Board of Directors

  Egette  was born and raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania, Africa. In 2021, she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from George Mason University and became the first person in her family to obtain both a high school diploma and a college degree. She also received her Master of Arts in Psychology with a focus in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience from George Mason University in 2022. Egette has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness.  

Egette’s work with Safe Haven was inspired by her experience as a refugee. She founded Safe Haven Space, to empower and increase  mental health resources and services to refugee families in the US . Egette’s passion for advocacy and humanitarianism extends to her work helping children worldwide. She served as President for George Mason’s chapter of UNICEF and  on the Leadership Development Team for the UNICEF USA National Council. 

 Egette believes that Safe Haven Space will ease the transition to the American life. She also believes that it will help student perform better in school overall, while working on solving unresolved trauma and challenges.

Carisa is a graduate from George Mason University. She received her Bachelor's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in Global Governance and a minor in International Security. Carisa has experience working with refugees from her past internship at International Rescue Committee in which she assisted in the refugee resettlement process. She also has advocacy, policy, and research based experience from her past internship at Physicians for Human Rights. Carisa has a deep interest in becoming more aware and informed while engaging in advocacy on and outside of social media on issues surrounding the topics of human rights, social equality and justice, and climate change. 

She is a strong advocate for refugees and wishes to bring her passions and experience to Safe Haven through this position to help those struggling with mental health issues stemming from their experiences while also assisting in making others more aware of the connection and importance of refugees and mental health. 

 Arthi  has an MBA specializing in Marketing and Finance with a Bachelors in Commerce and also passed the ACCA UK (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) exams. She has lived and worked in three continents, which has given her a unique perspective on the world and a deep understanding of the challenges facing people in different communities. 

Arthi is committed to using her skills and experiences  to make a difference in the world. She has volunteered for causes focused in community building, community welfare projects in below-poverty areas, and animal welfare. She's a passionate project manager and relationship builder and brings years of experience to Safe Haven Space.
 

Arthi is a natural team builder and motivator. She is able to build strong relationships with people from all walks of life. She truly believes in the value Safe Haven Space can bring in educating and removing stigmas around mental health in refugee and immigrant communities and has contributed immensely to our programs. 

Lisette is a first-generation Mexican American who is a seasoned operations professional. She has over 15 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and advocating for social justice, equity, and community development. Lisette has driven initiatives in talent management, organizational design, strategic planning and change management. She excels in developing programs, policies, and processes that streamline operations and strengthen the organization’s impact, all while ensuring alignment with mission-driven goals. Lisette has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Social Work.

As she steps into the role of Director of Operations, Lisette is committed to Safe Haven Space’s mission. She is poised to leverage her experience to enhance operational excellence and further the organization’s work of empowering refugee students and their families with tailored support for mental health as they transition to American life.

Amritha Vure is currently a junior at Freedom High School. She has completed an online psychology course with Yale University propelling her interest in mental health. She has taken psychology courses online and is familiar with working in the mental health and psychology field. Although she was born and raised in the United States, she is incredibly passionate in the destigmatisation of mental health concerns in immigrant families, especially in younger people. 

Outside of work and school, you can find me listening to music and spending time with her friends. She joined Safe Haven Space to impact the community on a large scale and to really make a difference.

Amy is an inspiring, mission-driven accounting and finance expert. As a holder of CPA, CIA, and master’s degree of accounting with 10+ years of progressive experience with a global focus, including NASDAQ IPO readiness, and big public company SEC reporting, SOX testing, internal audit, and internal control optimization from vision to implementation. 

She has joined Safe Haven Space to fulfil a social responsibility to her community.

Nooreen is an undergraduate senior at Western Governors University majoring in Business Administration in Accounting. At her core, Nooreen is a curious learner and problem solver who holds a strong interest for understanding people and ensuring their needs are met- primarily through the lens of analytical thinking. This has led Nooreen to explore the intersection of finance and health by cultivating her understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping the healthcare sector's fiscal landscape. In addition, Nooreen holds a strong passion for storytelling, which has been showcased through her award-winning undergraduate projects that illustrated and highlighted the importance of strengthening Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Nooreen's academic research on driving positive community-wide change through socially conscious business practices, combined with her own experiences navigating through the stigmas surrounding mental health in the South Asian immigrant community, has inspired her advocacy on topics pertaining to community well-being and mental health awareness. Her current role as the Fundraising Assistant for Safe Haven Space allows her to align her analytical and storytelling skills with her broader professional commitment to expand accessibility to mental health services and resources, especially for refugee and minority communities. 

Fadumo is a proud grant writer for Save Haven Space. She has bachelors degrees in Conflict Analysis & Resolution and Global Affairs in addition to a Master of Public Policy. In recent years she’s worked with the UNDP and UNICEF which have been enriching experiences.

Fadumo grew up around a large refugee community in Buffalo, New York where her mother - a Somali immigrant - started an organization called HEAL International that facilitates the resettlement of refugees in the city by providing necessary guidance and resources. This is what inspired her to join Safe Haven Space. Fadumo has a passion for mental health and wellness and hopes that her work as a grant writer will increase funding and access to these necessary services to improve quality of life during such a difficult transitional period in a refugees life.

Outside of this Fadumo loves to cook, travel, watch movies and spend time in nature.

Maike is an early career professional, with university degrees in Global Health (BSc) and Crisis and Security Management (MSc) from Erasmus University and Leiden University in the Netherlands. With a drive for addressing global and public health challenges, Maike has worked as a (senior) medical science consultant for companies, governments and international organizations, including NATO, in several countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and the Netherlands. She has also contributed her knowledge and expertise to several non-for-profit organizations, for example by offering support and mentorship to rare disease patient group leaders, writing health information guidance and documents and executing projects in various low- and middle-income countries. 

Having experienced the challenges of international relocations and settling into an unfamiliar environment herself, Maike is well aware of the associated challenges and the benefits of mental health support and the presence of a supportive community. She is therefore passionate to support Safe Haven Space in providing access to mental health support among minority and refugee communities.

 Sana received her dual Bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in Global Affairs and Psychology with a concentration in Media, Communications and Culture.  She is currently pursuing a MS in Data Analytics and Engineering. Her interests are in strategy, insights, analytics, and digital experience.

She has been actively involved in non-profit work relating to mental health and global healthcare through previous internships with a strong foundation in communications, business analytics and knowledge management.

Sana hopes that her work for Safe Haven Space will help refugees receive the mental health support they need while also promoting open conversations and furthering the need to acknowledge the stigma surrounding refugee mental health.

Crystal is a graduate holding a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree with a major in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington. 

Over the past two years, she has immersed herself in various roles related to social media, digital marketing, and communications, honing her skills in these fields. What propels her forward is an unwavering commitment to personal growth and advancement. She thrives on the challenge of pushing her boundaries, refusing to settle or become complacent. Her family's well-being and happiness are fundamental drivers, propelling her to strive for a better future not only for herself but also for those she holds dear. Her journey is characterised by determination and a resolute sense of purpose.  As a highly motivated individual, she is consistently dedicated to self-improvement within the realms of social media and digital marketing. Her eagerness to acquire new skills and broaden her knowledge base fuels her professional pursuits. Beyond her career, she is passionate about travel, viewing it as an avenue to explore diverse cultures, gain fresh perspectives, and expand her horizons. Whether savouring exotic cuisines, embracing adventurous activities, or immersing herself in different environments, she relishes the excitement of trying new things. She firmly believes that by embracing these experiences, I not only foster personal growth but also contribute positively to both her personal and professional development.

Crystal became a part of Safe Haven Space with the intention of making a meaningful impact on people's lives. The prospect of collaborating with the Safe Haven Team and its founder presented an exciting opportunity to build valuable connections. Her goal is to not only contribute to the mission of Safe Haven Space but also to enhance her skill set, ultimately propelling her career forward.

Vyshnavi is an undergraduate at VCU, majoring in psychology on the pre-med track. She is passionate about accessible health care, especially mental health care. She aspired to be a psychiatrist in the future and looks forward to helping people with their mental health. 

She has been looking for opportunities to give back to the community and when she found SHS it felt like the perfect fit. She is first generation here and mental health is heavily stigmatised in the Asian community so she has grown up feeling the effects of it. It has made her passionate about making mental care accessible to all, even in communities where it may not be prioritised or normalised.

 Gisselle is an undergraduate junior at George Mason University majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. As an advocate for healthy and inclusive mental health resources, Gisselle is passionate about providing communities with spaces to share immigrant and refugee stories. Gisselle was a summer research intern at the National Eye Institute and National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism studying the cholinergic control of striatal dopamine release. In addition, her research interests are trauma and grief in immigrant families. Through Safe Haven Space, she hopes to contribute to both destigmatizing and demystifying mental health by increasing accessibility and spaces for open and honest conversations. 

  Rida Jamal, received a Bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has previously interned at the prestigious National Cancer Institute where she primarily conducted research on cell line SW480 and CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knock-ins. In addition to research, Rida also has a strong interest in global health and international development, and has developed winning citizen engagement initiatives to provide funding to NGOs during her time as an intern at the World Bank Group, IMF, and IDB.
As an aspiring physician, Rida hopes to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and to provide refugees with resources, community, and support as they adjust to life in the United States.