Naomi Kinsman

Founder And Executive Director

Author of the From Sadie’s Sketchbook Series and Spilled Ink, the award-winning Inklings Writers’ Notebook, Naomi is passionate about sharing her love of writing and creativity with young writers. Naomi’s background in improvisational and story theatre as well as her arts education work in Chicago, Portland, and the Bay Area has convinced her that creative play is a doorway through which learners can find inspiration and transformative learning experiences.

Naomi loves to play in many ways, but some of her favorites are tap-dancing, sketching, experimenting in the kitchen and tag with her Portuguese Water Dog, Turley. Naomi has a BA in Theatre Arts from Seattle Pacific University and has studied theatre with the Piven Theatre Workshop and ACT. She also has a Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

Sarah Perez

Operations Manager

Sarah joined the Inklings team in 2015. Her love for organization and problem-solving along with her passion for arts education make her a key partner in handling the behind-the-scenes tasks that help keep the Young Inklings wheels turning.

Sarah is a life-long musician and book-lover. She graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and spent several years in music education prior to working with Society of Young Inklings. Sarah loves reading, going to the beach, and good coffee (sometimes even not-so-good coffee).  She lives in Central Florida with her husband and her two children. You can follow her on Instagram @fromsarahsbooknook.

Kelly Hoy

Board Member

Kelly Hoy has been a public and private school teacher for more than 20 years. After completing her degree at the University of Rhode Island, she started her public-school career as a computer specialist at Crim Elementary in Bridgewater, NJ and as a third-grade elementary school teacher in Dunellen, NJ. She then moved to California private schools: teaching special education at Star Academy in San Anselmo, fifth-grade at Phillips Brooks School in Menlo Park, and currently, fifth-grade humanities at Katherine Delmar Burke School in San Francisco. Teaching and writing are her passions. She has published a number of case studies and analyses in several editions of Anita Woolfolk’s best-selling psychology text, Educational Psychology. Her goals as a teacher are to develop an appreciation for the unique stories of her students, strengthen their voices, cultivate empathy, and advance social justice, as they all grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Ravi Kalkunte

Board Chair

Ravi is an Innovation manager in the field of polymers and plastic films.  He has been involved in new product development all his professional life and continues to introduce new products with unique functionalities. He has a Master’s in Textiles from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Wake Forest University. He came to the US as a student to pursue higher education. Ravi likes to travel and play tennis. He has 3 children and has experienced first-hand how good writing skills can facilitate access to great opportunities. He is passionate about encouraging children into trying new and creative pursuits.

Tracy Piombo

Board Member

Tracy Piombo began her career as a misunderstood writer at the age of five, when her kindergarten teacher called her first story “too depressing.” To date, her most rewarding writing experiences have been a fantasy fanfiction novel she wrote in fifth grade, and a college thesis on the science fiction of Ursula K. LeGuin. Since then, Tracy’s calling has been to inspire a love of writing and reading in young people, first as an English Language Arts teacher in New York, then as a Library Teacher at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park, California. Tracy has a BA in English from Wellesley College and a Masters in Library and Information Science from Queens College. She still loves science fiction and stories that some might mistakenly label too depressing.

Wenjun Xu

Board Member

Wenjun is a finance lead at Granite Construction, focusing on treasury and investor relations. She is passionate about making a positive impact through strategic financing, both professionally and personally. She has a Bachelors of Science in Economics/Mathematics from Randolph College, a Master’s in Finance from Vanderbilt University, and is pursuing an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Wenjun enjoys volunteering during her spare time with a focus on the education sector. She firmly believes that good education changes lives.

Jodi Anderson-Wolhaupter

Mentor

Jodi loves the energy that comes with being part of writing communities! In middle school, she was lucky to have a teacher who helped her start a writers’ club, which ignited her desire to stay connected with other writers. Jodi earned a B.A. in English Literature and Writing and an M.A. in Teaching from Bethel University. For the past 15 years, Jodi has been striving to encourage young writers’ voices in her role as a middle school English and creative writing teacher at an arts magnet school in Minnesota. She has recently published some editorial pieces with the Star Tribune and a local racial equity organization. She is currently working on a chapbook of pandemic-related poems. When not writing, Jodi enjoys being part of book clubs with friends, playing the piano, biking with her husband, spending time with her family (especially sharing puns with her mom), and cuddling with her Maltipoo dog named Molly.

Andrew Avallone

Mentor

Andrew started his teaching career at The Phillips Brooks School in Menlo Park, where he was an assistant 5th grade teacher. It was during his time at PBS that he connected with Society of Young Inklings and began working as a mentor. Since then, he taught 6th grade and 8th grade World History at The American School of Quito, Ecuador, 8th grade U.S. History at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, and is now a history teacher at The Harker School. Andrew’s interest in writing began at a young age, but was really fostered by his middle school English teacher who encouraged him to keep a writing journal. He soon filled that journal with stories and reflections. He also wrote a blog during his time living overseas. Andrew is excited to return to Young Inklings and looks forward to sharing his love of writing with students. 

Alex Doherty

Mentor

Malar Ganapathiappan

Mentor

Olivia Ghafoerkhan

Mentor

Olivia grew up in rural north Florida, hiking through the woods imagining different worlds. She now lives outside Washington DC. She received her BA from Florida State University, where she majored in English and minored in Women’s Studies. She received her MFA from Hamline University, specializing in writing for children and young adults. She writes both fiction and nonfiction. When she’s not hard at work, Olivia enjoys hiking, visiting the beach, and Bollywood movies.

Kesha L. Grant

Mentor

Kesha is a Georgia-based writer and editor whose projects include picture books, middle-grade fiction, non-fiction, and folklore. Prior to launching a writing career, Kesha spent many years as a Language Arts and history middle school teacher. Her first nonfiction text, Women in the Civil Rights Movement, published by Scholastic, debuted in 2020. She was bitten by the writing bug in middle school when she entered her first writing contest. Kesha didn’t win the contest, but her love for writing stuck. She received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Kesha also holds a master’s degree in education. When not writing, she enjoys cooking, yoga, and spending time with her family.

Tasslyn Magnusson

Mentor

Melody Ramie Reed

Mentor

As an adult, Melody can still be found surrounded by books at the public library, but now she’s behind the desk. She enjoys helping patrons find enriching tales and shares her passion by leading writing classes for adults and teens. Melody is a creative professional with over 15 years teaching children. She has a BS in Computer Science from St. Francis University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. When she’s not writing, reading or revising, she fancies walking her dogs, listening to beach waves, or eating ice cream. She has raised 3 children and lives with her husband near Chicago.

Lisa Riddiough

Mentor

Lisa Frenkel Riddiough is a Northern California based writer whose projects include picture books, middle-grade, and short fiction. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Her debut middle-grade novel, Elvis and the World as it Stands, released in August 2021, and her debut picture book, Letters to Live By, arrives in January 2022. Lisa is a former sales executive, an avid squirrel watcher, and a frequent baker of chocolate pound cake. She is pro-Oxford comma! Also, she likes exclamation points!!

Melissa Savage

Mentor, Hero Program Director

Melissa Savage worked for many years as a child and family therapist and believes that expressing oneself through writing can be a very healing process when struggling with difficulties in life. Melissa attributes her love of writing to her second-grade teacher, Miss Mahle, who introduced her to writing at seven years old. The Lost Pony won critical acclaim from Melissa’s mom and was the start of her love of writing. She eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in Minnesota and published her debut book, Lemons with Penguin Random House’s Crown Books for Young Readers in 2017. Melissa has since begun teaching workshops for both children and adults. She has gone on to write The Truth About Martians (2018), Nessie Quest (2020), and Karma Moon, Ghost Hunter (2021). Melissa loves the process of writing and sharing concepts with fellow writers and is excited to be a part of Young Inklings.  She looks forward to meeting writers of every age, experience level, and background. Melissa loves art, theatre, hiking, and eating marshmallows straight out of the bag. You can find her at melissadsavage.com.

Sonja Solter

Mentor

Sonja spent her childhood summers in her mother’s homeland of Finland and traveled the world extensively with her family. She read so voraciously as a child that she once brought over 70 books on a trip. (Her mother is still trying to figure out how that slipped by her.) Sonja graduated with an interdisciplinary degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She writes for all age levels and has had a reader published for the educational market. She has also been a Music Together director and teacher, where she especially enjoyed the collaborative improvisation aspect of the program. Sonja lives with her husband and two children in Louisville, CO, and enjoys nature, travel, and yoga. Her debut middle grade novel in verse, When You Know What I Know, is an ILA Honor Book and Colorado Book Award Finalist.

Beth Spencewood

Mentor, Director of Youth Publication Programs

Beth Spencewood grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she spent the long winters reading her favorite books and writing funny short stories starring her friends. She got a bachelor’s degree in psychology and worked in nonprofit management for many years. Now she has an MFA in writing and writes novels for young adults. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling, playing board games, biking with her family, or cross-stitching.

Elizabeth Verdick

Mentor

Elizabeth Verdick loves to write picture book stories and nonfiction self-help for kids of all ages. She received her MFA from Hamline University in St. Paul. She spends her days writing and adoring her two French bulldogs. Elizabeth has two grown children: one loves books and one loves math.

Odette Harris

Advisory Board Member

Youth Advisory Board

Alister Sharp

Anna Yang

Avery Yue

Collaborating and Contributing Artists

We also partner with a group of professional authors, illustrators, and creatives that we call our Collaborating Artists. Collaborating Artists serve as volunteers and encouragers for Society of Young Inklings and our young writers. Click here to see our featured partners.