Board of Directors

Linda Bowers, Executive Director

Linda is a retired Associate Professor of English from Willamette University where she taught Shakespeare, poetry, the literature of the Holy Grail, and courses in Japanese culture for over 20 years. As Executive Director of EBZEF she sees herself as a steward of her daughter Beth's vision of world peace and understanding. She is "mama" to over 200 Zambian daughters. Linda and Gerry live on a 25-acre farm south of Salem with Beth's flying Zambian cat Blake, a huge white dog named Apollo, koi, a flock of peafowl, and many wild birds, fish, and other woodland creatures.

Gerard Bowers, Executive Committee

Gerard Bowers is a retired Professor of English from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he taught writing and literature for over 35 years. His academic focus is on modern and contemporary English and American poetry. Born and educated on the east coast, he earned his degrees from the City College of New York and Harvard University. In 1971 he married Linda, moved to Oregon, and raised two daughters--Jennifer and Elizabeth. Aside from his abiding commitment to EBZEF, Gerry's interests include fly fishing, running, gardening and landscaping, as well as studying tai chi, yoga, and Japanese/Chinese culture.

Jeani Bragg, Grant Writing/Library Committees

Jeani Bragg has over 20 years experience in the field of intercultural communication, teaching, training, and giving workshops and seminars. She holds a BA in International Relations and German from the University of Minnesota and a MS in Rhetoric and Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University. Jeani is currently the Associate Director of the Lilly Project at Willamette University. She also leads workshops in the areas of communication and conflict resolution and does personal and professional coaching. She previously worked with Tokyo International University of America and as a faculty member of the Oregon Intercultural Management Institute. Jeani believes that everyone deserves an education. A one-time supervisor and mentor to Beth, Jeani works to help make Beth's vision a reality.

Karen Chittick, Secretary, Library/Grant-writing Committees

Karen Chittick has served as Secretary of the EBZEF Board since 2007. She knew Beth and has supported EBZEF since its inception. Karen has worked at Tokyo International University of America (TIUA) since 1993. TIUA is a one-year English language and American Studies program for students at Tokyo International University in Japan. She is the Associate Director, Academic Services. The best part of her job is getting to know the students. Karen has two adult children and one adorable grandson. Her hobbies include gardening, sewing, hiking, and home projects.

Fordson Kafweku, Intercultural Advisory Committee

Like Beth's Girls, Fordson Kafweku was born in the Northwestern Province of Zambia and is a member of the Lunda people. He has worked for World Vision Zambia for over 12 years now, and is currently their Operations Director, based in Lusaka, Zambia. Fordson has a BSc in Tropical Agriculture from Larenstein University of Professional Education in the Netherlands and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). He lives in Lusaka with his wife Prisca and their three daughters, Lubuto, Nkisu, and Womba.

Dan Irvine, Intercultural Advisory Committee

Dan Irvine currently works as the Operations Director for World Vision International's Global Health Centre. His responsibilities include strategy development, operational management and capacity building for WV's health sector programming in over 65 countries. With 20 years of international development experience, most of which was spent in Africa, Dan brings a multi-sector, community-development emphasis to his work. Dan was employed by Peace Corps and worked with Beth while she was a volunteer. He was instrumental in working with Linda and Gerry to define the EBZEF program to honor Beth's memory in a way to promote her vision for world peace and help those in the Lumwana West village that she loved.

Leonard Kelly, Treasurer, Executive/Finance Committees

Leonard Kelly has been Vice President of American Baptist Homes Foundation, a California non-profit corporation headquartered in Pleasanton, California, for more than 11 years. Prior to his current position, Leonard was the Executive Director of the American Baptist Homes of the West in Fresno, California, for 14 years. He received an undergraduate degree in Public Health from San Jose State University and a master's degree in Public Administration from Fresno State University. Leonard is also qualified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). He and his wife, Linda, have two adult children and two homes: one in Salem, Oregon, and one near Yosemite National Park.

Stewart Williams, Finance Advisor

Stewart is Regional Vice President, Treasury Management, for Columbia Bank. He has worked with non-profit organizations in planning and strategic management for nine years and has served on the Boards of the Willamette Humane Society and the Historic Elsinore Theatre, for whom he served as Board Treasurer and launched the inaugural Salem Film Festival in 2006. His aim is to have “a direct impact on an organization’s goals and mission execution.” Stewart and his wife Alyson live in Tigard, Oregon, with their 3 rescued Siberian Huskies: Kaia, Ro, and Tuka. They enjoy the outdoors and living in Oregon.

Advisory Board

Michal Wert, Executive/Finance/Technology Committees

Michal Wert is the sister of Linda Bowers and Beth's auntie. She has been a strong supporter of EBZEF from the beginning and helped to organize EBZEF as a non-profit business. Her son Eric is a realist artist and painted the EBZEF protea in honor of Beth. Michal has over 35 years' experience in environmental and public policy management. She owns and manages MW Consulting, working in Oregon on public policy and transportation planning issues.

Angela Wanak, Education Committee

Angela Wanak earned her JD and MBA at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, in May 2009. Angela joined EBZEF because she believes everyone should have the right to an education and a chance to pursue their dreams. Angela seeks to be an advocate for women and children and a leader in the abolitionist movement fighting against modern-day forms of slavery: trafficking in persons and the exploitation of human beings. Angela is married to Jeremy and together they are raising two little girls who they hope will someday become women of courage and compassion.