SANAR INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Community Resiliency Specialist, MSW, LSW
Job Titles:
- Resiliency Specialist, MSW, LSW
Amber joined Sanar in 2023 and serves as a Resiliency Specialist. Amber is the lead clinician in Sanar's partnership with the Essex County Family Justice Center where she provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence as well as interpersonal violence. She is a strong believer in individuality and providing survivors with a safe space to express their emotions and process their experiences. Amber's approach is client centered and focuses on empowering survivors throughout their healing journey.
Amber received a Bachelor of Social Work at Centenary University and in 2020 she graduated from Rutgers University with a Master's in Social Work with a specialty in Violence Against Women and Children. Amber has experience providing individual therapy to children and adolescents who have experienced complex traumas.
Amber is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as well as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). For self-care and nourishment Amber enjoys spending time with her pets, being in nature and getting creative or crafty.
Anne Marie Bramnick is a former family court judge of Superior Court for New Jersey and former prosecutor and is a passionate and fierce advocate for families needing assistance in the legal system.
Anne Marie specializes in all legal matters involving domestic violence, custodial issues, parenting time, and divorce, especially when an imbalance of power or other forms of abuse are present. Anne Marie brings her non-profit and volunteer background to her legal practice to give families a unique perspective coupled with her delicate handling of family law matters that also involve dynamics of substance abuse, narcissistic abuse, and emotional and financial control. As a co-founder of the Family Justice Center in Union County as well as a current board member for Monmouth Medical Center Hospital, the Sanar Institute, and other community organizations serving families in this State, the entire health and safety of the family she is working with through the legal system is a top priority to her in each case. Following a clerkship in Superior Court Criminal and Chancery Divisions, Anne Marie served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Union County for years where she restructured Domestic Violence prosecution and law enforcement for the County and twenty-three police departments as the Domestic Violence Supervisor. While working as an Assistant Prosecutor, Anne Marie also tried to conclusion many jury trials and bench trial, thereby becoming a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court in less than ten years of practicing law. Anne Marie has also handled many cases before the Appellate Division prior to taking the bench as a Superior Court judge in the Family Division in 2018 to 2020. After sitting as a judge, Anne Marie realized she could use her skills and passion more effectively in directly helping more families as an attorney in private practice
Anthony Buonpane brings over 30 years of small business and nonprofit experience to his consulting business and is recognized as a leader in his field. He has managed financial and company development for social service and affordable housing organizations. Anthony is certified and highly qualified in accounting software, fundraising, and database management. Currently, he is consulting with businesses to enhance their financial and operational performance. By designing comprehensive controls, processes, and systems, he offers his clients fiscal peace of mind.
Job Titles:
- Financial Executive
- Treasurer of the Board
Cory Douglas is a seasoned financial executive with nearly 30 years of expertise. Cory has deep experience with founder-led emerging, high-growth technologies and operating cultures, having led global teams in finance and accounting, investor relations, treasury, budgeting, and regulatory compliance.
Over the last 15+ years, Dr. Luca has had the opportunity to train, work, teach, and lead in multiple settings including: academic medicine, forensic psychiatry, community mental health, and the private sector.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Resiliency Specialist, MSW, LSW
Ivonne Vides, LSW, (She/Her) serves as a Bilingual Resiliency Specialist at Sanar Institute. Ivonne obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University and her Master's degree at Rutgers School of Social Work.
Ivonne is committed to providing direct services that honor and integrate the various aspects and needs of each individual in their healing progress. Ivonne recognizes that certain communities such as the LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, Refugees, and BIPOC communities often face different challenges and as such she aims to provide services that are culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed. Overall, Ivonne is passionate about working with individuals by holding space for them to explore their own strengths and power in their path to healing.
During her free time, Ivonne enjoys reading, watching movies, and doing various arts and crafts. She also loves spending time with her cat, Franny.
Jessica Mora joined Sanar Institute in 2018 and currently serves as the Clinical Director of the Wellness Center. In this role, Jessica supports the Wellness Center development and growth while ensuring implementations of person-centered approaches for the individuals accessing services at Sanar. As a parallel process, Jessica maintains a supportive and trauma-informed environment virtually and in-person for staff, individuals impacted by gender-based violence, and community members.
Jessica defines her clinical approach as being a guide who navigates the clinical space as permitted by the individual engaging in therapy. In the therapeutic space, Jessica brings transparency, care, social justice focused healing, and acknowledgement of all factors impacting individuals in their journey to heal and thrive. Jessica's approach is informed by the intersectionality and liberation psychology theories. Jessica believes in equitable access to therapeutic support both within the therapeutic alliance and community spaces.
Jessica identifies as a cisgender woman of color with strong ties to the lands of South America. She wants to continue in her journey to ensure access to healing practices and resources. In her own healing journey, Jessica enjoys intentionally connecting with nature and all four elements, and manual related activities.
Jessica Mora graduated from New Jersey City University (NJCU) in 2010 with a Bachelor's in Political Science and History. She graduated with a Master's in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2012 with a focus on Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming. Jessica has a decade of professional experience in addressing gender-based violence within institutions, community, families, and individuals. Jessica's training and certifications include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), TF-CBT, play and expressive art therapy, and Trauma Conscious Yoga Method (TCYM).
Job Titles:
- Resiliency Specialist, LSW
Joselyn Chavez joined the Sanar team in 2022 as a Part-Time Resiliency Specialist. As a Resiliency Specialist, Joselyn provides individual therapeutic services to a diverse community of individuals impacted by gender based violence.
Joselyn is passionate about supporting individuals through their healing journeys, and promoting trauma-informed and person-centered approaches throughout the process. She believes that healing from one's trauma is a right that everyone should have the opportunity to access.
Joselyn has extensive experience working with individuals who have experienced complex trauma and immigrant populations. Prior to Sanar, Joselyn worked with individuals impacted by human trafficking in a legal capacity. She supported individuals throughout their legal cases and assured that they were heard in these spaces. Joselyn also has a background in forensic social work, working specifically with parents who have concurrent criminal and family law cases.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society at Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Master of Social Work at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, Joselyn focused on clinical social work and received a certificate in Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), which was a program that focused on addressing interpersonal and gender-based violence.
Outside of work, Joselyn enjoys working out and going on outdoor runs to clear her mind. She also loves travelling and learning about different cultures.
Job Titles:
- Senior Wellness Specialist
Juli Vergoni (she/her) joined the team at Sanar Institute as Senior Wellness Specialist in January 2023
where she provides training and support for individuals, organizations and communities that have
Juli is a graduate of Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service with a concentration in
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Trustee
Ms. Keisel leads a diverse team in both the provision of direct trauma-conscious and person-centered services for individuals and communities impacted by interpersonal trauma while overseeing national and global capacity strengthening efforts to build trauma-specific care. She works at the local, national and global level to ensure individuals, organizations, and communities have the necessary tools to build empowered lives in the aftermath of traumatic events.
Ms. Keisel has over fifteen years of experience working in the anti-trafficking field in direct services within the United States, Latin America, West Africa and South Asia. Prior to founding Sanar, she served as the Director of Polaris New Jersey working to expand comprehensive services for individuals impacted by all forms of human trafficking. Ms. Keisel has also worked in Central Mexico supporting individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and exploitation.
Ms. Keisel holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies with a focus on human rights in Latin America and a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work with a focus on complex trauma. She holds post-graduate training certificates in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and has participated in training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Sensory-Based Modalities.
Ms. Keisel's work is informed by her own lived experience with complex trauma healing, clinical training, and years of working with hundreds of individuals on their own healing journey. She believes that every individual should have the opportunity to heal in their own way, at their own pace, and have access to the resources that foster resilience, inspire hope, and allow each person to build a life of their choosing.
Kate is Chief Executive Officer of Sanar Institute, where she leads a diverse team in both the provision of direct trauma-conscious and person-centered services for individuals and communities impacted by interpersonal trauma while overseeing national and global capacity strengthening efforts to build trauma-specific care.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Experience Program Manager at FDE LLC D / B / a Ashley
Lucia Field is the Sr. Culture and Experience Program Manager at FDE LLC d/b/a Ashley in Edison, New Jersey. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University, specializing in Management and Policy, and also possesses a certificate in Violence Against Women and Children.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Senior Fellow at the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice
Michael Greene is a Senior Fellow at the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, specializing in evidence-based prevention and policy strategies regarding youth, school and family violence.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- President of the Board
Michael Noriega is a partner with Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas & Woodruff in Scotch Plains, NJ, where he leads the immigration section and assists in the management of the criminal section.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Resiliency Specialist, MSW, LSW
- Specialist
Mildred Olivo-Soto is a Bilingual Resiliency Specialist at Sanar Institute. She is eager to offer direct services to individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma and supports the idea that healing is a unique journey for each individual.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice with Rutgers University, she had the opportunity to provide educational resources and emotional support to families within Essex County. Through home visitation services, she identified the importance of advocating for women and children in the Spanish speaking community who may face different vulnerabilities.
Mildred completed her MSW with Rutgers University and was able to offer advocacy and case management support to women impacted by domestic violence. Mildred continues to be passionate about highlighting individuals' strengths to further empower communities through the use of practices that focus on extending compassion.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Trustee
- Lead Training Coordinator
Ms. Pannepacker Osorio has served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Sanar Institute since 2015 and has a robust background in building functional and sustainable managerial practice in complex institutions. In her current role she oversees Sanar‘s training institute with a specific focus on organizational and company wellness. In addition, she works to build high level management solutions at an operational level to ensure streamlined support for survivor services and the Sanar staff. She also works with survivors of interpersonal violence through high level case advocacy with a specific focus on survivors of interpersonal violence from Central and South America.
Jenna has served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Sanar Institute since 2015 and has a robust background in building functional and sustainable managerial practice in complex institutions.
After working as a Program Director at Fountain House for 12 years, Nancy Young is currently the Director of a new initiative called the OnRamps program.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Chief Impact Officer
Sarah Lott has served as the Chief Impact Officer of the Sanar Institute since January 2023, and was previously Sanar's Deputy Director. In her current role, she oversees the day to day functions of the Wellness Center in Newark, NJ including staff management, community outreach, workshop and training facilitation, partnership cultivation and coalition building. With more than a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, Sarah is deeply committed to social justice and equity. Sarah holds a Master of Public Administration - Nonprofit Management from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Ramapo College of New Jersey.