WHO WE ARE

Founders: Andrea Powell, Caroline Tower Morris

Executive Board of Directors: Olivia Doherty, Heather King (Executive Board Chair), Miriam Marton, Anna Miller, Keely O'Callaghan, Julianne Paunescu, Andrea Powell, Scott Schein, Jessica Shaffer, William Stephens, Susannah Stewart

Advisory Board of Directors: Antonela Arhin, Keesha Egebrecht, Sgt. Morani Hines, Helga Konrad, Nellie McKay, Eileen O'Connor, Karen Paik, Caroline Ramsay Merriam, Amy Richards, Irena Selisnik, Pamela Smith, Anastasia Tokacheva, Dubravka Ugresic, Travis Wright, Tanya Woynarowsky

Officers: Andrea Powell (President), Kristen Zimmerman (Secretary), William Stephens (Asst. Secretary)

Staff:

Andrea Powell (Executive Director)

Lisa Peri (Director of Development), Asia Kyle (Youth Advocate), Akiko Darcey (Social Media Director), Nicki Gill (Associate Director of Development)

International Programs: Alina Lobzina (JewelGirls Russia Program Coordinator), Vesna Markovic (JewelGirls Program Assistant, Serbia), Tanja Radovic (Serbian Programs Manager), Elena Timofeeva (Russian Programs Manager)

Executive Board of Directors

Olivia Doherty is a senior associate at The Hatcher Group, a public affairs and communications firm dedicated to advancing social change by connecting nonprofits with policymakers, media and the public. With a background in journalism and graphic design, Ms. Doherty has worked with nonprofits such as YouthBuild USA and the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation providing media relations, communications and design support since 2006. Prior to joining The Hatcher Group, she served as a reporter for The Gazette newspapers covering communities in Montgomery County, Md. As an undergraduate, Ms. Doherty covered Philadelphia city news for the Daily Pennsylvanian, the student-run newspaper of the University of Pennsylvania. In that position, she won the 2005 National Mark of Excellence Award in Breaking News from the Society of Professional Journalists. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Pennsylvania.

Heather King (Executive Board Chair) is an attorney at the Washington, DC office of the law firm Boies, Schiller and Flexner LLP, where she focuses on complex litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. King served for five years as Special Assistant and Policy Advisor to United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton where she worked on international women's issues and human trafficking, among other responsibilities. She was a member of Senator Clinton's campaign staff in 2000 and 2006, co-founded and ran Young Lawyers for Hillary during the 2008 presidential race, and was a member of the 2008 Hillary Clinton for President Finance Committee. Ms. King is also a Board Member of Women Under Forty Political Action Committee (WUFPAC), a nonpartisan political action committee that supports women forty years of age and under running for state and federal public office. In addition, she is an Advisory Board Member of Running Start, WUFPAC's sister organization that encourages high school girls to be involved in politics. She graduated from the University of Evansville and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law.

Miriam H. Marton joined FAIR Fund's Executive Board of Directors in fall 2009. Miriam is an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP specializing in corporate restructuring. Additionally, Miriam provides pro bono legal counsel in cases involving asylum for victims of gender-based violence.

Anna Miller joined FAIR Fund's Executive Board of Directors in fall 2009 after serving for one year as FAIR Fund's New York City-based chair of FAIR Fund's Young Friends committee. Ms. Miller is currently vice president of the Capital E Advisors. Prior to her position at Capital E Advisors, Ms. Miller served as a marketing consultant for Caudalie Beauty in Paris. Ms. Miller obtained her MBA with a focus on marketing from Science Politiques in Paris, France and her BA from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetwon University in Washington, D.C. Previously, Ms. Miller has held positions in marketing with Sonia Rykiel, J.Crew, Estee Lauder, and Calvin Klien.

Keely O'Callaghan is a senior program manager, national initiatives, at the office of community and charitable giving at Fannie Mae. Prior to this position, Ms. O'Callaghan worked in the national initiatives office of the Fannie Mae Foundation in Pasadena, CA and as an international program specialist in the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs. Ms. O'Callaghan has also worked in the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor and in the U.S. Department of State's Presidential Interagency Council on Women. She received her Master of Public Administration from California State University, San Francisco and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. She has served as a U.S. Presidential Mangagement Fellow and has receivecd the U.S. Secretary of Labor Special Act Award. Prior to joining FAIR Fund, Ms. O'Callaghan served on the Board of Directors of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery (CAST) and is a member of the Southern California Grantmakers and Hispanics in Philanthropy.

Julianne Johnson Paunescu graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee with a degree in International Studies. She joined the Foreign Service in 1990 with the U.S. Information Agency and served in Bucharest, Algiers, Manila, Panama City, and Chisinau. Julianne has been in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) since 2000, serving as the analyst for Moldova, Belarus, Greece, and Cyprus as well as a one year as acting director of INR's Office of Outreach. She is currently Division Chief for Media Analysis in INR's Office of Opinion Analysis.

Andrea Powell (Founder and Executive Director ) has extensive experience in international advocacy, women's rights, and development. Ms. Powell received her MA in European Union Law and Economics at the University of Bonn, Germany and her BAIS from Texas State University in International Relations and Geography. She provides expert testimony in U.S. human trafficking cases and has trained law enforcement officers, educators, and U.S. diplomats. She is an experienced lecturer and has spoken to over 25 university campuses about human rights and the successful engagement of young women in civic activism. Ms. Powell was also a contributing writer for the San Francisco Women Museum's "Imagining Ourselves" book and traveling exhibit project, published in 2006. Prior to co-founding FAIR Fund, Ms. Powell worked for the World Cancer Research Fund, the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies at Radcliffe College at Harvard University, Pathfinder International, Greenpeace Germany, and the EcoLogic Development Fund. Ms. Powell currently serves as an advisor to the African Regional Youth Alliance in Tanzania and as a Board member for the Center for Youth Integration in Belgrade, Serbia. Ms. Powell recently received the Texas State Alumni Association's Walter Richter Humanitarian Award for her work in promoting human rights.

Scott Schein is the Director, Strategy and M&A for EADS-North America, an aerospace and defense contractor. At EADS, he oversees strategic planning, acquisitions, and various corporate development initiatives for EADS' U.S. operations. Scott previously worked with Highland Capital Management as Director, Aerospace & Defense Sector for the Private Equity Group. In this capacity, he served on the Board of Directors and compensation committee for Highland's aerospace investments. He also developed turnaround and growth strategies for aerospace and defense companies in the private equity portfolio. Prior to Highland Capital, he worked for Honeywell Aerospace, McKinsey & Company, and Lockheed Martin in various engineering and management roles. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University and Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Jessica Shaffer (Board Member) has experience in fundraising, event planning and marketing for charities and media outlets. She currently holds the position of Director of Development at The Skin Cancer Foundation. Previously, she was the Associate Director of Fundraising at Columbia University, School of Public Health. Prior, Ms. Shaffer worked at Pathfinder International, the NBC Publicity office in Burbank, CA, BWR Publicity in Beverly Hills,CA, the Boston AIDS Action Committee, and the Tompkins County Task Force for Battered Women in Ithaca, NY. She has a B.S. in Print Journalism with a minor in Sociology from Ithaca College. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Will Stephens is a Native American rights attorney for Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson, and Perry LLP in Washington, D.C. and serves as an elected Neighborhood Commissioner in the Dupont Circle area. Mr. Stephens holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School; a Master of European Studies from the Center for European Integration Studies, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitaet Bonn (Germany) as a Fulbright Scholar; and a B.A. in mathematics, biology, and Germanic studies from Indiana University (Bloomington) as a Herman B. Wells Scholar. He previously worked for the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo and for the former California Trade and Commerce Agency in London, UK. Will is an experienced jazz drummer and is the lead band member for the Dalhak house band in Washington, D.C.

Advisory Board of Directors

Sgt. Morani Hines is the lead officer for the Youth Investigation Branch of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. He aspired to become a police officer at an early age and a native of Washington, D.C. He received his Associates Degree in Law Enforcement, and a B.S. in the Administration of Justice. Detective Sergeant Hines become a member of the Metropolitan Police Department in 1992, and maintained the position of a patrol office for eight years. In 2000 he was charged with investigating the crimes of physical and sexual abuse against our youth - a fitting position for an individual whose true passion lay in the safety and well being of children. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2002, and in 2004 obtained the rant of Detective Sergeant where he worked behind the scenes on numerous high profile abuse investigations. Currently he is the Supervisor of the Internet Crimes Against Children/Human Trafficking Unit in Washington D.C.- responsible for investigating the exploitation of children via the internet and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Nellie McKay is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. Her first album, "Get Away From Me," launched in spring 2004 and received international acclaim. She has performed benefit concerts for FAIR Fund and starred in the Broadway production of "Three Penny Opera" in 2006. Her latest album and tribute to Doris Day, "Normal as Blueberry Pie" was released in international acclaim in fall 2009. She is a proud member of PETA and supports animal rights.

Eileen M. O'Connor is counsel in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm's Washington, D.C. office.  As a member of the Government Strategies Practice Group, Eileen specializes in high profile cases for companies and individuals, helping in the handling of securities and accounting fraud cases, contract disputes, product liability, internal investigations, congressional investigations and international commercial litigation.  Eileen is a 24-year veteran journalist with experience working for ABC News and CNN in London, Moscow, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.  She served as chief researcher and producer for ABC News Peter Jennings overseas from 1981 to 1986, moving to Moscow and then to CNN in 1989.  While in Moscow from 1986 to 1997, Eileen covered the fall of communism; Russian politics and business; organized crime; and the wars in Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Nagrono Karabakh, Ossetia and Chechnya, where her coverage was nominated for an Emmy.  Her live reporting of the attempted coups in 1991 and 1993 won some of American journalism's highest honors, as did her investigation of Al Qaeda post-9/11. After serving as CNN bureau chief in Moscow, Eileen was a White House correspondent and national correspondent covering the Clinton administration, and most notably, investigations into campaign finance, Monica Lewinsky and the Marc Rich pardon.  Eileen left CNN at the end of 2001 to pursue a law degree and help start the Legal Crisis Communications practice at a Washington, D.C. law firm.  She has also served as the president of the International Center for Journalists, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training journalists to build a free and independent press in emerging democracies and to improve the quality of journalism worldwide. Eileen advises the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through the Naval Postgraduate School on incident response, and speaks on various international and political topics on ABC, CNN and Fox News and at international symposia.  Eileen is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

Karen Paik works in the litigation department of Debevoise and Plimpton LLP in New York. Ms. Paik was graduated from Harvard Law School in 2004 and obtained her B.A. in English from Yale College. While at Harvard, she was the President of Students Organized for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (STOPDV), and Vice-President for practice standards at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. From 2004-05 Karen served as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County's Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Unit.

Caroline Ramsay Merriam is the President of the Ramsay Merriam Foundation, a former World Bank employee, and an advocate and leader in putting an end to child labor.

Amy Richards is a contributing editor at Ms. Magazine and a co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation, an activist group for young feminists. Ms. Richards has spoken at hundreds of universities, dozens of community forums and has appeared in a range of media venues, including The O'Reilly Factor, Oprah, New York One and CNN. She has been the interim director for Twilight: Los Angeles, a film and outreach project based on the film by Anna Deavere Smith, and consulted for Scenarios USA on their peer educational videos, as well as for Gloria Steinem on her writing and political commitments. She is also the voice behind Ask Amy, the online advice column she launched at feminist.com in 1995. She makes her living as a lecturer, writer and consultant.

Pamela Hyde Smith held the position of U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova from 2001 to 2003. Until her retirement from the State Department in late 2005, she was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, having served prior to her Ambassadorship as Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in London, Press Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, and in a first posting at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest. She joined the Foreign Service in 1975, working in the U.S. Information Agency until its merger with the Department of State in 1999. In a Washington assignment during the mid-1990s, Amb. Smith was Office Director in the Bureau of Information Programs and led the team that provides public information about U.S. Government policies to embassies overseas. She also worked in management positions directing the worldwide Fulbright academic exchanges programs, as a Country Affairs Officer in USIA's Office of European Affairs, and as a Special Assistant to USIA's Director. In 2007, Amb. Smith returned to the State Department temporarily to lead an inspection, for the Office of the Inspector General, of the U.S. embassies in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Since late 2003, Amb. Smith has been teaching courses on Public Diplomacy at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, both at the Masters and the undergraduate levels.Amb. Smith's recent publications include: The Hard Road Back to Soft Power, The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Winter-Spring 2007.

Susannah Stewart is an executive, entrepreneur, and consultant in international strategy and sustainability for the luxury sector, multinational customer-focused corporations, and government entities. While living in Europe for the last 10 years, she founded the first consulting company in Italy for ethics & corporate social responsibility, developing an innovative approach to helping businesses and NGO's/charities to develop partnerships through collaborative campaigns and programs linking business products or services to important sustainability issues such as human rights, environmental awareness and economic opportunity. With strategic CSO (Corporate Social Opportunity) initiatives, Ms. Stewart helps businesses to engage their stakeholders and increase their multidimensional bottom line (monetarily and thru intangibles such as reputation and client fidelity/goodwill) while making a significant difference to the larger community (local to global). She has held Board positions with several philanthropic organizations focused on at-risk youth and recently co-founded Go Blue Too in London to help the waters of the world get their due acknowledgement in the climate prosperity debate on environmental impact. Ms. Stewart has an International Business degree from Switzerland and a Masters in Peace Psychology and International Conflict Management from the US.

Dubravka Ugresic is the author of several novels, short stories, and essays. She was awarded the prestigious Charles Veillon European Essay Prize in 1996 for The Culture of Lies, the Dutch Resistance Prize in 1997, and the Austrian State Prize for European Literature in 1998. She spends her time writing and teaching at American and European universities.

Dr. Travis Wright is an Assistant Professor of Educational Research at George Washington University. He obtained his Ed.D in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard Graduate School of Education in June 2006. His areas of interest are in human development and psychology, counseling, and qualitative methodology. Most of his work explores risk and resilience in the lives of women and young children living in poverty, especially the influences of schools, close relationships, neighborhoods, and social policy. The mission of his research lab, The Project on Early Childhood, Community, and Social Change, is to expand on his previous work on behalf of women and young children living in poverty, developing innovative approaches to curriculum, parent involvement/support, and community development. He is currently working on an intervention targeting the most vulnerable children and families in the District in collaboration with FAIR Fund.

Key Staff Biographies

Andrea Powell, Executive Director (see above)

Alina Lobzina (JewelGirls Russia Coordinator) is a graduate of Moscow University and the full-time coordinator of the JewelGirls Russia program where she is employed by the Russian Orphan Opportuntiy Fund and FAIR Fund. Alina is an experienced lecturer and teacher. She also coordinates the ROOF orphan educational summer programs and teaches English to youth in orphan care. Contact Alina at alina@fairfund.org.

Lisa Peri (Director of Development) has joined FAIR Fund as our Director of Development. Ms. Peri has dedicated her life to bettering the lives of children. She earned a bachelors in sociology from Clark University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a seasoned entrepreneur and development professional passionate about child rights. Lisa is also a proud mother of two young daughters, and wife to Jeff Peri. She looks forward to helping FAIR Fund as we fulfill our mission to stop the trafficking of youth worldwide.

Tanja Radovic (JewelGirls Art Therapist Serbia) is a graduate in social work and special education at the University of Belgrade. Ms Radovic joined FAIR Fund as our first JewelGirls art therapist in summer 2007 where she facilitates weekly workshops for girl survivors of human trafficking and street life. Previously, Ms. Radovic worked with FAIR Fund and the Centre for Youth Integration on the program, Project Prepare!, where she assisted in the curriculum design and implementation of an anti-trafficking and life skills development program for 65 youth leaving orphan care in Serbia. Ms. Radovic currently works part-time as a teacher for a Roma kindergarten, Romski Zivot, where she instructs children in the primary school. Ms.Radovic speaks English, Russian, and Serbian. Contact Tanja at tradovic@fairfund.org.

Elena Timofeeva (Russian Programs Manager) is responsible for FAIR Fund's direct outreach to high risk teens living, including street-involved, orphaned, and trafficked youth. She also conducts adult trainings and assists in prevention education workshops. Ms. Timofeeva is a licensed social worker and psychologist. Prior to joining FAIR Fund, Ms. Timofeeva has has experience serving people living with HIV/AIDS and trafficked women and girls. Ms.Timofeeva managed an HIV/AIDS outreach program for at risk youth and adults in 2006-2008. She also conducted a national study on HIV/AIDS antiretroviral therapy among HIV positive individuals. In 2008, Ms.Timofeeva joined the International Organization for Migration as the manager for their counter-trafficking team where she implemented the program "Prevention of trafficking in the Russian Federation." As a result of her work, the first rehabilitation center for trafficked persons was opened for victims of trafficking in the Russian Federation. Ms. Timofeeva provided social and psychological assistance to victims of trafficking and conducted a national mass media campaign to raise awareness for victims of trafficking. Ms.Timofeeva has experience in media relations, law enforcement training, and direct support for victims of human trafficking. Ms.Timofeeva holds a degree in Psychology from the Saint-Petersburg State University.

Asia Kyle (Youth Advocate) is 20 years old and has been a part of FAIR Fund since 2009. Asia is currently enrolled as a part time criminal justice major and works full time. Asia draws upon her experiences as a survivor of sex trafficking to mentor other young women FAIR Fund assists in staying safe from or exiting situations of sex trafficking. Asia is a passionate young woman who uses her skills in advocacy and public speaking to effect change in the lives of other exploited young women. She is also an artist and is part of FAIR Fund's economic empowerment program, JewelGirls, where she creates handcrafted jewelry that she sells to earn extra income. Asia has educated students at George Washington University about the nature of human trafficking and has spoken alongside Congressional representatives and members of the Frederick Douglas family. Asia believes that all young women deserve a life free of sexual violence and exploitation.

Akiko Darcey (Social Media Director) applies her design concepts and skills in print and web media to enhance FAIR Fund's goals and visual communications. She obtained her BA degree with a Design Concentration in Fine Arts from University of Maryland College Park. She is a recipient of the 2009 Student Silver Addy Award in the D.C. Metropolitan Region.

Nicki Gill (Associate Director of Development) is a writer, lawyer and teacher from Melbourne, Australia. She holds B.A. and LL.B. degrees from Monash University, Australia, and an M.F.A. in Fiction from New York University. As an attorney in Melbourne, her practice focused on commercial litigation and advocacy for victims of church related sexual abuse. Prior to joining FAIR Fund, she taught creative writing at NYU. Ms. Gill currently is finishing her first book and works to direct FAIR Fund's grants program.

   back to top