Meet The Team
Our people are our strength.
We pride ourselves on a dedicated staff that is passionate about children’s literacy.
Jennifer Smith
Executive Director
Samantha Polon
Director of Communications and Donor Marketing
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors serve a critical role in supporting the growth, development and governance of Books Are Wings. No compensation is paid to any member of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board.
Board Officers:
Chair: Nancy Serpa, IT Program Manager, M&A Integrations, Sensata Technologies
Treasurer: Deanna San Antonio, CPA, MST, Senior Manager, Tax Services Group, KLR
Secretary: Debra Westgate-Silva, Freelance grant writer and children's author, The Write Help
Board Members:
Robyn Earley: Founder, Oria Mindful
Linda Lulli: Governance Committee Chair, HR Consultant and Leadership Coach
Jeffrey Oates: Associate Attorney: Roberts, Carroll, Feldstein & Peirce
Mobolaji Omisore: Branch Manager, Bristol County Savings Bank
Sue Oppenheimer: Past Board Chair
Ana Rooney: Vice President of Product Design and Operations, Collette Travel
Andra Shea: Children’s Literacy Volunteer and Organizer
Suzanne Silva, CAE, RCE: Chief Executive Officer, Greater Providence Board of REALTORS®
Hannah Stern: Senior Policy Analyst, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
Join Our Team
We are currently searching for new members of our larger team, on both our board of directors and our staff team. These roles are an integral part of the Books Are Wings community, and will help to further our mission of getting free books into the hand of young readers across Rhode Island. Books Are Wings is an equal opportunity employer.
Board Chair:
Books Are Wings is seeking a chair for our Board of Directors. The Chair leads the Board and ensures its effective governance, strategic direction and overall effectiveness. The chair supports fundraising efforts, oversees and runs board meetings and ensures the board functions effectively as a unit. Acting as the primary liaison between the Board and organization’s leadership, this role is critical in ensuring the Board fulfills its fiduciary and other responsibilities and embodies the organization’s core values.
Learn more about this open roles and how to apply here, or fill our our interest to serve form here.
Board Members:
Books Are Wings is seeking members for its Board of Directors, who will provide strategic leadership and governance, working in partnership with the Executive Director, who oversees day-to-day operations of the organization. The Board of Directors supports the work of the organization and serves as the organization’s fiduciaries, who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure the nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission. Learn more about these open roles and how to apply here.