Board of Directors

Carl Hutter

Carl was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota but moved when he was 7 to Minnesota, then to Massachusetts, then to Kentucky, then to Toledo, Ohio where he went to high school and graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in Engineering Physics majoring in Nuclear Physics. He was hired by DuPont to work on the development of the atomic bomb at the Savannah River Plant. His later years at DuPont, which lasted 35 years, ended with his serving as Sales Manager for the Middle East and Africa, where he traveled 110 times. He joined the Delaware Chapter of People to People International in 1985 and has served in many capacities, including President on two occasions. In 2005 He was selected by the People to People Headquarters to travel to China with about 20 other People to People International members from all over the world, which was sponsored by the Chinese government.

Rev. Dr. Jay Macklin

Her passion to promote peace and prosperity for people everywhere has been the driving force behind founding, developing and funding many faith-based and human service organizations including: The Circle of Love Human Service Network, the Maximized Manhood Program, and many others. For almost 10 years she volunteered as a Delaware Financial Literacy Instructor and in 2017, she became a Financial Coach for $tand By Me Financial Empowerment Program of Delaware. As consulting executive director of Stop the Violence Coalition, Inc. /Academy for Peace, for 20 years, Jay has made valuable contributions to the City of Wilmington. In 2010 she was honored by the Board of Directors of Stop the Violence Coalition, Inc., when they named their annual community service award the; “Rev. Dr. Ja-Neair Macklin, Excellence in Community Service Award” she was the first recipient of that award, for her dedicated service, and passion for peaceful living and promoting life-affirming activities and programs for youth and families.

Erin Zoranski, PhD

Dr. Erin Zoranski has been a professor for over 16 years. She began as an adjunct instructor, teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language, at various colleges and currently serves as the Instructional Coordinator for the Language and Culture Department at Delaware Technical Community College. She is the International Club Moderator and has previously worked as the International Education Coordinator, in which she promoted studying abroad and ran various fundraisers to allow underserved students to have this opportunity. She has won numerous awards for teaching and student success while focusing on serving students from diverse backgrounds. She tutors for various organizations for immigrants that have recently come to the United States in her free time and recently translated a novel about immigrant students coming to the United States looking for a better future. She also leads student trips abroad and in country to give students a deeper understanding of the world around them. She holds a BA in Biology and Spanish from the University of Delaware, a MA in Spanish from Middlebury College and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Delaware, where she researched Latino student retention in community colleges.

Michele Weiner

My life’s work is in the field of education. I taught in the Virginia Beach City Schools and the Brandywine School District as a high school English teacher. In addition, I worked in Learning and Development and Human Resources in the private sector. Since reading in high school The Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, I have had a keen interest in other cultures and their values and spiritual beliefs. I believe that every human being is a manifestation of the Divine.

Ping Xu, J.D.

Born and raised in Shanghai, I received my Bachelor of Arts in English. I came to Delaware in 1988 and I have received the degrees of Master of Marine Policy (MMP) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Delaware and J.D. from University of Maryland School of Law. Public service is my passion. I served as the President of Chinese Students and Scholars Association at University of Delaware. For over 20 years, I have been hosting Dumpling Parties for the newly arrived Chinese students and scholars at my residence. I currently serve as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chinese American Community Center. I also served as the Principal of Chun Hui Chinese School. I was in the Financial Planner business and still hold a Certified Financial Planner® designation. As a Realtor®, I have been assisting clients in the buying/selling and renting homes since 2003. I am also a licensed attorney in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. People to People is a great organization for me to join and serve the community. “A sprinkle of grace received shall be retuned with fountain flow of thanksgiving.” I have benefited from the help from other people upon my arrival in Delaware and during my difficult times here. It is time for me to give back to the community. I live with my wife and our ten-year-old daughter in Hockessin, Delaware. My wife is a CPA.

Ami Patel

Ami Patel was born in Mumbai, India, and was raised in Newark, Delaware. Her passions and interests led her to obtaining B.A.’s in history, anthropology, and international relations with a concentration in development and a specialization in Africa. After graduation, Ami spent her next few years teaching abroad in South Korea, Vietnam, and England. Her interest in education development led her to the University of Leeds for an M.A. in Global Development and Education. From there, Ami worked with youth in various capacities from NGO work in inner-city Wilmington to teaching History and Global Studies at Sanford School. She is now working at the University of Delaware as the Academic Program Coordinator for the Student Support Services Program. The SSSP program is part of the state-funded TRIO program helping low-income students, first-generation students, and students with disabilities successfully obtain a high school diploma, an undergraduate degree, and a graduate degree through funding and student support resources. Ami’s experiences through education, travel, and working with the community inspires her to continually shine a light on the importance of empathy and cultural awareness in the era of globalization and identity development.

Grace Vild

Growing up in upstate New York, Grace found a passion for helping people and her community. She spent time abroad as she studied archaeology at University College Dublin in Ireland. As someone who has been an international student she is eager to give back to the international community. She currently works as a museum guide at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, where she can interact and connect with people from all walks of life. When she’s not talking to people about history, you can usually find Grace at her fencing club from which she competes nationally in women’s sabre.