Our Volunteers — Kele Global

Board of Directors

Mr. Hashem Mekki

Founder/Board Member

Hashem Mekki is the Founder and President of Kele Global, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education, health awareness, and economic empowerment in Sudan and South Sudan. Through this work, he helps equip young people with the skills and opportunities needed to contribute to their communities.

Since 2012, Mr. Mekki has taught Arabic language, culture, and Middle East media at the Institute of World Politics. He is also the owner of Bridge Language Solutions, providing Arabic translation and cultural expertise on North Africa and the Middle East. In addition, he has over 15 years of experience teaching Arabic to federal employees and professionals at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Mr. Mekki holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from the City College of New York and a Master’s degree in International Studies and Statecraft from the Institute of World Politics. He is a strong advocate for human rights in Sudan and South Sudan and frequently speaks at universities and community institutions.

Ms. Isha Wright

Board Member

Ms. Isha Wright is a purpose-driven global leader with more than 20 years of experience championing humanitarian action, human rights, education, nonprofit leadership, and community health across the United Nations, higher education, and grassroots sectors. Guided by a deep belief in human dignity and justice, Ms. Wright has dedicated her career to strengthening systems that uplift people, support healing, and create pathways to opportunity.

Her work has taken her from coordinating transitional justice and human rights programs in Sierra Leone, to leading emergency responses in South Sudan, to shaping student development and success initiatives within U.S. universities. Across every role, Ms. Wright has focused on empowering individuals and communities, especially those facing conflict, trauma, and inequity—through compassionate leadership and strategic, measurable impact.

On the Board, Ms. Wright brings a vision grounded in empathy, inclusion, and purposeful action. She believes strongly in the power of values-driven organizations to transform lives and drive lasting, equitable change. Her strengths include strategic planning, program design, policy development, community engagement, and mentorship that cultivates emerging leaders. Above all, Ms. Wright is committed to advancing the organization’s mission with integrity, clarity, and unwavering dedication to those it serves.

Ms. Wright holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies from Brandeis University and a Master of Arts from Columbia University.

Dr. Anne Smiley

Board Member

Dr. Anne Smiley is a globally recognized leader in education in emergencies, foundational learning, and evidence-driven innovation for children affected by crisis and displacement. With more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that all children—regardless of circumstance—have access to quality, safety, and transformative learning opportunities.

Dr. Smiley currently serves as the Global Practice Lead for Foundational Learning within the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Education Technical Unit, and as Senior Technical Advisor to the groundbreaking PlayMatters initiative. In this role, she shapes global strategy, drives learning outcomes in fragile contexts, and supports teams across regions in strengthening early and primary education systems for refugee and host-community children. Previously, as Deputy Project Director for Technical and Research for the LEGO Foundation–funded PlayMatters project in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, Dr. Smiley led a diverse regional team advancing play-based, active learning in some of the world’s most challenging educational environments. Her leadership helped transform teacher training systems and introduce joyful, evidence-backed learning approaches in refugee-serving schools.

Before joining IRC, Dr. Smiley served as Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at FHI 360, where she led a global team supporting a wide portfolio of education and development programs. Her work has guided donors, governments, and practitioners in creating more equitable, data-informed education systems. A respected voice within the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), Dr. Smiley has held multiple leadership roles, including serving as lead for the Standards and Practice Working Group, the Data and Evidence Collaborative, the Monitoring and Evaluation workstream, and the Conflict-Sensitive Education subgroup. She also co-led the Education Equity Research Initiative, advancing global understanding of equity in education. Throughout her career, Dr. Smiley has been Principal Investigator for major mixed-methods studies that continue to shape global policy and practice in EiE and education equity. Her work spans partnerships with USAID, FCDO/DFID, UNICEF, UNHCR, NSF, the LEGO Foundation, and Dubai Cares—reflecting a lifelong commitment to building systems that center dignity, resilience, and opportunity.

Dr. Wayne A. Schroeder

Board Member

Dr. Wayne A. Schroeder is a Senior national security and international relations professional focusing on graduate-level education. Policy practitioner with extensive Washington DC-based experience in a career that has spanned government, industry, public policy, military service and higher education. Served on a US Senate committee staff and a DoD executive position in the US Government (Senior Executive Service (SES)). Twenty-six year career in the defense industry -- diverse and challenging experiences in research, analysis and management related to complex, multi-disciplinary R&D activities. Additional experience in public policy and higher education. Widely respected and published professional in such areas as defense planning, programming and budgeting, international security, NATO affairs, arms control, and regional political-military analyses. Core strengths include excellent teaching capabilities, insightful research & analysis, and an ability to convey complex findings in clear and concise written and oral formats. Recognized for helping public policy organizations and educational institutions achieve their broad enterprise-level objectives, fostering mission success at all levels.

Fatima Barrie

Board Member

Fatmata Barrie is a purpose-driven legal and policy leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing justice, equity, and systemic reform. An accomplished attorney, executive, and community advocate, Fatmata Barrie works at the intersection of civil rights, immigration, and social justice—championing policies and solutions that uplift marginalized communities and strengthen democratic systems.

As Founder and Principal Attorney of The Barrie Law Center, Fatmata Barrie has built a mission-centered legal practice dedicated to serving immigrant families, nonprofits, and students with disabilities. Their leadership has resulted in successful litigation in federal and immigration courts, landmark protections for vulnerable clients, and trusted counsel on high-impact legislative initiatives.

In public service, Fatmata Barrie has held senior executive roles driving police accountability, overseeing critical operations, and implementing forward-thinking policy reforms rooted in transparency, data-informed decision-making, and community trust. Their work reflects a rare blend of legal acumen, strategic clarity, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Throughout their career, Fatmata Barrie has been guided by the belief that equitable systems are built through collaboration, courage, and community partnership. Passionate about civic education, immigrant rights, and inclusive policy development, they bring both lived experience and executive-level leadership to every space they serve.

Fatmata Barrie is dedicated to building a future where law, policy, and community power come together to drive meaningful, lasting change.

Ms. Angelique DioGuardi

Board Member

Ms. Angelique DioGuardi is a visionary international executive with over 20 years of nonprofit and business leadership experience, dedicated to strengthening communities, advancing resilience, and improving lives across Africa and Asia. With deep operational and programmatic expertise, Ms. DioGuardi has led impactful initiatives in emergency response, food security, health and nutrition, WASH, and community development—consistently delivering results in some of the world’s most challenging and resource-limited environments.

Throughout her career, Ms. DioGuardi has earned a reputation as an energetic, cross-sector thinker with the ability to translate bold strategy into effective, on-the-ground programs. Her work spans strategic planning, program design, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and financial stewardship, always driven by a commitment to accountability, collaboration, and sustainable impact. Known for a solutions-oriented mindset and a calm, practical approach to problem-solving, Ms. DioGuardi excels at motivating diverse teams and uniting partners around shared goals. Her leadership is marked by integrity, cultural humility, and a deep respect for the communities they serve. Having worked in more than a dozen countries, Ms. DioGuardi brings a global perspective and lived experience navigating complex humanitarian, social, and economic challenges. As a board member, Ms. DioGuardi contributes strategic insight, operational excellence, and a passion for empowering communities through resilient systems, strong partnerships, and inclusive development. She believes deeply in organizations that center dignity, equity, and local leadership—and are committed to helping steer missions that create lasting, transformative change.

Board of Directors

Staff & Volunteers