Meet our team
Resilient together
Christina B Morton
President of the Board
Christina is a Suzuki violin teacher. She has a bachelors of Music Education from Northwestern University and a Masters of Science in Education from Old Dominion University. She now works with a wide range of students and educators in the Wake County public school system. A violinist with the Virginia Symphony for 30 years, she has also conducted the Bay Youth Orchestra. She has led a variety of music camps and international tours. She keeps fit through her passion for biking adventures and playing with her granddaughter.
Christin Andrew
Field Director and Founder
Christin was born and home educated in Virginia and specializes in adult education. She has taught English and Environmental Science at Old Dominion University, American University in Cairo and AMIDEAST in the West Bank. She has implemented USAID projects to include female entrepreneurs in MBA programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and a Doctorate in Humane Letters. She is interested in how the environment impacts quality of life and how storytelling builds bridges across cultures. She has traveled to over 30 countries and speaks 3 languages. She is married and home educating two TCKs (third culture kids).
Vanessa Sparkman
Administrator, Vice-president and Founding Board Member
Born in Florida, Vanessa is an early education specialist working in the Virginia public school system. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Counseling and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Cambridge College. She has a special passion for children, early development, refugee resettlement, and food security. Vanessa serves as a special advocate for children´s programming.
Michael Mozingo
Board Member
Mikaya Drew
Board Member
Janira Reyes Clack
Financial Officer and Organizational Strategist
As the Finance Officer, Janira oversees all bookkeeping activities for Sawa’s projects and payroll. Her responsibilities include managing payment platforms, maintaining financial records in QuickBooks, performing monthly reconciliations, and preparing accurate financial reports. As the Organizational Strategist, she advises on initiatives to improve operational efficiency and support growth, working closely with leadership to prioritize efforts, refine processes, and implement high-impact solutions.
Prior to joining Sawa in 2025, Janira was an Assistant Director at Partners of the Americas, where she managed technical training programs across Latin America with more than $11 million in lifecycle expenditures. She also served as a Peace Corps TEFL volunteer in Ukraine, collaborating with education ministries and building cross-cultural experience. Janira holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Sociology from California State University, Long Beach and a master’s degree in Education, Gender, and International Development.
Adonis Agha
Former President of the Board and Special Advocacy for Lebanon
Adonis was born in Lebanon and came to the United States as an asylum seeker after the Lebanese civil war in the 90s. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a master’s degree in Human Rights and National Security from Regent University. He has a special passion for poetry, minority inclusion, and the Levant region. He works in media production and translation. The president of our board, Adonis and his wife Lacy, raise their children in Virginia.
Georgina Alba
Former Board Member
Georgina Alba is a licensed clinical psychologist with a counseling practice in Santa Fe, Argentina where she practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has a Masters from Universidad Nacional Rosarino in Argentina and her credentials are validated by the University of Málaga in Spain. She has also served with Asociación Sawa in Spain and has visited our projects and partners in the Arab World and East Africa. She loves working with both adults and children, with a keen eye for holistic wellbeing.
Joseph King
Former Board Member
Born and home educated in Virginia, Joseph King is an investment advisor and fiduciary with GWN Securities at Lighthouse Financial Services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Biblical Studies from Regent University. He is a renaissance man with interests ranging from black smithing to gourmet cooking to playing the grand piano. He is an educator and has produced documentary films on topics of history, philosophy and counseling. He is the founding director of Ebenezer Foundation for Financial Education. He co-authored our bylaws and served as the vice-president of our board of directors.
Akram Shakeri
Former Board Member
Born in Iran, Akram has a heart for health. She has worked as a nurse in hospitals in Iran and the US. She has a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Grand Canyon University. She has a special interest in advocating for teaching, disadvantaged women, and for the Farsi speaking world.