Leadership & Governance
Board and MembersNCL Leadership
Jeffrey A. Fantine, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Jeffrey A. Fantine, Ph.D. is a national leader in adult education and literacy with more than 35 years of experience spanning policy, practice, research, and systems leadership. He currently serves as Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy, Associate Professor of Adult Education at The Ohio State University, and a national consultant providing technical assistance and professional development to states and local programs nationwide. His work focuses on advancing adult and family literacy through advocacy, strategic policy influence, and innovative service models, particularly in career pathways and systems alignment.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Fantine has held diverse leadership and practitioner roles across every level of adult education, including volunteer tutor, ABE and ESOL instructor, local program director, director of a statewide professional development center and member of Ohio’s state leadership team, state director of adult education and family literacy in Maine, and director of a national career pathways initiative funded by OCTAE. He has also served in key leadership positions at both the state and national levels, including President of OAACE, Vice President of COABE, Chair of AALPD, and Vice President of NCL. He is committed to advancing practical, forward-thinking solutions that strengthen the field and expand opportunity for adult learners and their families.
The NCL Board of Directors
NCL is directed by a volunteer Board of Directors that sets direction and strategy for the organization. Board members are representatives of NCL member organizations and professionals active in adult education and related fields. Members are elected to the Board by the voting membership at the fall NCL members’ meeting. Board members serve three-year terms; no Board member may serve more than two terms sequentially. Board terms begin on October 1 of the year elected.
Eric Nesheim
President, Northstar Digital Strategies at Literacy Minnesota
Eric Nesheim is the former longtime Executive Director of Literacy Minnesota and currently the Managing Director of Northstar Digital Strategies. This new and expanding division of Literacy Minnesota houses the Northstar Digital Literacy platform, national partnerships and digital navigation. He’s on the steering committee of the Open Door Collective, the board of the National Coalition for Literacy and Co-Chair of E-BAES (evidence based adult education system) which promotes and advocates for more resources around research in the field. Eric began his human services career by serving in the Peace Corps in Haiti and Paraguay. He earned his Master’s of International Management degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Business.
Eric Nesheim is the Managing Director of Northstar Digital Strategies which is part of Literacy Minnesota. He is the current President of the National Coalition for Literacy and co-chair of EBAES task force (evidence based adult education system) through the Open Door Collective. He holds a Master’s of International Management degree from the University of St. Thomas
Meghan McBride
Vice President
Senior Project Manager, WestEd
Meghan McBride is a dedicated advocate for adult education with a career
spanning leadership, policy, and instructional roles in the field. As the
Senior Program Manager for Adult Education at WestEd, she leads efforts to
enhance professional development, technical assistance, and research to
support adult learners and the institutions that serve them.
Prior to her role at WestEd, Meghan served as Vice President for Adult
Education at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, where she oversaw WIOA
Title II programs. Her leadership focused on increasing access to education
and workforce pathways for adult learners, strengthening partnerships, and
improving program outcomes.
Meghan also has lived experience as a former adult learner, so she brings a
unique perspective to her work. She served as the first Alumni Advisor to
the Board of Directors for the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE),
where she elevated the voices and experiences of adult learners at the
national level. She looks forward to joining NCL’s Board of Directors to
contribute her expertise in policy, advocacy, and program development to
advance literacy and educational opportunities for adults nationwide.
Lauren Osowski
Treasurer
Director of Advocacy & Field Services, Proliteracy
Lauren Osowski is the Director of Advocacy and Field Services at ProLiteracy. Since joining ProLiteracy in 2021, she has been responsible for projects related to workforce development, technology, and advocacy in addition to managing the Adult Literacy Education Journal publication and other special initiatives. Prior to coming to ProLiteracy, Lauren spent more than 15 years working in New Hampshire and abroad as an ESL/ABE teacher, mentor, facilitator, presenter, and program director. She holds a master’s degree in education from Rivier University.
Keven Maher
Secretary
Deputy Director, Office of Government Relations, American Literacy Association
Kevin Maher is Deputy Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the American Library Association. In this capacity, Kevin leads ALA’s efforts on appropriations and education policy. Kevin has helped secure funding increases for Library Services and Technology Act, Innovative Approaches to Literacy, and other programs of importance to the work of librarians and the services they provide to patrons and students. Previously, Kevin worked for various trade associations in Washington and started his career path working in Congress for Michigan Representative Bob Carr. He earned his degree from Marquette University. Kevin resides in Washington, DC and holds library cards in multiple states.
NCL Members
Cynthia Bell
Director, Numeracy and Workforce Development Services, Literacy Assistance Center
Cynthia Bell, M.A., Director of Numeracy & Workforce Development Services at the Literacy Assistance Center, provides professional development for adult basic education and high school equivalency instructors, focusing on standards-based numeracy and math instruction, integrated curriculum design and digital resiliency. Bell co-authored the book Teaching Adults: A HiSET Exam Resource Book, has presented at numerous conferences, and is an active board member of National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), the Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers (AALPD) and the Adult Numeracy Network (ANN).
John Chick, Ph.D.
Director, Educational Doctorate Program, University of Bridgeport and Director, Commission for Adult Basic Education & Literacy, AAACE
John C. Chick, Ed.D. has been in the field of adult learning, continuing education, and learning development for over 15 years. In his experience in Adult Learning & Development, Dr. Chick has developed professional development curriculums for professionals that coincide with job hierarchies and career paths for individuals, so that they are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to be successful in their roles, as well as be prepared for the next step in their careers. His research and practice centered on non-traditional learners at all levels of education. Dr. Chick has held similar roles in public, private, military, and government sectors. In addition to an Education Doctorate (Ed.D), Dr. Chick holds a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management, a Master of Professional
Studies in Design Management, a Master of Science in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. Dr. Chick is also a US Navy submarine veteran, serving as a nuclear operator and training coordinator.
Jamie Harris
Education and Workforce Consultant
Jamie Harris is an education and workforce consultant and author with extensive experience across a range of organizations, including World Education, where she served as Digital Skills Senior Technical Advisor, and the Maryland Department of Labor, where she worked as an Education Program Specialist. She has also held roles as executive director, coordinator, and instructor at local programs, community colleges, and a university. Harris is a Past President of Maryland TESOL. Her areas of focus include technology integration, digital literacy and skills, and English as an Additional Language. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, a master’s degree in education, and an executive certificate in nonprofit leadership.
Jacob Hofstetter
Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute
Jacob Hofstetter is a Policy Analyst at MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, where he conducts research related to language access as well as educational and workforce policies and service designs for immigrant adults and youth. His work focuses on the civic, economic, and linguistic integration of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the language access space, he analyzes the design and implementation of federal, state, and local policies that aim to expand access to government services for individuals with limited proficiency in English. In his work related to adult education and workforce development, he researches programs that promote the integration of immigrants and examines the broader policies that govern adult skills systems.
Previously, he worked as a Research and Policy Associate at the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, where he led a project evaluating language access in the child welfare system of Massachusetts. He has also interned for Refugee Services of Texas, worked as a Legal Services Coordinator for Human Rights First in Houston, and spent a year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Spain.
Mr. Hofstetter holds a master’s degree in global policy studies with a focus on immigration and refugee policy from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin and a BA in history from Miami University.
Marcela Movit
Director, Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy, Penn State University
Marcela Movit, Ph.D., is the Director of the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy. She oversees three of the statewide professional development projects offered through the Division of Adult Education in Pennsylvania as well as direct service programs in two counties in the state. Prior to joining the Institutes in January, Marcela worked at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) for 16 years, leveraging her expertise in the areas of adult learning, professional development and training, English learners, and standards development for many federal and state initiatives. She most recently served as the deputy director of the LINCS and Teaching Skills That Matter in Adult Education (TSTM) projects. She was the director of the Adult Education Content Standards project for Alaska and the Integrated Education and Training Professional Development project in Alabama, in addition to providing content expertise and training for professional development projects in California and Nevada.
Tom Nash
Director of Adult Education, Windham/Raymond School District and Board Member, Maine Adult Education Association
Tom Nash has devoted more than 40 years to adult education in Maine,beginning as a teacher and program director and for the past 22 years serving as Director of Windham Raymond Adult Education. He holds degrees from the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine and has completed advanced leadership training through COABE and the American Institute of Research.
Tom has served multiple terms on the Maine Adult Education Association Board, including as President, and remains active as Advocacy Co-Chair. Nationally, he was elected COABE President, where he helped strengthen the organization’s role as a leading voice for adult education. He has also served on the NCL and COLLO Boards, continuing to promote lifelong learning at state, national, and international levels. A recipient of Maine’s Gerald LeVasseur Award, Tom was recognized for his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to expanding opportunities for adult learners.
Tony Peyton
Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer and Chief of Staff, National Center for Families Learning
Tony Peyton is the Chief Policy & External Affairs Officer and Chief of Staff at the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) and brings more than 30 years of public policy, project/grant management, lobbying and advocacy, and philanthropic experience in the nonprofit and governmental sectors to the organization. Prior to returning to NCFL, he served as the Program Director at the C.E. and S. Foundation, a private family foundation focused on education grantmaking and led the development and execution of a grantmaking strategy focused on important issues such as early childhood education, K-12, Out-of-School Time, postsecondary education, family stability, and family engagement.
He previously served on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer’s senior staff as the Director of Public Policy, a role in which he created, developed, and managed the city’s Cradle to Career initiative. Earlier in his career, Tony was the Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations at NCFL, where he was responsible for federal and state policy, lobbying, and advocacy activities. Tony serves on the Board of Directors of the National Civic League, Thrive By Five Louisville, and the Felix E. Martin, Jr. Foundation. Tony attended Paducah Community College, received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Louisville, and completed the Certificate Program in Legislative Studies at Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute.
Jen Vanek, Ph.D.
Director of Digital Learning & Research, World Education
Jen Vanek, Phd, is Project Director of Digital Learning and Research at World Education, Inc. In that work, Jen leads research, technical assistance, and professional development initiatives focused on digital equity, online learning, English language and literacy, and adult education. She directs communities of practice that help adult education researchers, practitioners, and administrators develop quality educational opportunities for adult learners. Jen began her career as a classroom adult ESOL instructor and has since collaborated on and led research and technical assistance projects with diverse organizations, scholars, and policy leaders. She is a former member of the steering committee of the Open Door Collective. Jen is currently co-principal investigator on two US Department of Education/Institute of Education Sciences research initiatives exploring technology use in adult basic education.
Gwenn Weaver
Independent Consultant and Board Member, Durham Literacy Center
Gwenn Weaver is an independent consultant with more than forty years of management experience, providing leadership to and promoting change in the public and private sectors encompassing educational, nonprofit, government and business organizations. She retired from National Telecommunications and Information Administration where she was a broadband program specialist. She has served as a consultant, presenter and trainer for the American Association of Colleges and Universities, American Library Association, Literacy Minnesota, National Collaborative for Health Equity, ProLiteracy, and many other entities. She serves on the boards of the Durham Literacy Center, the National Coalition for Literacy, Digital Durham, and on the Steering Committee of the Open Door Collective.
She began her career in libraries, having been a public, school, academic and special librarian. She holds Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Library Science, Bachelor of Arts in sociology, and Associate of Arts degrees.
