DREAM Project Appoints Board President and New Executive & Deputy Directors
Cledenin Veras as Executive Director and Laura Sundquist as Deputy Director will lead operations as Catherine DeLaura becomes Board President
Children at DREAM's Summer Camp
Cabarete, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – DREAM is thrilled to announce that Catherine DeLaura, DREAM’s long-time Executive Director, will become the non-profit’s Board President. With over 30 years of experience in education and international development, DeLaura will guide DREAM’s vision and strategy as it continues to make a positive impact in the communities it serves.
Dr. Cledenin Veras, an experienced educational professional, will be DREAM’s new Executive Director, effective November 1, 2023. Dr. Veras, who specializes in early childhood education, literacy acquisition and classroom management, currently serves as the Director of the UNIBE School of Education. Ms. Laura Sundquist, Peace Corps Education Program Manager for the past seven years, will also join DREAM as Deputy Director.
“In Dr. Veras and Ms. Sundquist DREAM has found a top-notch leadership team that will broaden the positive impact of DREAM in the region it serves and continue to strengthen the institution,” said Mirtha Cabral, DREAM’s Vice Chair. “Dr. Veras’ unparalleled experience in the education sector will guide DREAM’s curriculum development and program offerings. At the same time, Ms. Sundquist’s experience running Peace Corp volunteer programs will be essential to support our afterschool and summer camp programs, as well as guide the many international volunteers that join our work each year.”
For over 25 years, the DREAM Project has provided essential services to thousands of children and youth of the Dominican Republic’s North Coast. “Catherine DeLaura, who spent the last 14 years as Executive Director of DREAM, has been the driving force in growing a small non-profit to a nationally recognized, highly impactful institution,” Michel Zaleski, DREAM’s founder and chairman, said. “Today, we work with over 7,000 children and youth in 15 communities through 18 programs, including literacy, early childhood education, youth leadership, music instruction, vocational training, libraries and community support resources. Much of this success is thanks to Catherine DeLaura’s leadership.” Zaleski, who started DREAM in Cabarete in 1995, also said, “I am immensely proud of Catherine DeLaura’s work and look forward to supporting her in her new role.”
About Dr. Cledenin Veras
Dr. Veras is a seasoned professional in early childhood education, classroom management, literacy acquisition and educational consulting, with over 15 years of demonstrated experience in the public and private education sectors in the Dominican Republic. In 2022, she earned her Ph.D. in Family and Community Studies from Clemson University, with her dissertation on the relationship between teaching practices and student outcomes poised to bolster DREAM's commitment to enhancing education in the country's public schools. Dr. Veras joins DREAM following a 13-year tenure as the Director of the School of Education at UNIBE and role as General Manager of the USAID LEER project for the past five years.
About Laura Sundquist
Laura Sundquist is an international nonprofit consultant and education specialist with extensive experience in project development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, partnership building and team supervision. She initially arrived in the Dominican Republic as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2003 and currently serves as the Peace Corps Education Program Manager in Santo Domingo. Laura holds a master's degree in social work and a current teaching license. She has contributed her expertise to various local and international NGOs and has dedicated the past 12 years to the development sector in the Dominican Republic.
About Catherine DeLaura
Catherine DeLaura has over 30 years of experience in education and international development and has dedicated the past 14 years to leading the DREAM Project as Executive Director. She holds an MBA in non-profit management and an MA in TESOL and is an expert in effective program design and management, monitoring and evaluation, training and capacity building, cross-cultural teams and strengthening organization-wide structures. Catherine is passionate about providing equal opportunities to members of underserved populations through education, health, social justice and youth development.
