Meet the Words Alive Team
Rachael Orose, M.P.A.
Executive Director
Rachael Orose is an entrepreneurial social sector leader passionate about creating engaged and life-long learners. She has spent more than 20 years in the nonprofit sector working with national, regional, and local organizations committed to providing resources and opportunities for children and families in low-income and at-risk communities.
Orose joined Words Alive in September 2019 from The Molina Foundation, based in Orange County, where as Vice President she focused on operations, community partnerships, and fundraising. Orose, who has spent the bulk of her life working in the nonprofit sector, was previously the Manager of Corporate Strategy for the American Red Cross (Washington D.C.), and the Senior Director for First Book (Washington D.C.). She has also held numerous positions for a variety of community-based organizations in both New York and Michigan.
Originally from Michigan, Rachael holds a graduate degree in public and nonprofit administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and an undergraduate degree in the same field from Grand Valley State University.
Melinda Cooper, PMP
Program Director
Melinda (pronouns: she/her/hers), a graduate of the University of Virginia, is a systems thinker who believes the sustainability of organizations is directly related to the rigor with which projects, process, and people are supported. Accordingly, she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Scrum Master (CSM), and soon-to-be Associate Professional of Human Resources (aPHR).
Melinda serves as Co-Producer of the International Shakespeare in Prisons Conference, which is a product of the partnership between Shakespeare Behind Bars and Shakespeare at Notre Dame. She is also on the board of The Mind Body Project, a nonprofit organization offering science-backed mindfulness programs to institutions and individuals. A practitioner of mindfulness herself, she has completed training through Mindful Schools and is passionate about using mindfulness to enhance communication and collaboration in the workplace.
Before joining the team at Words Alive, Melinda managed programs at two leading nonprofits local to San Diego: The Old Globe Theatre and A Reason to Survive (ARTS). She is committed to the cultivation of equity and access for folks regardless of their race, gender, ability, or socio-economic status. In her free time, Melinda enjoys writing, museums dates, taking walks, and live music. Her favorite album is The Velvet Underground & Nico.
Vichittra Chaleune, M.A.
Associate Program Director, Read Aloud Program Manager
Vichittra Chaleune is responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating the Words Alive Read Aloud Program. Prior to Words Alive, Vichittra was an AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at Voices for Children where she supported the volunteer management office. She is a San Diego State University alumna and continued her education in Vermont at the School for International Training where she earned her master’s degree in Service, Leadership and Management with an emphasis in Conflict Resolution. Her interest in cultural diversity inspired her to work with refugees in City Heights and complete her practicum with the International Rescue Committee. As a result, she wrote her capstone paper titled, Conflict Resolution Through the Study of Food where she identified food as a commonality shared among individuals and a potential bridge towards peacebuilding. Vichittra is a San Diego native and continues to be passionate about making positive impacts in her community.
Tracy Dahlkamp M.P.A.
Donor Engagement Manager
Tracy Dahlkamp is a dedicated leader who is deeply committed to community engagement and driving positive change in San Diego County. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from San Diego State University. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Tracy brings a distinctive combination of leadership, project management, and technical skills to her work. She is passionate about bringing people together, fostering meaningful relationships, and leading initiatives that make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Before joining Words Alive in July 2023, Tracy successfully established and led two volunteer nonprofit organizations in San Diego: the Lake Murray Playground Project and The Lake Murray Fireworks & Events. She is originally from Michigan, spent some time in northern and central California, and settled in San Diego in 1998. Tracy enjoys exploring large public libraries and college campuses when traveling, attending live music events, and spending time with her friends and family.
Alex Diebolt
Program Operations Coordinator
Contact
Alex was born and raised in Southern California. After discovering their passion for farming, they went to college to earn two Associate’s Degrees in Livestock Management and Agricultural Technology. After years of not finding a place where they could be themselves and make a difference in the world, they found Words Alive. Starting as a temp for three months, they were brought in February 2023 as the Operations Coordinator. They are very happy to be a part of the Words Alive staff and plan to stay until their farm dream can begin.
Robyn Grand
Community Engagement Manager
Robyn Grand joins the Words Alive family after three years of working for AVID Center. Prior to their time at AVID Center, they attended the University of California San Diego where they earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Political Science. Robyn is a life-long learner with a passion for reading and is excited to serve as the Community Engagement Manager for the Words Alive family. In their free time, Robyn enjoys running, yoga, and video games.
Faryl Kander, Ph.D.
Family Program Manager
Faryl’s professional interest in education began when she learned about the inequities that exist in our education system and wanted to work to find a solution. She became a Teach for America teacher working in multicultural urban environments with linguistically and culturally diverse children and families. Faryl’s love for teaching developed into roles as a literacy coach, teacher educator, and most recently a Title 1 Reading Specialist. Faryl believes that all children deserve a quality education and is committed to authentic and meaningful practices that develop readers and writers. She firmly believes an education that enthuses a love of reading supports students in becoming deep and critical thinkers who will change our world. Faryl received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, a M.Ed. with a concentration in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego and holds a B.A. degree in English from San Diego State University.
Genielysse Reyes
Volunteer Coordinator
Genielysse Reyes (she/her/hers) is a passionate creative and educator with nearly a decade’s worth of experience with organizations that advocate academic and creative growth. She holds an MFA in writing for children from Simmons University, as well as a BA in creative writing and a BA in psychology from the University of California, Riverside. In the past few years, she’s received several accolades for her creative work, including the 2023 Lee Bennett Hopkins Scholarship for poetry writers from the Highlights Foundation and a 2024 We Need Diverse Books middle grade mentorship. When not volunteer coordinating or writing, Genielysse loves humming showtunes, participating in open mics, and nerding out about animated films.
Kristi Stoza
Institutional Giving and Donor Communications Coordinator
Kristi brings with her years of experience in volunteer management, fundraising, and program work serving families facing homelessness, domestic violence, and substance abuse. She holds an undergraduate degree in social work from San Diego State University and her past work experience includes positions at Vista Hill, Center for Community Services, and the LGBTQ Youth Space in San Jose. In her free time, Kristi enjoys running, paddle boarding, cycling, checking out new restaurants, and planning weekend adventures with her family.
Marisol Vasquez
Young Adult Program Manager
Marisol (they/them & she/her) is an activist and educator with a career centered around the critical relationship between K-12 education and reproductive justice. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2018 with a degree in Political Science and minor in Chicana/o Studies. Marisol comes to Words Alive with ten years of social justice and community organizing experience. Marisol has been recognized for her contributions by the Human Rights Campaign in 2014 for the Outstanding Youth Award and again in 2018 by SDSU for the Ned Joy Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Leadership & Community. A self-described lifelong-learner, Marisol is excited to share her enthusiasm for literary empowerment with students and volunteers alike.
Xipei Zhuang
Program Innovation Fellow
Xipei Zhuang is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, holding a Master's degree in Learning Sciences and Technologies. Through rigorous academic training, Xipei developed a robust understanding of learning theories and the intricacies of designing educational environments. This foundation empowers her to harness technology to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness seamlessly.
Xipei's recent internship at Words Alive provided her with the opportunity to collaborate with various stakeholders, playing a pivotal role in curriculum development for all three in-house programs. Her time there not only solidified her expertise in curriculum development processes and standard operating procedures but also allowed her to delve deeply into using project management platforms like AirTable. This experience enabled her to efficiently manage curriculum data and optimize workflow recommendations for her coworkers. Additionally, Xipei has a proven track record of effective cross-functional collaboration with both internal and external curriculum leads and volunteers. Her primary goal is to ensure the delivery of a top-notch curriculum through clear and productive communication.
