​Ouida Joi Cooper-Rodriguez has over three decades of experience in Executive and C-Suite-level positions, specializing in trauma-informed programs in homelessness and housing services, food insecurity, and community development. She has directed shelter programs on the East and West Coasts, overseeing operations, strategic planning, fund development, and community engagement for organizations with budgets up to $6 million. She has also served on multiple nonprofit boards, contributing her expertise in governance, capacity building, and sustainability. Ouida has an M.A. in Management and a B.A. in Behavioral Science/Psychology (Magna Cum Laude). She is a veteran and  served in the Air Force and Army National Guard. She is honored to join the team at DIMH.

Rev. Dr. Carol E. Boggerty is a Faith Leader, Educator, and Advocate dedicated to social justice, public health, and community empowerment. As Board Chair, she works to ensure DIMH provides trauma-informed shelter, support, and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness while advocating for equitable access to mental health care, substance abuse recovery, and economic empowerment. Through collaboration with government leaders, law enforcement, and community organizations, she strengthens crisis response efforts and ensures marginalized voices are included in policymaking.

​In addition to her work in housing advocacy, she provides pastoral care, mentorship, and emotional support for individuals navigating grief, crisis, and critical life transitions. Dr. Boggerty’s leadership is rooted in collaboration, compassion, and a commitment to justice.

Charlisa Holloway Edelin, J.D., serves as the Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Student Life and Academic Success at Delaware State University, where she also co-directs the Law Studies Program. Her academic focus includes First Amendment law, journalism, and public relations, and she has authored works such as Constitutional and Criminal Law: The Minority Experience. Previously, she was an Associate Professor at Wesley College, where she developed the Master's in Criminal Justice Program and led the transformation of the Legal Studies Department. Beyond academia, Ms. Edelin is an elected member of the Appoquinimink School District Board of Education and serves on the Dover Police Advisory Board, advocating for staff diversity and closing achievement gaps.

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Peter graduated Wesleyan University with a B.A. and went on to graduate study at the University of Massachusetts School of Education, eventually earning his doctorate in 1985. Realizing early in his education career that he was an entrepreneur at heart, Peter embarked on a career as a financial advisor. He has had his own practice in Dover, Delaware, since 1986. Along with building a flourishing practice, Peter has put a high premium on professional development, earning the designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) in 1990 and Certified Financial Planner™ certificate in 2000.   He has a strong commitment to building an inclusive community in Central Delaware and has served many non-profit organizations both as a volunteer and member of the Board of Directors.

Jessie Green is a Budget Analyst and Businesswoman with over thirty-eight years of experience in the Department of Defense. Jessie has worked throughout the country as she followed her
husband’s military career. She has managed over fifty-million-dollar budgets as an Army budget Analyst. Jessie Green is the founder of the Afri-Female Institute, Inc, a non-profit organization where she is the Director with more than twenty-five volunteers and fourteen families that she mentors. She also found solace doing Bible study for the homeless at Interfaith Mission for housing and later joined the Board of Directors in 2010 when asked by Mr. Walter Bagley.​

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As she retires, we honor Jeanine Kleimo, our Founder Emerita, for her 17+ years of visionary leadership and service to DIMH. She  continues to serve as an advisor and inspiration to our team.

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Kleimo is an Economist with over 45 years of experience in the affordable housing field. She has worked throughout the United States and in numerous developing countries on the creation of housing and infrastructure, finance systems, and the provision of training for government officials. Jeanine was a Fulbright Scholar in Singapore and has traveled widely. In 2008, she worked with faith leaders to create the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing and chaired the organization until 2024.

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