The team
hannah peterson
founder and executive director
Hannah Peterson is an international development professional who has spent almost 14 years working in Latin America and Africa on education, digital health and innovative finance projects. She started her career working for community development projects as a Volunteer Coordinator in Nicaragua. That is where her love of connecting across cultures began. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Global Human Development from Georgetown University and a BA in Sociology and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She wrote her first play, Vacate, in January 2025 and performed it in April 2025 to a sold out audience at Joe’s Movement Emporium. It is there that she found the power of storytelling and her ability to tell stories that connect people and build empathy. She is looking forward to writing more stories in the future.
varsha thebo
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Born in rural Sindh, Pakistan, Varsha’s journey from entering her first classroom at 20 years old to international stages inspires her work at Wonder, where she champions the idea that every one of us has a story worth sharing. She is currently pursing her MBA at Georgetown University.
gIGI cAMMAROTO
fACILITATOR
Born in rural Sindh, Pakistan, Varsha’s journey from entering her first classroom at 20 years old to international stages inspires her work at Wonder, where she champions the idea that every one of us has a story worth sharing. She is currently pursing her MBA at Georgetown University.
emily collins
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Emily is a trained actress, theater teacher, and director based in the DMV, bringing both professional stage experience and a passion for education into her work. She combines performance expertise with a commitment to nurturing creativity and confidence in every production she’s apart of.
Shira
Garbis
Associate
Shira Garbis is a non-profit professional who is passionate about supporting community engagement and development across domestic and international contexts. She most recently spent one and a half years in Madagascar managing projects focused on enhancing long-term food security and maternal and child health in the southeast region. After pivoting away from the international development sector in the wake of funding cuts, Shira turned to a role focused on building domestic civic engagement. Through her work with Wonder Productions, Shira is exploring ways to stay connected to the international development sector and pursue her passion for community engagement and bridge building.
Carly
Chomer
Founder and Executive Director, Emanate Communications
Carly J. Chomer is the Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Emanate Communications, a brand communication agency supporting women leaders and entrepreneurs in discovering their authentic brand voices and defining how and where they share them. Through Emanate, she leads brand development, thought leadership, and marketing strategy -- guiding clients through processes that result in greater confidence, clarity, and impact. Her earlier career laid the foundation for her expertise in mission-driven communications, creating integrated marketing and communications for federal agencies, foundations, and international nonprofits. Across every role, Carly brings a dedication to compelling, authentic, and human-centered communications. https://www.emanate-communications.com/
Christine Shaefer
Founder of Live Both And
Christine Shaefer, Ph.D. brings a diverse background to her work as a catalyst of leader and organization development. Her education includes a BA in English/Communications from Pace University, a MA in Theatre & Drama from University of WI-Madison, a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Marian University, and a variety of designations and certifications. As founder of Live Both And, Christine urges individuals and organizations to employ both-and thinking to meet the challenges of today’s complex world. Her career grew from entry level to executive and spans all sectors, including time in for-profit enterprises, nearly two decades in the non-profit space and another decade in the U.S. federal government where she worked with global leaders on five continents, assessing their needs, creating customized curricula, facilitating with high engagement, and coaching with compassion. Christine sees the world through a strengths-based lens and believes communication, connection, and critical thinking are skills to be embraced and enhanced now more than ever.
Want to join the team?