Commission Members

E. Steven Collins, Chair
Director of Urban Marketing and External Relations, Radio One

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  E. Steven Collins  is one of the most well-known and respected names in Philadelphia broadcasting with a distinguished thirty-year history.

  In additional to his role as Radio One Inc.’s Director of Urban Marketing and External Relations, his weekly show, Philly Speaks with E. Steven Collins on 100.3 WRNB FM, regularly features a distinguished panel of local & national guests each Sunday at 8 A.M.
  No stranger to the national spotlight, Collins’ unique insight and perspective have been in demand with numerous appearances on a variety of local and nation media including CN8, Comcast Newsmakers and Fox 29′s Good Day Philadelphia. During ‘08 Presidential election period Collins appeared numerous times on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews; mid days and MSNBC Weekends. He also appeared on CNN Midday, CNN’s American Morning with John Roberts, CNN Weekend and PBS News Hour.

  A journalist by training, Collins concentrates on domestic policy and political issues. As a political analyst, Collins has addressed topics as varied as the political participation and voting trends of African-Americans, morality in politics and national security issues, advancing democracy, and urban crime, punishment and prisons in America and the overarching impact of the Barack Obama candidacy/ Presidency.

  Collins worked with the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists to create and develop a televised Mayoral Debate live from the campus of Drexel University. The Comcast Cable telecast earned the team an Emmy award, the highest honor for a televised presentation in the one-time public affairs special program category.

  Collins has an impressive history as one of Philadelphia’s strongest civic voices. He has served as an executive board member of the Urban League of Philadelphia and board member: Philadelphia’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, Multicultural Affairs Congress, Ivy Legacy Foundation and Marian Anderson Awards Association. Collins also chairs the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy.

Leslie Stiles, Vice Chair
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women

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  Leslie Stiles is currently Board President of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, an event she initiated to broaden the educational outreach to women across the Commonwealth. The Conference attracts over 5,000 women to a day of personal and professional development. From 2003 until 2011, Stiles served as Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. Appointed by the Governor, she acted as state government’s advocate for all issues as they impacted women and girls.  Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Stiles served as Director of Marketing for the National Constitution Center, Vice President Marketing for commercial and international business at First Union Bank and Corestates Bank, and President of Stiles and Co. Marketing.

  Leslie’s non-profit board affiliations include: Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Marion Anderson Award, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Philadelphia Affiliate (2005 to 2011), the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Kimmel Cancer Center Advisory Board, PNC Advisory Board and the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy which she Co-chairs. Stiles is also a member of the Forum of Executive Women.  A breast cancer survivor, she has received significant recognition – for her work with the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Buddy Program, the 2006 PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Pink Tie Award, and Komen’s 2010 Woman of Power Award. She is also the recipient of the PWR Power Award, the KYW 2011 Women’s Achievement Award, as well as the Women’s Law Project Myra Bradwell Award, the Womens eNews Philadelphia Leadership Award and the Pathways PA Trailblazer Award.

  A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Leslie lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Michael.

  In shining a light on adult learning, the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy is offering hope and opportunity to millions of individuals across this City.   The word, “Literacy”, is a springboard for personal and professional success, as well as workforce development– a critical component of performing the complex and challenging tasks life requires.  I am so proud to be a part of this extraordinary effort.

Margaret Chin
Principal, (Ret.) The Southwark School

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  Margaret M. Chin was the proud principal of Southwark School servicing 550 students in the diverse neighborhood of South Philadelphia.  Her accomplishments include establishing a new dance program, instrumental music, new library, improved technology, Spanish and Chinese language instruction; and most important Southwark School made adequate yearly progress (AYP) for 2010.

  Prior, she served as a cabinet member of the School District central administration and is one of the Asian Americans who held high positions in the District.  She is responsible for 14,000 English Language Learners and ESOL/Bilingual Programs in 140 schools.  She was also responsible for World Language, Art and Music, Cultural Exchange Programs, Translation and Interpretation services in the District.  Under her leadership, the Office of Language, Culture and the Arts’ accomplishments include the adoption of the first Language Policy and the first Arts Policy for the District; expansion of Art and Music programs in all the schools; and significant increase in Reading and Math test scores for English Language Learners.

  Margaret is a well-respected leader in the Asian communities.  She is the President of the Association of Asian American Educators (AAE) and President of Asian American Women’s Coalition (AAWC), a multicultural group dedicated to the concerns of all Asian American women and promotes the advancement of Asian American women through leadership and mutual support.  She also serves on the executive board of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).  Margaret was born and raised in Hong Kong, and immigrated to the United States with her family.  She is bilingual and biliterate, and is a strong advocate for language programs and academic excellence for students.

  Margaret Chin is an outstanding educator, administrator and community organizer. She is a true believer and strong advocate of teaching and learning, including adult literacy.  Ms. Chin just recently retired from the School District of Philadelphia after 38 years of services to the students, parents and teachers of Philadelphia.

Carla Gaskin
Materials Manager, The Free Library of Philadelphia

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  Carla Gaskin has worked for the Free Library of Philadelphia for 19 years. She has worked in the Materials Management for 12 of those years. The library has afforded Carla to appreciate the knowledge one can achieve through the many resources it offers. Also, being a part of various committees to bring the very best opportunities for the public to use those resources has been very rewarding. When people come back to tell of their success in getting a job, a better position, being able to save their home or passing the GED test, she knows what she does is rewarding.

  Learning to read and gain greater understanding is a basic right for all citizens. “I learned to enjoy reading at the feet of my grandmother who had to leave school in the seventh grade to work. She always encouraged me to never grow weary of learning because learning is powerful”, Carla said.

  Carla Gaskin has been a commission member since September 2010.  Being a member of this commission is one of Carla’s proudest assignments. She has seen how much the city of Philadelphia is already benefiting from the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy and has received the task at hand with much zeal.

   

Sallie Glickman
Principal, SJM Strategy Formation

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  Sallie A. Glickman is a civic entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to building and nurturing collaborative structures focused on major social issues, with a passion for efforts that unite the expansion of opportunity for individuals with the economic growth objectives of companies, regions, and countries.  Ms. Glickman is the principal of SJM Consulting LCC, an independent practice with clients in the government, education, and non-profit sectors.  She also is affiliated with the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania as a Senior Advisor focusing on the Research & Consulting practice area, which provides services for institutions that serve the public and bringing together the worlds of practice and possibilities through issue discourse and problem solving.  She is co-founder of Graduate! Philadelphia, an initiative designed to significantly increase the number of Philadelphia adults who hold a post-secondary degree, and chairs The Graduate! Network, a new entity organized to manage the replication of the highly successful Graduate! model to other cities and regions.  In her prior role as the founding executive of the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, Ms. Glickman ensured adult literacy was a major priority, releasing Help Wanted to describe the economic impact of low adult literacy levels along with a blueprint for action around this central workforce issue.  During her tenure there, the Philadelphia WIB also published A Tale of Two Cities, widely recognized as a landmark document in creating an inclusive economic development agenda in Philadelphia.

  “The Mayors Commission on Literacy provides a platform for those of us who are passionate about adult literacy to play our part to bring more visibility and resources to the field – and to support Philadelphia’s robust provider community in doing this critically important work.”

Dr. Luis Gomez
Chair, Department of Foreign Languages & Literature, LaSalle University

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  Luis Gomez is Associate Professor of Spanish and Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at La Salle University, where he has taught since 2000.  He began his second, academic, career at Temple University, where he taught for three years before moving to La Salle, where he directed the Hispanic Institute, the Bilingual/Bicultural Graduate Studies program, the ESL Certificate program, and the TESOL program.  Dr. Gomez’ teaching and research have concentrated on Spanish Golden Age literature and culture and contemporary Latin American culture.  Dr. Gomez has published on cross-cultural and cross-linguistic influences among authors from different nations and time periods.  Prior to his academic career, Dr. Gomez was President and COO of Scott Specialty Gases, Inc., a global company, and was one of the founders, the President, and Director of a venture capital company.  He has a passion for teaching and language learning. He feels a moral obligation to help, which has motivated his work with the Hope Project for Education and the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy.  He believes that education, in all forms and manifestations, holds the keys to the improvement of our citizenry and thus, the nation.  Dr. Gomez’ hobbies are fishing and hunting, which he has pursued both all over the U.S., remote Alaska, Canada, South and Central America, and Europe.  His three grandchildren are his favorite way of spending time away from work.

   

Irene Hannan
Senior Vice President, Healthcare & Not for Profit Banking, Citizens Bank

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  Irene Horstmann Hannan is Senior Vice President of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, and has responsibility as the Division Executive for managing the Bank’s commercial business with Not-for-Profit organizations, Health Care businesses and its Professionals Banking Group in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.  She is responsible for full commercial banking with these sectors including credit, deposits, investments and all non-credit products. She has also served as the Division Executive for Government Banking.

  Irene previously served as the Director of Women’s Business Services for the General Bank of Wachovia   (now Wells Fargo).  As its director, Hannan was responsible for the design and execution of the company’s strategy for increasing business with women throughout the company’s markets including the Retail and Commercial Banks.

  Irene started her banking career with Wachovia’s predecessor institution, CoreStates Financial Corp., following a varied professional career in public and private industry.  She is the former Chief Financial Officer of the National Center for Urban Ethics Affairs in Washington, D.C., and Vice President of Hannan Associates with offices in Washington and Philadelphia. While with Hannan Associates, she opened a manufacturing facility in the Republic of Ireland producing closed circuit television equipment.

  She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, its Executive Committee, and chairs its Board Development Committee.  Irene recently successfully chaired the national Search Committee to secure a new CEO of the organization.  Irene was the co-chair of the Girl Scouts Take the Lead event in 2003 and 2004, the organization’s major fund raising event.  In 2013 the Mayor Philadelphia, Hon. Michael Nutter, appointed Irene to the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy.  In 2013 she was appointed to the Ethnical Leadership and Social Responsibility Institute at Rosemont College.  She is a member and past President of the Forum of Executive Women, the premier membership organization for senior women leaders in the Philadelphia region.  She also has served as the Chair of the Forum Foundation.   Irene was appointed by Pennsylvania’s Gov. Edward Rendell to serve three terms as a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women.  She recently retired as a board member of the Urban League of Philadelphia and served on its Executive Committee.   Formerly a Director of the Board of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, she currently serves on the PBA’s Direct Bankers’ Committee and is a founding member of the PBA’s Women in the Industry Committee.  She also serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Physicians.  Irene is a former Board Member of the Women’s Investment Network (WIN) whose mission is to promote women’s leadership in high growth businesses.   She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Professional Women’s Roundtable where she advises young professional women through mentoring, and the Advisory Board of Temple University’s Fox School of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurship where she served a one-year term as Executive in Residence.  She is a member of the Advancement Committee for Mercy Vocational High School.  Irene served two terms as a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Paradigm Award committee selecting outstanding women leaders to receive the prestigious Paradigm award.  In 2005 she co-chaired Drexel University’s Woman One event in support of medical school scholarships for women. She was a founding member of the American Heart Association Go Red for Women’s executive committee. Irene is a frequent speaker at events for women, entrepreneurs, and students including appearances on Comcast’s  It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle, BEN FM, and keynote addresses at Rosemont College, Accenture, PHH Mortgage, Neumann College, the Defense Supply Center of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

  Irene has also taken an active role in her community.  She is a trustee and chair of the Finance Committee of Trinity University in Washington D.C.  She has served as board chair at the Crossroads School where she was the first trustee awarded emeritus status; also a trustee of the Vanguard School, and the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.  She is a permanent board member of St. Francis Nursing Home who awarded her the Mundy Award for outstanding service.  She served as a two-term chair of the Women’s Committee of the Union League of Philadelphia.  Irene chaired the 50^th Anniversary Year for the Rosemont School of the Holy Child.

  A graduate of Trinity College, she also studied on the graduate level at Temple University and the University of Wisconsin. She also completed the Advanced Leadership Development Program at Babson College. She resides in Devon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Douglas Howell
President, Howell Brothers Chemical Company

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  Coming soon.

Marciene Mattleman
Executive Director, After School Activities and Partnerships
Founding Executive Director, The Mayor’s Commission on Literacy

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   Marciene S. Mattleman is executive director of ASAP/ After School Activities Partnerships which rallies the Greater Philadelphia community to increase after school recreation and enrichment programs for young people in Philadelphia. Previously, she founded and headed four non-profit organizations, including the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy in the Wilson Goode administration and Philadelphia Reads in the administration of Mayor Rendell. Philadelphia Futures, a mentoring program with college as a goal, which she began as well and has been replicated in 18 sites and was honored at the White House by President Clinton.
  Mattleman started her education career as a 6th grade teacher and went on to become a professor of English education at Temple University where she taught prospective teachers and graduate students courses in the teaching of reading and language arts. Her research focused on factors related to academic success. Mattleman has written more than 55 articles in professional journals, two books (one co-authored) on reading and language activities and has presented many papers at conferences nationally and internationally. She is an education reporter on KYW Newsradio, Philadelphia’s CBS affiliate; her three weekly features are aired 15 times weekly.
  In 1995, Mattleman was appointed by President Clinton to the advisory board of the National Institute for Literacy, an agency authorized by Congress to work with the Secretaries of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services on matters of adult literacy. She served as chair of that group. Mattleman is former chair of the board of trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia. She currently serves on the boards of the American Red Cross of Southeastern PA, Philadelphia Futures, City Year, the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia., the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Audrey Miller

  Poritzky Fund for Education. Mattleman was elected a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania and was recently appointed by Governor Rendell as a member of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women.
  Mattleman has appeared often on radio and television discussing issues in education and writes frequently for the popular press. She has received numerous awards for her work in expanding access and opportunity for low income populations. What’s her motivation??? Coming from a family where “giving back” was expected, being a role model with her husband for their three kids, their spouses and six grandchildren (all of whom are involved in community service) and watching a nine year old win a chess tournament at an ASAP club.

Dr. Joseph Meade
President, Philadelphia Leadership Foundation

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  Dr. Joseph Meade is President of the Philadelphia Leadership Foundation, a faith-based non-profit organization that brings together community leaders with faith leaders to strengthen neighborhoods.  The Philadelphia Leadership Foundation supports a number of mentorship programs for children, youth and returning citizens city-wide.  Dr. Meade is active with the Interfaith Religious Leaders Council, which addresses major issues affecting  the City of Philadelphia and surrounding region.  Dr. Meade attended Philadelphia public schools, earned his bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University, an M.A. from Temple University, and the doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.  A 35-year career in the School District of Philadelphia included teaching and several senior administrative positions, culminated in the position of Director of Parent and Community Relations and Partnerships.  Dr. Meade is devoted to his church,  family, and proud of the achievements of his children.

Loraine Ballard Morrill
News Director and Community Affairs Director, Clear Channel Radio

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   Loraine Ballard Morrill is currently News & Community Affairs Director for Clear Channel Media+Entertainments’s six Philadelphia stations. They are Power 99 FM, WDAS FM, Radio 104.5 FM., Mix 106.1, WDAS AM, and Q102. While News and Public Affairs Director at Power 99 Fm. (WUSL-FM) Loraine created numerous award winning Community Service Campaigns. A series of radio messages encouraging racial harmony won the Mayor’s Award for Excellence. An anti-drug campaign received the White House Award for Private Sector Initiatives and the National Council on Drug Abuse/Entertainment Industry Council Award for Excellence. Most recently—Loraine coordinated the Station’s community service campaign, which won the National Association of Broadcaster’s 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2007 Crystal Radio Award. No other station in the nation has won this prestigious award four times. In 2000 the station was honored by the Points of Light Foundation as a Daily Point of Light.

  Among her numerous honors—Ms. Morrill has received The Philadelphia Human Relations Commission Human Rights Award, and The Women’s Alliance For Job Equity’s Certificate of Courage for her support of women confronting discrimination and commitment to combating Prejudice. Ms. Morrill won The Mercury Award for Best Public Service Announcement in 96 And 97, The 1997 NAACP President’s Award. Most recently she was the recipient of 2006 “Women Making a Difference” Award sponsored by Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown. Ms. Ballard Morrill serves on numerous boards including Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, Philadelphia Safe and Sound and Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth. She is a regular panel member on the School District of Philadelphia Channel’s Education Roundtable television program.

  Loraine received her BA and Masters in Teaching at Simmons College in Boston. She also has a Masters in Applied Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

   

Renee Murdock
Vice President of Operations, Project H.O.M.E.

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  Renee Webb Murdock is Vice President of Neighborhood Services & Human Resources at Project H.O.M.E., a non-profit organization in Philadelphia, PA. Project H.O.M.E. (Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care & Education) is a comprehensive organization designed to help break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Project H.O.M.E. achieves this through a continuum of care comprised of street outreach, supportive housing, and comprehensive social services. Project H.O.M.E. also addresses the root causes of homelessness and poverty through neighborhood revitalization programs in North Philadelphia, which include affordable housing development, homeownership initiatives, employment training and opportunities, adult and youth education, community-based health care, and economic development.

  In her position as Vice President of Neighborhood Services & Human Resources, Ms. Murdock is responsible for providing leadership in developing & implementing Project H.O.M.E.’s neighborhood revitalization programs & services, in implementing the organization’s Strategic Plan, and in overseeing the operations of three (3) departments through interaction with department directors & their teams: Housing and Community Development, the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs, & Human Resources.  Ms. Murdock also serves as a member of Project H.O.M.E.’s Executive Management Team.

  A former banker with 27 years of experience, Ms. Murdock began her career in Baltimore MD in 1978 and served as a Branch Manager, a Commercial Relationship Manager and a Commercial Portfolio Risk Manager. Prior to joining Project H.O.M.E. in 2006, Ms. Murdock served as the Community Development Manager for Wachovia Bank where she was responsible for implementing Wachovia’s community development policies and setting direction for achievement of the company’s community development goals and objectives across eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. She was also responsible for managing the bank’s compliance under the Community Reinvestment Act, supporting neighborhood revitalization and economic development, directing community service programs and developing and maintaining community relationships. In addition, she managed a team of community development officers assigned across the territory.

  Ms. Murdock is a member of the board of directors of Commonwealth Housing Legal Services and PNC Bank’s Philadelphia Community Development Advisory Board. She is also a Commissioner on Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Commission on Literacy. She is a cum laude graduate of Towson State University in Baltimore MD with a BA in Business Administration.

  Why I care about adult learning:

  I care about adult learning because education is the key to improving the quality of life. It opens the mind & expands the world of possibilities for the learner, as well as for their families. The adult learner is special because they’re taking another chance to proactively reach out for the skills & knowledge they need to take control of their lives & positively impact their futures. That takes courage & commitment. Everyone should have the chance to succeed. And I strongly believe that we all benefit from the achievements of each other. If my neighbor’s life is better, then mine will be better & so will the greater society.

Henry Nicholas
President, National Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees
President, 1199C

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  Coming soon.

Lori  Shorr
Chief Education Officer, City of Philadelphia

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  Dr. Lori Shorr has served as Mayor Nutter’s Chief Education Officer since he assumed office in January 2008. Prior to taking this position, Dr. Shorr was the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In this capacity, Dr. Shorr was responsible for the Department’s K – 16 initiatives including dual enrollment, transfer and articulation. She also created and chaired Governor Rendell’s Commission on College and Career Success and served on the Governor’s Job Ready Budget Task Force. Previously, Dr. Shorr was the Director of School and Community Partnerships in the provost’s office at Temple University.

   

   

Tim Smith
Region President, PA/DE Verizon Communication

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   Tim Smith is region president of Consumer and Mass Business Operations for Pennsylvania/Delaware in the East Coast Area.  He is responsible for Verizon’s traditional copper and FiOS access line construction, installation and maintenance, as well as sales.   He has end-to-end responsibility for operations and service delivery, as well as revenue generation with full Profit and Loss responsibility and process efficiencies to meet strategic business goals. With over 4,100 employees and prior to his current assignment, Smith was Vice President of Operations in Florida and Texas for Verizon’s South/West Area.  He led 3,100 employees in the delivery and maintenance of over 1.8 million residential and business copper and fiber access lines through the construction, installation and maintenance processes.

  Previously, Smith was Director – Customer Operations, Construction and FiOS/Core Installation and Maintenance in the South/West Area.  As director, his area of responsibility encompassed more than 75,000 square miles, 1.2 million access lines and 960 management and associate employees in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

  Smith began his career with Verizon in 1999 and has held positions of increasing responsibility including various Outside Plant management experiences. Smith currently serves as a Board member of the Philadelphia Urban League, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, The Philadelphia Chamber Board and the Philadelphia Chamber CEO and Council for Growth. He also is member of The Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, Delaware Business Roundtable and the Nemours Campaign Business & Foundation Committee.  In addition, Tim is a member of the Consortium of Information and Telecommunications Executives (CITE) and Developmental Roundtable for Upward Mobility (DRUM Inc).

  An Indiana native, Smith received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

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Ex-Officio:

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