About Us > Our Team
Our Team
William Mark Cotham
President & Founder
Since 2008, Mark has been actively engaged in work in Northwest Uganda, including work with the schools, orphans and vulnerable children, handicapped children and adults, and most extensively the building of school libraries. In this capacity, he has organized dozens of volunteers, helped to gather largely through donations over 500,000 books and helped to establish over 240 libraries.
Mark has worked extensively with non-profit organizations, including helping to found Urban Harvest (Houston's community gardening organization) and serving as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Houston Zoo. Mark is familiar with operating a business, having been the President of an established Houston law firm, Cotham, Harwell & O'Conor for seventeen years.
Peggy Burck
Vice President of Development
Peggy became involved in the mission to "end the book famine that exists in developing countries" in 2010 and made her first trip to Uganda in 2011. Having worked with numerous non-profit organizations and being an eager world traveler, she was moved to action by the simplicity of the mission - taking a discarded or under-used resource and putting it into wanting and appreciative hands in developing countries.
Kevin Dubose
Board Member
Kevin joined Books for Development as a board member in 2016. Alongside his career as a civil appellate lawyer, he is also an author, speaker, and part-time professor. In 2014, he became acquainted with the organization through a case he worked on with its founder and CEO, Mark Cotham. Inspired by their mission, Kevin became a dedicated volunteer and traveled to Uganda with his wife in 2015. They have since made it an annual commitment.
Dana Gary
Project Coordinator - Kenya
Dana first went to Kenya with her son, Marcus, who was following his dream of visiting. She instantly fell in love with the people & has returned nearly every year. During her time with Books for Development, she has helped establish libraries in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi. After experiencing firsthand the joy and excitement of placing books into the hands of East Africans, she will continue to spread that same joy and the life giving power of literacy to others.
Janet Horton
Book Box Coordinator
Janet Horton serves as Books for Development's Book Box Coordinator
Oyiomungu Deogratias
West Nile Library Association Coordinator
Oyiomungu Deogratias serves as Books for Development's West Nile Library Association coordinator.
Geeta Kadakia
Volunteer Director & Coordinator
Geeta works closely with "Volunteer Houston" to engage the many, many volunteers needed to sort, box and prepare the books for shipment. She also helps coordinate book drives for individuals seeking community service hours. As a frequent volunteer herself, she’s had the opportunity to build libraries in Belize, and hopes to continue her mission of spreading literacy to those most in need.
Todd Malejan
Board Member & Warehouse
Coordinator
Todd serves as a board member and the warehouse coordinator at Books for Development.
Jane Moser
Board Member
Jane is the newest board member. She will be organizing and coordinating several fund-raising events throughout the year.
David Rae
Belize Country Coordinator
David Rae serves as the Belize Country Coordinator for Books for Development.
Nanette Gabriel
Special Advisor on Library Science
Nanette Gabriel serves as Books for Development's Special Advisor on Library Science.