Co-Founder, President

In 2017, I unexpectedly discovered that I am an NPE (Not Parent Expected) while delving into my family history. Since then, I've devoted much of my time to assisting others in their quests to find family connections, serving as a search angel.

My dedication to service extends beyond my academic pursuits. I've established a supportive online community for NPEs on Facebook and regularly facilitate Zoom meetings, as well as a weekly book club tailored to Adoptees, Donor Conceived Individuals, Late Discovery Adoptees, and fellow NPEs. Advocating for social justice is a core value of mine, and I actively engage in nonprofit work within my community.

In addition to my academic and nonprofit endeavors, I am deeply invested in education as a high school special educator. My focus lies in supporting students who navigate emotional regulation challenges, utilizing trauma-informed approaches, and implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Schools. I am a certified Reiki practitioner, 500 RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) through Breathe for Change, and currently, I am pursuing MSW at Rutgers School of Social Work.

I make my home at the beautiful Jersey Shore, where I share my life with my wonderful husband, three sons, and our beloved pup, Cooper. When I manage to carve out spare time, I indulge in my passions for 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 three 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.