Our Staff, Senegal and U.S.
Elke McGuire, Executive Director, U.S.
Elke McGuire has been the Executive Director of Friends of Guéoul since November 2019. She joined FOG when she found herself at a crossroads in her life and was looking to use her skills for a greater cause. She speaks several languages, including French, and has lived and worked extensively abroad. Most recently she helped market emerging artists. When Elke’s not working for our girls in Guéoul, she enjoys riding her bike and painting.
Cheikh Makhfou Diop, Field Director, Senegal
Cheikh Makhfou Diop has been a committed and essential employee of FoG since 2009, as the no-fuss leader and essential coordinator between all the stakeholders in Senegal and the U.S. He has created and delivered projects that have directly impacted the education in Guéoul across all levels: elementary, secondary and high-school.
Nogaye Diop, IT teacher, Senegal
Nogaye Diop
Issa Lo, Accounting and Administration, Senegal
Issa Lo
Maty Thiam, Media Coordinator, Senegal
Maty Thiam
Our Senegal-Based Board
Bity N’Dir, President
Magette Diop, Vice President
Kara Baye, Treasurer
Ndeye Codou Sarr,
Secretary
Adaman Bachir Diop, Mayoral Office Representative
Ibrahima Gueye, Board Member US and Senegal
Our Board of Directors
Founders: John Montaña, Judy Beggs (1940 – 2020)
Board President: Marny Eulberg
Executive Director: Elke McGuire
Judy Beggs, Co-Founder 1940 – 2020
In 2005, Judy Beggs founded FOG, then spent 15 years as the director from her home office. She was personally drawn to improving the education of the girls of Guéoul after having seen the power of education in her own life and spending two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal from 1990-92. In addition to the 35 years Judy spent as lawyer, she loved inviting people to do big things with her – challenging themselves in the outdoors, coming her house concerts to support local musicians, or joining her in Guéoul.
John and Judy in the market – long time ago! (2005?)
John Montaña, Co-Founder, current Board Member
John Montana helped found FOG and is a practicing lawyer. When he isn’t contributing his legal skills to the board, he is gardening or playing music.
Marny Eulberg, Board President
Marny Eulberg joined the FOG board over 13 years ago and has served as the secretary for almost as many. Through much of her presidency she has continued to serve as secretary when the secretary was unavailable. Marny strongly believes education is the best way to “give a hand up instead of a hand-out.” This retired family physician contributes to the board her medical knowledge and experience with adult education. During her spare time, she loves gardening, sewing, quilting, and volunteering.
Janet Dickson
Janet Dickson has been a university administrator, an educator, and a social researcher and author. Although she’s now mostly retired, she still has an active affiliation with the Pardee Center for International Futures at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies. Janet first became involved with FOG by making annual contributions in honor of her mother in 2009. At that time, she had just co-authored a book about the critical role of education (particularly for females) in improving human capabilities and opportunities globally. Janet enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking with her husband and doing most anything with her grandchildren.
Paul Ndione
Paul Ndione joined our Board in 2024. Here he is with administrator MorTalla and Makhfou.
Ibrahima Gueye
Ibrahima Gueye is a business process analyst and a native of Senegal. He felt drawn to volunteering for FOG because he had cousins who never went to school because they are girls. He brings his language (French and Wolof), marketing and teaching skills to the board. In his spare time, Ibrahima enjoys reading and connecting with his two daughters.
Sam Kunz
Sam Kunz is a researcher who believes deeply in the power of data to tell stories that drive social change. She spent several years living and working in West Africa, first serving in the Peace Corps in Guinea and then working in public sector advisory in Senegal. The opportunity to join FoG has provided a meaningful way for her to stay connected to a place that changed her life – Senegal gave her the vibrant, loving community where she adopted her dog (pictured), married her now-husband, and started her family. Now that she’s back in her hometown of Denver, she spends as much time as possible hiking, camping, and being outdoors with loved ones.
Amanda McCracken
Amanda in the middle with Makhfou (our local administrator), Judy Beggs and Hal Beresford and two race participants at the race Amanda brought to Guéoul in partnership with an international non-profit running group in 2017.
Amanda McCracken is a journalist, massage therapist, and teacher. She was drawn to volunteering for FOG after 15 years teaching English as a foreign language to students at the University of Colorado. She brings her language (French and Japanese), teaching, and writing skills to the board as well as her immersive experience volunteering in Guéoul during the summer of 2018. When Amanda isn’t writing, she loves to run, swim, travel and spend time with her husband and daughter.
Partners
US Volunteers
Ann Saunders, CPA and Co-Treasurer
Jude Biggs, Senior Advisor
Jensen Bargones – Duckstein
Codou Gueye
Deb Hebblewhite
Niki Richardson