Leadership

Co-Founder, President

In 2017, while exploring my family history, I unexpectedly discovered that I am an NPE. That life-changing experience deepened my understanding of identity, belonging, grief, and resilience, and inspired me to dedicate much of my time to supporting others navigating similar journeys.

My commitment to service extends beyond my academic and professional pursuits. I founded a supportive online Facebook community for NPEs and regularly facilitate trauma-aware, healing-centered Zoom support meetings for Adopted folks, Donor Conceived Individuals, Late Discovery Adopted folks, and fellow NPEs. Creating compassionate spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered in their healing is at the heart of my work. Advocacy and social justice remain core values, and I continue to engage in nonprofit initiatives that foster connection, equity, and community care.

Professionally, I am a Licensed Social Worker and high school special educator specializing in supporting students navigating emotional regulation and behavioral challenges through trauma-informed, healing-centered approaches. My work emphasizes relationship-building, restorative practices, and the implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Family Systems approaches to help students and clients cultivate emotional safety, self-awareness, resilience, and healthy interpersonal connections.

I am also a certified Reiki practitioner, a 500-hour Yoga Teacher through Breathe for Change, and earned my MSW from Rutgers School of Social Work. My work across education, wellness, and advocacy reflects my belief in the power of healing-centered engagement and holistic support for individuals and communities.

In addition, I am proud to be a contributing author in the anthology Relative Strangers, which explores stories of identity, family discovery, loss, and belonging.

I make my home at the beautiful Jersey Shore with my wonderful husband. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my adult children, reading, yoga, meditation, and binge-watching crime TV.

Co-Founder, Chief Financial Officer

I was taken from my family of origin at three months old, an experience that has profoundly shaped my identity and life’s work. From a young age, I felt a strong pull to uncover my roots and understand the truth of my beginnings. At 18, when I requested my original birth records, I was met with sealed files and systemic silence—a struggle shared by countless trafficked and taken individuals.

This experience sparked my lifelong commitment to advocacy. Over the years, I’ve worked to raise awareness about the enduring impact of separation, promote family preservation, and expose the deep flaws within the system that profits from taking children. My work has evolved from advocacy to calling for the complete abolition of this exploitative industry.

With the rise of DNA testing, I became a search angel, helping others reconnect with their biological families. I am especially devoted to assisting Amerasian individuals in identifying their American GI birth fathers—work rooted in justice, restoration, and truth.

Outside of my advocacy, I’ve been married for 33 years and together with my husband have raised three remarkable adult children. Today, my greatest joy comes from spending time with our four grandchildren. I also enjoy genealogy research, reading, relaxing by the water, and the occasional shopping trip.

Secretary

Spotting a sale display in WalMart for 23andMe, I thought it would be fun and exciting to do DNA testing. At that point I had spent the past 25 or so years building a family tree and figured that DNA testing may help fill some of the gaps. I never expected it was going to provide me with jigsaw puzzle pieces I never knew I was missing, including identifying a father I didn't know. When the results came through in March 2018, I excitedly found out I was nearly 100% Italian....but then realized half of me was missing...I did not have any Irish heritage from my father (and I knew he wasn't Italian). On my quest to uncover the truths, I soon discovered a few other familiar NPEs and adoptees (LDAs) and aided them on their journeys, each with their own unique story. I am grateful for the amazing support of an additional family I discovered along the way, my fellow NPEs and Adoptees within the HHH community. While born and raised in New York City, I now call New Jersey my home (although I work in New York City). Professionally I work in higher education administration managing the global business operations for a large university with programs in 10+ countries and growing; and in my role I sit on various educational boards. I am often traveling globally which has enabled me to visit ancestral places and continue to build upon my family history. I hold a Doctor in Education (Higher Education Administration) degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelors in Business Administration from St John's University. When I am not working or searching for family history, I am hanging with Carter and Dixie, my rescued dogs.