Meet the Team
Administration
Gatluak Ter Thach, PhD is the founder and current president and CEO of Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE). NICE ensures refugees and immigrants achieve their full potential now and for generations to come. In 2010, NICE became an affiliate of ECDC, in partnership with the State Department in Washington, DC’s Refugee Resettlement Program to resettle refugees here in the United States. Dr. Thach is a refugee and immigrant rights activist who serves on board of directors for several organizations, include Sudanese Human Rights Organization, Advisory Council of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Mayor’s New American Council, Tennessee for All of Us, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, Sudanese Presbyterian Church, Alliance for South Sudanese in Diaspora, Relief Organization for South Sudan – USA, Volar Collegiate Academy, and others.
Dr. Thach received numerous awards, including White House Champion of Change Award from President Obama, CEO of the Year Award, Distinguished Service Award, Human Right Rising Advocate Award, Power of Inclusion Award, Community Empowering Award, New Immigrant Leadership Award, Peace Ambassadors USA Award, among others. He is also the author of My New American Dream. His upcoming books include “The Life of the Leader: A loving Memory of Deng Ter Thach (William); The Sustainable Integration for the New Hope” and “Why My People Continuing to Suffer in South Sudan.“
Dr. Thach’s work focuses on providing leadership and supervision to his organizational team and their subordinates. He is an expert in community and organizational development, program and budget planning and management, strategic planning, collaboration and partnership building, resource development, advocacy, and executive coaching.
Dr. Thach earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee in 2003. He went on to pursue a master’s degree in public service from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, and graduated as a member of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in social science. In 2014, Dr. Thach earned a PhD in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Strategic Planning from Argosy University in Nashville, TN.
He is married to his beloved wife, Nyakuma Ter Thach, and they are blessed with four beautiful children: Duang, Ter Jr., Selena, and Pel Thach.
Cindy was born and raised in Iowa with her 10 brothers and sisters. She graduated from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. She spent over 30 years in corporate America starting in Quality Assurance and moving through several other areas including Finance and Sales. In Febuary of 2011, she started at NICE as a volunteer. In June, she was hired to be the Resettlement Program Coordinator overseeing all parts of NICE’s Resettlement Program, specifically R&P. Cindy currently serves as NICE's President of Finance and Operations.
Idah Boyer was born and raised in Nairobi Kenya. She later moved to South Africa to pursue a Degree in Computer Science and upon completion moved to the United States. Idah joined NICE in September of 2009 as a Financial and Administrative Coordinator. She is now the Director of Administration and Employee Services. Idah speaks Swahili, English and Kikuyu.
Rachel has grown up in Nashville and is proud to call it home. She received her BA in International Affairs from East Tennessee State University. After graduating, she completed two internships in Finance and Monitoring & Evaluation with a humanitarian aid NGO in Niger. She enjoys spending time with her husband and family, traveling, and working with international communities. Rachel started at NICE in 2022 and currently serves as NICE's Associate Director of Finance.
Adili is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was raised in Nairobi, Kenya for 9 years then came to Greensboro, NC in 2009. She attended Liberty University and got her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, and then relocated to Nashville in 2020. She is currently enrolled in an MBA in Human Resources at Liberty University, and serves as the Human Resources Manager at NICE.
Samantha was born and raised in Nashville. Her upbringing as the youngest of seven, under the loving care of her widowed mother, taught her the values of resilience, compassion and community. In 1988, she embarked on her career path in federally subsidized housing. She worked most notably as manager to a large family complex and assistant manager and activities directory to a senior complex. In these roles, she exhibited strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by families in underserved communities. However, her journey was far from complete. Her heartfelt desire and commitment to improving the lives of others led her to pursue an opportunity at NICE.
Yemiserach Kebede is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received her diploma in Commerce from Addis Ababa Commercial College in 1997. Later, in 2016, she received her B.A. in Accounting and Finance from Addis Ababa University. Previously, she worked at World Vision Ethiopia, where she gained 16 years of experience in Finance. In November 2017, She moved to the US. Most recently, she worked at Vanderbilt University as a cashier and food production worker for 3 years. Other than accounting, she also has a passion for cooking! Yemiserach joined NICE to serve as a Bookkeeper in the Finance Department in March 2024.
Hanan Elezeb is originally from Yemen. She came to the U.S. in 2017 with her family. She has a Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration and a minor in General Business (CCMA and BLS). Hanan started as a volunteer with NICE in August 2024 and enjoyed meeting and getting to know people from many different walks of life. She likes to work with teams but also on her own. She enjoys setting and achieving goals for herself. She has good listening and communication skills and is always up for new challenges.
Development and Communications
Elizabeth was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology and Organizational Behavior from the University of California, San Diego. Elizabeth has been with NICE since 2021 and is currently leading new agency-wide efforts in creating monitoring & evaluation and knowledge management processes. Before this, Elizabeth managed NICE’s volunteer program, and originally started at the agency working on English literacy with young students through the youth education program. Elizabeth is also an RYT-200hr certified yoga instructor, author, and musician in a local band. She believes in peace, dignity, and agency for all beings.
Andrew was born and raised in the Texas hill country, graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. After graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and moved to Bolhrad, Ukraine, where he worked as an English Language Teacher for 2.5 years. In addition to teaching students, Andrew spent this time curating ongoing education seminars for teachers, directing environmental and leadership summer camps (where he met his now wife Alisa), and helping bring clean water to his local community. After finishing his service, Andrew moved to Nashville to pursue music professionally and toured relentlessly for several years. Andrew has spent his most recent five years helping local, national, and international startups grow and succeed before ultimately returning to work with the international community via NICE. An avid disc golfer, he also serves on the Board of Directors for Music City Disc Golf.
Since Annie was young, she has loved written and visual language. She grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana in a multicultural home and learned quickly to relate to people of all backgrounds. Annie obtained her BFA in Visual Communication Design from IUPUI in Indianapolis and has lived abroad in both Australia and El Salvador. Annie believes in equity for all and is dedicated to using her diverse skillset to create lasting change in the world.
Kara Sievers was born and raised in the Chicago-land area but has called Nashville, Tennessee home since 2018. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2010. Since that time, Kara has gained a variety of experience in the field of social work; including work in domestic violence, mental health, and child & family services. In addition to her domestic work, she spent two years as a case manager in Bangkok, Thailand where she served survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Kara is passionate about equipping others to connect with an international community and participate in welcoming refugees. It is this passion that led her to join NICE in 2023.
Immigration
Aisha is originally from Nigeria. She came to the US for college and graduated from Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, KY in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She started as a volunteer with NICE in July 2009 and has enjoyed meeting and getting to know people from many different walks of life. She currently works as the Director of Immigration. Aisha speaks Hausa, English and Spanish.
Gissel is from Honduras and moved to the United States in 2021. She graduated from the University Of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, with a degree in Business Administration. Before her move, she had approximately 7 years of experience working in the business industry in her home country. Spanish is her first language, and she began participating in NICE's ESL program in 2022. Currently, Gissel is employed as an Immigration Specialist, assisting Spanish-speaking individuals and continuing to enhance her English skills. Being a part of NICE and helping people from diverse cultural backgrounds brings her immense pride.
Social Services
Chris is originally from Memphis, TN. He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Sport Management. After graduating, he took his first job in the non-profit field and never looked back. He joined the NICE team in 2016 as the R&P Program Manager. He currently serves as the Director of Social Services.
Mulki was born in Somali, but spent 18 years livings in a refugee camp in Kenya. When she was in high school, Mulki received a scholarship to study Public Relations at Jomokenyatta University. Mulki came to the United States in 2014 and was resettled by NICE. She joined the NICE staff team in 2016 as the Administrative Assistant, and currently serves as the Associate Director of Social Services.
Eric Bishonda prides himself in his work with people with disabilities and vulnerable groups. He has been working with refugees since 2016. He previously worked at World Relief Nashville, TN, and at Catholic Charities in Refugee Resettlement services. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Bugema University in Kampala, Uganda in 2012.
Bhuwan is originally from Bhutan. He completed his Associate degree at Nashville State Community College and is pursuing his Bachelor's at Western Governor University in Business. Bhuwan speaks Nepali and Hindi. He wanted to work at NICE to help people like himself. He came to this country as a refugee and understands his clients' struggles and journeys as refugees. He shares his experiences with them and gives them a sense of belonging and safety during their initial time in the U.S. He love watching documentaries based on history and loves cooking.
In 2011, Koang graduated from Nashville State Community College with an associate degree in Business Information Systems. In 2013, he graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Relations. While working at NICE, he pursued his educational goal and obtained his Master of Science Degree in Management at Trevecca Nazarene University in 2015. He joined the NICE staff in October of 2011 as the RSS coordinator helping find sustainable employment for refugees. Koang currently serves as the Transportation Manager. Koang speaks Arabic, English and Nuer.
Madilynn was originally born in Tucson, Arizona but has predominantly lived in North Carolina. She lived in Germany for 2 years and then moved to Okinawa, Japan where she lived for 6 years and graduated there from high school. After leaving Japan, she received a B.S. degree in Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University and then a Masters Degree in Environmental Law & Policy at the University of Arizona. She is also currently pursuing her PhD in Sustainability Education with a focus in Social Justice at Prescott College. Madilynn currently serves as NICE's REA Associate Manager.
Mohammad was resettled by NICE in 2016, along with his family. In Afghanistan, he worked with coalition forces providing interpretation services for a period of 5 years.
For the last 3 years, he has joined Stanley Steamer International as a professional driver. Mohammad has received multiple certifications and recommendations from US army and coalition forces based on his ethic and interpretation skills.
Kimberly graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and minor in Nonprofit Studies. Kimberly became interested in finding a career in nonprofit after observing her dad start his own serving the people of Haiti. From a young age she developed a strong passion for volunteerism and using her abilities to serve those in need. She has used these abilities as she has been a volunteer, member, and leader in many service and nonprofit organizations.
Alyas completed high school in 2020 and has since developed a strong passion for various pursuits. He is particularly interested in singing. Additionally, he is driven by his desire to engage in social work, aiming to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. Alyas has always been fascinated by different cultures, which has inspired him to actively seek opportunities to connect with people from all around the world. Alyas moved to the United States in August 2021. He is excited to embark on this new chapter in his life and continue pursuing his passions while making meaningful connections along the way.
Maren Thompson graduated in 2022 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a degree in Russian language and Global Studies. She loves people, cultures and languages, and started learning Russian in high school as a hobby. During college, she took some time off and served a 14-month volunteer mission in Russia on an international and multicultural team. There she learned the Russian language and grew to love the Eastern European people and their cultures. She has since taught Russian professionally in several settings, and in 2022 she joined NICE as a Uniting for Ukraine Case Manager.
Alex is proudly Latino. He has a degree in Graphic Design and also has a Bachelor's in Business from his home country. His first language is Spanish and he speaks fluent English and basic French. Alex enjoys helping people and volunteering with the students at DuPont Hadley Middle School. He also likes to exercise every day and run once a week. In his free time, he likes to go for walks with his husband and Itchycoo, their dog. Alex also loves to do crafts as he is very creative with decorations and building things.
Deborah is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo. She was born and raised in Zambia where she attended middle and high school. Her family later relocated to the United States through NICE. Deborah recently obtained her Nurse Assistant Certification and hopes to further her education to ultimately become a Registered Nurse. She is currently working at NICE as an R&P Case Manager.
Gallatin
Chol is South Sudanese, born in Ethiopia. Fleeing war torn Sudan, Chol and her family immigrated as refugees to the United States when she was a little girl. Chol received her Bachelor of Science and minor in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Memphis. In college Chol worked for the Multicultural Affairs office at UofM and volunteered at the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis. She is also a member of the Tennessee National Guard. Her passion is giving back and advocating for her community. Chol currently serves as the Gallatin Associate Director of Social Services.
Ziagul is originally from Afghanistan. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Herat in 2017.
Ziagul has worked as a journalist with experience in leadership and team management, reporting, editing, website oversight, and photography at the Afghan Women News Agency and Afghanistan Institute for Research and Media. In Afghanistan she worked promoting democracy, supporting and encouraging women to work and be active in society by publishing reports on the achievements of women in every field, especially the training and employment of female journalists.
In the United States, Ziagul worked with ECDC (Ethiopian Community Development Council) in Vermont first as a Cultural Integration Facilitator, helping newcomers navigate their new community and providing information about cultural differences in American lifestyles. She continued her work with ECDC as a Refugee Support Services Case Manager before working at NICE.
Thomas has a background in organic and sustainable farming practices. He finds joy in sharing the experience of bringing organic food into the lives of others. He first became aware of refugees struggles during his time in southwest Asia and the Middle East. He hopes to empower those within his surrounding communities to thrive and embrace this new chapter in their lives. In his free time, he studies Arabic and spends time with his wife and daughter.
Shafiq is from Afghanistan and holds an MA in Social Work. He speaks Dari, English, Hindi, and Urdu. NICE has given him the opportunity to follow his passion of social work and he appreciates the diversity of the organization. Shafiq plays the tabla (Indian classical instrument) and enjoys music.
Paw was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and moved to the United States in 2009. She went to school in the States and is so grateful that her parents moved here. Paw received her Associate's in Marketing at Nashville State Community College. She would love to also pursue computer science. She currently serves as a Match Grant Case Manager at NICE Gallatin. Paw's passion is to help people achieve their full potential.
David is married with six kids. He came to the US as a refugee in 1995 and relocated to Gallatin, TN in 2000. Most of his life in the US he worked in a factory. He has previously worked in Food Distribution and Census. Here in Tennessee, David attended adult education through Web Wilson and received an Associates in Business Administration from National College in Madison, TN. David is thrilled to be part of the NICE team!
Adult Education
Ally is a Pennsylvania native who moved to Nashville in 2018. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a dual major in anthropology and art history. She earned her teaching certificate in 2011 and then served as the Education Coordinator at the Erie Art Museum where she managed studio art classes and organized school tours. She also served as a program assistant in the folk art department for Old Songs New Opportunities: a cultural preservation program that trained former refugees to work in local childcare centers. She has worked in many education departments including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and the Nashville Zoo. She can speak French and can sing children’s songs in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, Spanish and Bosnian!
Jody was born and raised in suburban Chicago. She received a B.A in economics from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and a M.A in linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois. She has taught and tutored ESL students at all levels in a variety of content areas. Since coming to Nashville, she has mainly been involved in helping students obtain their citizenship. Before coming to NICE, she was the citizenship manager at Nashville Adult Literacy Council responsible for administering a USCIS citizenship and integration grant. She is excited to work as the Adult Education Manager at NICE and help students achieve their full potential.
Fozia is originally from Hargeisa, Somalia. She moved to Pakistan, at the age of 13 where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies. While pursuing her education, she worked as a full time Somali interpreter and translator with a local non-governmental organization and then with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. She and her husband moved to USA in 2015. Before joining NICE Fozia worked with Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition as a Multicultural Organizer were she helped serve the community by engaging them in civic participation, identifying and recruiting coalition members, and maintaining open communication between all immigrant & refugee groups. As NICE’s Associate Manager of ESL Services, Fozia connects Nashville’s adult English learners to NICE’s Adult Education course offerings while simultaneously connecting NICE students to larger services offered in the Nashville community.
Hannah is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She received a bachelor's degree in international relations from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and moved to Nashville immediately after graduating to be an English as a Second Language teacher through Teach for America. Through both her studies in college and her experience in teaching at a school with a large immigrant and refugee population, she developed a passion for working alongside immigrants and specifically refugees to grant them access to education and other resources. She currently serves as NICE's Associate Manager of Curriculum and Instruction for the Adult Education program.
Emily was born and raised in Nashville, and she attended the University of Louisville to study music and Arabic. In 2019, she volunteered with an organization called LEAP (Learning for the Empowerment & Advancement of Palestinians) which provides English and music programming for Palestinian and Syrian refugee students in Lebanon. Working with these English language learners solidified her desire to continue supporting refugee education. In addition to teaching in Lebanon, she has experience teaching English online and mentoring refugee students at Overton High School. She also enjoys studying applied psychology and counseling through the University of Santa Monica’s online program. She’s grateful to be part of the NICE team.
Joey was raised in East Tennessee and went to college in Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. He served in the army as paratrooper from 1984-1987. He has been teaching English as a Second Language and citizenship in Nashville since September 2001. In 2017, Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) honored Joey with a Lifetime Achievement award recognizing his service with veterans and refugees. He joined the NICE team in March of 2019.
Bea Malherbe was born and raised in South Africa in the arid Karoo region. She earned a BA in Finance at the University of Stellenbosch. In 1999 Bea and family moved to the United States, living in New Jersey for the first few years. Bea devoted her time to volunteer at her church and at her daughter’s school. After arriving in Nashville, Bea worked as a substitute teacher for 10 years. It is during that time that she developed a passion for the ESL community when a friend asked her to teach in their volunteer program in 2015. As an immigrant and non-native English speaker, helping others find their way and learn the language came quite naturally for Bea. She started with the NICE team in January 2019, teaching Level 2 at The Donelson Fellowship. In her free time, Bea likes to travel, go hiking, and loves spending time with family and friends around a campfire.
Shifa Syed came to the United States in 2014 and holds a master's degree in interior design. She has worked with various non-profit organizations over the years, including volunteering with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), where she recently began teaching. Shifa is passionate about supporting the mission of NICE and continues to contribute meaningfully to the community.
Fawwaz holds a BS in Statistics Science and is trained in Security, Cryptography, and Azure Cloud environments. He is an Accomplished Senior IT Service Desk Analyst with ITIL Certification. Among many signature accomplishments, for a previous role, he was recognized as a core member of the High-Risk Management team that achieved 90%+ ratings on customer SLAs and Quality Service Measurements. Fawwaz likes hiking, playing soccer, watching movies, and playing video games.
Sophiya was born and raised in Nepal. She has earned her Bachelor of Science in Social work (Magna cum Laude) from Tennessee State University. Before she came to US, Sophiya worked as a Program Assistant with a local non-profit organization, helped international volunteers learn the Nepali language and helped design and implement the projects in Nepal. In 2014, she came to the United States and in 2017 joined NICE staff team as an Immigration Specialist to help refugees and immigrants with their applications. Sophiya currently serves as the Data & Student Support Specialist. Through the Adult education program, she supports refugees and immigrants’ clients in their journey to learn English, improve the quality of their lives and seek long term employment. She believes the service of divine purpose is a great blessing and brings great harmony to her life.
Bob is a Nashville native. He graduated from Elon University with a degree in Philosophy and joined the Peace Corps in Ukraine 3 months after graduation in 2018. In the Peace Corps, Bob taught grades 5-11 and facilitated pedagogical workshops for local Ukrainian teachers. After his service ended Bob moved back to Ukraine and began teaching adult learners and overall has over 5 years of English teaching experience. During the full-scale invasion in 2022 Bob worked with locals to provide up-to-date evacuation information to anyone who needed it and taught free lessons to both Ukrainian refugees and the internally displaced in the spring and summer of 2022. Bob is a proficient Ukrainian speaker and has lived in both Ukraine and the Czech Republic. He and his wife moved back to the United States in August of 2024 after his wife received her green card, and he's incredibly excited to be working for an organization that is so close to heart and home.
Mohammad Kazim Hooshmand is originally from Afghanistan and moved to the United States in 2023. He received his Ph.D in Computer Science from Mangalore University, Mangalore, India, in 2023; his Master of Science in Information Systems, securing the first rank, from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, in 2015; and his Bachelor of Computer Applications from Bangalore University, Bangalore, India, in 2006. His professional experience spans over 18 years in academia and industry. Dr. Hooshmand served in different roles, such as MIS Deputy Manager at Roshan Telecom, Revenue Assurance Supervisor at MTNA, University Lecturer & Dean of the Computer Science Department at Gharjistan University, as well as University Lecturer at Kabul Education University. He also held the position of Head of Network Products & Services at Roshan Telecom in Kabul, Afghanistan. Furthermore, he has worked as a Research Scholar at Mangalore University, Mangalore, India, and as an Independent Tutor at Varsity Tutors in the USA. Dr. Hooshmand’s research interests include Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Explainable AI, and Advanced Data Analysis employing Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms. He is proficient in English, Dari, and Pashto languages, with intermediate proficiency in Arabic, Hindi, and Urdu. Dr. Hooshmand currently serves as the Refugee Career Pathways Coordinator at NICE, utilizing his expertise to empower individuals on their professional journey.
Khesraw is a graduate of Law and Political Science Department of Judiciary and Prosecution, born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. Khesraw’s journey has taken him across continents, shaping him into the hard-working individual he is today. After completing his legal education in his homeland, Khesraw embarked on a new chapter of his life by immigrating to the United States in 2015. Khesraw speak Dari, English, and Urdu.
Myra was born and raised in western Pennsylvania. The summer before entering college, she ran a thrift shop in rural Pennsylvania, which served as a distribution and administrative site for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program. Myra first became interested in teaching English as a second language while tutoring for Nashville Literacy Council. She received her TESL certification from the University of Tennessee Language Center, completed her practicum at the Hispanic Foundation, and began her ESL career as an in-person instructor for the foundation on Saturday mornings. Myra has taught Basic and Level 1 classes for NICE in person at The Donelson Fellowship and is currently teaching multiple levels online using the Burlington English curriculum. Myra is amazed every day at the dedication and resilience of her students and is proud to be a member of the NICE team.
Elaina is an Ohio native who is passionate about helping people use their voices to communicate their wants and needs effectively. She attended Bowling Green State University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Elaina joined the NICE team in May of 2022, working for the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program. She received her TESL certification from the Tennessee Language Center shortly after and currently serves as a virtual ESL instructor. Elaina looks forward to continuing to support the mission of NICE and learning alongside her extraordinary students!
Joyce graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in English and Secondary Teaching. After raising her family and years of community volunteering, she received her ESL certification in 2019. Joyce has taught beginning and intermediate English and currently teaches remotely to students in Bolivia. At NICE, she teaches reading and writing skills for students desiring to obtain their High School Equivalency Degree.
Lisa Zhito is a certified English as a Second Language instructor with eight years’ experience teaching Nashville’s refugee and immigrant community. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from Pitzer College in Claremont, California. Prior to her teaching career, she spent 30 years as a magazine writer and editor, and worked in marketing and public relations for non-profits and government agencies. Over the past eight years she has taught students with a wide range of English language ability, from basic Literacy to Business English clients. She and her husband love to travel. Lisa still plans to finish her novel some day.
Cassy is originally from the Midwest. She received her dual major Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Family & Consumer Sciences from Western Illinois University. She taught ESL and Spanish classes at Black Hawk College before moving to Tennessee. She also taught ESL at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition. She has always had a passion for teaching and believes that education opens doors of opportunity. She is the proud mother of four beautiful children and spends her free time with them. Cassy currently works at NICE as an ESL instructor.
Fatemeh is from Babol, a city in the north of Iran, and has also lived in Australia and Mexico before moving to the States. She has a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English Language Teaching. Fatemeh has been teaching ESL for about 15 years and loves her job. She is also interested in analyzing media discourse around refugees and migrants and has done a linguistic analysis of British media portrayal of Syrian refugees for her Ph.D. dissertation.
There is no one braver or more committed than my students, who come from all over the world to Nashville – so different and so disorienting for them – yet they surmount so many barriers to plug away at learning English despite all the difficulties! I’m originally from Washington, D.C., and received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from UT. After several careers at Metro Nashville government as a counselor for teens and their families, as a program director in child welfare services and finally as a grants manager for the Metro Finance Department, I retired. Following several years at Camelot Care services working on reaccreditation and quality assurance, I got TEFL certification from the Tennessee Language Institute. For the last 6 years, I have found great satisfaction in teaching ESL (and Citizenship) to so many wonderful students, at the Nashville Adult Literacy Council, as a volunteer at St. Luke’s church, and at NICE.
Michelle was raised in the Nashville area. She graduated from Western Kentucky University
with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders in 2006. She then received her TEFL
certification and taught ESL in Japan, Mexico and Uganda. Once returning stateside, she
completed her Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in ESL education from MTSU in
2011. She served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Atlanta, GA for Refugee Family Services and
found a strong desire to work with the refugee population. She first started with NICE by
teaching a math and computer class and then switched to ESL classes only. She is now the
lead teacher at The Donelson Fellowship site. She enjoys making an impact in the lives of her
students and supports the mission of NICE and the Adult Education Program.
with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders in 2006. She then received her TEFL
certification and taught ESL in Japan, Mexico and Uganda. Once returning stateside, she
completed her Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in ESL education from MTSU in
2011. She served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Atlanta, GA for Refugee Family Services and
found a strong desire to work with the refugee population. She first started with NICE by
teaching a math and computer class and then switched to ESL classes only. She is now the
lead teacher at The Donelson Fellowship site. She enjoys making an impact in the lives of her
students and supports the mission of NICE and the Adult Education Program.
Consuela has taught international students from Nashville, South America, and Asia! She is passionate about teaching and majored in Education at Lipscomb University, where she also earned her Master of Education degree. In her spare time, Consuela enjoys writing poetry and volunteering. Her favorite quote, " I don't teach you how to be perfect with the English language, I teach you how to improve."
Mauricio was born in New Jersey, raised in Colombia and then later in life moved back to the United States and lived in New York and Florida and most recently in wonderful Nashville, Tennessee. He has a degree in Teaching English and Spanish from Luis Amigó Catholic University, located in Medellín (Colombia). He also has a TESOL certification from Arizona State University. Mauricio has worked as a Language instructor for more than 16 years in different universities and language centers. In the most recent years he has had the opportunity to coordinate a language program in a bi-national center in Colombia that was overseen by the US Department of State through the US embassy in Bogota, Colombia.
He has taught English and Spanish to youth and adults in different classroom settings, virtually and in-person. Mauricio has had the privilege to immerse students in the language, making their learning process as real as possible so that they can become familiar with the sounds, accents and culture or both Spanish and English. He love teaching languages—the classroom is his safe space, his temple, his shelter.
Mauricio also has a passion for classic cruiser motorcycles. He loves reading historical fiction and history, especially everything related to the Roman Empire. He enjoys playing and watching basketball and hiking or trekking with his beautiful wife and his very smart and lovely daughter.
He has taught English and Spanish to youth and adults in different classroom settings, virtually and in-person. Mauricio has had the privilege to immerse students in the language, making their learning process as real as possible so that they can become familiar with the sounds, accents and culture or both Spanish and English. He love teaching languages—the classroom is his safe space, his temple, his shelter.
Mauricio also has a passion for classic cruiser motorcycles. He loves reading historical fiction and history, especially everything related to the Roman Empire. He enjoys playing and watching basketball and hiking or trekking with his beautiful wife and his very smart and lovely daughter.
Angel is originally from Venezuela. He has taught ESL for over 30 years in 4 different countries: Venezuela, Canada, China, and now in the US. Angel is passionate about teaching, bringing creativity to his lessons, and always striving to make learning fun and engaging for his students. He is drawn to work at NICE because of its noble mission of helping refugees and immigrants achieve their full potential. In his free time, Angel loves playing the guitar.
Kevin A Hunter was born and raised in Toledo, OH, completed High School, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and earned a BA, MA, AA, and BS at Western Kentucky University. He has worked as an Architectural Historian in Bowling Green, KY and Mobile, AL. He has worked for the TN Dept of Labor and Workforce Development and the TN Dept of Health. He has interests in western US history, great lakes history, European history, foreign cultures, stamp collecting, photography, aviation, genealogy, US Civil War, architecture, and railroads. Upon retirement from the state, he became certified in teaching ESL. Kevin has satisfaction in helping immigrants and refugees adapt to US society by teaching English and helping them obtain their citizenship.
Gary is from the Detroit area, graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in French. Later, he obtained a paralegal certificate and worked for law firms that focused on immigration law. At NICE, he continues to help those in the immigrant community on their journey to U.S. citizenship. His paternal grandparents were from northern France; he has traveled to France several times over the years to hone his French and meet some of his distant relatives. Gary loves writing his own puns. He also took second place in his junior high school talent show as a stand-up comedian. When he’s not teaching, Gary listens to all types of music, from jazz to bluegrass to classic rock to folk. He also enjoys camping, traveling, writing and spending time with his family.
Robbie Hunter grew up in Harrogate, a small town in East Tennessee. She received a B.S. in Accounting from Carson-Newman University and an M.A. in Accounting from the University of Alabama. She obtained her CPA license and worked for 30 years as an auditor and accountant in Tennessee state government. Since her retirement in 2014, Robbie has taught ESL and Adult Education classes for several organizations in the Nashville area. Since 2016, Robbie has taught math for the NICE HiSET program. She finds it rewarding to see students improve their math skills and fluency. She knows that whether or not they finish their HiSET diploma, improved math skills will help them in their daily lives.
Jordan is originally from Memphis, TN. She is a first-generation college student with two masters in the world of education (Teacher and Leadership) from Trevecca University and Austin Peay University. Jordan comes with a wider variety of experience primarily teaching high school students and mentoring them about their postsecondary pathways. Jordan loves to serve in the community where lives and is a part of the Digital Literacy Team at NICE.
Iryna is originally from Vinnytsia, Ukraine. She graduated from Rivne State Humanities University with Master's Teacher of Choreographic disciplines. Iryna worked as a manager of the Choreography department at the Vinnytsia Children's Art School. Since 2018 she has been a NICE English student. Her native language is Ukrainian. She also speaks Russian and English. At NICE Iryna hopes to be able to help others students improve knowledge of the English language as a Student Specialist.
Waris Ashiker is a part of the NICE childcare team in adult education. Waris was born in Somalia and moved to London, England in 1996. Waris is a seasoned caretaker and has worked as a teacher and nurse in centers across the world. She is the mother to four children and loves to watch movies and cheer for her son on the soccer field.
Tomoka, or Tomi, was born and raised in Southern Japan, Shikoku Island. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bukkyo University in Kyoto and then taught students ages 13-18 grammar, reading, writing, and classic Chinese & Japanese literature. Tomi also served as the school librarian. In 2004 she earned her masters degree in education and developed a national curriculum for secondary education in Japan on moral & character development and social responsibility.In 2019, she moved to Nashville. Tomi currently is a childcare teacher at the Donelson Fellowship. She also teaches Japanese language and calligraphy at the TN Language Center. Her interests are vast and include kendo,a martial art similar to Japanese Traditional Fencing and neighborhood walks with her dog, Blue.
Youth Education
Rob was born in Manila, Philippines and grew up in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.A. in Psychology. His primary focus was studying social psychology and genocide. He worked at a mental health crisis unit and substance abuse treatment center, where he discovered his passion for education. He served as a volunteered leader of human rights activism with Amnesty International and worked as an educator with various schools and non-profit organizations, including the Holocaust Museum of SWFL and Teach For America. He graduated from the University for Peace in Costa Rica with an M.A. in Peace Education. His primary focus was developing a pedagogy of peace that uses art to challenge invisible systems of oppression and transform cultures of violence. He has years of experience teaching all age groups in the USA, Indonesia, and Maldives. He was an adjunct professor of First Year Experience and Co-Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Committee at Florida SouthWestern State College. He moved to Nashville in June 2021 and now serves as the Associate Director of Youth Education. He speaks some Spanish and some Tagalog.
By encouraging empathy, creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking, his goal is to help students improve their lives and empower them to create positive change in the world!
By encouraging empathy, creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking, his goal is to help students improve their lives and empower them to create positive change in the world!
Hanna was born in Kansas, USA but was raised in Nigeria. She received her Bachelor of Science from Bingham University. She holds a Master of Science in Business Administration and Management from Nasarawa State University, Nigeria as well as a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Murfreesboro, TN. Before moving back to the States, Hanna taught second and fourth-year students at Bingham University. She joined NICE in 2018 as an Immigration Specialist and was also in charge of the NICE Family Mentorship Program. She currently works with the RSIG Program as the Youth Education Assistant Manager, ensuring that school-age children are ready for American education while fostering social adjustment and self-sufficiency.
Miranda is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and has worked within refugee youth services for several years. She moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Social Work at Belmont University. In 2023, she received a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Tennessee. Miranda currently serves as the Associate Manager of Youth Mental Health at NICE and is passionate about youth development and mental health advocacy.
Tori Bruce grew up in Pell City, Alabama. She studied Social Work with a minor in Spanish at Troy University. During her time at Troy, she interned at a nonprofit in a pediatric clinic that provided holistic care to the patients and their families. During her summers, she worked at WinShape Camps where she devoted her time to learning camp songs, making friendship bracelets, and spending time with campers of all ages! In the Fall of 2022, she lived in Honduras working with VER International where she taught community ESL classes, partnered with a local after-school program, and participated in community visits. She now serves NICE as one of the Site Coordinators.
Ashley was born in Houston, Texas and was raised in Colorado and Wisconsin before moving to Tennessee her freshman year of High School. She graduated with honors from Middle Tennessee State University with a BS in International Relations and a BA in Global Studies. During her time at MTSU she studied abroad in Shanghai, China and Seoul South Korea for one semester, and one academic year respectively and she published her honors thesis "Shanghai in Transition: Western Identity in the French Concession" in 2017. After graduating from university she worked as an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea for three years. She returned to Tennessee in 2021 where she worked as an after school teacher for the University School of Nashville as well as a Site Coordinator and ESL teacher for the adult education program at NICE before being hired full-time as the Youth Education Site Coordinator.
Amanda is from Memphis, TN, and moved to Nashville in 2022. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a BA in Global Studies and French. After teaching English in France for a year, she worked at ALSAC to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She has continued to teach online English classes to adults and children. Amanda has also worked and volunteered in Mexico and other countries in South America and Europe. She earned her certification as a yoga teacher in 2021, and now teaches yoga classes in Nashville. Amanda serves NICE as a Youth Education Program Specialist.
Kaze has a Masters in Project Management from Oklahoma Christian University. His professional experience is more marked in the field of business management and finance, which has allowed him to work with large multinationals in the Great Lakes region of East Africa such as Millicom International Cellular SA, Diageo plc, and Heineken Company. Kaze has always had a passion for humanitarian service, volunteering in humanitarian service in Rwanda and training with different non-government organizations such as Right to Play, World Food Program, American Red Cross, Etc,. Kaze now works as a Youth Education Program Specialist for NICE.
Jacob was born here in Middle Tennessee, originally from Ashland City. He went to high school at Sycamore High School, and had won multiple championships in marching band. He marched with a professional band called Audio Theater in Winter Guard International. He has interests in history and politics. He volunteered as a Cultural Orientation Teacher for under a year with NICE before transitioning to a R&P Case Manager in August 2024. He has a passion for understanding different cultures around the world and NICE’s mission. Jacob speaks fluent English and basic French.
Health
Nadia is originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh. She received her M.Phil in medical anthropology from the University of Oxford in 2010, M.A. in anthropology with a concentration in international development from George Washington University (GWU) in 2008, and a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Delaware in 2005. Her research interests include reproductive health and urban development in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After completing her graduate studies, she worked as a research associate for the Global Gender Program and Culture in Global Affairs at GWU. She also facilitated student discussions for the Department of Anthropology at GWU. She moved to Nashville to pursue a career in program and grants management for the Center for Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University. Nadia currently serves as NICE's Director of Health.
Kameo was born and raised in the United States. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Spiritual Formation and Ministry from a private university in the Midwest and then moved to Wisconsin with her beloved husband. She spent years in various management and human development roles, harboring a passion for community work and involvement. She believes that as human beings, our greatest task is to take care of one another. She is honored to work with NICE and help take care of the Nashville and global community.
Kameo’s passions include making music, enjoying fresh air & sunshine, reading fiction novels in the morning light, amateur photography, and exploring new places.
Kabita was born in Bhutan but had to flee the country with her family when she was just a baby. Her family moved to Nepal where she lived as a refugee for 20 years. She was trained in the healthcare system and received her CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) in Nepal where she worked as a Community Nutrition Specialist. She provided daily and emergency medical assistance, nutrition and health education. Kabita responded to the medical and nutritional needs of the community. Her family arrived in Tennessee in 2012 and were resettled by NICE. Kabita was employed at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and joined the NICE staff in October 2015. She speaks English and Nepali.
Stevie is originally from Michigan. They studied chemical engineering at University of Michigan, then moved to Nashville for their medical degree at Vanderbilt. Their research and community work revolves around equitable and innovative mental health care. They are a part of the Health team at NICE as the Health Outcomes Manager. Outside of their role at NICE, they enjoy dance, music, and comedy.
Abraham previously interned with the Preferred Communities (PC) program at NICE. He is native to Kenya and speaks Swahili. He is a U.S. Army Veteran who served for 6 years. He graduated with an M.S. in Global Public Health and a B.S. in Public Health from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He supported efforts with the Red Cross Veteran Caregiver Network and Department of Defense and the VA healthcare system.
Liudmyla is originally from Ukraine. She graduated in 2018 from Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics with a Masters Degree in Tourism. She loves people, new cultures, and languages. Liudmyla worked in Turkey and Greece as a transfer and hotel guide and most recently, worked as a flight attendant for Ukrainian Airlines. When the war started in Ukraine, she moved to Germany before ultimately deciding to come to the US under the Uniting for Ukraine program.
Abdul, originally from Afghanistan, arrived in the United States in 2014 as a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Farsi Literature from Parwan University in 2011. With a wealth of experience in teaching English and interpreting between English and three other languages, Abdul is deeply committed to bridging cultural divides. Currently pursuing studies in the IT field, he is passionate about leveraging his knowledge to help people from diverse backgrounds connect and thrive.
Mohammad Ibrahim Heidar was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. He received his MBA in International Hospital and Healthcare Management from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Frankfurt, Germany in 2013 and his Medical Degree in Curative Medicine from Kabul Medical University in 1995. Mr. Heidar has 29 years of experience with national and international non-profit organizations as well as the public and private sectors in management, advisory and leadership positions in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Mr. Heidar joined Nashville International Center for Empowerment's Health Department in the capacity of Refugee Health Navigator. Mr. Heidar is married and has four children.
Nasreen is originally from Afghanistan, and worked as a physicians’ assistant at Malalai Hospital in Afghanistan. Before joining the team at NICE, she worked at Siloam Health as a medical interpreter.
Hanaa is from Sudan and holds a Bachelor's degree in accounting. She speaks Arabic and is passionate about helping others. Hanaa is thrilled to work for NICE because it subscribes to her core values. She enjoys cooking, travelling and exploring different cultures.
Claudia is originally from Caracas, Venezuela. She's passionate about continuous growth and learning. She has gained valuable experience in customer service and as mother she has the same background as the families she serves. As a MIHOW Program Coordinator she will change our society helping pregnant women and families to improve health and child development.
Aimée Obanda was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She spent her high school years in Kenya where she attended Rift Valley Academy. After receiving her BFA in Theatre from Abilene Christian University in Texas, she moved to Nashville to pursue her music and theatre career. She then moved Nairobi, Kenya where she spent 12 years rescuing and rehabilitating street children as the Assistant Program Coordinator at Ahadi Boys Home. Aimée speaks English and Swahili. She loves to learn and has completed several certificate courses from Yale University and Berklee College of Music.
Bella is originally from Burundi but grew up in Kenya. She arrived in the USA in 2016 and was received by NICE. While in Kenya she attended ANGELINA JOLIE and MORNEAU SHAPELL primary and secondary school respectively, the only boarding schools for girls in refugees camps worldwide. She pursued her education in several fields, but was more interested in teaching HeadStart and becoming a foster parent. She then began her career by becoming a Daycare Teacher. She has attained TNDIDD1405 and many other foster parenting training and she was certified. Bella has always loved kids and wants to make a difference in her community and society at large.
Originally from Iraq, Esraa has a law degree from The University of Baghdad and several years of experience in the legal field. Her position in Iraq included mediating conflicts among parties to find solutions and appropriate agreements, investigating job disputes between employees, and working with compensation claims for company owners. She moved to the U.S. in 2019 and has worked in customer service since.
Hawzheen arrived in Nashville after living in Erbil, Iraq. She studied Biology and architecture design in Salahaden University and Cihan University. Hawzheen began as an ESL student in the adult education program and is so happy to be working at NICE and helping immigrants and refugees. She has two young children and enjoys visiting Long Hunter State Park with her family to hike, play on the playground and picnic. She speaks English, Arabic and Kurdish.
Zahra is from Afghanistan. She studied ACCA at American University in Kabul and has been in Nashville since October 2021. Zahra's reason for working with refugees is being a refugee herself and understanding the challenges. Zahra also enjoys telling people about the rights they have as refugees and supporting and empowering them to access these rights. She believes it's amazing to see people rebuilding their lives – finding a home and getting the benefits they need to heal from their trauma. Zahra speaks Dari/Farsi and English. In her free time she loves cooking, reading books and making puzzles.
Joyce is originally from South Sudan but studied in Kampala, Uganda until 2019 when she came to Nashville. She completed both her undergraduate and graduate schools from Tennessee State University where she received her degrees in Human Resource Management in 2021 and Master of Business Administration in 2023 respectively. Before coming to the US, Joyce served as the chairperson of for BASS Company for young talent where she managed and organized members on executing the day-to-day activities, she was also responsible for purchasing, marketing and direct sales of company merchandise. She also served at Nile Freight Customs Company, Peter and Sons Company, Mengo Scripture Union as the chairperson as well. She received awards for the following: Women Empowerment Mentor Program as Vice President 2017, Bugema South Sudanese Association as President 2018, Evangelism Ministries Awards and so much more. While in Nashville, Joyce has worked with the following: Square Medical Supply as Office Assistant Manager, KharisCare as a caregiver, Wilson Sporting Goods as an associate. These positions had given her the opportunities to serve others as well gaining experiences on how to deal with different people with different backgrounds and needs.
Christina was born and raised in Nashville, TN. She attended and graduated from Belmont University with her B.S in Psychology. Her educational background gave her a solid foundation in data analysis and research methods. Christina has experience working in mental health care and decided to transition to NICE where she currently serves as the MIHOW Data Analyst.
Waldina is originally from Honduras. She received her certificate as a Patient Access Specialist from Des Moines Area Community College in the state of Iowa. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2021 and received her certificate as a Bilingual Banker with Catholic Charities.
Chair: Muna Muday, PhD Can. MPH | Vanderbilt University
Vice Chair/Secretary: John Ujwok, MA, MPH, PhD Can. | University of Tennessee
Treasurer: LeLann Evans | LeLann for President, LLC
Past Chair: Rosemary Lokule | Self-Employed
Alex Sekwat, Ph.D. | Tennessee State University
Veronica Calvin | Lifepoint
Malick Gaye | Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
President/CEO: Dr. Gatluak Ter Thach | NICE
Advisory Members
Hala Alaw
Nuha Alaw
Andrea Ayers
Asrar Babikir
Bruce Buchanan
Chuol Both
Emilio Cueto
Joseph Dickson
Mahmoud Eltighani, PhD
Mohamed Shukri Hassan
Casey McKeon
Tom Negri
Jeff Pack
Anatina Sharma
Dr. Stan Thangaraj
William Thompson, MD
