THE HOUSE
THAT CHRISTEL
BUILT

David Harris is President & CEO of Christel House International. Before joining Christel House, he was a partner with The City Fund. David founded The Mind Trust in 2006, which became a national model for driving urban education reform. Before founding The Mind Trust, David spent five years as Mayor Bart Peterson’s Charter Schools director, where he built a charter school office that received Harvard University’s Innovations in American Government Award.

In 2024, David was recognized with the Leader in Education Innovation Award from The Mind Trust. The Indianapolis Business Journal named David one of the city’s 40 Influential People of the Past 40 Years in 2020. He has received College Summit’s Let Talent Shine Award, Teachers’ Treasures Caring Spirit Award, Hope Academy’s Faces of Hope Award, Marian University’s Franciscan Values Award, and Indy’s Best and Brightest Award from Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. He was featured as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 2013 Profiles of Change series. He also was named one of Indianapolis Business Journal’s ‘Forty Under 40’ and was the inaugural winner of the St. Richard’s Episcopal School’s Eugene S. Pulliam Founders Medal for alumni who “demonstrate creative leadership and service that has benefitted society.”

David received a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from Indiana University.

Javier Alarcón Benet is the Executive Director of Christel House Mexico. Javier has a degree in Law from the Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, and a Masters degree in Corporate Law from the Universidad Anáhuac México Norte. He has completed several diplomas and courses in social training, social impact investment, human development, values, bioethics, and globalization in Mexico and abroad.

He is currently a member of the Steering Group, the organizations committee of the American Society of Mexico, where he has an active participation.

Previously, he was General Director of Lazos, I.A.P., an association geared to improve the quality of public elementary schools in 28 states of Mexico. At Lazos he ran the Public Policy projects in partnership with Mexicanos Primero, SEP and many states of Mexico, such as PEC-FIDE to promote a school-based management model and the academic quality on public schools. He also worked on the project called “Uniendo Fuerzas” in alliance with Teletón Foundation geared to prepare schools and other key factors with inclusive education for disabled kids.

He worked several years in Mexico Unido Foundation and Teletón Mexico Foundation, as coordinator of Participation, Human Resources Director, Corporate Legal Director, Teletón Children Rehabilitation Center (CRIT) General Director in Oaxaca and Individual Donors Program of Teletón Foundation where he participated doing fundraising activities in Mexico and USA.

He was partner in the legal firm Diez de Bonilla, Kuri y Asociados in México City working as labor lawyer. He was member of the Board of Directors of Junta de Asistencia Privada del Estado de México (Private Assistance Board of the State of Mexico).

As Senior Vice President, Global Academics, for Christel House, Morty brings a strong history of starting, growing and supporting schools and school leaders both in the U.S. and globally. Morty was the Founder and CEO of Explore Schools, which provides its students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college-preparatory high school.

Over 20 years, Morty opened Explore as a single school serving 150 students, and then scaled it to a network of schools serving 2000 students in central Brooklyn. Prior to joining Christel House, Morty served as the Program Director for Global Schools Forum, an NGO that advocates for and strengthens the non-state education sector (mostly low-fee independent schools).

Morty began his career as a teacher; he taught high school in Louisiana, elementary school in South Africa, and middle school in New York City.  Morty earned his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College and earned his M.A. in Educational Administration from Teachers College/Columbia University.

As Chief Talent Officer, Ana Paula Buzo is responsible for ensuring Christel House has a workforce committed to the organization’s mission; to living and inspiring Christel House values; and developing associates highest potential within a positive, thriving workplace that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.

Ana Paula has two professional passions – Human Resources and Education. She has led Human Resource processes in the private and public sectors, and as a corporate consultant. She’s been an Elementary and Preschool teacher, and a Dean of Students of Secondary and High School. She joined Christel House as the Talent and Culture leader at Christel House Mexico. Three years later, she joined Christel House International.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Psychology from Tecnológico de Monterrey. Ana Paula studied for her master’s degree in Family Consulting at Universidad Anahuac, and in Pedagogy at Universidad Panamericana. She has postgraduate diplomas in Coaching and Communication, Psychology of the Adolescent, and Positive Psychology.

Taneshia Stoney Dryden is the Chief Executive Officer of Christel House Jamaica.  She has over 16 years of experience in grant writing, community development, and project management. As CEO, she oversees both the programmatic and operational aspects of Christel House Jamaica, with a strong emphasis on expanding donor and partner engagement to support the school’s continued growth. Her leadership comes at a pivotal moment as Christel House Jamaica enrolls its first cohort of high school students—an exciting and transformative expansion for the institution.

Prior to joining Christel House, Stoney Dryden served as CEO of United Way of Jamaica, where she led national philanthropic and development initiatives. She holds a Master of Science in Sociology with a specialization in social policy and development from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and is a certified master trainer delivering capacity-building programs for public and private sector organizations. She was recently appointed as a commissioner at the Public Procurement Commission. Stoney Dryden’s appointment reflects Christel House Jamaica’s commitment to educational innovation and community impact—values that have shaped its strong partnership with Jamaica’s Ministry of Education.

Tal Gilad has over 20 years of professional experience in nonprofit fundraising and communications. She has a deep passion for educational equity and access. Tal’s focus on education started at the Fulfillment Fund, a Los Angeles-based college access and mentoring organization, followed by roles as Executive Director of Peace First Los Angeles (a national organization dedicated to cultivating the next generation of social leaders.) For several years Tal was the Leadership Gifts Officer at Teach For America. She most recently was Chief Development Officer at Thrive Scholars, supporting first-generation students in accessing top colleges and corporate careers.

Tal attended UCLA to study Communications and worked for four years in the media industry. She earned a master’s degree in educational media at Harvard University.

Vandana M Kapur (Vandy) has spent the past 13 years as CFO for the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, where she was responsible for strategic planning, financial reporting, information technology, and HR. She has over 20 years of public accounting experience in the U.S. and internationally with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Phoenix, Arizona), and KPMG and Andersen (Mumbai, India). Vandana is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Accountant. She grew up in India, graduating from the University of Mumbai with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance. In 2019, she earned an MBA in Strategic Management at the Kelley School of Business, Bloomington. She’s served as the Treasurer for Leadership Indianapolis, a civic nonprofit, Treasurer for the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and later as Chair from 2018-2021.

Raina Mansukhani serves as the Chief Strategy & Expansion Officer at Christel House International, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and overseeing its expansion efforts. Raina leads the development of sustainable long-term growth plans and the organization’s strategic planning process.

Her leadership extends to supporting marketing initiatives that attract funders and elevate Christel House’s visibility and influence. She works closely with the CEO on change management, Board relations, and mitigating strategic risks.

Raina brings over a decade of experience in strategy development, marketing, and nonprofit growth management, helping organizations with strategic planning, program design, and impact measurement. She holds an MBA from the George Washington University School of Business.

In April 2018 Adri Marais joined Christel House South Africa as CEO. Adri has a Masters in Biochemistry, an MBA and a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Studies (cum laude). Science, business and education inform her view of the world. As a social entrepreneur, she is passionate and tenacious. As a leader, deeply empathetic, straight-talking and standing in her integrity. She drives innovation from conceptualization to implementation, balancing risk and reward with humanity.

The business of education was a natural home for her work towards social change. In 2004, together with three co-founders, she started TSiBA (Tertiary School in Business Administration) dedicating her life full-time to post-apartheid redress. TSiBA is a private not-for-profit business school that provides all students with full, or part, tuition scholarships to study towards an enriched, fully accredited BBA degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Emily Masengale is the CEO of Christel House Indianapolis. She leads the operations of the Indianapolis charter school network overseeing two K-8 schools – Christel House Academy South and Christel House Academy West, Christel House Watanabe Manual High School, and Christel House DORS, a high school for adults 18 and older.

A native of Indianapolis, Emily began her teaching career in St. Louis, Missouri where she was nominated as St. Louis Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year and was in the top five for Missouri Teacher of the Year. She moved back to Indiana where she designed and served as the founding principal at Christel House DORS. She led DORS from 2012 until 2020 when she accepted the position of Assistant Executive Director at Christel House Indianapolis. While at DORS, she was also a coach and instructor for Columbia University’s Summer Principals Academy Internship.

Jaison C Mathew is the Chief Executive Officer of the India operations of a leading Global Charity, Christel House. Christel House India provides high quality, high impact education, nutrition, healthcare and career advice to children from underserved communities and operates two schools in India.

Mathew is a finance professional. Prior to joining Christel House, he worked with some of the leading audit firms in Bangalore.

He joined Christel House India in 2002 as the CFO and is on its Board of Directors. He took over as the CEO of Christel House India in April 2018 and responsible for its India operations. He comes with diverse experience in finance, budgeting, governance, operations, strategy, expansion, fundraising, education and an expert in the social sector development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

As a leader, empathy, transparency, accountability and good governance are his guiding principles.

Dan Roy is General Counsel of Christel House International. Before joining Christel House, he was a partner with the law firm of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, where he focused on business and tax litigation, advising nonprofit organizations, and K-12 education matters and was a member of the firm’s Office of General Counsel.

Dan also served as Indianapolis Charter Schools Director under Mayor Bart Peterson. He received his bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Dr. Sarah Weimer is the Chief Operating Officer at Christel House International. She previously was Executive Director and CEO of Christel House Indianapolis.

Sarah started her career teaching for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) then served as an instructional coach and teacher for Decatur Township schools. In 2011, Weimer joined Christel House Academy South as Principal. She then became Head of Curriculum and Instruction for Christel House Indianapolis. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, she was Interim Assistant Head of Schools.

Weimer has been leading the Innovation School partnership between Christel House and IPS. As part of the Innovation partnership, Christel House Indianapolis assumed operations of Manual High School. Christel House Academy South and Christel House DORS South moved to the Manual campus in 2021.