Meet our team

Susan Carreño, Executive director

Susan Carreño, originally from Kentucky but raised in Bogotá, Colombia as the daughter of missionaries, relocated to the Athens area from Hall County, Georgia in 2020. She went to the University of Kentucky, where she earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and Learning and Behavioral Disorders, followed by an M.A. in Special Education.

With a diverse background in teaching across public, private, and university settings, Susan's career spans various educational levels from elementary to high school. Notably, she served as a Spanish teacher at World Language Academy and dedicated many years to teaching Spanish at the high school level. Additionally, she contributed as a Service Coordinator for Babies Can't Wait, focusing on serving Hispanic families in the program, and volunteered as an ESL teacher.

Passionate about fostering the Hispanic/Latino community, Susan believes in their significant contribution to the Athens area. Since September 2022, she has held the position of Executive Director at Casa, driving substantial growth and transformative changes within the organization.

Our board of directors

Evelyn Rushing, president

Evelyn Rushing, originally from Lima, Peru, now lives in Athens, Georgia, with a rich background in marketing, accounting, and social work. After over a decade in the school district, she retired to become the director of the Pinewoods Library and Learning Center, driven by her passion for community engagement and cultural exchange. Evelyn has also coached volleyball, soccer, and track, reflecting her dynamic and fun-loving spirit. A lifelong learner, she advocates for continuous personal growth and enjoys a diverse range of hobbies, including spending time with her daughters, music, dancing, hiking, crafts, origami, and rest.

Chad howe, Vice President

Chad Howe moved to Athens in 2006 to join the faculty of the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Georgia where he currently works as Associate Professor of Hispanic Linguistics. Chad is a native of Dry Branch, GA, having earned a B.A. at Georgia Southern University before moving to Ohio to complete his M.A. and Ph.D. at The Ohio State University. Since moving to Athens, he has been involved in number of local organizations in Athens including Catholic Charities and Athens-Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocates. He started working with Casa de Amistad in 2019 as instructor for the GED courses in Language Arts and Social Studies and joined the board in 2022.

Linda Dodson, Treasurer

Linda Dodson is an experienced tax and accounting professional with nearly four decades of experience across multiple industries, including banking, non-profit, and higher education. She specializes in tax preparation, database management, general ledger bookkeeping, compliance, and data manipulation. Linda has been self-employed since 2002, offering tax and accounting services to a diverse range of clients. She has also served as the Director of Finance at Emmanuel Episcopal Church and as a Licensing Compliance Manager at the University of Georgia. She holds a BBA in Finance from Stetson University.

Derek Bentley, Member

Derek Bentley is an educator, grant-writer, and consultant who joined Casa de Amistad’s Board of Directors in 2022. He has a Ph.D. in Latin American History and, prior to joining the board, managed two U.S. Department of Education (Title VI) grants for the University of Georgia’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute. He currently works as an independent contractor and consultant for nonprofits and educational institutions seeking to expand their grant-funded programs.

Paul Duncan, member

Paul Duncan, holding a BA from the University of Iowa and an MS in forestry from the University of Florida, brings extensive experience to UGA. With prior work spanning Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, including involvement in conservation programs with organizations like the Peace Corps and CARE, Duncan's career at UGA began in 1998. From administering NIH-funded projects to his current role as associate director of the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Institute (LACSI), Duncan's contributions have been significant. He oversees LACSI's Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden and leads community service initiatives, particularly benefiting Athens-area Latinx immigrant communities. Additionally, he teaches a horticulture service-learning course at UGA each spring. With almost 25 years at UGA, Duncan's dedication extends to his involvement with Casa de Amistad and his continued passion for Latin American affairs, rooted in his Peace Corps service.

Father Samuel Porras, member

Father Porras was born in Medellin, Colombia. He moved to the USA in September 1992. He was ordained to the Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1997. He served in the Catholic church as a priest for seven years and then left the priesthood. He worked for 14 years in the insurance industry and joined the Episcopal church as a priest in May 2016. He is presently working as an associate rector at Emmanuel Episcopal church in Athens since November 2017. 

In addition to Casa de Amistad, he serves with the Bigger Vision homeless shelter and in the Hispanic community with the activities and events in his church.

In his free time, Father Porras enjoys reading and traveling.

Jess Ramos, member

Jess Ramos is a highly skilled professional with a Master's in Business Analytics from the University of Georgia and a BS in mathematics and Spanish from Berry College. With experience as a Senior Data Analyst at Crunchbase and Senior Risk Analyst at Freddie Mac, she specializes in data analytics, risk analysis, and improving data quality. Jess is proficient in SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau, and machine learning, contributing significantly to predictive modeling and data science projects. Jess served as one of our amazing ESL instructors from 2021-2023.

Marcelo Buril, member

Marcelo Buril, originally from Recife, Brazil, moved to Athens after earning his Civil Engineering degree. Despite planning to return home, he fell in love with Athens and stayed. After a 12-year tenure as a Production Manager ended due to a workplace fire and the onset of COVID-19, Marcelo reinvented his career by entering the real estate industry, obtaining his license with family support. As a Realtor, he enjoys connecting with clients and contributing to Athens' music scene as a guitarist in The Original Screw Tops, a blues band he co-founded. He joined Casa de Amistad team originally as a volunteer and grew to love our purpose and goals.

Lila Jimenez, member

Lila Jimenez founded Calor Creative in 2021, focusing on brand identity and web design for small businesses, particularly in Athens. She's also a Summer Studio Instructor at the UGA and a former design lead at Hinge Creative Co. Lila holds a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Spanish from UGA. She volunteers by providing free branding packages for non-profits through her studio. We are so grateful for the custom branding work that she did for Casa last summer. It has brought to life the essence of Casa through the brand.

Our teachers

Carrie Emerson, program director

Carrie Emerson has been involved with Casa de Amistad since 2022, teaching adults English and developing an adult ESL curriculum in partnership with Clarke County School District (CCSD). Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Teaching ESOL from Georgia State University, Emerson also teaches high school ESOL in CCSD. Originally from the suburbs of Atlanta, GA, they discovered their passion for teaching English to adults while at the University of Georgia, where they graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Anthropology. With a background in teaching English to Chinese children in Beijing and a 120-hour TEFL certification, Emerson is dedicated to supporting immigrants and English learners. Beyond education, they enjoy languages, traveling, cooking, and hiking.

Skylar Baker, program director & Instructor

Skylar graduated from the University of Georgia in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and an ESOL endorsement. She obtained her TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification and taught English in Barcelona for a year, working with both young learners and adults. After moving back to Athens, Skylar taught first grade at J.J. Harris Elementary School for several years before deciding she wanted to work with language learners full-time. In addition to Casa de Amistad, she works with the University of Georgia’s Intensive English Program. Skylar will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Ed. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and World Language Education from the University of Georgia. In her free time, she loves traveling, trying new foods, and practicing yoga. Skylar is passionate about the work that Casa de Amistad offers the local community, and she is grateful to be a part of that as a program director and ESL teacher. 

Hanna O’Connell, Program Director & ESL Instructor

Hanna O'Connell began her work in non profit education and leadership in 2010 in the Sacred Valley, Peru. She earned an international TESOL certificate in 2014, and has since lived abroad and taught English language learners from 20+ countries worldwide with a focus on adult education in Latin America. She is currently working on her Master's in Teaching ESOL at the University of Georgia. 

Isabelle Leimkuhler, instructor

Isabelle Leimkuhler is a graduate student at the University of Georgia working on her M.A. in Spanish with an emphasis in Hispanic Linguistics. She is currently serving as a Teaching Assistant of Spanish for the Department of Romance Languages at UGA. Isabelle graduated from Ohio University in Spring 2023 with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish, Linguistics and Music. At Ohio University, Isabelle earned a certificate in Preservice Teacher Preparation in TEFL and she taught ESL for a community program called English for All in Athens, Ohio. Now that she lives in Athens, Georgia, she is super excited to join the Casa de Amistad family in Fall 2023 and teach ESL while following her passion for language learning and teaching!

Bonnie Johnson, instructor

Bonnie Johnson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but has called the Athens area her home since 2000. As a graduate of Young Harris College and the University of Georgia, Bonnie has always made connections with international students. Bonnie lived five years in Italy and Germany and understands the adaptations international residents must make when moving to a different country. Upon her return to Athens, she was a volunteer ESL teacher with Catholic Social Services and taught with the UGA  American Language Program for two years before its closing.

For over twenty two years and counting, Bonnie continues to teach ESL to Japanese businessmen at Nakanishi Manufacturing in Winterville. She also worked seventeen years in an elementary school assisting a wide variety of students. She joined the instructors  at Casa de Amistad in the fall of 2022 and enjoys teaching American English as well as culture. Her favorite part of the English lessons is when students role play real life situations. She is enthusiastic about helping newcomers to Athens adjust to an American way of life and is excited to be a part of the Casa de Amistad team.

When Bonnie is not teaching ESL classes, you can find her volunteering with Bike Ride for MS, Habitat for Humanity, the N. GA food bank and Holy Cross Lutheran Campus Ministry. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends,cheering for the DAWGS, traveling, and painting with watercolors.

Kelly Rodriguez, GED instructor

Kelly Rodriguez was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She moved to the United States with her family at the beginning of 2022 and since then she has focused on continuing her passion for teaching. She is a mechanical engineer with diplomas in University Education and a master’s in Mathematics Education. Her experience in teaching began in 2012, when she was appointed to the Colombian Department of Education as a high school math teacher. She taught at the High School level until she moved out of the country. Since moving to Georgia, she has become a paraprofessional in the Oconee County School District, helping teach young people and kids with special needs.

Our interns

Regina E. Rubalcava, UGA Intern

Regina was born and raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Her family hails from Guerrero, Mexico. She currently attends the University of Georgia as a Double Dawgs student. In May 2023, she graduated with a double major in Political Science and International Affairs. This Fall, she will continue her studies in the Master of Public Administration program. In her free time, Regina enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering in her local communities, traveling, and learning new languages. Regina believes that efficient and transparent communication is essential to empowering people and communities.

As an intern for Casa de Amistad, Regina hopes to help amplify the voices of the Hispanic community with local institutions through education access and advocacy. Regina firmly believes that education is a right, which creates leaders and propels them forward on a global level. 

Ella Carver, UGA Intern

Ella was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. She currently attends the University of Georgia as an undergraduate student majoring in International Affairs and Spanish. She is also a part of the Double Dawgs Masters of International Policy Program with a concentration in human security. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, babysitting, and volunteering around Athens. Ella has been studying Spanish since she was 12 and her own experiences have given her an understanding of the challenges that come with learning a second language. She began volunteering with Casa de Amistad in the fall of 2023 and discovered her passion for helping others learn a second language. As an intern for Casa de Amistad, Ella hopes to continue supporting the Hispanic community in Athens and advocating for more equitable and inclusive education.

Serena Dasaro, UGA Intern

My name is Serena Dasaro and I am a senior at the University of Georgia. I am majoring in political science and minoring in international affairs and Spanish. My mother is from Brazil and my father's family is from Puerto Rico, so I have grown up experiencing different cultures. I am also trilingual as I speak Portuguese, Spanish, and English! I am super passionate about helping the Hispanic community and I am thrilled to be a part of the Casa team as I will be able to continue to support the Hispanics here in Athens!  

Chloe Savan, UGA intern

Chloe is a graduate student at the University of Georgia working on her master’s in journalism. In her undergrad years, she majored in journalism and minored in Spanish and business. In her free time, Chloe likes to read, bake cookies, and watch sitcoms with her friends. Chloe began volunteering with Casa de Amistad in May 2023 and spent the summer renovating Casa’s website. She’s passionate about Casa’s mission and loves the opportunity to practice her Spanish!