|
| | 
STAFF
Franciscan Mission Service has been blessed with many dedicated men and women, both lay and religious, who have given generously of their time and talents to grow this new branch on the tree of the Franciscan Family. Our staff's dedication and enthusiasm has breathed new life and a fresh vision into our organization. The staff members are:
 Kim Smolik, Ed.D.Executive Director
Kim Smolik, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has worked for over 18 years as an educator, activist and administrator in a variety of social justice areas, with special interests in experiential and cross-cultural learning, poverty and race education, and organizational development. In 2008, she finished her doctorate in education at the University of St. Thomas. Her research focused on adult transformational learning and organizational change to promote racial justice in the workplace.
Before becoming Executive Director of FMS, Kim spent a year as an Archibald Bush Leadership Fellow in St. Paul, Minnesota. The fellowship took her to the Middle East, South America, Canada, Europe, and across the U.S., where she expanded her leadership skills studying creative approaches to organizational change and bridging cultural divides. Kim has received several awards and grants for her leadership.
Kim previously worked as the Program Director of a full-time, faith-based service program for Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN. As an educator, she worked in Mexico with Augsburg College's Center for Global Education, and has taught high school in both Minnesota and Ecuador. Kim has led cross-cultural immersion trips to a variety of locations in Central and South America, Cuba, and Europe. Kim also speaks and consults on issues of race and diversity, service and volunteerism, and organizational development.
Kim is thrilled to be part of the rich tradition of FMS. In her own words, "The mission of FMS aligns with my own mission and vocation. I enjoy the challenges and opportunities this position provides, but mostly I enjoy the many people we partner with – lay missioners and Franciscans--who touch my life and spirit.”
 Mariam Mitry
Associate Director
Mariam returned in September 2008
from eight months of mission work in Lusaka, Zambia where she served as
the Public Relations Manager for the Coptic Orthodox Church Mission.
Previously she helped design and establish a university at sea program
for undergraduate and postgraduate students called The Scholar Ship. She
was instrumental in the formation of the program.
Passionate
about mission work and service abroad, she joined FMS in August 2009 to
help with recruitment, program development, and donor relations. She is
excited to hear the stories of returned FMS missioners and learn more
about the Franciscan charism.
 Rhegan Hyypio
Program Director
Rhegan is over-joyed to be working for FMS after having spent three years with the organization as a lay missioner in Brasil and Bolivia. She is a proud native of Florida, born and raised on the southside of St. Petersburg. After finishing high school, she ventured from the year-round sunshine to the frozen tundra of Milwaukee and Minnesota.
From Marquette University, she earned a B.A. in Writing Intensive English and History of Philosophy and an M.A. from the University of Minnesota in Hispanic Literature. In the interval between schools, she witnessed theory in practice as a lay missionary working with Haitians and Haitian-Dominicans in the Dominican Republic for the Response Ability Program. Still Sensing a strong call to mission after graduate school, along with the need to integrate theory with practice, she found in Franciscan Mission Service the approach she was looking for in emphasizing love for all God's Creation, a ministry of presence and commitment to life long mission to the U.S. Church and society.
Rhegan is very grateful for the opportunity to accompany FMS missioners in their formation and mission experience. She is enthusiastic about providing a prayerful and active role at FMS, with all its missioners and those who support the FMS Family.
 Br. Paul O'Keeffe, OFM
Development Director
A native of the Boston area, Paul graduated with degrees in culinary arts and social work before going on mission with FMS in 1996 to Kenya and Jamaica. He returned to mission in 1998 and spent four more years in Ghana working with refugees, the disabled, and street children. Paul describes his time on mission as a "transformative experience that was both challenging and life-affirming." Back in the United States, Paul worked as a high school teacher at an inner-city Catholic school before joining the Franciscan friars of the Holy Name Province.
After he joined the friars, Paul obtained masters degrees in theology and clinical social work before professing his solemn vows in August 2010. Prior to joining the staff at FMS, he worked as a psychotherapist specializing in trauma counseling at St. Francis Counseling Center on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Paul returns to FMS with a deep commitment to mission. "I hope to share with our supporters some insights from my own lay mission experience,” he said. “Namely, the importance of creating and strengthening relationships with those who believe in FMS’ mission, and partnering with them to make our shared goals a reality."
Full-Time Domestic Lay Volunteers:
Rachel Roa
Communications and Development Associate
Rachel, a graduate from Misericordia University, acquired her Bachelors in Accounting with a minor in Communications and Management. She volunteered in her community at homeless shelters, food kitchens, Campus Ministry and Misericordia events. She is eager to be working with a fun loving staff and live in community. Also to support the lay missioners program who serve the mission of FMS and live the Franciscan life.
 Matt Lorch
Program Assistant
As
the Program Associate, Matt helps to coordinate various aspects of FMS'
programming. He studied at Indiana University Purdue University in
Indianapolis, IN where he earned degrees in both English and French, a
graduate certificate in nonprofit management, and studied Modern
Standard Arabic. Possessing a heart for service and a deep interest in
other cultures and languages, Matt previously served as a Peace Corps
volunteer in the Republic of Benin. Matt is excited to learn more about
working in an internationally-focused nonprofit organization and will
surely be able to incorporate lessons he learned through his service
overseas into his current work at FMS.
 Christine Landau
Communications Coordinator
Christine holds a degree in Biblical Languages and Biblical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. She will be teaching a Scripture and Mission Course this fall to the missioners in formation, and is working on various communications and development projects in the office. Prior to joining FMS' team, Christine worked in various sectors of the publishing industry, including editorial, sales and marketing, and foreign rights.
 Bridget Higginbotham
Communications and Development Associate
Bridget is excited to
help Franciscan Mission Service expand its online presence through
Twitter, Facebook,YouTube, LinkedIn, its blog and its website. It's a
joy for her to use her background in writing, design and videography to
also help with other projects at FMS.
Originally from Orlando, Fla., Bridget
graduated with high honors from the University of Florida with a
bachelor's in journalism and a minor in French and francophone studies.
While at UF, she was extremely involved with the St.Augustine Catholic
Student Center, serving as its first student webmaster, walking with the
Relay for Life team for four years, and going to Kentucky on a spring
break mission trip through the Christian Appalachian Project. Support Staff:
 Daena and Eduardo Padilla
House Managers
Daena and Eduardo met while both living in Chicago - Daena was a Claretian volunteer, working in affordable housing and youth ministry, while Eduardo lived in a Claretian community serving at a local parish. Daena has a BS in Architecture from the Catholic University of America. Eduardo has a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since their move to the Washington DC area in 2007, they have been involved with Rebuilding Together, LLS's Team In Training, and recently have begun working with TEACH, a non-profit whose mission is to bring schools to rural Guatemala. They are very excited to join the FMS community!
| | | | | |
