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May 18, 2012
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The People Behind Children’s Hope International
Our dedicated staff works hard to fulfill our mission of, “Homes, Health and Hope for Children in Need.” From application through travel and homecoming, we are with you every step of the way.
Learn more about the people who make up Children’s Hope International - browse the staff bios below.
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Dwyatt Gantt
Executive Director
Nothing I have ever done has been more fulfilling than to see a child that needs a home find a home that needs a child. And we see it happen many hundreds of times each year. God has wonderfully blessed us and allowed us to be in the very forefront of international adoption. Annually we assist hundreds of families all over the United States and other countries as well to adopt that wonderful child that seems so especially made for them. It is to us a position of trust and responsibility - a sacred trust to us which prescribes the way we must carry on this work. With integrity and service. There is a saying emphasizing the necessity of walking on two feet. Our two feet are giving homes to children who can be adopted and health and hope to those who cannot. We are happy to be partners with you in either of these.
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Melody Zhang
Associate Director
Melody was born in China, raised in Beijing and had been involved with China adoptions before the beginning of Children's Hope International / China's Children Division in 1992. Since 1993 she has given vigorous and compassionate leadership to Children's Hope as Associate Director in St. Louis while traveling frequently to China as well as Russia, Thailand, Guatemala and Colombia. Because of her fervent compassion for children that are older or with special medical needs, literally hundreds of such children have been adopted and found loving homes. She is equally well known for the love and attention she gives to "our" adoptive families. Even while working full-time at Children's Hope, Melody completed her MSW at George Warren Brown School of Social Work in Washington University in St. Louis. Melody is fully and passionately involved in every aspect of the work - including foster care and Helping Hands projects in China and everywhere there is an opportunity. She and her husband Kevin are parents of three adopted teenagers and two biological daughters. Melody and Kevin and their children are living in Beijing for a period of time to oversee the growing work of adoption and aid in China.
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Cory Barron
Development Aid Director
Born and raised in Kansas, Cory was a television-journalist for over 20 years, working as a feature reporter and weather anchor for stations in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. Cory joined Children’s Hope International in April 2003 and has worked joyfully and effectively in many positions within the agency – but most often in connection with communication and public relations. In his leadership in Development Aid, Cory brings his magnetic personality, strong ethics and a passionate heart for orphans.
Cory and his wife Marlene adopted through Children’s Hope International in 1999, becoming proud parents to twin girls from China.
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Gloria Akers
Director of Intake
Gloria is one of our senior staff members who has been with Children's Hope since 1995. She is devoted to her work and everyone involved with it and with every single aspect of your adoption from the first call to application and with seeing that you get the information, the resource, or the person you need. She will be there when you need her.
Gloria is mother to Cameron, who was adopted from Vietnam.
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Tina Qualls
Finance Director
Tina started as a volunteer in August of 1996 while waiting to adopt Tori from China. She became a permanent employee in September of 1997 as Children's Hope accountant, having 20 years of experience in the field. Beginning in the year 2000, she became an integral part of the China team, coordinating and promoting the adoption of older children and children with special needs, assisting families in preparing their paperwork, preparing referrals, answering inquiries and assisting with travel preparations. In 2002, Larry and Tina adopted Eli from the China waiting children’s program. Tina says, I feel that working for Children’s Hope is my mission field. Seeing children find a home is one of God’s greatest gifts to me.
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Sharon Turner
Ethiopia Program Director
Sharon has been involved in adoption since she was a teenager as an adoption advocate. Later she served as a speaker for various adoption workshops and support groups. She felt the call of God on her life to adopt when she was only 12 years old.
In July 2005, Sharon began volunteering with Children’s Hope, lending that passion, and was hired first as a receptionist, then with the China and Vietnam Programs, and now as the Director of the Ethiopia program. She attended college in Baltimore, Maryland where she was born and raised. Later she saw firsthand the plight of homeless children and impoverished families through 21 years of travel as a flight attendant.
Sharon is the loving mother of one biological daughter and two adoptive children from Mumbai and New Delhi, India.
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Anna Rister
Russia Program Director
Anna is a native of Saint-Petersburg, Russia where she worked as an interpreter and supervisor for a non-profit organization that worked with children in orphanages and the elderly.
“I have seen how kids live in orphanages and I know how much they appreciate even a little bit of attention,” Rister said. “I am proud to work with Children's Hope to help the little ones find loving homes.” Rister is married and has lived in the United States since September, 2003. She has received her bachelors in Database Processing and Management, from Saint Petersburg College and then went on to work on her Masters Degree in International Economic Relationship at Saint Petersburg University.
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Nicky Losse
Vietnam Program Director / Ethiopia Adoption Consultant
Nicky received her master's degree in Social Work in 1997 from St. Louis University. Nicky and her husband Mike were married in 1996. She says about herself: "I was originally drawn to work in adoption because I myself am adopted. I think adoption is a wonderful gift to a child and I know there are many children out there that are waiting for families." Nicky has worked at Children's Hope since 1997 and she is the director of the Vietnam program. Other duties include completing home studies and post placement visits and aiding families adopting with the Ethiopia Program. Nicky has traveled to Vietnam and Ethiopia for her work at Children's Hope. She feels so blessed to be working to help children find homes. Nicky and her husband Mike have two biological children, Taylor and Jack.
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Nichole Nymoen Deal
Colombia Program Director / Social Worker
Nichole joined CHI in 2001. She has worked in the Russia program and Social Services. She currently serves as the Colombia Program Director. Nichole travels to Bogota periodically to visit our staff, families in country, orphanages and adoption officials. She is a Master’s level social worker and completes home studies and post adoption reports for all of CHI programs as needed.
Nichole came to us with many years of professional experience working both in domestic adoptions and with children and families, including at-risk, abused and neglected children. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Nichole also has a lot of personal experience in adoption as well, as she was adopted domestically at the age of 2 months. Nichole’s parents were always very open with her about her adoption and therefore adoption has been a positive part of her life. Nichole loves working in a field that is so near and dear to her heart! She is very happy to be a part of Children's Hope International helping to create forever families just like her own!
Nichole is married and has two children.
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Karolyn Tucker
China Program Coordinator
Karolyn is the mother of Michele and Mia, both adopted from China. Shortly after adopting Michele in 1995, Karolyn began working for Children's Hope and is a senior Children's Hope staff member. Karolyn has experience in dossier preparation, the waiting process and post-adoption paperwork. Karolyn is now working in the following areas for the China Program: dossier preparation, referrals, travel and post adoption paperwork.
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Angie Thorn
Adoption Consultant
Angie is the newest member to the Ethiopia Team. Angie started working for Children’s Hope in 2006 assisting families in the Vietnam adoption program. She has a BA in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and has experience in all steps of the adoption process. Angie says, “I was first touched by adoption while going through the process of adopting our daughter from China. I now feel blessed to be able to help other families come together through adoption.” Angie and her husband Tim have two adopted children, Rachel from China and Ryan from Vietnam. Angie will be assisting families through the adoption process and will also work with post adoption report gathering and filing.
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Nikki DeSimone
Outreach Coordinator / Social Worker / Metro KC Representative for Mid-West
Nikki began serving families at Children’s Hope as an intern in 2004. Since completing her Master of Social Work degree in 2005 from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, Nikki continues to work as the western Missouri social worker and regional Outreach Coordinator. Nikki enjoys the opportunity to start working with families at the very beginning of their adoption journeys and then continuing to assist through the home study process and post adoption phase. An adoption supporter since she can remember, Nikki feels blessed to have the opportunity to serve at Children’s Hope. Nikki reports the best part of her job is seeing the families learn and grow during the adoption process in ways they never imagined. She looks forward to marrying her fiancé, Brian, in 2012.
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Marianne Adams
Outreach Coordinator / CHI Representative Western States since 1996
Marianne is married to Peter and is the mother of 3 children. Her oldest son Chad and his wife Mikkelyn have blessed her with 3 grandchildren. She has 2 college age daughters~ Johnna born in Korea, and Leah born in China. Marianne's heart and soul are poured into her CHI families and their needs. Marianne has served her families tirelessly and prayerfully since 1995.
"This job is about a child's life. I love my job! What an honor to play even a small part in finding a secure home and a loving family for a child who has never had either. What a privilege to be a part of God's plan for one of his precious little ones. "
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Mary House
Outreach Coordinator / Communications / Chicago Office / Eastern States
Mary and her husband were “old, used parents” when they adopted older waiting children from China in 1999. Ever since that time Mary has had a special heart for China Waiting Children. She is also the one to call if your family is considering Children’s Hope RETURN TO CHINA trip. Mary has a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.
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