Our Senegal-based Staff
Field Director, Senegal: Cheikh Makhfou Diop
Accounting and Administration, Senegal: Issa Lo
IT teacher, Senegal: Nogaye Diop
IT teacher, Senegal:Alioune Niang
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
US Volunteers
Ann Saunders, CPA and Co-Treasurer
Jude Biggs, Senior Advisor
Jensen Bargones – Duckstein
Codou Gueye
Deb Hebblewhite
Niki Richardson
Elke McGuire, Executive Director
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.
Partners
Our Board of Directors
Founders: John Montaña, Judy Beggs (1940 – 2020)
Board President: Marny Eulberg
Executive Director: Elke McGuire
Janet Dickson, Board Member
Ibrahima Gueye, Board Member US/Senegal
Sam Kunz
John Montaña, Co-Founder and Co-Treasurer
Amanda McCracken, Board Member
Paul Ndione
Former Board Members
Eldijana Bjelcic, President, 2018-2021
Leah Bruce
Hulya Maclean
Zoe Traphagan, President 2010-2018
Diane Wilson, Treasurer 2010-2018
Hal Beresford
Jude Biggs
Niki Richardson
and many more from early days – Thank you!
. . . see bios below . . .
Founders Judy Beggs and John Montaña and the Board (and Friends Who Help) in 2019
Judy Beggs, Co-Founder 1940 – 2020
Fifteen years ago, Judy Beggs founded FOG and then spent 15 years as the director. She was very personally drawn to improving the education of the girls of Guéoul after spending two years volunteering there as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1990-92. In addition to the 35 years Judy spent as lawyer, she led many rafting trips and held house concerts to support local musicians.
Niki Richardson
Niki Richardson volunteers her time to FOG as a graphic designer and website designer. Most importantly, she’s the daughter or FOG’s founder, Judy Beggs. She lives on the Western Slope of Colorado with her husband, two donkeys, a mean cat, and a dog. She loves learning new languages. Her appreciation for her mother’s program has taken her to Guéoul to volunteer multiple times.
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.
Paul Ndione
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.