Gail Ament, professor of Spanish, was recently elected president of the board of directors for the non-profit organization “Sharing the Dream in Guatemala.”

Gail Ament, professor of Spanish at Morningside College, was recently elected president of the board of directors for the non-profit organization “Sharing the Dream in Guatemala.”

Sharing the Dream in Guatemala is based in Vermillion, S.D. The organization’s goal is to promote sustainable fair wages and employment opportunities to low-income artisans in Guatemala who use traditional Mayan techniques to create unique, handmade products. The organization also supports water and shelter projects to meet the needs of the Guatemalan community.

The board of directors gives input and assists with short-term and long-term planning for diverse operations, including a day center for the elderly in Santiago Atitlan and scholarships and tutoring for indigenous students. The organization also supports the efforts of Mayan artisans and operates the Sharing the Dream in Guatemala store in Vermillion.

Ament was a Fulbright Scholar to Guatemala from 1995 to 1996. At Morningside, she has led a number of student trips to Guatemala, where she has had the opportunity to spend time with the elders in Santiago Atitlan and engage in various cultural and community service events. She has a master’s degree from the University of Montana and a doctorate from the University of Washington.