Staff
Anika Rahman is the President of Americans for UNFPA. As head of the official support organization for the United Nations women's health agency, her role is to increase American engagement in the promotion of the health and rights of women globally. Americans for UNFPA builds moral, political and financial support for UNFPA with the United States.
For over fifteen years, Ms Rahman has monitored and analyzed United States and international policies that affect the reproductive health and rights of women. The Founding Director of the International Program at the Center for Reproductive Rights (formerly, the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, CRLP), Ms. Rahman was responsible for the expansion of the Center’s global and U.S. foreign policy programs. Under her leadership, CRLP forged collaborative efforts with women’s rights organizations around the world and was a strong advocate for placing reproductive rights within the context of international human rights.
Co-author of Female Genital Mutilation: A Practical Guide to Worldwide Laws and Policies (2000 Zed Books), Ms. Rahman’s articles on women’s health and rights have been published in academic, human rights, and legal journals, and in major newspapers throughout the country.
Ms. Rahman received her Juris Doctor in 1990 from Columbia Law School, where she was awarded a certificate, with honors, in International and Foreign Law by the Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in 1987 from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Currently, Ms. Rahman is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Ms. Rahman grew up in Bangladesh and Pakistan. She is the third generation of university educated women in her family. She currently lives in New York with her daughter.
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Marcela Hahn joined Americans for UNFPA with nearly ten years of experience in fund development. She most recently served for five years as Director of Development for Grand Street Settlement, where she helped the agency double its funding from private and corporate foundations and individuals. Marcela’s experience in international development and reproductive health includes: service as a Peace Corps volunteer and employee in Senegal from 1990 to 1994; a graduate internship with Planned Parenthood of New York City; and involvement with several pro-choice organizations. Marcela received a Master’s of Public Administration from New York University and a B.A. from Cornell University.
Marcela is a member of the board of the North Star Fund.
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Deni Robey directs the communications, outreach and advocacy programs for Americans for UNFPA. She provides oversight of the organization’s work to increase public awareness about the global heath and dignity women and to build moral, political and financial support within the U.S. for UNFPA.
Deni has spent her career building communications and marketing strategies for non-profit organizations. She strives to engage Americans and spur them to political advocacy. Prior to joining Americans for UNFPA in October of 2004, she worked primarily for organizations that advance women’s reproductive rights. She also managed economic development initiatives at a community, national, and bi-national level.
Deni developed marketing strategies for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles where she was part of strategies to increase the number of clients (by 16%) who would otherwise not have received health care and to legislate contraceptive coverage in the state of California.
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Staff List
Rosina Barba, Director of Finance and Administration
Rosina Barba manages and oversees financial and administrative operations at Americans for UNFPA. She works closely with the President and Board of Directors to maintain the organization’s financial health. Prior to joining Americans for UNFPA in 2009, Rosina worked in the corporate sector, including international posts in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore. She spent the last 12 years Deutsche Bank, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer for the Prime Brokerage Technology Group, with an annual operating budget of $100 million. Rosina has a strong track record for implementing financial and operational efficiencies and in developing and driving business strategies.
Rosina has a special interest in women’s rights and economic development issues. She is a Board Member for Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), is on the Junior Board of The Family Center and volunteers with Upwardly Global as a mentor and interview trainer for immigrant job-seekers. Rosina holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from the University of Albany and is a CPA registered in New York.
Walid Haddad, Operations Manager
Walid Haddad, Operations Manager at Americans for UNFPA, joined the team in 2003 and works as a member of the development, finance and administration departments. Walid responsibilities include managing the organization’s fundraising database, coordinating the direct mail program, assisting with employee benefits, managing the office technology needs and supporting overall operations.
Prior to joining Americans for UNFPA, Walid worked for 5 years in hotel management, traveling around the world marketing hotels and resorts in North America, Australia, Hawaii, and the Middle East.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon during the civil strife of the 70’s, Walid came to New York at the age of 15. He attended the United Nation’s Int’l School in New York and obtained a B.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and an MBA from St. John’s University, NY. Walid is a member of the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association.
Sharon Howe, Director of Development Western Region
Sharon Howe is Director of Development Western Region for Americans for UNFPA where provides leadership for fundraising, education, and advocacy programs to increase American engagement for UNFPA. Sharon received her CFRE certification in 1991 and has sixteen years of experience in fund development.
Before joining Americans for UNFPA, Sharon was a financial advisor for seven years, as a Certified Financial Manager with Merrill Lynch. She also worked as the Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer with Planned Parenthood of Western Washington (now Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest). She served as President of United Way, and Chair of a United Way Campaign. She also served on the board of her YWCA.
Her experience in community service, major gifts, planned gifts, endowments, and capital campaigns today helps generate U.S. support for global women’s health.
Sharon is a graduate of the College of Financial Planning, Denver.
Jesse Laymon, National Outreach Coordinator
Jesse Laymon is National Outreach Coordinator for Americans for UNFPA. Jesse brings three cycles’ worth of experience in political campaign organizing to the team. He draws on his background in volunteer recruitment and training to direct our efforts to broaden our base of committed supporters, and to bring Americans’ support of global women’s health and rights to the attention of our leaders in Washington.
Jesse manages programs such as our interactive and coalition-building online events, our online action center, email blasts to our thousands of supporters nation-wide, our annual Lobby Day for Women’s Health and our Student Award for the Health and Dignity of Women.
Jesse took a leave-of-absence from Americans for UNFPA last fall to help direct get-out-the-vote efforts in Philadelphia for the Obama campaign. Jesse graduated from the University of Chicago (AB ’03) with a degree in Political Science - International Relations.
Angeline Martyn, Director of Communications
Angeline Martyn is Director of Communications for Americans for UNFPA. Through public education, marketing, social networking, online advocacy and media she builds support for UNFPA within the United States.
Angeline has executed worldwide media campaigns as well as development and policy initiatives in the corporate, non-profit and government sector since 1996. Prior to joining Americans for UNFPA, she served as Director of Communications for Day One (formerly the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center of RI) where she handled their name change, re-branding and creative marketing campaigns including the launch of its the Capital Campaign.
Angeline holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Social Policy from Oxford University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA, Honors) in Communication Studies and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. In 2006 she became the youngest participant in Leadership Rhode Island and was recognized in Providence Business News top “40 under 40.”
Abby Miller, Development Manager
Abby Miller joined Americans for UNFPA as Development Manager with over eight years experience working in major gifts, special events, donor communications and institutional fundraising. Her work at Americans for UNFPA focuses on the Gala for the Health and Dignity of Women, corporate outreach and fundraising, public education programs in New York and Minneapolis, donor delegation trips and major gifts.
She most recently served as Development Manager for Health Right International (formerly Doctors of the World-USA). Abby’s previous experience includes: consulting with the Inter-American Development Bank; fundraising for The New Press and the American University in Cairo; and volunteer management at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. Abby received a Master’s of Public Administration from New York University and a B.S. from Boston University.
Tanitra Partivit, Web Design Coordinator
Tanitra Partivit, Web Design Coordinator at Americans for UFNPA is responsible for the development and management of the website. Her responsibilities include editing and uploading all multi-media content and creating growth opportunities through social media.
Tanitra joined Americans for UNFPA in the fall of 2004 as an Administrative Assistant, supporting financial, public affairs and development activities. Her technology and web insight was often utilized and in January 2008 she assumed her current post. Tanitra also holds the unofficial title of “green” advocate, working to promote an environmentally friendly and conscious work space.
Prior to joining Americans for UNFPA, Tanitra was a wine consultant at a specialty wine merchant, managed multiple restaurants, and worked at J.P. Morgan. Tanitra holds a B.A. in International Relations, specializing in Diplomacy and East Asian Studies from Boston University.
While not at Americans for UNFPA, Tanitra enjoys creating culinary wonders, gardening and adventurous travels in New York City and around the world.
Louisa Rahmani, Program Associate
Louisa Rahmani is a Program Associate at Americans for UNFPA where she works closely with the development and public affairs departments as liaison to the Board of Directors. Louisa also coordinates with UNFPA and the corporate sector in conjunction with the annual International Award for the Health and Dignity of Women.
Prior to joining Americans for UNFPA, worked as a development officer for New Jersey SEEDS, an enrichment program for academically talented, financially limited youth. While completing her graduate studies, Louisa interned with UNDP, the UN Secretariat and served as teaching assistant at Seton Hall to Under-Secretary-General Giandomenico Picco.
Louisa received a duel degree in Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)/M.A. in Diplomacy and International Relations from the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and completed a honors BA in History and French at the University of Northumbira, United Kingdom.
Louisa is a member of UNA USA’s Executive Committee, Council of Organizations and on the Advisory Committee for Play Rugby USA.
Patricia Rivera Ortiz, Administrative Assistant
As Administrative Assistant, Patti Ortiz provides support to the Vice President of Development and to the Director of Finance and Administration. She handles all administration functions for the office and also works on a variety of development and finance functions, including executing donor acknowledgements, recording donation information in our internal systems, and assisting with the coordination of major events such as the Annual Gala and the Regional Luncheon’s. She is also responsible for booking month end account entries and invoice processing and assists in generating financial reports used by the management team and Board of Directors.
Before joining Americans for UNFPA in 2008, Patti held Administrative Assistant roles at Grand Street Settlement and Phoenix Houses of New York.
Patti holds an A.O.S. Degree in Office Administration and Technology from the ASA Institute in Brooklyn and is currently working towards a Bachelors Degree in Business Management at Berkeley College.