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, talk with children about adoption, and leads a variety of other workshops focusing on adoption. Astrid has worked in adoptions for over 14 years; her life-long interest 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. info@adoptionmosaic.org
Board of Directors
MereAnn Reid, MA–Therapist & Founder, Northwest Adoption Support
Board President, MereAnn is a counselor and parent educator in private practice. Her specialty in post-adoption support has emerged from work in adoption, juvenile court advocacy, community mental health, child development, and play therapy. MereAnn has volunteered with Adoption Mosaic since 2007, is certified in therapy with adoptive and foster families, and has broad experience in non-profit social services.
Lani Faith, MMFT–Resource Development Director, Bridge Meadows
Board Secretary and Past President, Lani brings a wealth of professional experience to our Board, including a decade in graduate school administration, development, marketing and various non-profit leadership positions. Lani is a late discovery adoptee, first learning of her own adoption story at age 27; she has reunited with her birth family. Lani works in an intentional intergenerational community of adoptive families and community elders.
Doug Ricks, JD–Associate, Vanden Bos & Chapman
Doug is an attorney specializing in bankruptcy, business & commercial law. His interest in adoption was sparked by his wife’s work in child welfare and the adoption community. Doug assists Adoption Mosaic with a range of special projects, including strategic planning, policy, and human resources. He and his wife are the proud parents of a daughter and a son.
Kerwin Carambot, BBA–Finance Director, The Good
Board Vice-Chair and Treasurer, Kerwin has been a volunteer with Adoption Mosaic since 2008. Currently pursuing his CPA credential at Portland State University, he helps steer our Finance Committee. Kerwin is a twin and has a niece adopted from within the extended Carambot family.
Jessica Boell, JD–Partner, Immigrant Law Group
Jessica joined our Board after reading The Adoption Constellation, our quarterly print magazine. As an adoptive mother and immigration attorney, she is excited to join Adoption Mosaic as a community leader and chairs our Magazine Committee. Jessica teaches immigration law at Portland Community College. She and her husband are joyfully raising their son, Miles.
Andrea O’Donnell, MS, FPN, RN–Nurse Practitioner, Oregon Health & Science Univ.
Andrea brings to our Board her perspective as a medical professional and researcher in reproductive health and family planning. She has worked in women’s health in a variety of settings and chairs our Run Mama Run event celebrating all mothers. Andrea first connected with Adoption Mosaic after the adoption of her son in 2008, when she attended the Transracial Parenting Series and began volunteering soon after. Andrea lives in NE Portland with her husband and two young children.
James Turney, MS
James’ graduate research in intercultural communications collects the stories of transracial adoptive families. He’s an adoptive parent, sits on our Development committee, and frequently graces us with creative fundraising ideas!