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Our Staff

Our book-loving team is dedicated to supporting Books for Keeps' mission to inspire joyful experiences with literacy that children can forever associate with learning. We'd love to meet you! 

Leadership Team
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Kelsey Ripley

Director of Communications 

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Rainey Lynch

Director of Finance & Administration

Book Access Operations Team 
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Ruthi Hortsch

Executive Director

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Andy Ekegbu

Book Access Coordinator

Andy@booksforkeeps.org​

He/him/his

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Destini Noori

Book Access Coordinator

Storytellers Literacy Mentor Program Team
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Colleen Craven

Literacy Mentor

Program Manager

Colleen@booksforkeeps.org​

She/her/hers

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Laura Griner

Storytellers In-School Coordinator

Our Board

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Books for Keeps relies on our Board to help support literacy for all in our community and beyond. We are so grateful for each of our board members who lend their time and talents to this work!

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Mary Alston Killen

Board President

Director of Donor Relations, Franklin College at University of Georgia

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Nipuna Ambanpola

Board Member

Research & Public Service Manager, Fanning Institute at University of Georgia

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Leigh Dillard

Board Secretary

Professor, University of North Georgia

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Cathy Wilkinson

Board Member

Foreign Language Interpreter, Georgia PINES

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Kathleen Adams

Board Vice Chair

Marketing Manager, Leon Farmer & Company

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Pamela Garcia

Board Member

Principal, Fowler Drive Elementary

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Tiara Smith

Board Member

Program Manager, Bright Paths

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Keith Roberson

Board Member

Manager & Co-Owner Of Barron’s Rental

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Ben Jacobs-Nichelson

Board Treasurer

Financial Planner & Owner, Fully Financial

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Chandra Mincey

Board Member

Scientist, Ethicon

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Julie Denton

Board Member

Marketing & Communications Manager, Centennial Academy

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Deirdre Siguichi

Board Member

Writer

Join the board

If you are passionate about our cause and interested in joining our board, we welcome applications from individuals who share our vision. Please review the below documents to better understand our board member expectation, committee structure, and meetings frequency before submitting an application.

2024-27 Strategic Plan

Where we're from and where we're headed. 

Board Member Expectations

Deliverables, time commitments & more.

Board Meeting Dates

We currently meet at 5:30pm on the fourth Monday of each month.

Committee Structures

Committee functions, goals, and descriptors.

​For questions about the Books for Keeps board, please reach out to board@booksforkeeps.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

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