Leslie McGowan
Interim Executive Director
We assist adult learners to realize their potential as confident, self-sufficient, and productive employees, supportive parents, and engaged community members.
Mission: Advancing literacy through training, tutoring, English language acquisition and advocacy for all Delawareans.
Vision: Empowering all Delawareans through Literacy.
Our volunteer tutors donated over 15,000 hours of instruction in the last program year.
We trained 50 new volunteer tutors in the last program year.
70% of our learners have a high school diploma, but read below a 5th-grade level
Our learners live in all three counties in Delaware: New Castle County, Kent County and Sussex County.
We cannot do our work alone. Our community partnerships are essential to increase our reach in the community and build a strong continuum of services to serve adults with low foundational literacy skills in Delaware. Partner organizations help with learner and tutor recruitment and provide meeting space. We leverage partnerships to deliver innovative programming initiatives.
We are partners with the Delaware Division of Libraries and work with libraries throughout the state. Our main offices are in the Wilmington Public Library.
We reaffirm our commitment to literacy as a human right. We will continue to leverage our resources to impact and empower those we serve through literacy instruction.
Program Manager, Delaware Readiness Team
Diane is the Program Manager of the Delaware Readiness Teams. In her role, Diane provides leadership and management to the Delaware Readiness Teams statewide. Prior to joining the Delaware Readiness Teams, Diane worked as a director at Bright Horizons. Diane has coordinated the Making a Difference Conference: A Conference for Early Childhood Professionals since 2016. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Development and Education from the University of Delaware.
MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, RN-BC Nursing Patient & Family Health Education Manager, Christiana Care Health System
As manager in Nursing Professional Development and Education, Greg O’Neill is responsible for strategic direction and oversight of Patient & Family Health Education at ChristianaCare. His team works to improve quality of life through health literate education strategies that prepares our neighbors to care for themselves and make informed choices. In his ten years of service at ChristianaCare he has had the great pleasure caring for patients and families in the roles of Student Nurse, Surgical Critical Care RN, nurse educator and now as a nurse leader. Greg earned his bachelor’s in nursing and an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist degree from the University of Delaware. Prior to ChristianaCare, Greg spent 10 years caring for reptiles and amphibians at the Philadelphia Zoo. He has also volunteered on the Board of Directors at AIDS Delaware in Wilmington and as many capacities at Faithful Friends Animal Society.
Executive Director JP Morgan Chase
Colin Murphy is originally from Rockville, Maryland, but has been an unofficial Delaware native since attending the University of Delaware and graduating with an English Education degree in 1993. He lives near Hockessin and is married with three children. Mr. Murphy is an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase and is currently serving as the Area Product Owner for the firmwide Digital Communications platform and has worked in digital product development and marketing roles for over 25 years. While attending UD, Mr. Murphy volunteered as a tutor at the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington where he saw firsthand the challenges facing adults with low English proficiency. Mr. Murphy has always believed in the power of language to increase understanding and open opportunities for economic advancement. He is thrilled to join the board of Literacy Delaware, and excited to support the organization's mission to empower personal success through literacy.
Walmart Store Manager and Field Director for the Eastern United States for Community Engagement
Daniel is the Store Manager for the New Castle Walmart at the Wilton Boulevard complex, and Field Director for the Eastern United States for community engagement. Overcoming adverse life circumstances to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Leadership and Management, Daniel has had the ability to lead vast, diverse, and complex teams throughout the country. Through his work over a decade of his career, Daniel has established community partners to include local and state governments, the Armed Forces, local/state/federal First Responders, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the YMCA. Speaking with elected officials, community leaders, organizations, and all individuals and showing by our "actions" Walmart, as a global leader; is truly a "store of the community" explains Daniel. Passionate about individual and community sustainability, growth, and development, Daniel has been humbled and honored to represent the Delaware State Police as a Centennial Honorary Commander, and ensure the highest standards are upheld for our community.
Lynda Has been working in the non-profit space for most of her adult life as a volunteer and after college as an employee. She brings experience in fund development and social work to the table. She also has experience teaching elementary school art. Lynda was recently an AmeriCorps member last year working with learners in Sussex County. She is an active member of CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) in her community and is on the Sussex County planning team. Lynda is passionate about ensuring everyone can communicate with those around them through spoken and written word.
Nicole Barger, an executive director with JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Commercial & Investment Bank, has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. She currently serves as the Payments Product Controller for Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Investments. Born and raised in Ohio, Nicole graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Nicole is a former volunteer tutor and long-time supporter of Literacy Delaware. As a tutor, she witnessed first-hand the power of literacy to unlock opportunity and make the American dream become a reality for her student and his family. Now, as a board member, Nicole is excited to bring her skills and experience to help fulfill Literacy Delaware’s vision to empower all Delawareans through literacy.
Nicole is a former volunteer with the Blood Bank of Delmarva, Humane Animal Partners, and the Newark Free Library. She and her husband enjoy traveling, visiting museums, attending concerts and theater performances, and supporting the Ohio State Buckeyes and Philadelphia’s sports teams.
We rely on trained volunteer tutors to reach adults in need in Delaware.
We need sponsors to support program delivery, particularly unique programs such as digital literacy, health literacy, family literacy, etc.
The majority of our funds are spent on program delivery. The majority of our funding comes from foundations and small donors. Help us increase our reach to adults in need in Delaware. Help us increase our impact.
Advancing literacy through training, tutoring, English language acquisition and advocacy for all Delawareans.
Wilmington Library - Adminstrative Office
10 East 10th Street
P.O. Box 2083
Wilmington, DE 19899
302-658-5624