceus.

“In March 2020, as the pandemic exploded (we were in Nicaragua when it happened), I was able to visit for the first time since I left. I always knew Nicaragua was poor, but I had no idea just how poor my homeland is. After seeing people live in shacks with tin roofs in the city (it was worse in rural areas), I knew the work Circle of Sisterhood did in Nicaragua was such a huge blessing and that this was a mission I would always support. Seeing the benefits of young girls learning and becoming independent is an amazing goal to aspire to and I want to do my part to continue in serving that purpose.”

Chris Medrano Graham was born in Managua, Nicaragua, and has seen firsthand the need that exists to help young women in developing nations gain access to education.

In 1979, her mother gathered resources to leave Nicaragua at the height of the Nicaraguan Revolution—although a dictatorship regime had been defeated, a repressive communist government took its place, and the war left their country in physical and economic ruin.

A two-time graduate of the University of Florida and working towards a Ph.D. in higher education from Indiana University, Chris’s career has been dedicated to student affairs and advising young men and women in fraternal organizations. She has worked with students and various Greek councils at the University of Arkansas, Indiana University, Florida International University, and the University of West Georgia. The “selflessness of students and my peers to give, serve, lead, and achieve academically” is what inspires Chris to continue working in the field wholeheartedly.

Chris is an alumna member of Gamma Eta Sorority, Inc., a fraternal organization founded at the University of Florida in 1995. Gamma Eta’s origins are rooted in the forward-thinking of 18 young Latina women who saw the need for an organization that would offer a support system to women of diverse backgrounds at UF. In 2006, Gamma Eta was admitted as a full member of the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) and now has seven chapters throughout Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, and Indiana, as well as a newly developing chapter at St. John’s University in Staten Island, New York.

Her position as a strong CofS advocate encouraging others to become global citizens working toward the advancement of girls’ and women’s education worldwide can be attributed to Chris’s lived experiences.

“Since I am a member of a culturally-based fraternal organization, I am able to reach out to individuals who are normally not familiar with CofS. And as a member of a historically marginalized community, I can bring awareness to the benefits of giving to and working with CofS at a different level that connects with the shared experiences of members of culturally-based organizations.”

“I support the Circle of Sisterhood because education is the key to advancement. Who better than college educated sorority women to be advocates for their “sisters” all around the world?!? Our organizations were all founded, to some degree, on educational advancement and mutual support for each other and our communities. To me, supporting Circle of Sisterhood is living my vows out loud.”

The daughter of two public school teachers, LuAnn Daniel cannot remember a time when education wasn’t the central focus of her formative years. She never wondered if she was going to school and her parents made sure she was prepared, so the mission of Circle of Sisterhood spoke strongly to her heart. Who better than educated people to know the value of an education? An early “apostle” for Circle of Sisterhood, LuAnn has been involved as a financial supporter and volunteer since the early days. She is completing her first term on the Grants Review Committee which is quickly becoming her favorite volunteer role, so far.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in Accounting and an MBA from Villanova University where she became a founding member of the Tri Delta chapter in 1982. From that point forward, LuAnn has been a loyal volunteer for Tri Delta at the local collegiate, alumnae and national level including 6 years as an Executive Board Director and Foundation Trustee.

A certified Project Management Professional, LuAnn is currently the PM team lead for Draeger Medical where she oversees the installation of Draeger medical equipment and software in hospitals across the US. In her off hours, LuAnn is the president of the Villanova Club of Houston and also serves on the Strategic Planning Committee for Courage to Caregivers, a non-profit founded to provide hope, support, and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness. She’s also serving a 4th year on the finance team for the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Tri Delta. LuAnn and her husband Robert live near Houston, TX with their dog, Sparky and cat, Maksim. Grandparents of three (so far) they love spending time with family.

“Girls’ education is one of the most powerful forces for change in the world. It creates opportunity, strengthens entire communities, and gives women the agency to define their own futures. I have seen firsthand how access to education builds confidence, expands possibilities, and transforms not only individual lives, but communities as a whole. Circle of Sisterhood brings this mission to life by empowering sorority women to become advocates and change-makers. Through partnerships with grassroots organizations, Circle of Sisterhood connects us to inspiring women and girls who are driving meaningful progress in advancing women’s rights—all united by the shared goal of removing barriers to education.”

MC Lombardo’s commitment to women’s education began early, shaped by a transformative high school experience traveling to El Salvador, where she lived in a village with students from a sister school her high school supported. Through meaningful conversations with girls and women about education, opportunity, and identity—as well as her early exposure to the book Half the Sky—MC developed an initial awareness of the barriers women face globally and the life-changing power of access to education.

As a freshman at University of South Carolina, she pledged Alpha Chi Omega and joined the Circle of Sisterhood committee, initially looking for friends, but quickly finding a deeper purpose. Her involvement evolved into leadership roles including Panhellenic President and Vice President of Service, where she led Circle of Sisterhood initiatives and helped mobilize her sorority community around education advocacy and fundraising.

One of the most defining experiences of her journey was leading her community to fund a school build and then participating on a Circle of Sisterhood trek to Nicaragua—an experience that further solidified her passion for global education and the tangible impact she and her fellow sorority sisters could have. Since graduating, MC has remained actively engaged with the organization, serving as a Campus Relationship Manager and contributing to the Grants Review Team multiple times. Through these roles, she has continued to deepen her understanding of the organizations that the Circle of Sisterhood supports and the ripple effects of their work within communities.

MC has her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and her Master’s of Human Resources from the University of South Carolina. Professionally, MC is the Global Intern Leader at GE Vernova in Atlanta, GA, where she works across regions and collaborates with teams around the world. Over the past five years in human resources—following an early start in public accounting—she has developed a global perspective shaped by exposure to diverse cultures, ways of working, and talent systems. These experiences have strengthened her belief in the power of grassroots efforts and local communities to drive meaningful, lasting impact. 

“Girls’ education is essential for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Its value is clear: keeping girls in school and helping them transition to secondary school delays marriage and the age of first birth and improves their long-term health, quality of life, and economic opportunity. Moreover, literacy and education provide benefits beyond individuals and help fight poverty, improve health, mitigate climate change and create prosperous futures for families, communities, and nations. I love that Circle of Sisterhood educates sorority members about the importance of girls’ education and the barriers that exist around the world, and provides them with a way they can help. It connects them with a very concrete solution where they can make a difference.”

Working with women FOR women to provide equal opportunities has been the fabric of Susan Markham’s life and career. She attended THE Ohio State University (OSU), where she joined the Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi International Fraternity and served as Panhellenic President. She considered sororities as collectively the largest women’s organization on campus with the most significant potential to successfully advocate for women’s issues on campus. Since then, her continued education and career have only grown her passion for women’s advocacy. After graduating with a bachelor of arts in political science and international studies from OSU, she earned a master of arts from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where her passion for turning the essential role of women in politics and development into an impactful career began.

Susan is now partner and co-founder of Smash Strategies, a strategic advisory firm that helps businesses, non-profit organizations, and philanthropists leverage their commitment to empowering girls and women. Before founding Smash, Susan served at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, where, among other work, she lead USAID’s efforts on Michelle Obama’s ‘Let Girls Learn’ initiative. Her experience also includes leading the efforts of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in supporting women’s civil society organizations and movements around the world; and running the EMILY’s List Political Opportunity Program (POP) that recruited, trained, and supported women running for office at the state and local level.

Susan has spent more than 20 years in Washington, DC, where she currently lives with her family and two dogs. Throughout her career, Susan has collaborated with many of the biggest actors and stakeholders in elevating girls’ education and development initiatives throughout DC and New York.

“Being a strong proponent of equity, I know only too well how women are still not treated the same as their male counterparts. I also benefit greatly from the privilege I have had of continuing education and want the same for as many people out there as possible. I love the founding story of Circle of Sisterhood and how we can all play a part in making a difference in this world both domestically and abroad.”

Hannah Seoh’s passion for pursuing equity in all areas of socioeconomic well-being drives her commitment to the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation and her career. She worked at the New York City Department of Health from 2008-20 in various roles doing groundbreaking research, running large-scale programs for the 8 million residents of NYC and conducting strategic planning for the Center for Health Equity. She ultimately served as an Acting Assistant Commissioner and chief of staff to one of the largest Divisions in the agency overseeing chronic disease, primary care connections, neighborhood health, and equity efforts. Hannah recently started a new chapter of her career with the American Medical Association (AMA) team as Director of Health Equity Performance and Operations serving as chief of staff to the Chief Health Equity Officer. She has already worked to expand a Center for Health Equity team of five staff members to a team of 24 and oversees organizational transformation, communications, administrative, and operational functions of the Center.

Hannah is a founding member of the Beta Chapter of Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., at the University of Cincinnati. She served the chapter as president andupon graduation joined the National Board where she was eventually elected President for 3 terms. While National President, she helped create the 501(c)(3) Delta Phi Lambda Foundation of which now has a scholarship established in her name. Hannah went on to attend The Ohio State University for an MPH in epidemiology and MS in biostatistics and is currently enrolled in the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, working on her Executive MBA. She planned to move from NYC to Chicago where the AMA headquarters is located, but COVID-19 had other plans and she’s currently living in the nation’s capital.

Before joining the CofS Board of Trustees, Hannah served as a volunteer on the development team in addition to various impactful volunteer positions for other interfraternal organizations. She served on the National Board of Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. including seven years as president, and served as chair of the National Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Panhellenic Association (NAPA). She has also held numerous volunteer roles in the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), Northeast Greek Leadership Association (NGLA), Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV), and the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).