PATRICIA EGGLESTON, Adult Basic Education and GED Program Coordinator
patricia.e@oaklandliteracy.com
Patricia brings many years of experience teaching and leading educational programs in disadvantaged communities for youth and adults who want to finish their high school diploma or earn a GED. With master’s degrees in educational leadership and organizational management from Madonna University, as well as a school administrator’s certificate, Patricia is a believer in finding innovative solutions to educational challenges and fostering positive relationships to improve learner outcomes. In her present role, she helps train volunteer GED, reading, and math tutors, orients students to the tutoring program, and provides ongoing support to tutors and students.
LUCIA PRUNEDA-ALVAREZ, ESL Program Coordinator
A native of Mexico, Lucia combines her personal experience as an immigrant and her professional background as a teacher to her present role. At Oakland Literacy Council, Lucia uses her Spanish-speaking skills to help connect members of the local Hispanic community with volunteer tutors who can provide English lessons. With a PhD in biomedical science, Lucia worked as a high school science teacher and researcher in Mexico and Europe before moving to the United States with her husband and children.
DINAH RAMIREZ, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Dinah was motivated to become a volunteer tutor at the Oakland Literacy Council based on her experience as a child of immigrants. Dinah is an experienced instructional designer and consultant with 17 years of combined work experience in product training, implementation, sales, account management, and customer success. She holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a BA in Sociology (specializing in Economy, Business and Society) with a minor in Applied Statistics from the University of Michigan. At OLC, Dinah leads training for ESL tutors. In her current role at Oakland Literacy Council, Dinah oversees the recruitment, onboarding, training, and professional development of our volunteer tutors.
SOUAD SARAKBI, Data and Assessment Coordinator
Souad, a new U.S. citizen, came to the United States as a refugee from Syria. She speaks both Arabic and English. In Syria, Souad was a practicing attorney. She is a certified CASAS e-test coordinator and proctor and has served as an administrative assistant for the Troy Adult Education TRAC program. Souad recently completed Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law, a course taught by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. In addition to her legal background, Souad holds an MA in Social Justice from Marygrove College. At OLC, she is responsible for intake, student testing, and managing data, including monthly instructional hour reporting.
HEATHER STIVERSON, Operations Manager
LAURIE WEEKS, Executive Director
Laurie Weeks is now the Executive Director. Laurie first came to OLC in 2015 as a volunteer tutor before joining the staff in 2018. Prior to her current role, Laurie served as the program director, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the council’s tutoring programs. She has always believed in the importance of literacy to an informed, engaged society. She began her career as a journalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Dow Jones News Service, and later taught composition at Oakland Community College. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University and a BA in English from the University of Michigan. She has a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She continues to volunteer her time as an ESL tutor.
