Meet Our Staff Members

Etleva is a highly respected immigration services leader with over 20 years of experience in the field. Throughout her career, she has responded to humanitarian crises, rallied community groups, and built programs and teams that have served generations of refugees and immigrants throughout the San Diego County.

Being a native of Albania, the arrival of ethnic Albanians fleeing Kosovo due to ethnic cleansing in the late ‘90s, presented her with the first opportunity to assist the refugee community in San Diego. Etleva began working with the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement team in 1999. This role led her to join Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) in 2005 and progress in her responsibilities, most recently as the Director of Refugee Services.

After 20 years, Etleva is a leader with an in-depth understanding of client engagement, strategic management and operations, and overall grants management. Throughout her professional career, Etleva has worked closely with local and federal partners to address the barriers immigrant populations face and collaboratively improve their health, safety, and overall well-being. She has developed successful strategies for providing services to clients, while representing them and the organization in the community. She has built and maintained partnerships with various stakeholders across the County to ensure genuine immigrant and refugee equity and integration.

During the border crisis of 2018, Etleva was a key leader in coordinating what is now an official migrant shelter, serving released asylum seekers and reuniting them with their families. As asylum seekers were detained and then released without coordination, leaving them stranded in San Diego with no resources, the need for a shelter grew overnight. Etleva began work on the ground, building systems to manage the influx of needy individuals, all while securing the resources required to support the newcomers.

Etleva completed her undergraduate studies in Albania, and in December 2022, she will complete a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego.

“I joined SURVIVORS to provide care to newcomers who have limited access to services.  Being raised in Iran and experiencing the challenges of adapting to western culture first-hand, I relate to our clients who come from different parts of the world, especially from Middle Eastern countries. I am moved by the great resilience I have seen from clients who have gone through severe trauma yet continue to show motivation towards achieving their goals and creating a new, safe home for themselves and their families, despite limited resources.”

Dr. Mahvash Alami joined Survivors of Torture, International in May 2011 to oversee the holistic, strength-based, recovery-oriented service program. She leads all ongoing development, expansion, and enhancement of client service programs and provides agency leadership with other members of SURVIVORS’ management team. She received her Ph.D. in psychology from Alliant International University and obtained her license as a psychologist in July 2004. She completed her domestic violence certificate in 2004 and has been providing treatment to survivors of torture for the past 20 years. She has experience working in crisis environments, in-patient psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient programs. She also has over 8 years experience overseas working as academic staff at a medical school teaching psychology to medical students and nursing students.  In addition, she obtained her certification in Psycho-Social Rehabilitation (PSR) in 2002 and holds a certificate in LGBTQ and geriatric mental health.  She has completed TF-CB (Trauma focus cognitive behavioral therapy) training, a conjoint child and parent psychotherapy approach for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events.  She has private practice experience working with survivors of torture. She is bilingual and speaks Farsi (Persian). She has been a member of the San Diego Psychological Association.

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“Working with Survivors of Torture, International is an incredible opportunity to provide hope and healing to strong and resilient torture survivors from around the world. It’s very meaningful work and I’m grateful to be part of this team.”

Clint has worked in government and public affairs positions in San Diego for more than 20 years. As the government affairs manager for Survivors of Torture, International, he will help develop and maintain relationships with local, state and federal government officials, NGOs, international organizations, other trauma service providers and community partners. Clint has supported survivors of severe trauma for more than a decade, and has also supported refugee health services and paramedics in Tijuana, Mexico. He also has consistently served on the board of directors of a number of local non-profits and community organizations for more than 24 years. Clint has a B.A in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Katie is honored to have joined the SURVIVORS team and be a part of the valuable services, trauma-informed care, and social advocacy that makes such significant impact on the lives and well being of our clients and their families in San Diego. “I am inspired everyday by the strength of our clients and our staff here at SURVIVORS, it is a place of healing and empowerment and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community.”

Determined to make meaningful change in the lives of others, I feel privileged to be a part of the SURVIVORS team. I am motivated daily working alongside such dedicated and caring team members to help clients recover and reclaim agency over their lives. It is an honor to work for an organization that survivors and their family members turn to and trust to help them heal.

Cristina De La Torre joined SURVIVORS as their Data Quality and Evaluation Manager in 2021. Using her data mindset and skill set, she manages, analyzes, and reports on data to help demonstrate outcomes and continuously improve services. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and International Studies from Northwestern University where she discovered the power of data while working as a research assistant for a child development psychology lab. In college, Cristina also served as an AmeriCorps member to help preschool students from under-resourced communities build language, literacy, and social-emotional skills. Most recently, she worked as a data and evaluation consultant with various community-based nonprofits serving youth and families across the Denver metro area. Born and raised in the border city of El Paso, TX, Cristina has always believed in the importance of protecting refugee and asylum seekers’ rights and is proud to continue championing that cause with SURVIVORS.

“It is deeply inspiring to serve torture survivors from around the world who live in our community. I have the honor to meet with courageous leaders, humble farmers, parents and children, social justice warriors, scholars and pre-literate persons alike, who are teaching me the responsibility and privilege to stand up for human rights, the avenues for healing and well-being, and finding peace. This work is challenging and yet incredibly rewarding. Our clients restore my hope.”

Nance joined Survivors of Torture, International in September 2018. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from SDSU, and a B.A. in Behavioral Science/Psychology from CUI. Her previous employment includes Co-founder and Social worker for Going Home, an end-of-life program for homeless men and women with T.A.C.O.; Therapist and Student Advocate at O’Farrell Community School; Pastoral Assistant at a Lutheran Church; Therapist at Family Service Association; and Protective Services Worker for the Children’s Services Bureau.

“I received my Masters through a Jesuit University.  One of the primary Jesuit values they teach is cura personalis, which is a Latin phrase meaning to care for the entire person.  This implies a dedication to the promotion of human dignity and care for the mind, body, and soul.  Of all the Jesuit values, this is my favorite because it perfectly aligned with my own values and was the perfect explanation of my passion for working in the nonprofit sector.  SURVIVORS is such a great organization which practices cura personalis in their daily activities.  I am so incredibly honored and excited to work with a team of individuals who continually promotes human dignity and care of the entire person not only in their interactions with their clients and families, but also, their co-workers.”

Heather has served as SURVIVORS Finance Manager since November 2019.  She received her Master’s in Nonprofit Management through Regis University in Denver and a certificate in Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting.  Prior to joining SURVIVORS, she worked in Corporate finance and as the Deputy Director for a nonprofit working with military veterans.  She currently serves on the board for a nonprofit in San Diego encouraging the use of fitness in individuals working through a wide spectrum of challenges and trauma.  After almost two years in the corporate world, she missed feeling like she was making a difference and started looking for a nonprofit who aligned with her personal values.

Maya Aguilar believes that working with Survivors of Torture, has given her so much fulfillment and purpose, where from a Business Major, it wasn’t something she fully expected to receive when it came to helping others, until Survivors of Torture. The knowledge and the firsthand experiences she has had with clients and her work are experiences of much gratefulness. Seeing how people’s life can positivity change so drastically from the help of Survivors, is something Maya is so grateful to be a part of.

Maya joined Survivors of Torture International as the Office Manager in September 2021. A year prior joining the Survivors team, Maya graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Business Accounting. Starting from the beginning of high school to present, Maya has always been drawn to supporting different nonprofit organizations in both the U.S and Mexico. Now at Survivors Maya has had the opportunity to continue helping others and witnessing lives a change for the better.

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Henok Getaneh comes from a diverse and dynamic cultural background and experience. He studied Philosophy, Theology and he holds an MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. He worked as a Missionary, Youth Organizer, and Social Worker. His passion for working with refugees, asylum seekers and immigrant population has led him to work as a resettlement case manager assisting new arrivals to resettle in their new home. He worked as Community Organizer for the Food Justice in San Diego. He organized and advocates along with City Heights residents and ally organizations to bring a system change for students to have access to tasty, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food in all schools.

Henok currently serves as a board member for Tewodros San Diego Football Club and loves to spend his free time as an Amharic, Tigrigna, and Portuguese interpreter along with playing soccer.

Anny joined Survivors of Torture, International in 2023. In May 2022, she earned her Master of Social Work from San Diego State University with a concentration in Administration and Community Development. Through her volunteer and internships with various school sites, ACEs Connections, Mending Matters, and the County of San Diego, she has participated in a variety of direct and indirect work to support people with diverse backgrounds.

During graduate school, she took an International Social Work class and was inspired by the work her professor participated in to help those abroad. When Anny heard about SURVIVORS, she knew it was a company she wanted to be at because she believes in SURVIVORS’ Mission to Heal. She was born and raised in San Diego and strives to make her community a place where people can feel safe and have their needs met.

Allison Metcalf joined SURVIVORS as an intern while she was attending graduate school. In May 2022, she earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from San Diego State University specializing in Direct Practice with Individuals and Families. Through previous experiences working with various non-profit organizations and health organizations, she has developed the knowledge and skills necessary to work with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and who have a variety of needs. Through her work and internships with 2-1-1 San Diego, Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Salvation Army Door of Hope, she has helped others through resource navigation, trauma informed care, and case management. Allison enjoys watching others grow and thrive, and at SURVIVORS she is able to witness that happen every day.

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