Farther Foundation is pleased to ring in 2019 with the addition of two new board members. We welcome Melissa Coughlin and Nicky Fish. Farther Foundation Board President, David Weindling said, “Both Melissa and Nicky bring a passion for our mission born from personal experiences with service and travel. Our board and organization will also benefit from their professional skills and competencies.”

Melissa Coughlin

Melissa Coughlin is a life-long supporter of social justice causes and an avid traveler. After graduating from Cornell University, Melissa spent time with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, working with domestic violence victims in Buffalo, NY, followed by a job with the public defender’s office in Baltimore, MD. She attended law school at the University of Chicago, where she participated in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice clinic and developed a deep attachment to Chicago and its people. Melissa practiced as an attorney at Sachnoff & Weaver (now part of Reed Smith LLP), specializing in employee benefits law.

Melissa’s love of travel began while spending her junior year abroad, studying at Trinity College in Dublin. She is particularly eager to work with the Farther Foundation because it combines two of her passions, travel and social justice, and because she knows from personal experience the life-long impact traveling outside one’s comfort zone can have on a young person.

Nicky Fish

Nicky Fish was born and raised in the Chicago area and seems to have been bitten young by the travel bug. Unable to study abroad during High School, her family hosted a student from Spain for a year, who quickly became part of the family. This experience gave her the education and strength to study abroad while in college. She ventured to Shanghai for a semester, where she volunteered as an English teacher for underprivileged schools in the community.

She graduated from the University of Iowa with a double major in International Relations and English with the goal of becoming a teacher. Shortly after graduating in 2014, she joined the Peace Corps and began the epic journey to Indonesia. During her two years there she taught and trained at a Middle School in East Java, became TEFL certified, but unfortunately remained only adequate at helping her host family catch escaping chickens.

Nicky is currently a Research Analyst for Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm. She lives in Lincoln Park where she remains an avid reader, dog lover and potato chip addict.

Farther Foundation Mission

Farther Foundation helps students break free from the constraints of poverty and socio-economic isolation and propels them toward outstanding academic and personal achievement. We provide opportunities for deserving students to travel worldwide and participate in programs where they are immersed in new cultures, develop skills, provide service, gain confidence, cultivate leadership potential and attain personal growth.

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