Watch this video from Patty Gentry, Director of Volunteer Engagement, to learn how AFS-USA is taking action to strengthen the volunteer experience and better support you. We are also excited to share more about the members of the Volunteer Engagement team, which is fully staffed. 

Here’s more about the team.  

Freda Daniels, Community Engagement and Volunteer Leadership Development Manager. Freda has been with AFS-USA for over two years and has transferred into our team. Freda brings with her prior experiences in both the private and government sectors and has been working in connecting people and building strong community relationships for her career. She has a background in training and facilitation as well as maneuvering through difficult conversations.   

Jennifer Anderson, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, East Region. Jennifer began her AFS-USA journey in 2007 as a Hosting Coordinator in the Baltimore regional office and has spent the past 18 years contributing her talents across Hosting, Operations, IT, and Stakeholder Engagement. Jennifer’s love of intercultural experiences began early – leading her to study abroad in Australia and later spend two unforgettable years teaching English in Japan through the JET Program. These formative adventures continue to shape her approach to work and connection. Whether she’s facilitating training, digging into data to inform strategy, or helping teams navigate complex dynamics, Jennifer brings an approachable, relationship centered leadership style that builds trust, strengthens communities, and inspires meaningful engagement across AFS.  

Lauren “Lo Lo” Loftin, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, West Region. Lauren is a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) and Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) with more than a decade of experience in volunteer engagement and nonprofit leadership. She specializes in developing mission aligned programs, activating meaningful volunteer involvement, and cultivating inclusive, community driven approaches to service. Her work is rooted in strengthening organizational capacity and building collaborative pathways that empower individuals, teams, and communities to create lasting impact. 

Patty Gentry, Director of Volunteer Engagement. Patty is a nonprofit leader with over 20 years in the Nonprofit sector working with donors, volunteers, volunteer leaders and advocates of all ages for small, medium and large nonprofit organizations. She has worked in a variety of roles from communications, fundraising, program development & management, youth and volunteer engagement and Board/committee leadership and development. She brings a solid foundation of experience in day-to-day volunteer management, strategy and implementation. She also volunteers as a volunteer mentor and volunteer for two local organizations in her free time. 

For more information about AFS-USA Staff and who to contact, log into Help and Learning for Volunteers and you’ll find a brief description of frequently contacted staff roles at AFS-USA.