Kathy Lynch Isla Founder & Executive Director
Kathy works at the intersection of education, international 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 education and international 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 education and international 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.
Avenda Rexhaj Program Coordinator
Avenda, based in our European office in Prishtina, Kosovo, is our passionate Program Coordinator responsible for our internship program development, host organization coordination, and support to our Isla Interns throughout the lifecycle of their experience. Avenda is a certified career counselor. Under the auspices of the US-AID ASSET (implemented by Kosovo Education Center, Crimson Capital, and FHI 360), Avenda trained middle and high school students, teachers, and administrators in Kosovo in the development of soft skills; CV and motivational letter preparations; and the usage of a national career orientation platform aligned with the work force needs of Kosovo. Avenda also worked on youth training projects with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) where she developed soft skills training modules for the vocational education sector and implemented the training in Prishtina, Peja, and Mitrovica.
Avenda studied philosophy at the University of Prishtina and was awarded an EU Erasmus scholarship to study sociology and social anthropology for a semester at Bournemouth University in the U.K. Avenda also participated in a summer program focusing on European Union studies at the University of Luxembourg Summer School.
Avenda loves working with people and exchanging diverse perspectives. She loves her young country of Kosovo and sharing information about its culture and people. Another thing to know about Avenda…she is totally in love with coffee to drink and to learn about. Come to Kosovo and join Avenda for the world-famous Kosovo macchiato.
Avenda studied philosophy at the University of Prishtina and was awarded an EU Erasmus scholarship to study sociology and social anthropology for a semester at Bournemouth University in the U.K. Avenda also participated in a summer program focusing on European Union studies at the University of Luxembourg Summer School.
Avenda loves working with people and exchanging diverse perspectives. She loves her young country of Kosovo and sharing information about its culture and people. Another thing to know about Avenda…she is totally in love with coffee to drink and to learn about. Come to Kosovo and join Avenda for the world-famous Kosovo macchiato.
Carl Hammerdorfer Global Development Advisor
Carl is a valuable advisor to Isla. He discovered his love for international 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.
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.
