Tamela G. Noboa

Tamela Noboa is Managing Director of Discovery Learning Alliance (DLA), a nonprofit organization established by Discovery Communications in 1997 to extend the power of media to transform education and improve lives in underserved communities around the world. Together with the founder of Discovery, Tammy helped build the nonprofit, catalyzing innovative partnerships to support locally led initiatives to achieve quality education for all.

With over 20 years of international development experience, Tammy has developed partnerships with Coca-Cola, Chevron, Shell, Avanti Communications, UK DFID, USAID, UN agencies, 16 national governments, and others, demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships and the measurable impact that media, technology, teacher training and community engagement can have on learning and life outcomes. Tammy created and led the first public-private partnership between Discovery and UK DFID to improve education outcomes for marginalized girls in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. Representing Discovery as a founding member of the Global Business Coalition for Education, Tammy continues to promote private sector engagement and investment in education. She serves on the board of directors for DLA and Pact International, the Millions Learning International Advisory Panel chaired by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and on the Varkey Global Girls’ Education Alliance. She is passionate about supporting locally driven transformation, systemic and scalable solutions, innovative partnerships and financing, and sustainable uses of media and technology to advance education and development in marginalized communities.   

Prior to DLA, Tammy worked in Public Affairs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce, with a focus on sustainable development.  She then volunteered on a hospital ship in Benin, where she and her husband led a community health education team. This experience inspired them to explore the impact of media in global development, leading to their work with DLA.  Tammy lives in Maryland with her husband, Aric, and their two teenage daughters.