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CYNTHIA SHABBExecutive Director
cshabb@gfcoalition.org Cynthia Shabb has been with Global Friends Coalition since January 2011. Shabb earned a B.S. degree in English education from the University of Minnesota, a master’s in Library Science from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Dakota. She has served as an administrator at UND in several roles including director of the Teaching and Learning doctoral program, assistant dean of the Graduate School, and head of collection development and library advancement at the Chester Fritz Library. Shabb serves on the board of the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations and the Grand Forks Public Schools. |
ADAM FORTWENGLERProgram Coordinator
pc@gfcoalition.org Adam Fortwengler joined Global Friends in August 2018 as our program coordinator. Adam graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in social work and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Adam completed an internship at Global Friends Coalition in the summer of 2017. During his internship, Adam mentored New American families, taught driving skills on our golf cart and coordinated a behind-the-wheel driver’s education course, helped with event set-up, and assisted with grant writing. When his internship ended, he remained on as a steady volunteer helping countless New American families navigate paperwork, assisting with driving lessons, providing transportation, and advocating for families in social services. Prior to joining Global Friends, Adam worked at the Grand Forks Housing Authority and was a football coach for many years. Additionally, Adam was hired in the summer of 2018 to coordinate the driver’s education program, teaching people how to drive on the golf cart, and providing transportation to people so that they could get to their behind-the-wheel driver’s training. |
JANICE TANGENResettlement Services Coordinator
rsc@gfcoalition.org My first experience with refugees was volunteering with Global Friends Coalition as a tutor/mentor in 2010. This led me to pursue the position as English Language Learning Coordinator at the Grand Forks Adult Learning Center. I taught people from various countries in all levels of learning English in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It was a two-way street. They learned English and I learned about their culture. A favorite part of my students’ culture that many enjoyed sharing was food from their country. I retired from teaching in 2021 and am glad to be working with newly resettled refugees. |
MADISON SCHULTZResettlement Case Manager
rcm@gfcoalition.org I am the Resettlement Case Manager, assisting with new families who come as refugees and I am coordinating volunteer opportunities. I have spent my adult life working at the Community Violence Intervention Center with domestic violence victims. A big part of my life growing up was my involvement in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and I remain active as a local advisor. I was a Main Street Grand Forks Fellowship winner in 2018 where I created a project about mental health awareness for teens. When I am not working, I love to travel both abroad and in the country. I've been to Italy, Greece, South Korea, Ireland, and Canada. |
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Marina Kojic-Zepackic
President Ione Seidlinger Vice-President Cindy Jensen Secretary Robbin Rendahl Treasurer Elias Dean Member-at-Large Maura Ferguson Member-at-Large Kelly Hisek Member-at-Large Brenda Lewis Member-at-Large |
Faye Pederson
Member-at-Large Andria Pinkerton Member-at-Large Odele Rajpathy Member-at-Large Kimberly Tom Member-at-Large Zachary Tomczik Member-at-Large Chyna Lynner Non-Voting Member Ranju Dhungana Non-Voting Member Lisa Gibson Past President |
Global Friends Coalition's Youth Advisors, shown here
From Left to Right: Manisha Mishra, Peace Tabo, Soma Maya Subba, Zihan Zhang, and Eva Ju |
