Our Team

Governance Structure

Our ultimate goal for Havenly is to cultivate individual and collective leadership among refugee and immigrant women and create opportunities for them to transform their communities. We recognize this with how we distribute power within our own organization. That is why we've created a structure for our organization that puts decision making power and leadership positions in the hands of women from the community we serve. Primarily, our fellows.

Havenly is a member-based organization. Members are alumni of the fellowship that have elected to take on a leadership role in the organization, and have the power to vote the chief staff and Board Members in and out of the organization.

Havenly's staff is directed by two co-directors, not one. They make strategic decisions together and oversee different aspects of the organization.

Havenly is governed by a Board of Directors and four committees, who together advise and supervise the staff.

We aim for 51% of all committee member seats to be filled by refugee and immigrant women from low-income backgrounds, so that the organization is meaningfully directed by people who come from the community that Havenly was created for.

Leadership 

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    Caterina Passoni

    Co-Executive Director, Organizational Growth and Learning

    Caterina is from Trieste, Italy, and has worked in refugee resettlement and researched the experience of Muslim female refugees in the US and Europe. She speaks Arabic, French and Spanish and has worked for Human Rights Watch Amman and in refugee education in Morocco. Caterina was an entrepreneur fellow with Collab and the Tsai Center for Innovation at Yale. She co-founded Havenly in 2018 and has a BA in Ethics, Politics and Economics from Yale University and an MA in participatory social change from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex. 

  • Denisse Cruz

    Mission Consultant

    Alumni: Co-Executive Director

    Denisse is an indigenous woman from Oaxaca, Mexico. She graduated from Cohort 5 and has since been heading our alumni engagement committee, speaking at graduation about engagement opportunities and creating materials to make sure alumni come to events. She also teaches a personal development and violence awareness workshop during the fellowship. She has a Ba in Psychology and a Masters in Anthropology, with a focus on women survivors of violence. She is the founder of Life Coaching Services as well as of Red Sin Fronteras, a non-profit network of support for indigenous survivors of violence across Connecticut and Oaxaca, Mexico.

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    Nuha Ibrahim

    Fellowship Director

    My name is Nuha, and I am pleased to join the Havenly team! I’m here at Havenly because my purpose in life is to help. I learned to help others and to be a caretaker being the oldest of 6 siblings, and also now being the mother of three sons. Right now, I am studying Social and Criminal Justice at Gateway Community College, and I will soon study at SCSU. My dream is to be able to help all people in the world to live lives of dignity with full rights.

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    Joan Omole

    Apprenticeship Specialist

    Joan Omole is a seasoned education professional with over 15 years of leadership in school management, curriculum development, and educator training. She is passionate about creating engaging and inclusive learning environments and has a proven track record of driving institutional growth through strategic partnerships and innovative program design. Joan’s experience spans diverse educational settings and age groups, enabling her to tailor her approach to meet the unique needs of both learners and educators. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity, quality, and continuous improvement in education. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from Abia State University, Nigeria, and a Master’s in Education from the University of Nottingham, UK. A proud Commonwealth Fellow, Joan is recognized for her dedication to academic excellence and her contributions to global education systems.

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    Ashley Makar

    Grant Writer and Community Care Coordinator

    Ashley has 10 years experience working with refugees, and she's ecstatic to be learning, growing, and visioning with the women of Havenly. Ashley is a writer, with roots in Egypt and Alabama. She studied practical theology at Yale Divinity School and has spiritual care experience in hospitals, working with patients of all faiths and no faith tradition. Ashley is so glad to be listening, imagining, and hoping with the Havenly community.

Board of Directors

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    Benjamin M. Haldeman

    Chair of the Board of Directors

    Ben is an immigration attorney who has stood beside our fellows. Through his work with the New Haven Legal Assistance Association, he has helped women navigate complex immigration cases, often the biggest barrier to safety and stability. 

  • Armela Toro Waters

    Vice Chair of the Board

    Armela is an Organizational Development Consultant and Emotional Intelligence Transformation Partner dedicated to co-creating high-trust, psychologically safe, and inclusive environments. Co-creator of the Six Dimensions of Inclusion Assessment, she brings a deep expertise in human-centered leadership, equity, and whole-system change. As Vice Chair of the Board, Armela helps shape Havenly’s strategic vision, fostering sustainable growth and community empowerment rooted in collective well-being.

  • Eileen Scully 

     Board of Directors, Fundraising and Public Relations Committee,

    Eileen promotes impactful communication strategies, elevating organizational visibility, and championing key donor engagement initiatives. Eileen is an author, international speaker, TEDx speaker, and the Founder and CEO of The Rising Tides, an initiative dedicated to making workplaces better for women. Her extensive experience in executive consulting, workplace equity, and community leadership brings invaluable expertise and strategic direction to the mission.

  • Grisel Aguilar

    Board of Directors and its Women’s Services and Domestic Violence Committee

    Grisel brings a strong background as a family advocate and community organizer across healthcare, education, and politics. Drawing from her experience as a former NAMI board member and an active volunteer with the Yale Cancer Center, Grisel leverages her perspective as an immigrant, Latina woman alongside her native Spanish proficiency and deep cultural fluency to effectively engage diverse communities and incorporate new key stakeholders. Her commitment to empowering the next generation and advocating for families of individuals with disabilities enhances Havenly’s mission, ensuring inclusive, strategic, and human-centered representation in support of women's safety and well-being.   

  • Josa Contreras

    Board of Directors – Finance Committee Member

    Driven by a deep commitment Josa brings a wealth of resilience, administrative experience, and passion to the Havenly community. 

    Since joining Havenly, Josa earned a certification in bookkeeping, launched her business Connecticut Total Cleaning.

    As a member of the Finance Committee and the Red Financiera Femenina Havenly, Josabeth leverages her financial expertise and lived experience to advocate for economic empowerment and help immigrant women build lasting financial independence.

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    Sandra Trigueros

    Board of Directors at Havenly and the Women’s Safety Committee, 

    Sandra brings strong leadership, personal vision, and deep community commitment to her roles. An alumna of Havenly and the entrepreneur behind her restaurant, La Cocina de Sandra, she combines her firsthand experience and business skills to advocate for women’s empowerment, safety, and financial independence. Through her governance and oversight, Sandra actively works to build inclusive, secure environments where women are equipped to thrive both personally and professionally.

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    Rocio Torres

    Board of Directors and a key contributor to the Finance Committee. 

    Her inspiring journey—from graduating from the Havenly program and working as a kitchen assistant to co-founding the successful Pizzeria Venecia with her husband—brings indispensable hands-on business experience to the board. Leveraging her deep operational knowledge, perseverance, and dedication to the community, Rocío actively oversees financial planning and resource allocation to ensure the organization's sustainable growth

Board Advisors

  • Teresa Chahine 

    Havenly’s Board of Advisor

    Teresa Chahine brings extensive expertise in social entrepreneurship, public health innovation, and venture philanthropy to Havenly's Board of Directors. As a Senior Lecturer at the Yale School of Management, she has long collaborated with local social enterprises to build community power and opportunity for refugee and migrant women. Her strategic guidance, deep commitment to systemic change, and experience in empowering marginalized populations through education and job creation make her an invaluable asset in advancing Havenly's mission and driving sustainable social impact.

  • Camila Guiza Chavez

    Havenly’s Board of Advisor

    Camila is an organizer, community builder and educator with experience organizing with communities in New Haven. Camila was part of the founding team of Havenly in 2019, and served as Mission Director for five years, creating the English curriculum and theory of change around building community power. Camila has a BA in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration from Yale University and is currently pursuing a PhD in American Studies at the University of Southern California.

  • Arisa Marshall

    Havenly’s Board of Advisor

    Rei M. (Rei Marshall) brings a strong background in public health policy, healthcare strategy, and governance to her advisory role on the board at Havenly. Drawing on her dual-degree graduate studies (MPH/MBA) at Yale University, she combines rigorous analytical strategy with a deep commitment to equity, social justice, and community-centered care. Her strategic expertise and background in qualitative health research make her a key asset in guiding organizational growth, policy oversight, and impactful community initiatives.

  • Andrew Frye

    Havenly’s Board of Advisor

    Andrew Bringing a strong background in financial analysis, market research, and strategic technology initiatives, Andrew’s insights will be invaluable as we continue to scale and refine our platform. Currently pursuing his MBA at the Yale School of Management following a successful tenure as Senior Analyst at Shaker Investments, he brings a unique combination of analytical rigor, passion for innovation, and forward-thinking vision. We are excited to collaborate with Andrew as we drive Havenly’s next chapter of growth and strategic expansion.