Global Friends Coalition | Grand Forks, North Dakota
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  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • Get Involved
  • Calendar
  • Resources
  • Contribute
  • Contact Us

STAFF

Global Friends Coalition Cynthia Shabb

CYNTHIA SHABB

Executive 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.
Global Friends Coalition Adam Fortwengler

ADAM FORTWENGLER

Program 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.

BOARD

Marina Kojic-Zepackic
President

Ione Seidlinger
Vice-President

​Cindy Jensen
 Secretary

Robbin Rendahl
Treasurer

Sahra Abdullah
Member-at-Large

Elias Dean
Member-at-Large

Maura Ferguson
Member-at-Large
​

Chyna Lynner
Member-at-Large
​
Faye Pederson
Member-at-Large

Andria Pinkerton
Member-at-Large

Odele Rajpathy
Member-at-Large
​
Ranju Dhungana
Non-Voting Member

Prakash Pathak
Non-Voting Member
​

Aisha Hassan
Non-Voting Member

Lisa Gibson
Past President
​
Global Friends Coalition Board of Directors
Global Friends Coalition's Board of Directors, shown above
​From Left to Right: Faye Pederson, Ione Seidlinger, Maura Ferguson, Prakash Pathak, Marina Kojic-Zepackic, Cindy Jensen, Andria Pinkerton, Cynthia Shabb, Sahra Abdullah, Adam Fortwengler
Absent: Robbin Rendahl, Chyna Lynner, Elias Dean, ​Odele Rajpathy

Global Friends Coalition Youth Advisors
Global Friends Coalition's Youth Advisors, shown here
​From Left to Righ
t: Manisha Mishra, Peace Tabo, Soma Maya Subba, Zihan Zhang, and Eva Ju

FUNDERS

CONTACT

1815 Demers Avenue
​Grand Forks, ND 58201

​
info@gfcoalition.org
701.746.8233

Weekdays: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Weekends: Closed

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