Staff & Board
Durham Literacy Center Staff
The DLC employs ten full-time staff and three part-time staff. We also benefit from the service of AmeriCorps Members placed with us for one-year terms by NC LiteracyCorps. An all-volunteer board of directors oversees our operations.
Crystal Avent, Executive Director
(919) 489-8383, ext. 22
Crystal Avent is a dynamic, results-driven nonprofit leader with 14+ years of experience in program operations, fundraising, and federal grant management, community engagement, organizational development, and fundraising initiatives. She is dedicated to empowering individuals through education and literacy programs.
A graduate of Brockport State University with a degree in Communication Studies, Crystal excels in strategic planning, team leadership, and mentoring, with a proven ability to develop programs and partnerships that deliver meaningful outcomes. Most recently, she was the Interim Executive Director and Director of Program Operations for Communities in Schools of Durham where she lead the programs and staff team for over 10 years. Her entrepreneurial ventures reflect her creative passions, including tutoring and crafting engaging lesson plans for homeschoolers.
Annette Gibbs, Director of Educational Programs
(919) 489-8383 ext. 26
Annette joined the DLC in September 2023. A Newark, N.J. native, she has acquired over 25 years of experience working in community services and adult education in Orlando, FL and Atlanta, GA communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Rutgers University and a masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Annette loves to travel, learn about different cultures, and spend time with family and friends.
Sarah Cooley, Adult Literacy Program Coordinator
(919) 489-8383, ext. 27
Sarah grew up in Boone, NC but has called Chapel Hill home for the last 30 years. She has many years of experience in Adult Education, as staff and a volunteer, most notably with Durham Tech as an administrator in Adult Basic Skills and other departments. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from UNC-Chapel Hill and has done graduate studies in Social Work, also at UNC-CH. Sarah loves all kinds of music and enjoys playing flute, Irish pennywhistle, and West-African djembe.
Opportunities at the DLC
No open positions at this time.
DLC Board of Directors
The DLC has an all-volunteer Board of Directors. We welcome new members.
Executive Committee
Ed Wolf - Board Chair
Attorney
Gail Faulkner Hudson - Vice Chair
Retired Dean of Counseling,
NC School of Science & Math
Dan Oldman - Treasurer
Retired Software Engineer
Kristy Miller - Secretary
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Social Services Professional
Isaac Thomas, Jr. - Board Chair
Retired Durham Public Schools
Administrator
Linda Anderson
Retired Pharmaceutical Professional
Kris Anthony-Miller
Retired Law Enforcement Officer
Michael Ortiz
Senior Vice President / Market Executive of Raleigh Fidelity Bank
Dominique Redmond
Duke Community Affairs
Jennipher Branch
Tax Partner
Blackman & Sloop Advisors
Brink Jackson
Application Engineer
Xylem Inc.
Atisha Burnett
Director of People and Culture for the ACLU of North Carolina
Patrice Carroll
Technology Manager / Digital Inclusion Program Manager
City of Durham
Erika Gamble
Financial Consultant
Primerica
Kevin Hurley
Retired, Pharmaceuticals
Gena Hyde
Director of Content Strategy
Shatterproof
Jasmine Johnson
PhD Student / Department Research Associate
NC State University, College of Education
Emeritus Board Members
Reginald Hodges
Retired former Executive Director of the Durham Literacy Center
Sy Mauskopf, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Duke University
Susan Springer
Director at Madrock Advisors
Gwenn Weaver - Past ChairRetired Librarian and Federal Government
To learn how to join the Board or for information about our Board Subcommittees (e.g., Finance, Teaching & Learning, Fundraising), please contact us.
Eugenia Rogers, Adult Literacy Program Assistant
(919) 489-8383
Eugenia, a lifelong resident of Durham, proudly considers this vibrant city her home. As a devoted mother of two adult children and a loving dog owner, she is deeply passionate about education and literacy. She holds a Bachelor's degree and Masters degree in Library Science from NC Central University. Before joining the DLC team, Eugenia served as a school librarian, fostering a love for reading and learning among her students.
Joan Zec Nelson, ESOL Program Coordinator
(919) 489-8383, ext. 25
Joan joined the DLC in 2015 after teaching ESL at Alamance Community College. She is a state-level trainer for the community college system and has trained ESL and literacy teachers to incorporate college and career readiness into their curricula. She holds a B.A. degree from Marymount College in New York, and did graduate work at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Before teaching ESL, Joan was a television reporter in the U.S. and Europe. She covered northern Mexico and the border while a reporter in El Paso, Texas.
Chris Hall, ESOL Program Associate
(919) 489-8383, ext. 33
Chris is a North Carolina native with 16 years experience in the financial, diplomatic and non-profit sectors. He has a B.A. in International Studies and Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and an M.A. in Political Science from Bath University, UK, as well as certifications in conflict resolution and mediation. His research focused on human trafficking, including work on legislative proposals to the Czech Parliament.
Brice Hudson, Youth Achievement Program Coordinator
(919) 489-8383, ext. 13
Brice has been with the DLC since Fall 2018. She graduated from NC A&T with a BS in Electronics & Computer Technology. She began working for nonprofits in 2011, with the Daniel Center for Math & Science as Program Coordinator and then with O.A.S.I.S. Outreach, Inc. & O.A.S.I.S. Foundation of NC as the Site Coordinator. When she's not working, Brice enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Contractors
Elizabeth Tietgen, Adult Basic Education Instructor at Threshold Clubhouse
Elizabeth leads an adult basic education class for adult learners at the Threshold Clubhouse, a community-based organization that serves Durham residents who live with severe or persistent mental illness.
Miriam Valle, MV Non Profit Management Consulting, LLC
finance@durhamliteracy.org
Miriam and her firm manage the DLC's financial transactions and records. She provides professional services to several other Durham-based nonprofits, too. Miriam graduated with her GED (r) from the DLC's Youth GED program over twenty years ago and relishes the opportunity to give back.
Durham Literacy Center values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation when considering employment, board membership, volunteer participation, or client services.