OUR TEAM & PARTNERS
The EMPOWER team applies evidence-based social, emotional, cognitive and physical wellness education and activities that have been adapted according to identified needs of refugee parents, children and families.
JULIA ROSENBERG, MD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Julia Rosenberg is a co-founder of EMPOWER. As an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, she partners with community members and organizations who are working to improve access to preventive mental and behavioral health care for children and families who have been affected by immigrant and refugee experiences.
Email: julia.rosenberg@yale.edu
TRICIA MCDONOUGH RYAN, PHD
Tricia Ryan is a co-founder of EMPOWER. As a Pediatric Neuropsychologist on medical staff at Gaylord Speciality Hospital in the Center for Brain Health, she specializes in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children with a history of neurological trauma and medical conditions impacting cognitive, psychological, and social development. She also holds academic appointments at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and University of Connecticut. Her clinical and research passions are to create neuropsychological wellness interventions for underserved communities.
Email: tricia.ryan@uconn.edu
CAROLINE O'BRIEN, MS
PRIMARY CURRICULUM DEVELOPER & RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Caroline O'Brien is a co-founder of EMPOWER. As a recent graduate from Georgetown University's Integrative Neuroscience program, she is passionate about providing a program that optimizes physical, cognitive, social and emotional wellness in refugees and recently resettled individuals, while also remaining flexible to participant needs.
Email: clo36@georgetown.edu
RACHEL SCHAFFER, BSW
PRIMARY RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Rachel is entering her fourth year as a Bachelor of Social Work Student at Southern Connecticut State University. She has eight years of experience working with children of all ages, and she has worked for the past two years as the Director of Health at a non profit helping refugees called Elena’s Light. Rachel has worked on multiple research projects involving refugee children and mothers, and in the future, she hopes to pursue her clinical social work license and continue providing care for children and families.
Email: rachschaff@gmail.com
FERESHTEH GANJAVI
ELENA'S LIGHT: FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CAMILLE BROWN, MD
CONSULTANT
OUR FACILITATORS
PATRICIA RYAN-KRAUSE, MS, MSN, PCPNP-BC
Patricia is a 2020-2022 facilitator.
CATE DROOGAN
Cate is a 2022 facilitator. She is a senior at Lehigh University going the Pre PA track. This summer she facilitated the EMPOWER program to aid children with emotional development and helped generate materials including the EMPOWER website!
CHELSEA VALDEZ
Chelsea is a senior at the University of Connecticut, studying human development and family sciences with a concentration in early childhood. She is also a gerontology minor. During her time with the EMPOWER team, she created a yoga video for refugee children to use in their homes and in the classroom.
ISABELLA MANDELL
Isabella is a 2022 facilitator. Isabella is a sophomore at Brown University from New Haven, CT. She's planning on majoring in International and Public Affairs. She's also a grant writer at Elena's Light, a nonprofit in New Haven working to build brighter futures for refugee women. She also likes to bake!
JUVAUGHN LEE
Juvaughn is a 2022 facilitator. Juvaughn is a senior at the University of Connecticut, studying Psychology & Biology with the intention of graduating with two degrees. He assisted Dr. Ryan and Dr. Rosenberg in effectively demonstrating and participating in fun interactive activities, such as yoga and emotional bingo to strengthen and build healthy coping skills from an early age.
RONAHI SAEED, B.A.
Ronahi is a 2022 facilitator.
JACKSON RYAN
Jackson was a 2020 facilitator. Jackson is a senior at Haverford College, majoring in Economics with a concentration in Peace, Justice & Human Rights. He was interested in helping with the EMPOWER program because he saw the impact that it had on the happiness of the children. Giving them someone to talk to and laugh with each day brought joy to their lives and also his own.
MARWA SARWARI, B.S.
Marwa was a 2020-2021 facilitator and Director of Program Development for Elena's Light. Marwa is a nursing student at Southern Connecticut State University. She recently graduated from SCSU with a Bachelor's of Public Health and interns at Orange Health Department. She enjoys hiking, baking/cooking, as well as spending time with her friends.
JACKSON RYAN
Jackson was a 2020 facilitator. Jackson is a senior at Haverford College, majoring in Economics with a concentration in Peace, Justice & Human Rights. He was interested in helping with the EMPOWER program because he saw the impact that it had on the happiness of the children. Giving them someone to talk to and laugh with each day brought joy to their lives and also his own.
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