FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2025

The Reading Room Pittsburgh Announces Board Reorganization and Welcomes New Members

The Reading Room Pittsburgh is proud to announce a major reorganization of our Board of Directors and Advisory Board, welcoming an exceptional group of new leaders who share our commitment to literacy equity, educational access, and community empowerment.

As we plan our second year of operations and beyond, this expansion marks a critical step in strengthening our capacity, increasing our impact, and deepening our connection to the communities we serve. The newly restructured board reflects a dynamic blend of educators, strategists, public health advocates, artists, nonprofit leaders, and literacy champions—each bringing diverse expertise and lived experience to our mission.

We are pleased to continue working with returning board members:

• Tiffany Woods, M.Ed., Content Specialist at Lexia Learning

• Demeatria Boccella, Founder & Executive Director of FashionAFRICANA

• Landis Andrews, former Director of Development at The Neighborhood Academy

• Melissa Rieger, Senior Vice President at Interdependence Public Relations

We also continue to be guided by Advisory Board members:

• Marita Garrett, President & CEO of Civically, Inc.

• Aimee DeFoe, Senior Education Developer at VEX Robotics

• Skylor Wingate-Massie, CEO of Plant A Seed Children’s Partnership

Joining them are the following new members of our Board of Directors:

• Mary Elizabeth Euell, Owner, Barbs Family Learning Group and Helping Hands Home Health Agency

• Lauren Ewing, MPH, Strategy Lead, Community Affairs at Highmark

• Garrett Williams, Program Development Manager at The Challenge Program, Inc.

• Eva Wright, MBA, MLIS, Financial Professional at New York Life

• Brian Bornes, Associate Director of Student Recruitment & Marketing, University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration

• Samantha Cortes, M.Ed., Program Manager at Reach Out and Read

• Melissa Levitt Seldin, PhD, Principal, LevittSeldin Consulting

• Andrea Jackman, PhD, Principal Consultant, ABS Group

• Pat Zerega, Retired Rehabilitation Counselor and former Director, Corporate Social Responsibility in Faith-Based Finance

We are also excited to welcome Sobia Farheen, early childhood literacy and maternal health advocate, to our Advisory Board.

Each of these individuals brings a remarkable depth of knowledge and a shared belief that every child deserves access to high-quality books, supportive adults, and joyful reading experiences. Their leadership will help us expand our programming, forge new partnerships, and continue building a lasting foundation for literacy justice across our region.

To read full bios of all board and advisory board members, visit readingroompgh.org/board.

We are grateful for their commitment—and excited for what’s ahead.

Media Contact:
Ryan Scarola
Founder & President
The Reading Room Pittsburgh