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Our Team
Stepping Stones for Global Development Inc is a US 501(c)(3) international charity. The organization is overseen by a Board of Directors responsible for reviewing programs and operations, monitoring annual plans, approving budgets and establishing policy.
Founder & Executive Director
Emily Caldwell, MA
Emily was raised in a suburb of Chicago, Oak Park, Illinois. Her eclectic job history has ranged from starting a nonprofit in the Galapagos Islands Ecuador, implementing International Programs at Illinois Central College, teaching Spanish at Illinois State University and Illinois Central College, working for BCA, read more...
Board Chair
Rayfurd Thompson, MA
Rayfurd is originally from the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, located in the Caribbean. He has lived in Lynchburg, Virginia, for the past nine years, where he resides with his wife and their energetic three-year-old son.
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He holds a bachelor's degree, an MBA, and a Master's degree in Nonprofit ...read more...
Board Vice Chair
Dr. Daniel Banda, MD
Daniel Banda, a Medical Doctor from the Galápagos Islands, is deeply passionate about helping others and finding solutions to complex challenges. His vocation is not merely a career but a lifelong commitment to serving others. This dedication has led him to care for patients in some of the most chaotic and critical situations, including the aftermath of the devastating read more...
Board Treasurer
Dr. Jay Miller, DDS
Dr. Jay A. Miller was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Binghamton University (1982) in New York. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery read more...
Board Secretary
Dr. Lana Spry, PA-C, DMSc
Lana Spry was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. Her PA journey began with her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Middle Tennessee State University (2009). Next, she earned a Master of Health Sciences from the University of South Alabama (2012), followed by completing a Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Lynchburg (2023).
Lana’s career as a physician’s assistant began in
Board Member
Dr. Sabita Manian, PhD
Dr. Sabita Manian, PhD, is Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (and Engineering) and Professor of Political Science at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She served as an academic dean and faculty at the University of Lynchburg, Virginia, prior to hear leadership at Read more...
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Board Member
Jo Self
Jo Self is a dynamic force in the world of personal and organizational development. With a mission to teach "Strengths as a Second Language," Jo strives to create a world where Read more...