Ilse brings nearly 10 years of experience in this space intersecting schools, students, and the global water crisis. She has served on the board for HOW Global, leading school fundraising programs for clean water projects in Haiti and sub-Saharan Africa. And she even swam around the island of Manhattan, in the East, Harlem, and Hudson Rivers, to raise money for global WASH programs!

Ilse brings her passion for global water equity along with a decades-long career in education marketing (working for educational publishers, ed tech companies, and nonprofits) to her role as Executive Director.

Janice is a true “Renaissance Woman” of many talents, publishing, professional singer, and creator of the podcast Sheltered Journey, a lifeline for parents and caregivers of children with emotional, behavioral, developmental, and intellectual challenges.

A champion of social justice, she has been a driving force since the inception of Power of Water, making sure we keep our focus on why we are here, giving voice to the inequitable distribution of water around the world.

Sarah has enjoyed a rewarding career in educational publishing, currently serving as Vice President and Editor at W.W. Norton where she appreciates the opportunity to work on educational materials that help high school and college writers find their voice and translate their ideas into action. 

Beyond her professional work, Sarah's volunteer efforts involve student development and success, as a lecturer at the Columbia Publishing Course, mentor to applicants to her college alma mater, and as a teacher and active member at The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair.

Sarah's inspiration for this work has deep familial ties. Her late mother was dedicated to advancing multiracial higher education in South Africa during apartheid, and her daughter has spent her summers volunteering with The Mother Esther School in Kajiado, Kenya for girls rescued from forced marriages.

Sam brings a unique blend of professional experience and personal history to our mission. As the Director of Operations for the Dollywood Foundation, including their signature program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Sam has expertise in operational planning (shipping two million books each month across five different countries!) and technology for the nonprofits.

Calling Bristol, TN home and growing up in rural Southwest Virginia/Eastern Tennessee, Sam also brings a sensitive lens to the work we do.