Executive Staff
Literacy Mid-South's Executive Director
Kevin Dean is the Executive Director of Literacy Mid-South. Kevin received his Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Memphis in 2002. Kevin has managed a teen volunteer program, a mentoring program, and served as Community Services Director at Volunteer Memphis from 2005-2008. Kevin has worked with more than 250 non-profit organizations in the Memphis area through his consulting work and his former position as Community Services Director of Volunteer Memphis.
Kevin has been a local and national presenter in the areas of volunteer management, strategic planning, and social media. Kevin is a co-author of the Points of Light Foundation’s “Service Learning in Communities” program, a national curriculum for volunteer centers to more effectively engage young people in service learning.
In 2005, Kevin led the Mid-South’s Hurricane Katrina volunteer clearinghouse effort, engaging more than 5000 volunteers in disaster recovery efforts. Because of his work in disaster relief efforts, he was appointed to serve on the National Disaster Advisory Council through the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, DC. In 2006, Kevin won a national award for his service-learning based curriculum that engaged young people in disaster relief and cleanup. The curriculum has since been nationally replicated.
His previous positions include Community Services Director at Volunteer Memphis and Director of Development at Hope House. In 2009, he completed his Masters Degree in Executive Leadership from Christian Brothers University. Kevin was named one of Memphis’ Top 40 Under 40 by Memphis Business Journal in 2011.
Director of Community Initiatives
Marilyn Rabinowitz is the Community Initiatives Manager and oversees all strategic community partnerships. Marilyn Rabinowitz received a Bachelor’s of Arts from Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s in Public Affairs from State University of New York. Since Marilyn has begun managing the Smart Memphis Coalition, she has increased attendance by almost 70% and created a partnership with United Way and Our Children Our Future to present bi-monthly Tutor Brown Bag Trainings at the Teaching and Learning Academy. .
Director of Adult Programs
Alfred Garrett is the Director of Adult Programs. Alfred received his Bachelor’s in Human Development and Learning from the University of Memphis in 2001. In 2012, Alfred will receive his Master’s Degree in Counseling from Cambridge University. Alfred has worked in a nonprofit setting since 1994 and has served as Director of Education for Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis as well as Outreach Educator for LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. Since becoming Adult Program Manager, Alfred has begun implementing sweeping changes and will lead the reorganization of the Adult Program.
