Staff

Sumair Sheikh Photo

Sumair Sheikh

Executive Director

Sumair Sheikh became executive director of LISC Duluth in June 2022. Prior to LISC, Sumair played key board leadership roles at two important LISC partners—Ecolibrium3, where he focused on revitalization in the Lincoln Park community, and the Northland Foundation, which fueled efforts related to housing, economic development, childcare and jobs.

He spent the first part of his career as a teacher and community organizer in Duluth, Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Boston. Over time, he also contributed to community development through consulting, working with municipal leaders in Minnesota on a range of critical plans. His experience in program development and coordination includes collaborating with the City of Duluth to implement an equitable hiring action guide for its workforce development board; helping school districts in the Twin Ports and Twin Cities design and implement racial equity and cultural competency systems; and working with the private-sector Innovare Social Innovation Partners on organizational assessment and leadership evaluation.

In addition to his professional work, Sumair has long volunteered his time in a number of capacities, including serving on the Duluth Police Department’s policy revision team for immigration enforcement, as a Think Kids Community Conversations facilitator for Duluth Public Schools, and serving on the board of the Duluth Folk School.

He has a master’s degree in advocacy and political leadership from the University of Minnesota, Duluth; a bachelor’s degree in biology from Michigan State University; and a post-baccalaureate secondary teacher certification from Eastern Michigan University.

Emily Mowchan Drevlow Photo

Emily Mowchan Drevlow

Assistant Program Officer

edrevlow@lisc.org

As Assistant Program Officer, Emily is responsible for LISC’s grant writing and reporting, HUD Section 4 program management, and support for LISC’s comprehensive community development efforts.  Emily comes to LISC from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 

Prior to UMD, Emily worked locally in the Office of International Programs at UW-Superior; in the Twin Cities in community mental health; and has spent a significant amount of time overseas: teaching in rural South Korea and Spain; studying in Sweden; and conducting graduate work at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Italy.  She speaks several languages, and has traveled extensively.  Her breadth of experience has given her a robust understanding of the many factors that contribute to health and wellbeing in communities. 

Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs; and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Minnesota Duluth.  

Tina Robbins Photo

Tina Robbins

Program Assistant

crobbins@lisc.org

Since 2018, Tina has been working as a vital resource to LISC Duluth. She oversees day to day operations and contractual obligations. She has over two decades of background in nonprofit operations management, fundraising and volunteer coordination.

Tina has a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois and is a Certified Professional Coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Throughout her career Tina has been committed to supporting the people doing on the ground work in the fields of child welfare and domestic violence. Before joining LISC, Tina lived in Colorado and worked at Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence.