Scholars

Anna Rountree brings over a decade of experience in international affairs, women’s and children’s rights, and mental health. Anna’s expertise lies in developing large-scale programs and campaigns that create opportunities for underrepresented populations. As Director of Communications at Clubhouse International, Anna plays a crucial role in amplifying the organization’s impact on individuals living with mental illness and driving engagement by developing and overseeing campaign strategy and tactics. In her prior Development roles at Clubhouse International, Anna used her interpersonal and writing skills to develop initiatives that grew constituency, helped meet financial goals, and influenced stakeholders. Anna’s focus on a rights-based approach has been instrumental in strengthening the impact of the Clubhouse network. On the Advisory Board of ECHO, Anna helps to build global capacity for emergency medicine, and on the Clubhouse Racial Justice Committee, Anna addresses inequities experienced by people of color living with mental illness. Anna edited the Governance and Rights Framework for the International Rescue Committee; prepared analytical reports for the General Assembly and Security Council, helping to secure passage of resolutions; and scrutinized policing of poorer communities as Associate Producer at CBS. Anna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, double minoring in French and International Affairs from Binghamton University, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from The New School. Anna’s practicum, Bridging the Gaps: Implementation of Comprehensive Abortion Care in Ethiopia, inspired much of her subsequent focus on the voiceless. Anna loves to travel, read, and meet people. She is committed to promoting the voice of underrepresented populations.

Brittany is a business development and grant management professional who has spent her career fundraising and advocating for vulnerable children and their families. The bilateral and cross-sectoral partnerships she has facilitated among large foundations, the U.S. government, and NGOs have driven sustainable impact through solutions in early childhood development, youth skill building, economic opportunity, health and nutrition, and education. Brittany has supported the development and growth of the foundation and corporate relations at SOS Children’s Villages-USA where she builds partnerships with US foundations and corporations and connects them with the program teams in 136 countries where SOS implements robust development projects. Before this role, Brittany worked at ChildFund International where she managed a donor portfolio of distinguished institutional funders supporting initiatives in 13 countries across the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Starting her career on Capitol Hill, Brittany left the U.S. five years later to work abroad in Hunan, China. When she returned two years later, she took a position advocating for children in the state of California before transitioning to the international development sector. As a foster parent in Richmond, Virginia, Brittany is living the SOS mission every day supporting and advocating for youth in her community. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations focused on World Politics and Policy.

Lisa Henry is a humanitarian leader who has worked for the past 25 years in humanitarian response, support to civil society organizations, and human rights work. Lisa’s experience stretches from the Rwandan genocide, the Balkans War, the Ethiopian famine, and the Haiti earthquake. The response was always organized through the input and opinions of local or national organizations and leaders. Affected populations and lived experience are valuable elements in a well-functioning team that relies on strict adherence to human rights. Lisa’s strength is understanding, spotting, and motivating the best response from her team members, while convincing external stakeholders to understand and believe in the results generated.

Maegan Clark has 10 years of experience in Digital Media, Marketing, and Advertising. Clark earned a Bachelor of Communication degree with an emphasis in Public Relations from Arkansas State University and a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. For the last 10 years, she has worked at Heifer International growing her position from an Internet Marketing Specialist to now the Director of Digital Media. She is passionate about using her education and experience to bring awareness to the mass marketing consumer about how they can live a sustainable life while helping to end hunger. While working full-time for Heifer International, Clark also volunteers with her local Junior League of Little Rock promoting volunteerism and community-focused campaigns.

Nerissa Taylor has nearly a decade of experience leading nonprofits to achieve their mission through strategic partnership building. She currently serves as Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving at Fountain House, a nonprofit based in NYC, focused on improving health, increasing opportunity, and reducing social & economic isolation for people living with serious mental illness. Previous to joining Fountain House, Nerissa was the lead philanthropy officer at the American Red Cross in New York. Nerissa spent several years working in Washington, DC. Nerissa joined the foundation arm of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) as Corporate Relations Officer. Nerissa spent nearly four years building a corporate engagement program from the ground up. Previous to this she spent three years at the National League of Cities, an organization focused on improving the lives of constituents by bringing together local elected officials. While on the Strategic Partnerships team she led strategic partnership building and multi-year partnerships between NLC, the private sector industry, and local government. Nerissa’s passion for public-private partnership building stems from her first role at the Clinton Global Initiative where she learned first-hand of the impact of bringing together the private and public sectors to create impactful social change. She is incredibly excited to be part of the Fountain House team during this critical time where the impacts of COVID-19, racial and social injustice, and social isolation have spurred national and global conversation around destigmatizing mental health. Nerissa is a graduate of Wellesley College.

Nicole Tomita has seven years of experience in the nonprofit communications and marketing sector. Nicole earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/International Relations at Carleton College. She has managed the digital media at Landesa, a Seattle-based INGO working with governments and other partners to strengthen land rights for millions of people experiencing poverty in rural areas around the globe. Nicole’s work focuses on crafting and executing the digital media strategy to promote the organization and elevate the issue of land rights. Prior to Landesa, Nicole managed the visual and performing arts youth programs at a local arts education nonprofit, in addition to marketing the public performing arts events series. She developed her communications and graphic design skills while working for Epic Arts, an inclusive arts organization serving people with physical and intellectual disabilities in Kampot, Cambodia. Nicole came across Epic Arts while completing her Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a year-long grant for purposeful, independent exploration outside the United States. Her project explored how disabilities are perceived in different cultures through the lens of sport, and how that affects access & opportunity in Ecuador, Morocco, Namibia, and Cambodia. Throughout her nonprofit career ranging from inclusive education and sports to social justice through legal land rights, Nicole has developed skills in communications, photography, graphic and web design, project management, and more. She is passionate about working to increase equitable access to empowering opportunities for people that are marginalized.