Board of Directors

Dr. Sonia Selwin

Founder & President

Sonia Selwin is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the People Empowerment Alliance for Creativity and Education (PEACE). She has worked in varied positions: Assistant Professor, Unit Leader, Internal Quality Verifier, and Program Manager in the Business Department, over 16 years in India and Bahrain. Her area of interest includes grant writing, innovation, entrepreneurship, STEM education, development of educational institutions, empowerment of women, youth, low income individuals, disabled & minorities. Currently, Sonia Selwin is a Post Doctoral Researcher in Leadership at Andrews University, Michigan.

Selwin Peter Gnanasigamani

Vice President of Finance

Selwin Peter Selvakumar Gnanasigamani is the Co-Founder of the People Empowerment Alliance for Creativity & Education (PEACE). He is an organized and responsible professional with a history of working under high-pressure situations, reputed for effective team management, quality office administration, accounts management, solid multitasking, and time management skills. He has an MBA in Marketing and a Diploma in Medical Lab Technology.

Dr. Jay Brand

Vice President of Program Development

Dr. Jay Brand served as Chair of the Department of Psychology and Social Work at La Sierra University. As Associate Professor of Psychology, he helped develop PhD and PsyD programs at Loma Linda University. Dr. Brand also served as Corporate Ergonomist, Organizational Behavior Specialist, and Cognitive Psychologist for Haworth, an international supplier of office work environments. His current research focuses on organizational development, sustainability, leadership and organizational dynamics.

Dr. Anthea Washington

Vice President of Operations

Anthea Washington is a dedicated and motivated professional possessing over 19 years of experience in higher educational institutions in India, Dubai, and Muscat. She has rich teaching experience in areas such as Organizational Behavior, Entrepreneurship, Business Communication, Business Studies, HRM, Business Management, and professional development courses. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Resource Management and an MBA in Education Management.

Sean Robinson

Board of Director, Chair of Religious Department

Sean Robinson is the Director of Development, PGTS, and Association at the Chesapeake Conference. Before serving at the Chesapeake Conference, Pastor Sean served at the NAD, Texico Conference as association secretary, Texico Conference senior pastor in West Texas, and ADRA Albania Country.

Kathy Ron Johnson

Board of Director

Kathy Roy Johnson served as a disability rights advocate for over 38 years. She began as a Research Assistant to Senator Harrison Williams who was Chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. She later worked as Policy Associate for United Cerebral Palsy Associations, and at the National Council on Disability and the U.S. Access Board. She retired in May of 2015 after a distinguished career advancing rights for people with disabilities.

Michael Daley

Board of Director

Dr. Veena Alfred

Board of Director

Dr. Veena Alfred holds a PhD in Comparative Linguistics and is the Founder & CEO of AlfredHouse Eldercare (boutique assisted living facilities). A Certified Dementia Practitioner, she has worked with non-profit organizations like Visions for Africa and Manavar providing educational assistance for over 1,000 children. She is an active member and leader of the Southern Asian Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Sharon Hamel

Vice President of Marketing & Communication

Sharon Hamel joins our team with years of experience as a musical arts performer and educator. She is dedicated to discipleship through music, healing, and the arts. She holds a Masters in Music Education from Gordon College, a Masters in Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University, and is currently a candidate for the PhD in Leadership at Andrews University with a research focus on Curriculum design and the impact of music on healing.

Dr. Manisha Deepak

Vice President of Development & Fund Raising

Manisha Raikar is a native of Karnataka, India, currently pursuing an active career in the field of Medicine in USA. She has worked in various charitable foundations as a volunteer and has the credit of starting a volunteer blood bank. She has actively participated and supervised national pulse polio immunization programs and conducted several health-care surveys and school health check-ups.