Agape Asia Foundation Announces New Board Members

TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. - Jan. 7, 2019 - PRLog -- Agape Asia Foundation announces the selection of two new members to its Board of Directors. The newly elected Board members are Dr. Kecia Ray and Steve Shaner.

AAF Executive Director, Jeff Robertson, announced, "I am pleased to welcome our two newest members to our Board of Directors. They each have a unique background, with diverse experiences, that make them an asset to the Foundation's Board and will help us better serve the children we seek to reach in Asia."

Dr. Kecia Ray's career includes designing technology within the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and directing technology research through Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Science Outreach programs.  As a district administrator for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, she led the award-winning design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional technology programs including instructional design for online and blended learning environments, redesigning physical learning environments, establishing the virtual high school, and redefining school libraries.  Dr. Ray is published and recognized internationally for her work in online and blended learning as well as flexible learning environments.  Dr. Ray is a member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and is past president of the ISTE Board of Directors and serves on the board of eLearn Institute and the board of Learning Bird Inc.  In 2015, she served on a US Department of Education technical working group focused on evaluating education technology. She is a four-time recipient of the Presidents Volunteer Service Award and the ISTE lifetime achievement 'Making IT Happen' Award and was named '20 to Watch' by the National School Board Association, Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women, one of the top 10 EdTech Leaders by Tech and Learning magazine, and most recently named a Top 100 EdTech Influencer by EdTech Digest.  She is an instructor at Johns Hopkins University in the Graduate School of Education and after leading the Center for Digital Education for three years, she now leads a leadership community forum, K20Connect and other passion projects.

Steve Shaner is a professor of Mass Communications at Harding University.  He started his career in Little Rock where he was a news photographer for KATV Channel 7.  He also owned and operated a photography studio and advertising agency there.  Steve went on to be the director of public relations at the University of the Ozarks before moving back to his hometown area of Chicago.  In Chicago, Steve worked in the printing and direct marketing industry.  In 2002 he created Image Marketing & Communications, an integrated marketing communications consultancy firm. In addition to teaching advertising and public relations classes he also teaches an ESL level communication principles class for Chinese students.  During the summers since 2010 Steve has been a visiting professor in China at Universities in Hengyang, Wuhan, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Changsha and Zhuhai.  He has hundreds of Chinese former students that have welcomed him into their lives and homes throughout China.  Steve continues to be a mentor and a family-away-from-home for his Harding Chinese students. His students gave him the Chinese nickname Xie Yeye, which means, "Thanks Grandpa." You can read about his travels to China on his blog, www.yeyegoestochina.com. Steve is currently a member of the International Association of Business Communicators-Arkansas, the Publicity Club of Chicago, The Chicago Association of Direct Marketing, a member of the Roosevelt University Alumni Board of Governors.  He has also served as a board member and secretary for The Windy City Habitat for Humanity. He has a long list of professional awards and accomplishments, including recognition as a Distinguished Toastmaster, "Outstanding Young Man of America," DMA awards and way back when, he was the Arkansas Collegiate Press Association's "Photographer of the Year." He is currently an elder at the Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, and previously served as an elder at the Naperville Church of Christ in Naperville, Illinois.  Steve has been married to his wife Donna for 43 years.  They have two sons both of whom are married.  They are also delighted to have four grandchildren, (three boys and one girl).

The Foundation's Board of Directors includes:

• Dr. Graham Sweeney; Board Chair; Superintendent of Schools, Boles Independent School District, Quinlan, TX
• John Dourjalian; Secretary-Treasurer; Retired Environmental Engineer, MASCO Industries, Rochester, MI
• Randy Daw; Minister, Creekside Church of Christ, Greenville, TX
• Julia Ng; Retired Finance Director, Linde AG Group, Hong Kong
• Dan Rude; Owner, Inspiration Plumbing Co., Sterling, VA


About Agape Asia Foundation

Founded in 1997, AAF works to share the Father's love, saving abandoned and vulnerable children throughout Asia, providing orphan care, medical care, and education. The Foundation has operations in China, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Nepal.  For more information about the Foundation, visit: https://www.agapeasia.org