Staff

Alim Chandani
Founder & Executive Director

Alim Chandani, deaf since birth, graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a B.S. in New Media and E-Business and from New York University with a M.A. in Deafness Rehabilitation and Higher Education. He was an Internship Coordinator for United States federal agencies through ADNET Systems, Inc. Alim currently works as a Student Development Coordinator at National Technical Institute for the Deaf within RIT.

In 2005, Alim was a human rights delegate for Global Youth Connect, and conducted workshops with fellow delegates in Cambodia. Inspired by this experience, he conceived of providing cross-cultural programs for American deaf youth within developing countries. Thus the concept of GRO was born.

Presently, Alim has a specific mission and vision for the future of GRO, and carefully plans each trip in furtherance of GRO's goals. He constantly looks for ways to create and enrich global networks between deaf communities, and seeks the long-term success of these connections.

Avi Haimowitz
Executive Assistant

Avi Haimowitz was born deaf in 1987, and is currently a fourth-year psychology and sociology student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She expects to graduate in May 2008 with a B.S. in Applied Arts and Science, and will go on to enter a M.A. program in social work in the fall. She has worked as an English peer tutor for students at National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) since her freshman year at RIT, and acted as Director of Academic Affairs for the NTID Student Congress last year. Avi also has two years of experience working as a counselor for deaf youth in NTID's Explore Your Future program as well as the NTID Summer Vestibule Program for incoming deaf freshmen.

With a strong desire to work within the global deaf community, Avi assisted Alim in his preparations for the GRO-India program in 2007, and acted as a student delegate on the trip. Inspired by her experience in India, Avi is now truly committed to the vision of GRO.

Smitha Hanumantha
Program Director

Smitha Hanumantha was born deaf in Bangalore, India in 1980. A few years later, she moved to the United States and attended mainstream schools before entering Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 1999. There, Smitha received her A.A.S. in Applied Computing Technology, and her B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences in 2003.

In 2004, Smitha worked for the U.S. Geological Survey as a data analyst. In the spring of 2005, she worked for Management Systems International, a non-profit organization with a focus on management of contracts with the United States government. Currently, Smitha works as a Case Manager/Benefits Specialist at Mount Vernon Mental Health Center under Fairfax County Department of Community Service Board and as a Publication Assistant at Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services. She also does freelance work. Most recently, Smitha is pursuing a career in an administrative position within the international development field.

Smitha has traveled extensively throughout India and other countries in Southeast Asia. She was a human rights delegate for Global Youth Connect in Cambodia in the summer of 2005. She also acted as a coordinator for the GRO-India Empowerment Camp in Bangalore, India during the summer of 2007. A believer in spirituality, Smitha enjoys meditation, music, the arts, and adheres strongly to her Indian culture. She has played an integral role to building the foundation of GRO.

Tamer M Mahmoud
Program Assistant

Tamer Mahmoud was born in Egypt and was born deaf. After growing up in Saint Louis, Missouri, he attended Rochester Institute of Technology where he obtained his B.S. in Information Technology. Tamer loves to interact with people, and worked as an intern and group leader at the Teen Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, as a team manager for the Fantasy Baseball Camp for the Hearing Impaired, as a senator for a residence hall at RIT, as a liaison coordinator and chairperson for a bi-annual event between RIT and Gallaudet, as a counselor for Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc, and as a webmaster for RIT's Student Government as well as the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Student Congress. Tamer currently works as a Tech Support Engineer II for Sorenson Communications in Missouri.

Tamer traveled with GRO on its first official trip to Thailand in the spring of 2007. Based on his passion and success during the Thailand trip, he was appointed assistant coordinator for one of the GRO delegations traveling to India in the summer of 2007. Tamer also created GRO's first official website, and hopes to further GRO's success in the future. He sees GRO as a future icon for the global deaf community.

Elizabeth Dena Sorkin
Outreach Director

Elizabeth Dena Sorkin, "Lizzie", graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in May 2007 with a Bachelor's degree from the School of Film and Animation. She has participated in two GRO delegations thus far: once as a team leader for Thailand 2007 and once as a coordinator for Mumbai, India 2007. Lizzie misses her home state, California, but now enjoys working at Gallaudet University as a Digital Video Specialist since November 2007.