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Staff Members

  • Lena Townsend

    Executive Director
    Lena O. Townsend joined The Robert Bowne Foundation in 2000 as program officer. She previously served as director of community initiatives for the Institute for Literacy Studies at Lehman College, CUNY. She has taught at the New York Public Library Centers for Reading and Writing and the New York University (NYU) School of Continuing Education and has published articles in the areas of reading, professional development and adult literacy. She holds a master's degree in reading from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an M.P.A. in not-for-profit management and policy from NYU's Wagner School.

  • Anne Lawrence

    Program Officer

    Anne Lawrence has over 30 years of experience in adult and youth education as a teacher, staff developer, evaluator and manager of volunteer and adult education programs. She has published articles in the areas of evaluation, adult and youth literacy and professional development. She began working for the Robert Bowne foundation in 1987 as consultant and a technical assistance provider. She continued to work in that capacity through the years until she joined the Foundation in 2002 as program officer. Before joining the Robert Bowne Foundation she served as associate director of education for Literacy Partners of New York City. She has managed professional development, evaluation and adult literacy education programs at the Literacy Assistance Center, the City University of New York and the New York Public Library Centers for Reading and Writing.