Lisa is the Executive Director of the International Book Project. An avid reader since childhood, Lisa believes that literacy opens doors to all worlds of opportunity. South African journalist and librarian Hazel Rochman said, “Reading takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.” Books sparked Lisa’s interest in international affairs and led to a varied and fulfilling career that has taken her from international management and business development with Fortune 500 companies to raising a family in Kentucky, working as a volunteer and board member for a multitude of philanthropic and charitable projects and managing a congressional campaign. Lisa feels at home anywhere and everywhere, having lived in Lexington, Kentucky and the family farm in Washington, Kentucky for two decades, as well as having lived, traveled and worked throughout Europe, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. A native of Southern California, Lisa holds a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University and an MBA in Finance from UCLA. Her favorite author is Wallace Stegner, but she has too many favorite books to single out just one!
Stacie is the Director of Operations at the International Book Project. Her love of books was inspired by her first grade teacher, Mrs. Watanabe who challenged her to read at least one book each week. Stacie received a BS in Political Communications from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. While Stacie has worked in a variety of areas, putting people together with books quickly became her mission. Beginning in the book retail business, Stacie saw the joy of helping others discover books and went on to share this experience in public and prison libraries. In addition to serving book communities, Stacie fosters kittens for the Lexington Humane Society and holds a special place in her heart for feral/community cats. While Stacie could not choose a favorite author, Geraldine Brooks, Haruki Murakami, and Richard Russo are in her top five.
Ellen coordinates various educational outreach programs at the International Book Project including the Globetrotters summer program and Books as Bridges during the school year. She is a Kentucky native, and earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky. From there, she embarked on an exciting chapter teaching abroad in Russia and Sweden, focusing on schools serving students from refugee backgrounds. Currently, Ellen is pursuing a M.A. at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, with a primary focus on International Education and Development. This summer, she will be teaching and pursuing educational research in Taiwan. The International Book Project is the perfect place for her with her strong passion for literacy and increasing access to education at home and abroad. She loves to get lost in a fantasy novel but says The Great Gatsby is her favorite classic.
Marilyn is the Administrative Assistant for the International Book Project. An avid reader since childhood, Marilyn believes that literacy is the key to a happier, healthier, and more compassionate world. She is originally from Braxton County, West Virginia. Marilyn recently graduated from the University of Kentucky with bachelor’s degrees in Theatre and Arts Administration and a minor in International Studies. During her time as a student at UK, she was lucky enough to intern at AthensWest Theatre Company and Kentucky Educational Television. Her favorite genres to read are fantasy, horror, narrative nonfiction, and literary fiction. When she’s not reading or working, Marilyn enjoys playwriting, hiking, traveling, playing video games, and watching bad horror movies.