Pamela joined Tahirih in 2021 as a Grant Writer. As a grant writer, Pamela is responsible for writing grant proposals and reports to funders who support Tahirih’s five local offices, communicating to current and potential funders the mission of Tahirih and the importance of supporting the organization. Prior to joining Tahirih, Pamela served as a grant writer and communications associate for New Vision Youth Services, Inc. in Virginia and as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Centre at Old Dominion University (ODU). Pamela was born in Ghana where she spent most of her life. Pamela has lived and studied in the United Kingdom (UK).

“I am inspired by Tahirih’s commitment to assist courageous immigrant women and girls fleeing their country because of sexual assault and gender-based violence.”

Education: Old Dominion University, PhD (ABD)

Caitlin Burnett originally joined Tahirih in 2011, but returned in 2017. As Government Grants Manager, Caitlin helps to secure and steward the variety of government funds which support Tahirih’s services to survivors across the country. During her time away from Tahirih, she was Grants Officer for Public Justice, an organization dedicated to using impact litigation to combat social and economic injustice, protect the Earth’s sustainability, and challenge predatory corporate conduct and government abuses. Before joining Tahirih in 2011, she was in institutional fundraising for a community-based organization serving immigrants and refugees.

“I believe that everyone, as a global citizen, has a role to play in upholding the human rights of our most vulnerable neighbors. I am inspired by the compassion, non-partisanship, and dedication to excellence which are deliberately woven into Tahirih’s organizational DNA, and proud to support holistic services for women and girls seeking freedom from violence.”

Education: Ithaca College, BA; American University, Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management

Hometown: Williamsburg, MA

As Grant Writer, Alexis is responsible for writing grant proposals and reports for funders who support Tahirih’s five local offices, informing current and potential foundation funders about Tahirih’s important work and our progress against proposed goals. Alexis joined Tahirih in 2022.

Prior to joining Tahirih, Alexis was the Director of Advancement and Planning at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, where she led grant writing and all other fundraising activities and chaired the Museum’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility steering committee—Museums Empowered. She has also worked as a grant writer at the Lied Center of Kansas performing arts center, interned at the Robert J. Dole Archive and Special Collections, and served as Children’s Liaison for two years at the Milton Public Library.

“I admire Tahirih’s three-pronged approach of social services and legal representation, outreach and training, and policy advocacy that provide both immediate and long-term support for immigrant survivors of violence.”

Education: University of Kansas, MA; Marshall University, BA

Hometown: Harts, West Virginia

Julissa joined Tahirih in 2024. As the Major Gifts Officer, Julie is responsible for implementing new strategies that deepen relationships with Tahirih’s current and prospective donors, broaden the base of support, and increase donor contributions and retention to support Tahirih’s programs and services. Prior to joining Tahirih, Julie served as the Area Director at Best Buddies International. Julie is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

As a daughter of immigrants and first generation graduate, I am inspired by Tahirih’s vision of a gender-equal society and commitment to excellence in serving courageous immigrant women, like my mother. My first language was Spanish and I was bullied for not knowing English. However, I was determined to learn and did so in just three short months. I am college graduate who is proud to be bilingual! It has become my personal mission to educate donors and our community on the immigrant journey and why Tahirih’s mission is so important.

Education: University of Texas at Arlington

Languages: English, Spanish

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Alex joined Tahirih in 2017 as a Policy Associate. He supports the policy team’s advocacy initiatives to pass legislation, develop regulations, transform policies, and set legislative precedents. Prior to joining Tahirih, Alex worked as an interpreter and administrative assistant at Bayside Pediatrics in Annapolis, and interned with the International Rescue Committee in Baltimore. He has studied abroad in Spain and Argentina.

“I am inspired by Tahirih’s vision of a world in which men and women work as equals for the benefit of humanity, and it’s commitment to serving the needs of those at the intersections of multiple forms of vulnerability”

Education: American University, MA; University of Delaware, BA

Languages: Spanish

Hometown: Crofton, Maryland

Beth Ann Hellert joined Tahirih in 2009. As the Senior Grants Finance Manager, she manages Tahirih’s financial grant reporting and related projects. Prior to joining Tahirih, Beth Ann was the Director of Business Operations at the American National Red Cross in the Plasma Services Divison. Before that, she was the Manager of their Business Operations. She spent an academic year at the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico.

I am inspired by the courage of the women and girls who seek Tahirih’s assistance and their drive to improve their lives and those of their children. I am also inspired by my colleagues’ tireless commitment and work in service to these women to help them achieve safety and dignity.

Education: University of Texas at Austin, MBA; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA

Languages: Spanish

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Jessica Horning joined Tahirih in 2017. As the Reporting and Data Associate, Jessica studies internal data to ensure accurate grant reporting and impact analyses. Prior to joining Tahirih, Jessica worked as a research associate with Wider Opportunities for Women in Washington, DC and interned with the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition in Austin, Texas. Jessica spent much of her childhood abroad and has lived in Germany, Russia and Thailand.

“I am inspired by Tahirih’s commitment to the safety and dignity of women and girls both directly from a legal standpoint, and indirectly through partnerships and grants to provide for physical and emotional needs as well.”

Education:  James Madison University, BSW; University of Texas at Austin, MSSW
Languages: French, Spanish
Hometown: Manassas, Virginia

Meredith joined Tahirih in 2019 as a grant writer. In 2022, Meredith joined the communications team as the Communications Coordinator/Writer where she supports Tahirih’s work through content creation and project management. Prior to joining Tahirih, Meredith served as a Senior Program Associate at IBTCI, a USAID contractor, and as a Research Assistant at Democracy International. Meredith has studied and worked abroad in Spain and Kenya.

“I am inspired by the courageous immigrant survivors of gender-based violence that Tahirih serves who are overcoming incredible obstacles to build better, safer lives for themselves and their families, and by the tireless work of my colleagues to support them and raise awareness about gender-based violence.”

Education: George Washington University, MA; University of Virginia, BA

Languages: Spanish

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia

Brittany Marshall joined Tahirih in 2017. As Senior Supervising Finance Manager, Brittany is responsible for the grants management, compliance, and accounting services; preparation of budget proposals and reports; and broad customer service to both internal and external stakeholders including Tahirih program directors and sub-grantees. Prior to joining Tahirih, she served as the Program Manager for Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation managing the provision of college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Brittany also served as the Operations Manager for the United States Veterans Initiative, the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive services to homeless and at-risk veterans.

“I am inspired by Tahirih’s commitment to gender equality and the common interest of staff and partners to advance women in fulfilling their mission in all departments of life, that they may be on the same level as men and enjoy equal rights.”

Education: Virginia State University, BS; Trinity Washington University, MSA

Hometown: Washington, DC

Tatiana joined Tahirih in 2019. As Senior Finance Manager, Government Grants for our National office, Tatiana is responsible for preparing budgets and grant adjustment notices; preparing and submitting reports to meet monthly, quarterly and annual compliance requirements; supporting the annual financial audit; and ensuring Tahirih fully leverages grant resources to serve women and girls fleeing violence. Prior to joining Tahirih, Tatiana worked as a Grants Manager at Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice and as a Budget Analyst and Grants Specialist at the Loudoun County Government, Department of Fire and Rescue. Tatiana was born and raised in Moldova and spent 8 years in Toronto, Canada before moving to the United States.

“I am inspired by the variety of services that Tahirih provides to immigrant women and girls helping them flee the violence and start a new life with no fear.”

Education: Moldovan Academy of Economic Studies

Languages: English, Russian, basic French, basic Romanian

Hometown: Chisinau, Moldova

Irena Sullivan originally joined Tahirih in 1998, and has re-joined in 2016. As a Senior Immigration Policy Counsel at Tahirih, Irena advocates within all areas of government, which includes lobbying for or against certain laws, drafting and proposing new laws, engaging with high level government decision-makers on policy matters, and initiating impact litigation. Advocacy is always done in a bipartisan manner and may also include outreach and education to stakeholders, and participation in coalitions and working groups with other advocates. Prior to Tahirih, Irena worked as Associate Counsel for the Refugee & Asylum Law Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship & Immigration Services and as Division Director for the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration. She also previously worked as the Director of Legal Services for the Tahirih Justice Center.

“Tahirih holds a very special place in my heart both personally and professionally. Tahirih gives voice to the voiceless, by fearlessly exposing a subject that has historically been obscured – violence against women specifically because of their gender. A cornerstone of Tahirih’s mission is that both men and women must engage equally in the struggle against gender-based violence in order to prevail. The wisdom of this premise, as well as the courage inherent in Tahirih’s mission and work, is what inspires and energizes me on a daily basis.”

Education: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, BA; American University, JD

Languages: French, basic Polish and Hebrew

Hometown: Newton, MA

Casey Swegman joined Tahirih in 2013. As the Forced Marriage Initiative Project Manager, Casey oversees the provision of specialized social services and safety planning to individuals facing or fleeing forced marriage, as well as technical assistance to service providers across the country. Casey also supports the growth of the national coalition working on the issue of forced marriage in the United States and manages the Forced Marriage Initiative website. Prior to joining Tahirih, Casey was a Special Needs Care Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee and a refugee caseworker at the Refugee Support Center in Nairobi, Kenya, where she lived for two years.

“I am inspired by Tahirih’s unconditional dedication to excellence and innovation in serving immigrant women and girls.”

Education: Georgetown University, MA; Drexel University, BS

Hometown: Burtonsville, MD

Hellitz Villegas joined Tahirih in 2018. As the Forced Marriage Initiative Project Associate, Hellitz provides direct services to individuals in the U.S. facing or fleeing forced marriage, responds to requests for technical assistance nationally, conducts education and outreach, and helps to craft policy solutions. Prior to joining Tahirih, Hellitz worked with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence as a hotline advocate with the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, Florida’s Rape Recovery Team. In addition, she held several positions with Hubbard House, a domestic violence center in Jacksonville, where she facilitated support groups, conducted intakes for children, and served as a resident advocate in the Hubbard House emergency shelter, providing care to shelter residents and responding to crisis calls on the hotline. Hellitz is also an experienced criminal court victim advocate, assisting clients with intake, protection orders, and relocation as well as providing external referrals. With over eight years of experience in the social advocacy setting, Hellitz’s career has focused on advising those in crisis by providing support in both therapeutic and educational settings.

“I am excited to work for Tahirih as they provide holistic, client-centered services for women and girls to know that a life without violence is possible!”

Education: University of North Florida, BA

Languages: Spanish

Hometown: Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Morgan Weibel joined Tahirih in 2010. As Executive Director of Tahirih’s San Francisco Bay Area Office, she ensures the delivery of high-quality legal and social services case management, engages regional stakeholders, and oversees the local office’s financial and operational integrity. Morgan previously served as Tahirih’s Director of the Baltimore office, and as a Supervising Immigration Attorney. She also worked for three years as a paralegal at the Law Offices of Robert B. Jobe, a San Francisco-based firm focusing on asylum and deportation defense. She interned with the Immigration and Refugee Services Department of the Spanish Red Cross in Granada, Spain, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Washington, DC, and at a Swiss Refugee Transit Center.

“I am inspired by the strength and courage of the women and girls that I have the privilege of serving at Tahirih. Their unwavering commitment to breaking century-old cycles of violence against women and the courage that it takes to stand up against their families and traditions is remarkable.”

Education

Morgan is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with high honors and the University of California Hastings College of Law, where she served as the Scholarly Publications Editor on the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review and was awarded the Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellowship to work with the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS). Morgan also served as a Graduate Research Fellow at CGRS where she drafted a protocol for the investigation of femicides and assisted Professor Karen Musalo in updating sections of her course book related to asylum based on membership in a particular social group. During law school, she interned in the Trial Chambers of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Her undergraduate honors thesis compared the United States and Canadian applications of gender-based guidelines in asylum law.

Awards and Recognition

Morgan was named Leader of the Year by AILA’s DC Chapter Liaison Division in 2013, and in 2008, she won National Championship and First Place Speaker Awards at the UC Davis Asylum Law Moot Court Competition.

In the Media

• “Despite the #MeToo Movement, Roll-Backs in Protection Endanger Immigrant Women: It is Time for #ImmigrantWomentToo,” Morgan Weibel, Think Immigration, blog post, 27 March 2019.
• “Matter of A-B-: How the Attorney General Attempts to Subvert Asylum Law and Dismiss Domestic Violence as a Private Affair,” Morgan Weibel and Sayoni Maitra, PLI Current: The Journal of PLI Press, Vol. 2, No. 4, Autumn 2018.
• “Witnessing Cruelty at the Border,” Morgan Weibel, San Francisco Examiner, op-ed, 23 August 2018.
• “The Asylum Process Under Trump Has Become Arbitrary and Inhumane,” Morgan Weibel, Los Angeles Times, letter to the editor, 8 August 2018.
• “Travel Ban Suspension Has Immigrants Hustling to Get to U.S.,” CBS News San Francisco, Feb. 6, 2017

Meaghan Whalen joined Tahirih in 2022. As Director of Development in the national office, Meaghan helps support the organization in achieving its fundraising objectives. She brings over a decade of fundraising experience and is excited to collaborate with the wider team to further strengthen and advance the fundraising program and to cultivate meaningful relationships with Tahirih’s stakeholders. Before Tahirih, she served as a Major Gifts Officer of Food & Friends and as Assistant Director of Development with Jesuit Refugee Service/USA both in Washington, DC.

The vision of a gender-equal society and holistic, client-centered services provided for immigrant women and girls inspires my work at Tahirih.

Education: Rockhurst University, BA

Hometown: Kansas