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.

Marissa is thrilled to be part of the dedicated and dynamic team at Safe Haven Space working to offer a safe space and well-being services to refugee and immigrant students and their families.  She brings to the team 30 years of experience in diplomacy, strategic planning, public affairs,  and program management.  As a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State, Marissa served in Washington DC and at several U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.  She started her professional career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand.  In addition to her government service, Marissa has worked with several organizations focusing on refugee assistance, human rights, and education.  She has degrees in National Security Studies (National Defense University), International Politics (American University), and Education (Bowling Green State University).  

One of her favorite wellness activities is taking daily walks with her dog Tambi.

Juliana has spent two decades moving across 5 countries in 3 continents as an immigrant, and speaks Japanese, Chinese and English. She is a CPA and has worked in public accounting and management consulting. She has used her personal experiences to publish a novel about the lives of immigrants in Japan, which explored themes such as cultural and linguistic adaptation, loss of homeland, belonging, and marginalization. She has a deep interest in promoting a beneficiary-centered approach to aid, and an agile and adaptive approach to financial controls as a treasurer. She believes in the value Safe Haven Space brings in promoting well-being and education for refugee communities, removing stigmas around mental health, and supporting community members to lead full and dignified lives. She is currently studying towards a Masters in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins SAIS, and holds a M.S. in Accounting from American University, and a B.A. in Economics from University of Toronto.

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.

Karolina graduated from Boston University in May 2023 with a degree in International Relations, Public Health, and Chinese. In previous professional and volunteer experiences, she has consistently focused on community service and empowerment. She has worked with international organizations, city government agencies, and university-affiliated research and social improvement committees. Most recently, Karolina was a HIV/AIDS Local Government Capacity Building Volunteer with the Peace Corps.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.