Kathy Lynch Isla Founder & Executive Director
Kathy works at the intersection of education, global development, and social-entrepreneurship, blending her skills and experience to generate sustainable long-term development outcomes. Kathy's international education experience includes study in Ireland, Germany, and the UK, all of which have informed her work in education abroad management positions at the University of Kentucky and Colorado State University. Her experience with sustainable international development began when she served in the Peace Corps in Mali. For two years, she lived in the village of N’Kourala in southern Mali and worked in the agriculture sector, integrating her support of food production with interventions with water, forestry, and health sector programs to advance community development through Peace Corps’ African Food Systems Initiative (AFSI). Through a World Bank ruralization program, Kathy introduced agricultural and appropriate technology techniques to elementary and high school students which led to a continuing education program that included women and farmers in innovative farming and health programs being offered at the school.
Kathy went on to work on the Cochran Fellowship Program’s Poland and Hungary desk at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. She coordinated in-country training programs and U.S. study-tours targeted to private agribusiness professionals, bankers, farmers, cooperatives, and other clients focused on the business skills necessary to work effectively in the new market economy. Next, she served for four years as Country Director of ACDI/VOCA’s Agribusiness Exchange Program, resident in Warsaw, Poland. As her family began to expand, Kathy shifted gears and earned her certification as a Montessori teacher. She went on to serve in a variety of positions, including teacher, mentor, board member, and eventually Director - with schools in Bulgaria, Kosovo, and the United States.
In 2007, Kathy founded Isla, marrying her interests in international education and global development. Over a two-year period, she steered Isla towards a merger with the Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment (FCDE), expanding both the learning and development outcomes. She is delighted to return to return to Isla to provide leadership and growth at an important stage of the organization’s evolution. Kathy holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and an international teaching diploma from Montessori Center International in London, U.K. Kathy may be reached at kathy@isla-serve.org.
Kathy went on to work on the Cochran Fellowship Program’s Poland and Hungary desk at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. She coordinated in-country training programs and U.S. study-tours targeted to private agribusiness professionals, bankers, farmers, cooperatives, and other clients focused on the business skills necessary to work effectively in the new market economy. Next, she served for four years as Country Director of ACDI/VOCA’s Agribusiness Exchange Program, resident in Warsaw, Poland. As her family began to expand, Kathy shifted gears and earned her certification as a Montessori teacher. She went on to serve in a variety of positions, including teacher, mentor, board member, and eventually Director - with schools in Bulgaria, Kosovo, and the United States.
In 2007, Kathy founded Isla, marrying her interests in international education and global development. Over a two-year period, she steered Isla towards a merger with the Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment (FCDE), expanding both the learning and development outcomes. She is delighted to return to return to Isla to provide leadership and growth at an important stage of the organization’s evolution. Kathy holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and an international teaching diploma from Montessori Center International in London, U.K. Kathy may be reached at kathy@isla-serve.org.
Era van Toorn Program Coordinator
Era is our passionate Program Coordinator responsible for Isla internship program development, host partner organization coordination, and support to our Isla Interns throughout the lifecycle of their experience. Era was born and raised in the Netherlands and landed in Prishtina to complete a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Public Policy & Governance and Peace & Conflict Studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT-Kosovo). Era first joined Isla as an intern in the Isla-Kosovo office where she was a driving force behind Isla communications and social media marketing. She also provided programmatic and logistical support to our program and international interns.
Era has a keen interest in Kosovar culture and exchanging cross-cultural perspectives in general in a variety of topics. She enjoys cooking, nature, animals, art, traveling, trying local wines and beer around the world, and tries her best to be environmentally friendly.
Era has a keen interest in Kosovar culture and exchanging cross-cultural perspectives in general in a variety of topics. She enjoys cooking, nature, animals, art, traveling, trying local wines and beer around the world, and tries her best to be environmentally friendly.
Carl Hammerdorfer Global Development Advisor
Carl is a valuable advisor to Isla. He discovered his love for global development working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali. In the subsequent 25 years, Carl has led USAID-funded programs in Poland, the Baltics, Kenya, and Kosovo. He was also Chief of Party on a USDA-funded SME investment project in Tanzania and served as Peace Corps Country Director in Bulgaria. Carl’s expertise and interests range from higher-education management to entrepreneurship, SME finance, agriculture/agribusiness, cooperatives, and youth development. Carl has held a number of international positions, including water sanitation consultant in Cote d'Ivoire; VOCA Country Director in Warsaw, Poland; Peace Corps Country Director in Sofia, Bulgaria; SEAF's Chief of Party of Kasi Agriventure investment project; and most recently, World Learning's Chief of Party of US-AID's Transformational Leadership Program and Global Communities Up to Youth Project in Prishtina, Kosovo. In addition to his international work,
Periodic stints in the United States have allowed Carl to pursue other professional interests:
Periodic stints in the United States have allowed Carl to pursue other professional interests:
- Seven years building and leading an MBA in global sustainable entrepreneurship at Colorado State University, earning a #2 global ranking for impact.
- Building an incubator for nationwide purchasing cooperatives in the drywall, roofing, tools and fasteners, and leasing industries.
- Entrepreneurial ventures in advertising, charter air, web-based procurement, and digital afterlife.
Hana Rizvanolli Marketing and Social Media Intern
Hana is currently an undergraduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT Kosovo), where she is pursuing a double major in Management & Entrepreneurship and Graphic Design, as well as minoring in Literature and Media. As a Marketing and Social Media intern, Hana aims to share Isla’s message and opportunities to all those who seek a new perspective and a fulfilling experience. In her previous roles as a Digital Marketing Intern at a Kosovo outsourcing firm and a tutor at RITK, Hana has understood what it means to be able to communicate with people through a variety of mediums. She looks forward to growing Isla’s digital presence every day!
Kosovo-born and Arizona-raised, Hana enjoys finding new ways to look at the same picture. She loves to spend time with her loved ones, read, and relish the simple things in life. An avid foodie, Hana is your go-to for trying a new restaurant or recipe. Her philosophy on life can be summed up in one sentence: “What is done with love and effort is done well.”
Kosovo-born and Arizona-raised, Hana enjoys finding new ways to look at the same picture. She loves to spend time with her loved ones, read, and relish the simple things in life. An avid foodie, Hana is your go-to for trying a new restaurant or recipe. Her philosophy on life can be summed up in one sentence: “What is done with love and effort is done well.”
Linda Haxhiu Global Programs Assistant and Communications Intern
Linda is currently an undergraduate at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT Kosovo), where she is a double major in Management & Entrepreneurship and Public Policy & Governance and is minoring in International Relations. As a Global Programs Assistant and Communications Intern, Linda is tasked with spreading the word through social media regarding the opportunities for university student engagement in an Isla international internship. She hopes to deliver the message to anyone looking for a fresh and global viewpoint. Linda has experience working as a communications intern on the US-AID Kosovo Compete Project. From this experience. Linda brings marketing and social media skills to Isla, as well as a solid understanding of what it means to interact effectively with people in various ways. She anticipates keeping Isla's marketing and promotional materials as efficient and effective as possible. Linda will also provide administrative and logistical support to Isla's internship program, staff, and interns.
