Board of Directors

Jean Greaves, P.h.D.

Chairperson

Paula Herring, E.d.D., M.B.A.

Fund Development Committee Chair

Elizabeth A. Lopez, Attorney at Law

Secretary

Michael J. McKay, S.T.D

Governance Committee Chair

Loren Tarmo, C.P.A.

Chief Financial Officer / Finance Committee Chair

Pooja R. Dadhania, Esq.

Bridget de la Garza, MA

Marcia H. Yafuso Loeffelholz, Esq.

Queta Rodriguez Bauer

Mojgan Khademi

Our Board Emeritus Society

Dee Aker, PhD
Kathi Anderson, MA, Co-Founder
Cheri Attix, Esq
Jeanette Barrack, RPT
Mark Berger
Rev. George Falk, Co-Founder
Mel Kieschnick, PhD
Elizabeth Michel, MD
Rev. Bill Radatz, Co-Founder
Darryl Solberg, Esq.

Meet Our Staff Members

Etleva Bejko

Executive Director

Mahvash Alami, Ph.D.

Program Manager

Maya Aguilar

Accounting Clerk

Safi Ahmed, MPH, MD

Medical Director

Clint Carney, J.D.

Government Affairs Manager

Katie Case

Grants Manager

Cristina De La Torre

Data Quality and Evaluation Manager

Nance Lovell, MSW

Senior Mental Health Specialist

Allison Metcalf, MSW

Senior Mental Health Specialist

Heather Rayback, MNM

Finance Manager

Scott Williford, MBA

Senior Development Manager

Lola Sherman

Clinical Case Manager

Mary Joy Cunningham

Program Coordinator

Henok Getaneh

Peer Support Specialist

Janie Burke, RN BSN

Development Communications Coordinator

Dara Esparza

Clinical Case Manager

Saúl Cruz

Clinical Case Manager

Nasreen Nabizadeh, MPH

Clinical Case Manager

Anny Nguyen, MSW

Office Manager

Heather Serafin, MSW

Mental Health Care Coordinator

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Survivors of Torture, International • PO Box 371104 San Diego CA 92137 • [email protected] • 619-278-2400 •
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9AM - 7PM; Walk-In Hours: Wednesday 9-6PM, Thursday 2-6PM, and Friday 9-12PM

Jean Greaves, P.h.D. / Chairperson

Survivors of Torture, International co-founder Kathi Anderson referred me to my first job out of college back in the mid-80s with the International Rescue Committee in San Jose, California. Refugee resettlement work remained in my heart and, twenty-five years later, I discovered that Kathi was the vision behind Survivors of Torture, International in San Diego. She and her co-founders identified the need for medical and psychological services for San Diegans living with the trauma from torture in their home countries. We reconnected and I began volunteering on the finance committee and special projects as requested. I believe that investing in a safe, new beginning for survivors in San Diego will create a welcoming community that looks after one another. Let’s ensure that the trauma from torture ends with this generation of survivors in our schools, workplaces and neighborhoods. The journey to healing begins here at no cost to survivors.

Jean Greaves, Ph.D., is co-author of several books and assessments on emotional intelligence. Previously, she was CEO and co-founder of TalentSmart, Inc., Director of Workforce Planning for Sharp HealthCare and Consultant with Workforce Development Solutions. She joined the board in 2017 and currently serves as board chairperson.

Paula Herring, E.d.D., M.B.A. / Fund Development Committee Chair

Spending my first 25 years in Minnesota-Iowa allowed the opportunity to be a part of a community welcoming Hmong and Laotian refugees arriving to the US, seeking safety and a new life. This is my first memory of meeting a large population of people re-settling in a new home, a home where they did not know their neighbors, the language, the culture, or the landscape.

Working with an orphanage in post-genocide Rwanda allowed for continued glimpses into the lives of those in need of community, seeking survival and safety. Field research allowed for me to interview business women in Rwanda, where I listened to stories about the spirit of motivation and how pain brings reconciliation and the power to forgive.

Studying poverty and hunger in Nicaragua led me to the meeting of co-traveler Bill Radatz, who shared the mission of SURVIVORS with me in 2001. I served on the board from 2001-2003 and returned in 2017. Being a part of the SURVIVORS team allows for me to continue to learn and hear stories from those who persevere beyond unimaginable circumstances to join and lead in this San Diego community, a community of which I am proud to be a part.

Paula Herring, EdD is Faculty Chair and Professor at DeVry University, where she has taught and led faculty and students for 18 years. Her professional background is in education and international business and she also serves on the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) board. She earned her doctorate from Fielding Graduate University in Leadership and Social Justice and was awarded a dissertation research grant from the Women’s Network of Gender Empowerment (WNGE). The Institute for Social Innovation Scholarship awarded her a Dissertation Topic and Research Award for her research about Rwandan women. Additional research, publications, and speaking engagements include the topics of inclusivity, entrepreneurship, human rights, and emerging economies.

Elizabeth A. Lopez, Attorney at Law / Secretary

I have been a pro bono immigration attorney in San Diego since 2008, representing asylum seekers. Two of the most important pieces of evidence to help these cases are the forensic medical exam and a psychological exam that substantiates the torture that the asylum seeker has suffered. My clients can’t afford doctors to do these exams and Survivors of Torture, International is the only place where the physicians and psychologists are trained on how to gather valid evidence as well as document it appropriately. SURVIVORS provides these services at no cost to the asylum seeker. SURVIVORS can be the difference between asylum seekers getting a new chance at life or return to a future of continued persecution. In 2015, I began a non-profit organization called Southern California Immigration Project. I was so happy to continue my relationship with SURVIVORS in 2016 as a board member. Everyone I have ever worked with at SURVIVORS has shared my passion for not only providing the best services to these vulnerable, traumatized immigrants, but treating them with compassion and dignity as well. I am proud to be associated with this organization, which is helping our immigrant brothers and sisters heal.

Ms. Lopez is the executive director and founder of the Southern California Immigration Project, which is dedicated to providing pro bono and low bono legal services to victims of human and civil rights violations. The organization also educates the public about Female Genital Mutilation, a global health issue that can have devastating physical, psychological and social consequences for women and girls. In the past, she has acted as the Pro Bono Director and Asylum Director of Casa Cornelia Law Center. She earned her B.A. from the University of Southern California, her J.D. from the Western School of Law, and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1989. Elizabeth received the KPBS Community Hero Award in 2017 and the Peacemaker Award from the National Conflict Resolution Center in 2018.

Michael J. McKay, S.T.D, Governance Committee Chair

For 15 years through June of 2015, it was my privilege to serve as the Director of Refugee Services at Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego. During this time, I interacted regularly with the staff of Survivors of Torture, International, co-founded and led by Kathi Anderson. Survivors of Torture, International was our preferred provider of mental health services for our resettlement clients – refugees, asylees and victims of trafficking, who exhibited symptoms of being torture survivors. Kathi and her staff could not have been more professional or effective with our clients and case managers. We regularly turned to SURVIVORS for training and counsel on how to perform appropriate trauma-informed services.

Michael McKay is currently a lecturer at the Rady School of Management, UCSD, and teaches classes on personal ethics at work and managing diverse teams. He obtained a Doctorate of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from The Catholic University of America and is committed professionally to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. He joined SURVIVORS’ board in 2016 and serves as the Governance Committee chair.

Loren Tarmo, C.P.A. / Chief Financial Officer / Finance Committee Chair

n 2017, I was elated to hear that the SURVIVORS’ Finance Committee needed an additional member. Philanthropic work and community involvement have always been highly prioritized by my family, whose extended members include World War II victims. It was this connection that drew me to this organization and its honorable efforts assisting those who escaped torture in their homeland.

SURVIVORS’ participants and I are connected by our pasts, yet we work together with a focus on the future. I consider myself truly blessed to work with such an incredible organization and team, and I am thankful to use my experience in finance and accounting to help those in need.

Mr. Tarmo is a Certified Public Accountant with 20 years of experience. He earned his B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a Master’s in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Loren started his career in public accounting and is proud to have been able to steer his career into the health services arena. He currently serves as CFO for PatientSafe Solutions in San Diego, CA. Loren began serving Survivors of Torture, International in early 2017 as a member of the finance committee and joined the board in 2018. He continues to serve as Chair of the Finance Committee and CFO of the organization.

Pooja R. Dadhania, Esq.

Having worked as a pro bono immigration attorney representing survivors of torture, I understand the invaluable nature of the services that Survivors of Torture, International provides to survivors of torture in our community. It offers forensic medical and psychological evaluations that noncitizens can use as evidence in their immigration cases to secure lawful status in the United States. However, lawful status is just the beginning in a long journey of healing. Where I practiced outside of San Diego, I saw a gap in services—noncitizens received litigation support but not long-term counseling to help them rebuild their lives after torture. Survivors of Torture, International fills this gap in San Diego by providing much-needed longer-term therapy to help noncitizens and their families continue their journeys of healing. Such therapy can be the key to ensuring that survivors of torture and their families thrive after gaining immigration status. I feel honored to be a part of Survivors of Torture, International and the community of healing it has been forging in San Diego.

Pooja Dadhania is an Assistant Professor of Law at California Western School of Law where she teaches courses in asylum and refugee law and civil procedure. Prior to this position, she was a supervising attorney and teaching fellow at Georgetown University Law Center where she supervised students representing survivors of persecution and torture in immigration court. She previously was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles where she represented survivors of gender-based violence in immigration and family law matters. She has also served as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Pooja received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, and B.A. with high distinction from the University of Virginia. She is admitted to practice law in the state of California.

Bridget de la Garza

When tasked with coordinating services for school-aged refugee children and youth in San Diego schools, I quickly realized the depth of the trauma and the breath of the resilience of refugee children and families. I also realized the value of schools and community organizations working together to support newcomer students and their families. After participating in a tour of Survivors of Torture, International and meeting with the highly qualified staff, it was clear that there was an opportunity for a partnership allowing school staff to learn from SURVIVORS experts on working with newcomer children impacted by trauma. I joined the board in 2018, and it is my honor to serve the organization in its mission of healing.

Ms. de la Garza is an Education Specialist with San Diego Unified School District and adjunct faculty with National University. She began her career teaching adolescents in a psychiatric hospital in New York. After moving to San Diego, Bridget held various teaching positions including coaching beginning teachers and supporting educational programs for foster, homeless, and refugee students. She earned her B.S. from Syracuse University and M.A. from San Diego State University. Bridget is a former officer of the San Diego Refugee Forum.

Marcia H. Yafuso Loeffelholz, Esq.

I have always been drawn to nonprofits and their ability to change the course of one’s life and promote healing. When I first met Kathi Anderson, I was captivated by her passion and professionalism. I was also moved by SOTI’s mission of giving victims of torture the opportunity of a new beginning in this country, treating each of them and their families with respect and dignity.

When I was ready to volunteer and give back to the community, I did not have to look elsewhere. SOTI’s role during the transition of newcomers is so vital to acclimate them to a new environment, by providing services, support, and nurturing relationships that will equip them with the tools to thrive.

Márcia Yafuso Loeffelholz is a senior partner at Hecht Solberg. She is originally from São Paulo, Brazil and has adopted San Diego as home since 2003. Márcia joined the Board of Directors of SOTI in July 2021 and serves in the Governance Committee.

Queta Rodriguez Bauer

My passion for human rights could be said to have begun in 1968, when I barely missed getting into the middle of the massacre of Tlatelolco in Mexico City. That passion only grew after learning about my late in-laws’ experiences escaping Hitler and arriving as refugees in the US, and then meeting a woman who had been active in the German resistance and who had co-founded the German section of Amnesty International. That in turn inspired me to join Amnesty, for which I eventually served on the board and where I met Kathi Anderson. My friendship with Kathi has continued since then; I would get together with her on my frequent trips to San Diego on my way to visiting my family in Ensenada, and that is how I became acquainted with the wonderful work that SURVIVORS does on behalf of refugees. Last year I asked to join the SURVIVORS board and am honored to have been accepted.

Queta is a retired strategic communications professional. In 2000 she founded Cultural Communications, LLC, a multicultural communications consulting firm specializing in not-for-profit community outreach. Her clients included the City of Chicago, Head Start, and the Illinois Child Trauma Coalition (for which she volunteered after serving as a consultant). The firm received many awards, including a Gold Quill Award of Excellence (highest international award) as well as Silver and Bronze awards, all from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), and two Golden Trumpet Awards from the Publicity Club of Chicago.

Queta has a BA from DePaul University and a MS in Communication from Northwestern University. In 2009 she became the first Latina in Chicago to earn an ABC accreditation (Accredited Business Communicator) from the IABC.

Queta has served on numerous non-profit boards, including Amnesty International USA, Chicago Foundation for Women, Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force (now Equal Hope), Publicity Club of Chicago, Community Media Workshop (now Public Narrative), and Sones de Mexico Ensemble. Born in Mexico City, she has lived in New York and Paris and has settled in Chicago with her multicultural family.

Mojgan Khademi

My involvement with Survivors of Torture International goes back to the early 2000s when I provided clinical services and expert testimony in immigration court for the organization. The mission of the organization as well as the dedication of the staff made a lasting impression, and I am excited to resume my involvement with Survivors.

Mojgan Khademi, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist (CA license # PSY15300) and a psychoanalyst, fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis. She was the recipient of the Recipient of the 2015 Edith Sabshin Teaching Award given by the American Psychoanalytic Association in recognition of outstanding contributions as an educator. Mojgan has a private practice and is the director of the PsyD doctoral department at California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University. She is the founder and director of the Center for Applied Psychology & Services (CAPS) on the CSPP San Diego campus, providing low-cost psychotherapy to the San Diego community and active member of the National Conference for Community and Justice dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry, and racism through education, advocacy, and conflict resolution. Her prior experience includes the Tehran Psychoanalytic Institute in Iran, where she served as a teacher and clinical supervisor. Mojgan served as clinical network member for SURVIVORS from 2000-2007, and joined SURVIVORS as a board member in November of 2022.

Etleva Bejko, Executive Director

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.

Mahvash Alami, Ph.D., Program Manager

“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.