Our Leadership
The Board of Directors and our dedicated employees are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and committed professionals with a deep understanding and appreciation of NYAP’s vision to serve children, youth, and families in the communities they call home.
MARVENA TWIGG
President/CEO
Marvena Twigg has worked for NYAP in an array of progressively responsible positions for over 30 years. Named President/CEO in March, 2004, she had the privilege of working closely with the organization’s founder for 14 years before his retirement.
Marvena leads with energy, inspiration, and vision. She’s passionate about making a difference and leading with authenticity. She conceptualizes NYAP’s mission through a lens of social enterprise which has contributed to the organization’s significant growth and expansion during her tenure.
Marvena is a proud social worker and advocate for staff. She has never forgotten the education she received while working directly with children and families in the public sector for 13 years. To this day, that impactful experience informs her view of the world, the values she holds dear, and guides the decisions she makes as she executes her executive responsibilities.
MARY RAMSEYER
Chair
Mary Ramseyer, Chair, of the National Youth Advocate Program’s Board of Directors, is a resident of Bluffton, OH. Mary is a retired educator who worked with students at all levels throughout her career ranging from preschool to those seeking a graduate degree. The seven years spent teaching in a vocational school setting were particularly meaningful to Mary as she worked with pregnant and parenting teens and had the opportunity to help them create a better future for themselves and their child(ren). The last ten years of Mary’s professional career were spent as the Director of Teacher Education at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Wise, VA. Mary earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri and continued her education at Miami University and Wright State in Ohio.
Mary is active in her community and engages in a variety of civic, religious, and social organizations. Mary enjoys a weekly book club gathering and serves as a Stephen Minister, providing outreach and care for those experiencing a difficult time in their life. She is an advocate for children and a grassroots organizer of activities and events in order to help children and young people have better lives. Mary enjoys spending time with family, and most especially enjoys the time with her 8 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
In one capacity or the other Mary has been associated with the National Youth Advocate Program for over 35 years. She has witnessed and been a part of the growth and development of the organization as it has evolved into the large, national agency it is today, while assuring the heart and spirit of the entity she first encountered remains a centerpiece of its mission.
DELOIS MCKINLEY-ELDRIDGE
Vice Chair
Delois McKinley-Eldridge, Vice Chair, of the National Youth Advocate Program’s Board of Directors, is a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she and her family have lived for over fifty years. Delois graduated from Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama where she received her Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Sociology and Psychology. She also holds a Law Judge certificate from Judicial College in San Diego, CA and has attended enrichment programs at many universities and colleges throughout the United States.
Delois has been active in the civil rights movement since she was a child growing up in Birmingham. She was introduced to the movement when she, along with many other students, walked thirteen miles from high school to the scene of marches and protests taking place in their hometown. She participated in marches, “sit-ins” and “stand-ins”, boycotts and other forms of nonviolent protest aimed toward helping create a more fair and just world. Upon moving to Fort Wayne in 1969 Delois became a volunteer for the Freedom Schools being established in her community. Her volunteerism led to employment with the Fort Wayne Urban League, where she worked with children and families to improve their circumstances and to promote social justice initiatives throughout the community.
From 1974-1992 Delois held several progressively responsible positions with the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission becoming its first female African American director. Since then, Delois has been employed by the Fort Wayne school district working with students of all ages to ensure a positive educational experience and access to the tools and resources necessary for a successful future. Delois is an active member of her community and generously volunteers her time in social, political, and religious circles. She is an elder in her church, a board member of the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy, the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, Joshua’s Hand, and the NAACP’s Win program. She is also a gospel radio announcer and was recently recognized as Gospel Announcer of the Year by Stellar Awards. Delois has been associated with the National Youth Advocate Program in various capacities for more than twenty years. Her desire is to be an advocate and change agent in her role as a board member.
DR. FRANCES JAMES BROWN, PH.D
Secretary
Frances James-Brown, Secretary of the National Youth Advocate Program’s Board of Directors, is a native of Columbus, OH. From her formative to teen years, Frances alternated summers between Oklahoma and South Carolina. These experiences cultivated Frances’ knowledge of, and love for her African and Native American heritage.
Frances earned a bachelor’s degree in social welfare and english at Ohio Dominican College (College of Saint Mary of the Springs), Frances earned a graduate degree in Social Work at the Ohio State University. Upon graduation she worked for many years with adolescents in the juvenile justice system and subsequently with children and families involved in the public child welfare system. She learned firsthand about the challenges and complexities of poverty, abuse, neglect, substance abuse, and mental health challenges and the creativity needed to successfully address them.
Frances eventually chose to put her education and knowledge to work as a Professor at Columbus State Community College where she taught in the Mental Health/Developmental Disability/Chemical Dependency department for twenty-eight years. After receiving her PhD, she was an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University in the department of Education Policy and Leadership where she taught qualitative/quantitative mixed methodology research courses until her recent retirement.
Frances and her husband, Gene, are actively involved with a variety of community, religious, and civic associations. They enjoy their many grandchildren and delight in broadening their horizons through travel and other cultural activities. Frances has been a member of the National Youth Advocate Program board for over 20 years. She is an advocate and champion, particularly for innovative programs that support families staying safely together.
DR. DAVID GEMMILL, MD
Treasurer
Dr. David Gemmill, of Toledo, OH is the Treasurer of the National Youth Advocate Program Board of Directors. David served as Director of the Child Maltreatment Protection Program and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Ohio prior to his retirement.
David received his Master of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from The Ohio State University. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. David served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for five years and now serves on the board of the CASA program in Wood County, OH. He is also the treasurer of Friends of CASA, a group whose mission is to fundraise to assure the sustainability of CASA programming. David is a member of the Perrysburg Rotary Club and participates in various other social, religious, and civic organizations.
David and his wife, Jane, provide care and guidance to 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and know the importance of extended family supports to assure the health and well-being of kin. As a more than twenty-year member of the National Youth Advocate Program’s Board of Directors, David has served the organization in a variety of roles and capacities and particularly values the opportunity he has to contribute his expertise to the agency’s growth, development, and financial well-being.
DR. JANET RECHTMAN, PH.D
Board Member
Dr. Janet Rechtman, a board member of the National Youth Advocate Program, currently lives in Chico, CA with her husband, Doug Aiken.
Originally from Alabama, Janet lived most of her life in Atlanta, GA. She operated a series of businesses before becoming a Senior Fellow at the University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute where she founded and co-led the Institute’s leadership development and capacity building programs for non-profits and within communities at large.
In addition to her service to the National Youth Advocate Program, Janet is past chair of the Foxfire Foundation, the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Senior Connections and the International Leadership Association. In her new home of Chico, she is the Social Policy Chair of the League of Women Voters of Butte County, a volunteer teacher at OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at Chico State University, and an occasional contributor to local publications.
Janet received her bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta, master’s degree from York University in Toronto, Ontario and doctorate from Antioch University in the field of Leadership and Change. As a writer, Janet’s articles, poetry and works of fiction have appeared in a wide variety of publications.
Janet’s contributions to the National Youth Advocate Program are as many as they are varied. Our depth of leadership is a tribute to her work.
LUKE FEDLAM
Board Member
Luke Fedlam, a board member of the National Youth Advocate Program, lives in Columbus, OH with his wife, Janelle, and their two children.
Originally from Iowa, Luke earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Wake Forest University in North Carolina and his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Formerly the Director of Business Development at The Scotts Miracle Gro Company, Luke was responsible for providing legal counsel and business advice on mergers and acquisitions for the company around the world. Currently, Luke serves as the Chair of the Sports Law Practice Group at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, a nationally recognized law firm providing counsel to a worldwide base of clients. In this capacity, Luke counsels student and professional athletes and provides them with the information and resources they need to address issues they face on a daily basis including, name, image, likeness opportunities - understanding and analyzing the contracts they’re offered, due diligence research around investment opportunities, asset and intellectual property protection, as well as trust and estate matters.
Luke is an engaged community member. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Capital University and is on the Board of Commissioners for the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. He is also active in his church and children’s school. Luke’s membership on the National Youth Advocate Program’s Board of Directors is of special significance to him having been adopted by his forever family as a young child. Luke’s experience and expertise is valued as much for the business perspective he brings as it is for the inspiration he shares.
GABRIELLE BENOIT
Board Member
Originally from Long Island, New York, Gabrielle joined the National Youth Advocate Program Board of Directors because she sought an opportunity to “give back” and make a difference for marginalized young people. Gabrielle is an active participant in helping find solutions to today’s social challenges and with this focus, pursued the path of becoming a professional educator.
Gabrielle graduated from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and History. She earned a Master of Education in Urban Education and a certificate in Special Education from National Louis University. Gabrielle is both a Stanford University Hollyhock Fellow and a Fulbright Fellow (Teachers for Global Classrooms). She has performed research on mindfulness in the classroom, the amplification of student voices, and student participation in community social justice efforts.
Gabrielle currently teaches at Roald Amundsen High School, a part of the Chicago Public School System, where the students face many challenges including extreme poverty, high rates of parental incarceration, substance abuse, and gang violence. Gabrielle’s students are diverse learners with multiple special needs, yet she approaches each day as a gift and an opportunity to make a positive difference. Under her supervision, Gabrielle's students have gone on to win the Obama Foundation's Youth Action Awards, further their educations and become leaders in their communities. In addition to her position at Roald Amundsen High School, Gabrielle is a mentor teacher for graduate-level student teachers in the Chicago Teacher Residency program, training and motivating the next generation of educators. Gabrielle’s enthusiasm and commitment to systems-involved youth and families inspires her leadership and contributions to the National Youth Advocate Program. Her unyielding belief in the power of community to help families thrive is her hallmark.
LINDA NYSTROM
Board Member
Linda Nystrom, a board member for the National Youth Advocate Program, lives in Chicago, Illinois. Linda has over thirty years’ experience in the world of health care and currently serves her local community as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is responsible for providing acute, chronic, preventive and wellness health care services to patients across the life spectrum.
In addition to her work as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Linda is an adjunct clinical faculty member at North Park University. She teaches Women’s Health and Pediatrics in the Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Linda received her bachelor’s in nursing from Concordia University, an MBA from Olivet Nazarene University and her MSN from North Park University.
Linda began her tenure as a board member for the National Youth Advocate Program in January, 2022. Her passion for and knowledge of community-based healthcare systems promotes NYAP’s thinking and advocacy for the greater integration of care for the physical and emotional well-being of those we serve.
ALEJANDRO LUCAS
Board Member
Alejandro Lucas, a board member of the National Youth Advocate Program, lives in Los Angeles, CA. Alejandro is the Regional Executive Director of the East Valley Latino Youth Program and Northeast Valley Divisions for Pacific Clinics. Alejandro has more than 20 years of experience and expertise in the nonprofit behavioral and mental health field. During his career he has worked to make mental health services available to all youth. He created the first-ever online school-based client referral system in Los Angeles Unified School District and secured funding for the nation’s first unaccompanied minor mental health program.
Alejandro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and his master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to serving as a guest lecturer at local colleges, Alejandro serves as a member of the Association of Community Human Service Agencies Human Resources Alliance and the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.
Alejandro began serving on the board of the National Youth Advocate Program in January of 2022. His commitment to teens and other underserved populations brings valuable information and insight to our board and community stakeholders.
DR. ROSA MARIA KOLTZ, PH.D
Board Member
Rosa Maria Kolts, a board member of the National Youth Advocate Program, lives in Long Beach, CA with her husband.
Rosa Maria is a Marriage, Family and Individual therapist and focuses her practice on children, teens, and adults. She is bilingual and bicultural and specializes in servicing Spanish speaking populations. Rosa Maria earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Catholic University Jose Simeon Canas in El Salvador, Central America. She completed her master’s in science degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has worked for Pacific Clinics, Florence Crittenton, The Guidance Center, and Harbor Regional Center.
Rosa Maria’s work in the field of mental health started when she began volunteering for the Free Counseling Clinic at the Catholic University in her home country. Since her arrival in the US, Rosa Maria has worked as a full-time clinician, administrator, clinical supervisor, parent educator and in-home behavioral counselor. She has accumulated a wide variety of experience working with teen parenting programs, developmental disabilities and as a parent educator. Rosa Maria has collaborated with UC Irvine on the research project “Promoting Women’s Health.” She is a member of The California Association of Marriage and amily Therapists.
Rosa Maria began her tenure as a board member for the National Youth Advocate Program in September of 2023, where her background and expertise contribute mightily to our understanding of the diverse populations we serve.