Meet the Team
Dr. Ameshica Linsey
Chief Executive Officer
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Dr. Ameshica Linsey is an educator and nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing literacy, education, and systems change. A native of Fayette County, Tennessee, she began her journey as a K–6 teacher and went on to serve in key leadership roles, including Director of Early Childhood Education, Executive Director of a children’s literacy organization, and leader of a citywide adult literacy coalition in Nashville.
Throughout her career, Dr. Linsey has worked to expand equitable learning opportunities, strengthen communities, and foster collaboration across sectors. Her research on multiple literacies and reading has been shared at national and regional conferences, reflecting her lifelong commitment to learning and innovation.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Professional Practice, along with advanced training in supervision, administration, and applied psychology. Known for her warmth, creativity, and commitment to equity, Dr. Linsey continues to champion literacy as a bridge to opportunity, workforce readiness, and generational change.
Jennifer Strain
Interim Senior Director,
Marketing & Development
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Jennifer Strain, MBA, CFRE, is Interim Senior Director of Development at Literacy Mid-South. She is a Memphis native and received her BS in Social Work from University of Memphis and a MBA from University of Phoenix Denver, Colorado campus.
Jennifer has extensive nonprofit experience serving in various roles at Catholic Charities Refugee Services, Ecumenical Refugee Services Denver, Campbell Clinic Foundation, West Cancer Foundation, and Literacy Mid-South.
Jennifer served as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Memphis Chapter President from 2020-2022 and she earned the Certified Fundraising Executive designation in March 2017.
Johnny Blount
Director, Collaborative Action
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Johnny Blount serves as Director of Collaborative Action at Literacy Mid-South in Memphis, Tennessee, where he leads the organization's collaborative networks, advocacy work, and AmeriCorps programming. A native Memphian who began with Literacy Mid-South in 2016 as an AmeriCorps member, Johnny now facilitates multi-sector partnerships, convenes community stakeholders around early literacy, and leads place-based literacy initiatives across the city.
He holds a BA in Religion & Philosophy from Christian Brothers University and an MPA from the University of Memphis.
Johnny felt called to education but not the classroom. He has spent over a decade pursuing his passion for education and Memphis through a variety of roles in both the public and private sectors.
Stacy Early
Director, Adult Program
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Stacy Early is the Adult Program Director for Literacy Mid-South. Stacy previously worked in the marketing department at Whole Foods where she leveraged community partnerships with local nonprofits for the company's 5% Day fundraisers and hosted the first ever 10% Day. Stacy has also served on the marketing committee for the Memphis Farmer's Market and as Vice Chair of the board of Mid-South Spay and Neuter services. Stacy has completed certificate courses in Community Organizing from Mid-South Peace and Justice Center and in Plant Based Nutrition from ECornell. She has her Associate's Degree in Graphic Design, bachelors in Professional Studies, and is a certified trainer by ProLiteracy and a certified English Forward Trainer by the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.
Trudi Royston
Director, Tutor901
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Trudi Royston is the Team Lead for Literacy Mid-South’s Tutor901 program. Trudi received her BS in Elementary Education from Delta State University and MS in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Memphis.
A native of Arkansas, Trudi has worked in various classroom and administrative roles. She has taught grades kindergarten, first, third, and fifth and worked as a school administrator and Title I facilitator. In addition, other programs that she has provided support for include: the “Read to be Ready” summer program, Kindergarten PREP program, TN ALL Corps Tutoring, and the Northaven Summer Immersion program. Also, she has served as a TDOE summer ELA core coach trainer and as a TCAP item and passage review committee member.
Throughout her career in education, she has continued to be a lifelong learner who believes that education is one of the things in life that cannot be taken away and also that learning to read opens up a whole new world of opportunities. Trudi is a proud wife and mother who enjoys spending time with family and traveling.
Wesley Brookins
Manager, Data & Evaluation
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Wesley Brookins comes to Literacy Mid-South as the Data and Evaluation Manager and has many years of experience for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Wesley previously gave 12 years of service to United Parcel Service, 8 of those years serving as the Revenue Recovery supervisor, in which he supervised 30+ employees and was the senior supervisor of a team of 7. He then began a career at the American Red Cross where he served 5 years as the Business Operations Specialist, where he managed two facilities in West TN, managed a fleet of 25 vehicles, and supervised a team of volunteers.
Wesley is a graduate of Christian Brothers University where he received his BS in Business Administration-Marketing and Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, where he received his MBA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.
Wesley has been married to his wonderful wife for 9 years and they have a black labrador/german shepherd mix who brings much joy to their lives. In his spare time Wesley loves to read books, volunteer, serve at his church, play golf, and spend time outdoors. Wesley is also a traveler who loves to see new places and discover new cultures.
Katie Cervetti
Manager, Finance
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Katie Cervetti is the Finance Manager for Literacy Mid-South. Her role includes managing the payroll and accounting needs of the organization. She works closely with the LMS team to track spending and plan and prepare for the future through budgeting and projections.
Katie is a mom and one of her favorite ways to spend time with her children is reading books to them. It is a joy for her to get to work with Literacy Mid-South as she values their mission.
Katie is from Iowa but has lived in Memphis for 20 years. She received her BS in Business Management from Franciscan University and her Masters in Accounting at The University of Memphis. Her accounting career started as an auditor where she specialized in nonprofit audits. For the past ten years she has been offering accounting services to nonprofits.
Lenell Burton
Specialist, Family Engagement
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Lenell Burton is the Family Engagement Specialist for Literacy Mid-South, where he manages family outreach for the organization’s Tutor901 program.
Lenell is from Jackson TN, and moved to Memphis to attend the University of Memphis where he studied Sports and Leisure Management. He has lived in Memphis for 10+ years.
In his time in Memphis, Lenell has developed connections with many Memphis communities. His work has spanned from working in education, to youth development in afterschool programs, to community organizing and development. In his most recent work he galvanized neighbors in a South Memphis community to take up the reins in the redevelopment of their community.
Lenell brings to Literacy Mid-South a passion for equity and justice, seeking to amplify the voices of those experiencing liberation through literacy.
Keondra Sasfrass
HR Specialist, Recruitment & Placement
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Keondra Sasfrass is the HR Specialist, Recruitment & Placement at Literacy Mid-South, where she leverages her skills, experience, and motivation to support the organization’s Tutor901, Adult Learning, and LiteracyCorps program by providing operational, administrative, and human resource support.
A proud native Memphian, Keondra has dedicated her professional career to serving as an educational leader across childcare programs and nonprofit mission centers throughout the Mid-South. With over a decade of experience teaching and tutoring students from elementary through college, she has earned a reputation as an exceptional educator who combines academic guidance with social support to meet the diverse needs of students, families, educators, community members and partners, and stakeholders.
Before joining Literacy Mid-South, Keondra served as a Program Developer, Senior Executive Administrative Assistant, and AmeriCorps Site Supervisor at Red Door Urban Missions. Most recently, she worked as a Tutor Support Assistant, Permanent Substitute, and Program Assistant with Literacy Mid-South’s Tutor901 Reading Program, supporting students, families, and educators.
Keondra holds an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Arts from Independence University and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Administration from the University of Arizona Global Campus (formerly Ashford University).
Outside of her professional role, Keondra is a wife, an avid Graphic Doodler, and a proud aunt to five nieces and six nephews. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to make a difference in the community, beginning with the students, families, educators, and community members and partners she serves.
Candous Brown
Manager, Tutor901
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Candous Brown is a Tutor Support Manager for Literacy Mid-South. She resides in Millington, TN where she lives with her son and two dogs, King Henry and Duchess Marie.
Previously, Candous worked as a secondary educator where she taught English Language Arts, Etymology, and Mythology to students in grades 8-12. Candous is an alumnus of Christian Brothers University (B.A. English/M.A.T.), a self-published author, and an entrepreneur.
When Candous is not educating and mentoring students, she enjoys reading, traveling, visiting museums, and spending time with family and friends.
Jennifer Hepler
Manager, Tutor901
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Jennifer Hepler is a Tutor Support Manager for TN ALL Corps. As a resident of Memphis and Shelby County since 1994, Jennifer has worked here in the Mid-South as an Orton-Gillingham trained reading specialist and classroom educator for students with language-based learning disabilities. Her experience includes working with high school and middle school students who struggle with dyslexia, designing and implementing programs that address their individual needs as well as assisting them to meet the classroom expectations that enable them to succeed in traditional classrooms.
Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree through The University of Memphis (then Memphis State University) and her teaching certification and Master’s Degree in English Composition through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she worked as an adjunct English instructor.
Today, she lives in Collierville with her husband Martin and enjoys creating bird, butterfly, and container gardens; watching movies; and spending time with her family and pets.
Candace Freeman
Manager, Tutor901
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Candace Freeman is a Tutor Support Manager for Literacy Mid-South. Candace was born and raised in Texas, then moved to Memphis to work with an after-school athletic ministry. She instantly fell in love with the city and its rich culture.
Candace has worked the past 5 years as an English teacher and coach, engaging her passion for education and equity for students across Memphis. She is excited to continue to honor her passion outside of the classroom, in partnerships with schools and communities across Memphis.
Candace graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication and earned her MAT from Relay School of Education.
Dr. Nina Reed
Manager, Tutor901
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Dr. Nina Reed, a native Memphian, is an accomplished education leader with a proven record of driving academic excellence, literacy advancement, and organizational growth. With over a decade of experience in school and nonprofit leadership, she has served as Chief Academic Officer, Director of Education, School Leader, and Educational Consultant—roles through which she has championed equitable learning environments and strategic program development.
A passionate advocate for literacy, Dr. Reed has led initiatives to improve reading outcomes for children and adults alike and is also the published author of a children’s book that fosters a love for storytelling and self-expression while learning the Spanish language. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to data-informed decision-making, collaborative team development, and innovative approaches that strengthen communities through education.
Dr. Reed, nationally recognized for her ability to translate vision into strategy, holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Obtaining this degree while working as an elementary classroom teacher helped her learn to efficiently align people and purpose and to ground her work in both research-based practice and visionary strategy.
Shakondia “Renee” Thomas
Adult Education Lead
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Renee was born and raised in the Tri-State of TN (Memphis). She attended the University of Memphis, where she studied Sociology and Education. Renee has more than twenty years of combined experience in Higher and Public Education. Her contributions include ten years as Director of Testing at Southwest Tennessee Community College. A lifelong calling led her to the field of education, where she has worked in various subjects for the past ten years, spanning school districts throughout the Southern United States. She holds a teacher certification in Special Education. Renee is an advocate for adult education and restorative justice. She is enthusiastic about engaging young learners in early literacy skills.
Azim Minareci
Community Resource Manager
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Ismail Azim Minareci is the Office Assistant at Literacy Mid-South. A native Memphian, his journey with LMS began through the City of Memphis’s MPLOY summer internship program, which paired him with LMS in the summer of 2023. He later came back to work with LMS because of their welcoming and supportive co-workers.
Azim is a senior at the University of Memphis, where he will graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing with a minor in Japanese in Spring 2025.
Dr. Doneisha Odum
Literacy Initiatives Manager
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Dr. Doneisha Odum is part of the Community Action Team at Literacy Mid-South, where she works directly with out-of-school-time programs to strengthen literacy instruction and support student success. She brings a passion for helping educators turn literacy strategies into real, everyday practice through hands-on training, coaching, and access to meaningful resources. Dr. Odum is especially focused on ensuring students have access to engaging, culturally relevant texts and learning experiences that build confidence and a lasting connection to reading.
Johanna Salazar
Office & Operations Coordinator
jsalazar@literacymidsouth.org
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Johanna (Jo) Salazar joined Literacy Mid-South on June 29, 2026 as the Office and Operations Coordinator. She spent 34 years with Indiana University in a variety of higher education leadership roles with responsibility in finance, operations, project management, grant administration, research funding, budget management, compliance, fundraising support, donor engagement, and strategic planning. Most recently, Jo served as a professional services consultant and subject matter expert with Cayuse, an international SAAS software company servicing research and sponsored project efforts globally. Jo holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Herron School of Art, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (known as Indiana University Indianapolis), and she is an alumna of the HERS Institute, a leadership development program for higher education professionals. With a passion for reading, literacy and lifelong learning, Jo is excited to join the team to achieve the LMS mission.
Remembering Diana Townsend
April 15, 1983 - August 22, 2025
Board of Directors 2024-2025
Michelle Armstrong, EdD
Pyramid Peak Foundation
Samuel Bachelor, EdS, EdD
Memphis Virtual Adult High School
Meghan Cullen
University of Memphis
Venita Doggett
Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH)
Edith Gnanadass, PhD
University of Memphis
Wendy Griswold, PhD
Kansas State University
Chantale Hilliard
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Ashley Johnson, EdD
Memphis Shelby County Schools
Jerry Johnson
Moore Tech
Cherhonda Mason-Ayers, MA
American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Mark Spanier, CPA
Williams Sonoma
Tim Stakem, CPA
AutoZone