Terri Potrako, Executive Director
Primary responsibilities include organizational leadership, community partner outreach, strategic program development and resource development.
Terri can be reached at terri.potrako@volunteerenglish.org
Terri holds a B.A. in Social Work from Cabrini University. She has 30 years of experience as a non-profit healthcare administrator and fundraiser. Terri’s expertise lies in relationship-building with key community constituents and stakeholders in order to develop support for services that impact the well-being of diverse and underserved communities. This includes all aspects of program creation, executive leadership, donor development, public relations, and marketing.
Rachel Van Tassel, Program Director
Primary responsibilities include direct student services, volunteer engagement, program communications, development, and data management.
Rachel can be reached at rachel.vantassel@volunteerenglish.org
Rachel holds a Master’s Degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), and two B.A. degrees in Spanish and French. After participating in a language exchange during her undergraduate studies, Rachel discovered her passion for ESL (English as a Second Language) and adult education. Having volunteered in the community as an English conversation partner, ESL tutor, and ESL teacher for adult students, she has solidified her career interest in advocating for adult English language learners in the community. By striving to bridge the language gap, she aims to empower adult English language learners to be successful and autonomous learners.
Madison (Maddie) Geiger, Program Coordinator
Maddie can be reached at madison.geiger@volunteerenglish.org
Primary responsibilities include the development of Volunteer English Program services within the Western Chester County area. This includes direct student services, tutor recruitment, training and mentoring.
Maddie holds a B.A. in Linguistics from Stony Brook University. She is a New York state-certified teacher of TESOL in PreK-12th grade, and has worked with students of all ages. A long-time interest in foreign languages, cultures, and history brought her into the education field, and she has been embarking on adventures of learning ever since. After being awarded a Fulbright grant in 2022, she spent a year living and teaching in South Korea. Her experiences abroad played a large role in her desire to make Chester County a more welcoming and accessible community for immigrants. Through VEP, she hopes to help create new opportunities for adult learners in their careers, community, and learning.
Samantha (Sammi) Weiss, Program Coordinator
Primary responsibilities include the development of Volunteer English Program services within the Phoenixville area. This includes direct student services, tutor recruitment, training and mentoring.
Sammi can be reached at samantha.weiss@volunteerenglish.org
Samantha (Sammi) holds a B.A. in communications, an M.A. in literary and textual studies, and graduate certificates in women and gender studies and TESOL, and Ed.D. in educational leadership. She has taught college courses and tutored students privately for eight years across a variety of subjects, including English as a new language. In addition to her staff role, Sammi is also a VEP tutor. She believes that language training creates opportunities and she is excited about the pathways that VEP opens for its learners!
Katie Doyle Parsell, Development Associate
Primary responsibilities include grant research, proposal writing, collaboration with the executive director to advance support for tutor and student services, and expanding VEP’s strategic positions with regional and national funders.
Katie can be reached at katiedoyle.parsell@volunteerenglish.org
Katie holds a master’s degree in applied Youth, Family, and Community Education from Penn State University and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. Her experience lies in the higher education and nonprofit worlds, where she taught undergraduate students and adjudicated high school youth, and led disaster preparedness for the five counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. With a strong desire to bring her diverse professional experience to immigrants and English language learners, Katie looks forward to finding opportunities for VEP to further its mission and ability to empower individuals.
Open Positions
Please see the VEP Employment Opportunities for current openings.