Leadership & Staff
Staff
Astrid Dabbeni, Executive Director
Astrid has a degree in sociology with an emphasis in adoption. She travels the country to lead youth groups, present workshops on transracial parenting, talking with children about adoption and various other workshops focusing on adoption. Astrid has worked in adoptions for over 14 years. Her life-long interest in adoption is rooted in her own adoption at the age of four with her older sister from Colombia. Astrid is the Executive Director and co-founder of Adoption Mosaic. astrid@adoptionmosaic.org .
Shelise Gieseke, Office Administrator
Shelise is a Korean adoptee with an undergraduate degree in communication and is interested in the way society shapes the adoptee experience through language. She was raised on a farm in southern Minnesota with three siblings who were not adopted. Shelise is excited to work with all members of the adoption constellation to create a safe and open learning environment.
Board of Directors
Lani Faith, MMFT President Lani has a Bachelor degree in Psychology and Sociology, and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her professional experience includes a decade in graduate school administration, development, marketing and various leadership positions in the Not-for-Profit sector. She has also enjoyed several years of public speaking and teaching. Lani is a late discovery adoptee – learning for the first time of her own adoption story at age 27. Since learning of her adoption, Lani has been reunited with her birth family.
Doug Ricks JD Treasurer Doug is a practicing attorney specializing in debtor-creditor law. His interest in adoption issues was sparked by his wife’s involvement in the adoption community. Doug and his wife are the proud parents of a daughter and are expecting their second child this spring.
Kerwin Carambot, BBA Kerwin is the newest member of the AM Board, joining in January, 2010. He started volunteering for AM in the fall of 2008, as part of the Finance Committee. He is currently Finance Manager for XPLANE, a visual information design studio in Portland, and is pursuing his CPA credential with studies at Portland State University. Kerwin is a twin and, just recently, his 2nd oldest of 5 siblings adopted a baby girl from within the extended Carambot family.
Sandy Carter-Templeman MBA Sandra grew up in Mexico and has spent her career working in the fields of health care, education, and social services with a focus in the Latino culture. She is the adoptive mother of a Latina child and along with her husband are attempting to raise their daughter in a bilingual and multi-cultural environment.
Kelly Jeske, MS Kelly Jeske is a mama, writer, reader and thinker. She has a graduate degree in sociology with her thesis research focused on heteronormativity and resulting health care disparities. Kelly is mama to one child, adopted transracially through a domestic open adoption.
Volunteers
Tara Kim – Webmaster, Magazine editor, Blogger
Livia Montana – Resources contributor, Blogger, Interviews
Andrea Matthiessen – Organized fundraiser
Jennifer Jordan-Wong – Organized library system, administrative
John Bennett – Resources contributor
Kelly Sullivan, MSW – Youth Activity Group curriculum development
Krisanne Haerr – Youth Activity Group LaCrisha – Teen mentor for Youth Activity Group
Lisa Frack – Organized fundraiser
Tracy Stout – Organized fundraiser
Paolo Dabbeni – Head cheerleader and all around great guy