Staff
Consultants
Ruth Dixon-Mueller, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health Policy, Program Evaluation
Ellen Marshall, Good Works Group, U.S. Foreign Policy
Jennifer Redner, Good Works Group, U.S. Foreign Policy
Profiles
Melanie Abrahams, Senior Writer
Melanie Abrahams joined IWHC in March 2010 as Senior Writer in the Communications Department. Previously, she spent a decade in magazine journalism, focusing on youth and international advocacy. At Seventeen magazine, Melanie oversaw a monthly column spotlighting young activists. She then went to Glamour magazine, where she helped found the Glamour Women of the Year Fund which recognizes and financially supports the causes of grassroots leaders around the world. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Lori Adelman, Program Associate, Communications
Lori Adelman joined IWHC in April 2009. She providesboth administrative and substantive support to the Communications Program, contributing to the production of articles and publications, constituency development, media outreach, and maintenance of IWHC's online presence. Prior to joining IWHC, Lori worked in the Women's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch in New York, where she performed legal research and lent support to a U.S. tour that raised awareness about the obstruction of access to legal abortion after rape in Mexico. She also interned with the Abortion Access Project in Cambridge, MA, andserved as a Research Assistant at Harvard Law School, documenting casesinvolving the violation of prisoners' rights. Lori holds a BA in Social Studies from Harvard University. She is also a contributing blogger at Feministing.com. She speaks Spanish and some Portuguese.
Ken Berg, Chief Information Officer
Ken Berg has been with IWHC since 1988 and serves as Chief Information Officer. He has spent the last 25 years in the non-profit sector including the Sierra Club and The Population Council. Ken is a pioneer in the field of Information Technology going back to 1980 when he was part of the team that developed the first CD-ROM for R.R. Bowker’s Books-In-Print. Recognizing major trends and new directions in business, he designed and produced an event tracking database before such products were available, was responsible for the design and production of many early IWHC publications, and has been a driving force behind IWHC’s web presence. With his extensive experience and expertise, he designed, implemented and maintains IWHC’s technology infrastructure and keeps staff up to date and well supported.
Ken is certified in various Novell and Microsoft products, is a member of the 501 Tech Club and the NPower Network, and attends conferences around the country regularly.
Ken lives in New Rochelle, NY and has three children.
Carlene Burke, Senior Accountant
Carlene has been with IWHC since July 2008. She manages payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable, and assists with preparation of financial documents for the Board of Directors and IWHC’s funders. Prior to joining IWHC, she worked at the Interior Design Flooring Corporation as an Office Manager/Bookkeeper. Carlene has an Associate degree in Business Administration from Monroe College. Originally from Jamaica West Indies, Carlene moved to the United States in 1984. In her free time Carlene volunteers as a Church Youth Leader and Secretary. She lives in the Bronx, and is married with one daughter.
Kelly Castagnaro, Director, Communications Program
Kelly Castagnaro joined IWHC as Director, Communications Program in April 2007. Kelly brings to IWHC a decade of management experience in communications, special events, and community relations. Prior to joining IWHC, she managed communications and special events for Common Ground Community, a New York-based non-profit dedicated to ending homelessness. From 1997- 2004, Kelly worked for then-San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. in Community Relations and as Deputy Press Secretary, where she served as an official spokesperson to local, national and international press, and coordinated press and logistics for countless events including the Mayor’s Summit for Women. Following her tenure with the Brown administration, Kelly was appointed as Acting Director for the San Francisco Taxi Commission, where she oversaw the agency’s $1.3 million budget and all legislation and regulations pertaining to taxicab operations in San Francisco. Kelly graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Journalism from the University of Oregon, Eugene, and speaks Spanish and some Italian.
Jayne Chu, Program Assistant, International Policy
Jayne Chu is the Program Assistant for International Policy. Before joining IWHC in June 2008, Jayne worked for a year in rural Nepal for the UK-based charity Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW). There, she worked to empower young people by mobilizing them in community-based groups that address the issues most important to young people growing up in developing countries today. Some of the projects included designing, implementing, and monitoring the SPW curriculum in local schools and in the community; working with women’s groups to mobilize against sexual exploitation; and educating young girls through a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum.
Previous to her work with SPW, Jayne worked for several years at a production company in Paris, France, working on independent documentaries, as well as feature films. The ability to travel and work in remote regions sparked her passion and interest in development. Jayne holds an Msc in Anthropology and Development from the London School of Economics, UK, and a BA from Barnard College, New York.
Rosemary Coluccio, Director of Finance and Administration
Rosemary joined IWHC as the Director of Finance and Administration in 2006. She has 17 years of experience creating and implementing effective financial strategies, policies, and processes in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining IWHC, Rosemary served as a financial consultant providing technical assistance to several local and national non-profits. Her work experience includes serving as the Director of Finance and Administration at both the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Empire State Pride Agenda, and 11 years as an Accountant in the private sector. Rosemary serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Women - NYC Chapter and St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction. Rosemary earned an MS in Taxation from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, a BS in Accounting from the Stern School of Business and an Associate’s in Liberal Arts from New York University.
Carmen Díaz-Olivo, Executive Assistant to the President
For over 20 years, Carmen has provided support to the President of IWHC. In addition to managing schedules, arranging appointments, and making travel and meeting arrangements, she uses her experience at IWHC to engage with Board members, high- level donors, and colleagues. Prior to joining IWHC in 1987, she worked at Planned Parenthood of New York City in their Nurse Practitioner Program and in their Public Issues and Action Program. As a long-time employee, Carmen has seen IWHC grow in reputation and visibility and is proud to be a part of the organization.
Lucina Di Meco, Assistant Program Officer, Latin America
Lucina Di Meco joined IWHC as Assistant Program Officer for Latin America in September 2008. Lucina contributes to the formulation and implementation of the Latin America program strategy, goals, activity and budget. She also contributes to identifying opportunities for program development and managing grants. Prior to joining IWHC, Lucina worked as a consultant for Women’s World Banking in New York and as Program Assistant and Associate for the United Nations Development Program in Mexico.
Lucina holds a degree in Political Sciences and International Affairs from the University of Turin, Italy, a Master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of East Anglia, UK and a special diploma in Gender Studies.
Benefiting from a fellowship from the University of Oxford, Lucina wrote her Master thesis in Mexico, where she subsequently lived for several years, working in international cooperation, mainly in program management and research.
A native speaker of Italian, she is also fluent in English, French, Spanish and is learning Portuguese and German.
Alexandra Garita, Program Officer, International Policy
Prior to joining IWHC in November 2009, Alex led the international advocacy program at IPPF/Western Hemisphere Region. She focused on SRRH, HIV and AIDS, and women’s rights at the United Nations and in Latin American regional conferences, and represented North America on the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board's NGO Delegation. During her time with IPPF/WHR, Alex also helped to build the capacity of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to advocate for their sexual and reproductive rights in international decision-making fora. Before moving to New York, she was the Mexico Program Officer at ARTICLE 19, The Global Campaign for Free Expression, where she implemented a project on access to information and the sexual and reproductive rights of young people. An activist committed to advancing women and young people’s rights, Alex formed part of Decidir (Choice: Youth Coalition for Sexual Citizenship), where she protested, wrote, and advocated for young people’s rights to safe and legal abortion in Mexico City prior to the liberalization of the law. Alex has also worked at the Mexican Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and an M.A. in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights from Essex University.
Adrienne Germain, President
Click here to read a profile of Adrienne Germain.
RaeLyn Grogan, Consultant, Development Assistant
RaeLyn Grogan joined IWHC in August 2007 as a Development Consultant. Her responsibilities are largely administrative and include management of the Development database.Rae Lyn is a native of Brooklyn. She is working part-time with IWHC while she completes her undergraduate studies at Hunter College, where she is a Political Science Major with a minor in Spanish and Chinese. She hopes to continue working in an international context.
Denise Hirao, Senior Program Officer, Latin America
Denise Hirao joinedIWHC as Program Officer for Latin America inOctober 2006. She is responsible for conceptualizing, implementing andmonitoring IWHC's program in Latin America.
Denise is a lawyer withover 10 years of experience working on human rights and women's rights inBrazil and at the international level. In Brazil, she worked at law firms, atthe Sao Paulo State Government and as a consultant in human rights and women's rightsprojects. From 1998 to 2001, Denise was a Councilor of the São Paulo Women'sCouncil, a body that proposes and evaluates public policies for the state of SãoPaulo. At the international level, Denise was a member of CLADEM, the LatinAmerican Committee for the Defense of Women's Rights, and worked at the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (Organization of American States).
Denise holds a law degree from theUniversity of São Paulo and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of Notre Dame. Her graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame were supported by a Fulbright Foundation scholarship. A native speaker of Portuguese, she is also fluent in English and Spanish.
Anname Phann, Development Associate, Individual Giving
Anname Phann joined IWHC in January 2010. She supports the Development Officer, Individual Giving and Vice President, Development in sustaining and growing donor councils and major gifts. Prior to joining IWHC, Anname worked in the publishing office of Ms. Magazine. At Ms., Anname helped the magazine transition to nonprofit status under the Feminist Majority Foundation and provided support for events, community development and outreach, advertising, donor relations, and publishing and distribution. In 2006, she lived in Cambodia and volunteered with the mobile reproductive health unit of Strey Khmer, a Cambodian women's organization. During graduate school, she worked in the marketing office of the University Health Center and interned with HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive). Anname received a BA in English in 2001 and an MPH in 2009 from the University of Maryland. She speaks fluent Khmer (Cambodian).
McKenzie Price, Program Associate, International Policy
McKenzie Price joined IWHC’s International Policy team in August 2010. Prior to IWHC, she worked for several years in the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. There, she supported the Africa-focused research and advocacy initiatives pertaining to gender-based violence, IDPs/refugees, state-sponsored terrorism and repression, and health and human rights. She also helped build relationships with the African media and traveled to Senegal, Uganda, and Kenya. Previously, McKenzie interned at the US State Department in Nairobi, Kenya and at the Central Intelligence Agency. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Howard University and an MSc in Comparative Politics--Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics, UK.
Audacia Ray, Program Officer, Online Communications and Campaigns
Audacia Ray has been the Program Officer, Online Communications and Campaigns at IWHC since October 2008. She is a new media professional with a BA in Cultural Studies from Eugene Lang College and an MA in American Studies from Columbia University. Audacia started her career as a researcher and curator at the Museum of Sex and spent three years as an executive editor at $pread, a magazine by and for sex workers. Her focus over the past several years has been on sexuality and new media, culminating in the book Naked on the Internet: Hookups, Downloads, and Cashing In On Internet Sexploration (Seal Press 2007). She has produced content for a wide variety of websites, and most recently was the blog editor and video podcast producer for the Village Voice's site "Naked City." Audacia is also an adjunct professor of human sexuality at Rutgers University.
Bebe Roopnarine, Office Clerk
Bebe Roopnarine has been with IWHC since 1994 greeting and directing visitors as the Receptionist. She is now the Office Clerk. She is flexible and able to work cheerfully under pressure. She directs telephone calls, takes care of office equipment and kitchen supplies, and provides support to the business office. Bebe also supports the Human Resources office by checking and printing resumes when job openings are available, and works behind the scenes to make IWHC’s environment a comfortable one.
Originally from Guyana, she emigrated in 1980. She remains committed to the Guyanese community and continues to work with new immigrants as they learn new ways and adapt to life in the United States. Bebe is married and has a grown son. She is also a proud grandmother of a baby girl.
Jesse Short, Finance Manager
Jesse Short joined IWHC in March 2010 as Finance Manager, and provides Grants Administration support. Jesse is a CPA with sixteen years of private sector industry experience, and has worked for privately-held companies as well as publicly-held global conglomerates. In New York City he has worked for Grey Advertising, Scholastic Media, and TVT Music, performing controllership functions and financial reporting, including Sarbanes Oxley compliance work. In Washington, DC, Jesse was a Financial Analyst for MCI Communications. His public accounting experience in Washington, DC was as an auditor with Pannell Kerr Forster where he served non-profit clients. Jesse earned his BSBA in Accounting from The American University. After graduating, his first accounting job was with ACCH (The Association for the Care of Children’s Health). Being of Nicaraguan heritage, Jesse speaks fluent Spanish and has lived in Nicaragua and Mexico.
Frederica Stines, Program Officer, Africa
As Program Officer, Africa, Frederica Stines brings more than a decade of international policy and program experience to IWHC. From 1998 to 2007, Frederica worked as Program Assistant then Assistant Program Officer for Africa, working primarily with IWHC’s colleagues in Cameroun. Prior to rejoining the Coalition in 2010, Frederica served as a consultant for various organizations including the American Jewish World Service and the Timoun Lakay Foundation for the Children of Haiti, where she is a board member. Her experience includes serving as a research consultant with the United Nations Volunteers in Geneva, where she evaluated HIV/AIDS programs, and a position with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF coordinating public relations and special events. Frederica has an M.A. in international policy studies from the Monterey Institute for International Studies. She speaks French, Haitian Creole, and some Spanish.
Liisa Sweet-Korpivaara, Human Resources Generalist and Board Liaison
Liisa Sweet-Korpivaara has worked in her current role at IWHC since April 2006. In her human resources work, she helps IWHC continue as a competitive workplace with strong, healthy, and qualified staff. In addition to her human resources work, she serves as a key liaison for board members. Liisa joined IWHC in 2001 as a consultant, primarily for Individual and Corporate Giving. In 2004 she joined IWHC full-time as a Development Assistant. She worked with individual and corporate donors until she moved to her current role. Liisa is a member of SHRM, PANO, and the Personnel Co-op. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Connecticut College in 2001, and in 2005 she completed a professional certificate in Human Resources Management from New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Marisa Viana-Aitchison, Program Associate, Latin America and Asia Programs
Marisa Viana-Aitchison joined IWHC in January 2006. Prior to coming to IWHC, she worked at the Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies in New York where she was responsible for researching and organizing conferences on public private partnership and state reform in Brazil. Previous to moving to New York, she worked as an office assistant at Amnesty International in Massachusetts; and interned with local environmental NGOs in Brazil. In 2007, she participated in the Advocacy in Practice training in New York City, prior to the 51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and worked with the group of young trainees to effectively advocate for women’s and girls’ health and rights. Originally from Brazil, Marisa speaks Portuguese and Spanish and has a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs and Environmental Social Justice with a focus in Latin America. Marisa is on a leave of absence until January 2011.
Ruth Dixon-Mueller, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health Policy, Program Evaluation
Ruth Dixon-Mueller, formerly Professor of Sociology at the University of California at Davis, is an independent consultant in population and reproductive health based in Costa Rica. She has published a number of articles on marriage and divorce, family planning, population policies, women’s employment, adolescence, and sexual and reproductive health and rights, and is the author of four books: Rural Women at Work: Strategies for Development in South Asia, Women’s Work in Third World Agriculture: Concepts and Indicators, Population Policy and Women’s Rights: Transforming Reproductive Choice, and Abortion and Common Sense. She is currently serving on the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research of the World Health Organization and is a long-time member of the Population Association of America and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population.
Ellen Marshall, U.S. Foreign Policy
Ellen Marshall has consulted on U.S. foreign policy issues related to the health and rights of women and youth for the International Women’s Health Coalition for eight years – focusing on sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and child marriage, as well as U.S. government actions in international fora related to these issues. Prior to forming Good Works Group consulting (which has also worked on women’s health and rights issues for NFPRHA, UNFPA and on microbicides), Marshall worked in this issue area at the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Senate, United Nations Foundation, and the National Audubon Society. Marshall’s experience also includes a range of campaigns for candidates and progressive issues, primarily on public education.
Jennifer Redner, U.S. Foreign Policy
Jennifer Redner is a consultant to the International Women’s Health Coalition on U.S. foreign policy issues related to the health and rights of women and girls. Jennifer previously worked for organizations such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Population Council, and the International Center for Research on Women participating in the research and analysis of successful programs and interventions on a range of topics that include the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, gender norms, and child marriage. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and her Master of Arts in International Development with a focus on Gender and Social Policy from American University in Washington, D.C.
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