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Founder and Executive Director, Space of Her Own, Inc.
Linda Odell
Crime Prevention Manager, City of Alexandria
linda@spaceofherown.org
Over 20 years ago, Linda envisioned the concept for SOHO and co-created the first program in partnership with The Art League. She founded the nonprofit Space of Her Own, Inc. in 2011.
Throughout her career, Linda has served vulnerable and court-involved youth and families. She has been employed by the City of Alexandria for 22 years, overseeing a team of therapists, social workers, program coordinators, and project managers with Alexandria’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Service Unit, developing programs that meet needs of youth and families. She is founding member of the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership, and has initiated a variety of mentoring, parenting, shoplifting, gang, substance use and other prevention programs and services. Her most recent endeavor is the creation of Mentor University: A Free College for Caring Adults.
Raised in Lancaster PA, Linda launched her professional career in Boulder, Colorado as AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at a youth shelter, and subsequently a teacher for youth with emotional and behavior issues, and manager with a state-wide residential treatment provider for juvenile offenders. A decade later, she moved to Costa Rica where she was a guidance counselor at an international school; there, she developed service-learning projects to meet needs of native communities, including the Cabécar people, an indigenous group of the remote Talamanca region.
Linda earned her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from University of Pittsburgh and her M.A. in Special Education from University of Northern Colorado. She did post-graduate work in language and literacy at University of CO and is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Nonprofit Executive Management Program.
Every year, Linda looks forward to inspiring new volunteers to join Space of Her Own, supporting continuous organization evaluation and enhancements, and most importantly, witnessing the transformation of girls’ lives.
For her work with SOHO, Linda has been recognized as a Living Legend of Alexandria and has received awards from Virginia Juvenile Justice Association, NAACP Alexandria Branch, Alexandria Commission for Women, and Alexandria City Public Schools.
President
Courtney Dixon
Senior Contracts Consultant (Government Support Contractor)
SOHO Mentor since 2012
courtney.dixon@spaceofherown.org
Courtney began her journey as a SOHO mentor in 2012. During that time, she realized the difference SOHO made in the lives of the young ladies involved. Courtney’s passion for youth and desire to make an impact inspired her to become a board member for SOHO in 2014. As a board member, Courtney intends to help grow the incredible non-profit and expand its reach to young ladies in need.
Courtney Dixon has volunteered with youth for over 16 years. She has worked with many youth development programs including after-school tutoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and YoungLives – a program for teen moms. Courtney is a native of Chicago, IL and a graduate of Howard University with a B.B.A. in Marketing. She was a Captain in the US Air Force and spent four years on active duty. Courtney currently works as an Senior Contracts Consultant in the DC Metro Area.
Vice President + Creative Director
Cynthia Chin
Design Patent Examiner, United States Patent and Trademark Office
SOHO Mentor since 2008
cynthia.chin@spaceofherown.org
Cynthia Chin began her work with the SOHO program during the 2008-2009 school year. She has been involved in community service throughout her life, and was excited to find a program like SOHO that offered the unique combination of working with kids, the arts, and giving back to the local community. Cynthia initially volunteered as a mentor to Ashley, who she still meets with on a regular basis. Ashley has since grown from a quiet 9-year-old to a lively and confident young woman, and her transformation has inspired Cynthia to continue volunteering with the program. Cynthia’s greatest desire is to see the program blossom, and decided to become a board member in 2012 to play a larger role in SOHO’s development.
Cynthia is a native of the Washington, D.C. area. Born in Alexandria and raised in Fairfax County, she now lives and works in Old Town Alexandria. Cynthia earned her B.A. with a double major in Digital Arts and Media Studies from the University of Virginia. After graduating U.Va, she worked as an Interactive Graphic Designer for the Department of HHS’ Office on Women’s Health (womenshealth.gov) and their sister site (girlshealth.gov) aimed at promoting healthy, positive behaviors in girls between the ages of 10 and 16. Cynthia currently works as a Design Patent Examiner for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
For her work with SOHO, Cynthia has been awarded 2019 Mentor of the Year by Mentor Virginia, 2021 The Joan White Volunteer Service Award from Volunteer Alexandra and 2021 Alexandria’s Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40.
Treasurer
Andrea Denny
Environmental Analyst, US Environmental Protection Agency
SOHO Mentor since 2006
andrea.denny@spaceofherown.org
Andrea Denny has been a volunteer with SOHO since 2006, mentoring two girls and participating in three space transformations. She has also participated in strategic planning and helped organize events and fundraisers for SOHO and joined the SOHO Board as Treasurer in November 2013. Andrea became interested in SOHO as a creative outlet and opportunity to support young women, and has stayed involved after being inspired by the dedication of SOHO volunteers and the potential of the program to be a model for other communities.
Outside of SOHO, Andrea is an environmental analyst with the US Environmental Protection Agency, supporting local governments with energy and climate change policy. Andrea has an honors B.S. in Chemistry and a M.S. in Geography, both from Penn State. She has lived in Alexandria, VA since 2005 and has two children.
Secretary
Renuka Bhaskar
Senior Researcher/Survey Statistician U.S. Census Bureau
SOHO Mentor since 2017
Renuka.Bhaskar@spaceofherown.org
Renuka began mentoring through SOHO during the 2017-2018 school year. She and her mentee immediately bonded over books and shared struggles in carpentry class and their relationship has continued to grow since then. Renuka has been active in the Alexandria community for many years. In addition to mentoring with SOHO, she has been a tutor with Wright to Read since 2014 during which time she has worked with two students. She is excited to join the SOHO board and find new ways to contribute to the program.
Renuka was born and raised in Massachusetts. She graduated from Boston University with a BA in geography and attended the Ohio State University where she earned an MA in geography. She is a senior researcher/survey statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau where she has worked since 2004. Renuka enjoys spending time with her family, travel, and daily walks with her dog Daisy.
Board Member at Large
Katrina Foelsche
Director of Youth Literacy & Adult Language Programs at Campagna Center
SOHO Mentor since 2017
Katrina.Foelsche@spaceofherown.org
Katrina Foelsche joined the SOHO-Space of Her Own family in 2017 as a mentor to Michelle, a former SOHO intern and now a 2025 ACHS graduate. As Michelle moves on to college and accomplishing her next big goal, Katrina’s excited about the prospect to contribute to SOHO’s mission and help support the wonderful team, volunteer mentors, and mentees and families who are a part of this amazing community.
Currently the Director of Youth Literacy & Adult Language Programs at Campagna Center, she brings over 25 years of volunteer and program management experience to the Board. Her career has spanned multiple positions in marketing, alumni relations and development for numerous universities, and program management for an edtech company. Since 2019, Katrina has led the Wright to Read team to support a superb team of tutors & mentors who work with ACPS students to improve their literacy skills and spread the joy of reading. In 2023, her role expanded to lead the New Neighbors adult English Language Learner (ELL) program at Campagna Center. A proud daughter of Vietnamese and German immigrants, she is excited to be part of a program where people from many cultures and countries can create a thriving community to support one another in achieving their goals for education and employment.
A University of Virginia alumna, Katrina also earned a Master of Education degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. An Alexandria resident since 2006, she was part of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Alexandria cohort in 2024 and a frequent participant in Volunteer Alexandria and Volunteer Arlington programs. She loves taking advantage of all the art, museums, and cultural events that Washington DC offers with her husband Marc, two teen daughters Evie and Ellie, and Michelle. Otherwise, she can be found enjoying movies, SUP-ping on the Potomac with her cavachon Coco, or buried in a book.
Board Member at Large
Lauren Kula
Chief Executive Officer, Larkspur Certified Public Accountants
SOHO Mentor since 2023
Lauren.Kula@spaceofherown.org
Lauren began her journey with SOHO in 2023 after moving to Alexandria, eager to make new friends, deepen her community involvement, and continue her history of volunteer service. After much research into local service opportunities, Lauren discovered SOHO and was immediately drawn to its mission of empowering young girls through mentorship and by providing them with resources and opportunities. Lauren now has a wonderful ongoing relationship with her mentee Nichi – sharing baking projects, painting afternoons, and conversations that empower Nichi to explore her creativity and confidence – and is very close to her mentor cohort, whom she collaborates with to share ideas, resources, and enthusiasm for SOHO and beyond. In her Board role, Lauren brings this same spirit of teamwork and dedication, supporting SOHO through her financial acumen, strategic planning, and volunteer leadership.
Lauren is from Southern California, where she was born and raised. She graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a degree in Economics & Accounting, and earned her CPA license in 2024. Lauren now operates her own CPA firm in Alexandria, where she invests her expertise back into the community and provides pro-bono financial services to nonprofits and volunteer organizations. Lauren loves travelling with her fiancé, a homemade latte from her treasured Breville, and catching up with her friends and family scattered across the globe.