Board of Directors

• Annie Pforzheimer

  Board Chair

  A retired career diplomat from the U.S. Department of State, Annie Pforzheimer is a Senior Non-Resident Associate at CSIS, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a public commentator on foreign policy. She was the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan and Deputy Chief of Mission in Kabul, one of the largest U.S. embassies in the world. Her thirty-year diplomatic career focused on security, rule of law, and human rights policy, and included working in the National Security Council on Central American migration. She was the Director of the $700 million security assistance program in Mexico and the lead human rights officer in Turkey and South Africa. Annie received the State Department’s 2001 recognition for human rights reporting, as well as numerous Honor Awards. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the National Defense University, and speaks Spanish.

• Sofia Jelanizada DeBlanc

  Treasurer

  Sofia Jelanizada DeBlanc is a distinguished leader with experience in Federal consulting, audit, risk, and compliance. Her strategic acumen in federal consulting and financial assurance has been demonstrated time and again as she successfully navigated complex regulatory landscapes, managed intricate engagements, and developed comprehensive solutions tailored to unique U.S Federal Government client needs. Beyond her technical background, Sofia champions diversity and inclusion, creating environments where all members can excel. As a mentor, she has built and guided high-performing teams, ensuring their continuous professional growth. With a rich international auditing experience that spans multiple countries coupled with a decade of Federal consulting, Sofia brings a unique local and global perspective. Her dedication to education and self-improvement is evident from her academic achievements, and her multilingual capabilities further enrich her contributions.

  On a personal note, Sofia was born in Afghanistan, raised in Pakistan and made her way to the US through a scholarship program in 2006. She is a graduate of University of Richmond, a licensed CPA and a Senior Manager at one of the Big 4. She is married and raising their two toddler girls in Northern VA. If she is not working, she is an avid mom at heart.

• Leslie Genier Cunningham

  Secretary

  Leslie Genier Cunningham is a board member of Women for Afghan Women and the Aschiana Foundation. As a diplomatic spouse in US Embassy postings in Afghanistan, Israel, Hong Kong, Sweden, the United Nations New York, and NATO Brussels, Leslie Genier Cunningham has been an advocate for women’s and children’s issues for many years. She worked at the US Embassy in Kabul for two years in Public Affairs where she managed a multitude of programs to advance women’s capacity for leadership, economic development, and education. During that time in Afghanistan, Leslie became acquainted with the work of Women for Afghan Women. After seeing first-hand how WAW’s programs changed the lives of women and children, Leslie became an enthusiastic supporter of the organization’s valuable work. Inspired by the strength and resiliency of Afghan women, she continues to be committed to help with their ongoing challenges. Leslie is a member of the US-Afghan Women’s Council. Her previous work experience was in advertising, retail management, and teaching. She has a B.A. from Syracuse University and an M.B.A. from American University in Washington.

• Yelda Ali

  Yelda Ali is a Brooklyn-based community organizer, storyteller, and author, dedicated to women’s safety and mental health advocacy. In her commitment to these causes, she has produced over 300 experiences internationally. In recent years, Yelda has become a voice of representation for the Afghan diaspora, sharing stories of her culture and upbringing.

• Nawa Arsala Lodin

  Nawa Arsala Lodin is a corporate attorney with Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLP and an activist who has served the Afghan-American community for more than 16 years. She previously worked for the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC, as well as several years for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions section. During her tenure as President of the George Washington University’s Afghan Student Association, Nawa organized several successful fundraising events for Afghanistan, including a walk-a-thon with Women for Afghan Women (WAW), a baby formula drive with the US-Afghan Women’s Council and a fundraising launch for the Smithsonian’s Turquoise Mountain exhibit. Nawa is passionate about empowering Afghan women and is proud to join WAW’s Board of Directors.

• Mariam Hotaki

  Mariam Hotaki works on content policy and online safety at Meta. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Mount Holyoke College and a MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. Mariam is Afghan-American and was born in Kabul. She has worked in media, research, international development, and tech in the US, Afghanistan, and Ireland. She has also written a book about transboundary water policy published in Farsi in Afghanistan. Mariam has written and worked extensively on advocacy for Afghan women and is honored to serve on the board of Women for Afghan Women.

• Teresa A. Merkle

  Teresa (Terry) A. Merkle is the owner of Paradigm Shift Worldwide, Inc. and Production & Special Events Services, Inc., event marketing and production companies in Los Angeles, California. Her client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies, to major Hollywood studios, internet companies and charities/non-profit organizations. Prior to this work, Terry began her career in theatre as the venue manager for The Nederlander Organiation’s Greek Theatre and Pantages Theatre. Returning to her roots, she recently co-founded Theatre for Humans, an arts and entertainment production company whose mission is “to give voice to stories that must be told.” It was through Theatre for Humans that Terry was first introduced to the remarkable work being done by Women for Afghan Women and has traveled to Afghanistan twice to witness their programs firsthand. She has written, directed and produced films focusing on women and girl’s human rights including “Afghanistan, Moving Forward” for the WAW 2015 Gala and website. She is honored to be part of the Women for Afghan Women family.

• Kathryn Good

  Kathryn Good currently works in the Department of Global Communications at the United Nations. She is a New York City-based professional who has senior leadership experience across educational and intergovernmental institutions. Kathryn has spent more than a dozen years working to support Afghan girls and women, teaching, mentoring, and developing educational and research programs, including the Impact Afghanistan project at Brown University’s Center for Digital Scholarship. Kathryn served on the school leadership team at PS 333 in Manhattan and volunteered with numerous professional associations and service organizations. Kathryn holds Master’s degrees from Boston University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond. She earned her K-12 teaching certificate at the University of Virginia and a certificate in higher education resource management at Wellesley College. Kathryn is proud to join WAW in this advisory role.

U.S. Leadership Team

• Dr. Susan Aryan Antolin

  Executive Director

  Dr. Susan Aryan Antolin is an accomplished Afghan American leader with a rich background and significant expertise in research, business and the nonprofit sector, program development, curriculum design, instruction, and  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). The daughter of Afghan refugees, Dr. Antolin’s commitment to equality and equity for Afghan girls and women is evident in her impactful work at the 30 Birds Foundation, where she developed and implemented programs supporting resettled community members in Canada and the United States and promoted educational initiatives for girls in Afghanistan.

  Dr. Antolin also co-founded Advancing Girls, providing research-based, data-driven tools for educators and mentors working with underrepresented communities, particularly K-12 girls. Her doctoral research at New York University focused on organizational culture, the future of work, and DEIB. As portfolio manager at the Fund for the City of New York, where she guided non-profit organizations in their growth and social impact initiatives. Throughout her career, Dr. Antolin has shown a deep passion for social betterment, frequently serving as a guest speaker at conferences and events focused on DEIB.

  Dr. Antolin brings to Women for Afghan Women a legacy of commitment to advancing social causes, along with her expertise in effective communication and team-building. Her authentic, collaborative style of leadership propels WAW in its mission to support and empower vulnerable communities, particularly women and girls, in Afghanistan and the United States.

• Naheed Samadi Bahram

  US Country Director

  Naheed Samadi Bahram and her family migrated to Pakistan after her mother was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. By the age of 18, Naheed was teaching English to Afghan women in Pakistan. She eventually moved to the United States where she graduated with a B.A. from Queens College. Naheed consistently has moved up the ranks at Women of Afghan Women (WAW) from a volunteer over 15 years ago, to Program Director of WAW’s NYCC, and today holds the position of the organization’s United States (US) Country Director. Serving on several boards and committees, Naheed is an adjunct professor at Queens College and has won a multitude of awards for her service to the community and to domestic violence survivors. She is a driving, visionary force that has spearheaded WAW’s success across all its operations.

• Gerald Broussard

  Human Resources & Administration Manager

  With a strong background in people relations, customer service, and staff training, Gerald Broussard brings a passion for supporting others and building positive workplace environments. As HR Manager at Women for Afghan Women (WAW), he is committed to serving and advocating for WAW staff, helping ensure they feel valued, supported, and empowered in their roles. Gerald is proud to contribute to the meaningful and impactful work that WAW carries out every day in support of women, families, and communities.

• Dr. Shah Maqsood

  Senior Advisor and Compliance Officer

  Dr. Shah Maqsood, a graduate of Faisalabad Medical University, has over two decades of experience in program management, compliance and humanitarian operations. Before joining Women for Afghan Women (WAW) in 2024, he led high-impact projects with multiple Afghan and International non-for-profit organizations, managing donor funds in healthcare, nutrition and emergency programs. His expertise in contracts and partnerships ensures effective, sustainable solutions in development and humanitarian sectors.

• Nataliia Skalii

  Finance Director

  Nataliia Skalii joined Women for Afghan Women’s (WAW’s) finance team in 2019. Born and raised in Ukraine, Nataliia received her master’s degree in Economics after completing her undergraduate studies. She moved to the United States with her family in 2015.

  Nataliia comes to WAW with extensive experience in accounting, auditing, and financial analysis in both the private and non-profit sectors. In Ukraine, she worked as auditor for an international public accounting firm, and worked as a financial analyst for one of the largest private agriculture companies in the country. Her U.S. experience prior to joining WAW includes working as a financial analyst/grant accountant with the Institute of International Education in New York.

• Dawn Ver Haagh

  Chief Growth Officer

  Dawn has 18 years of nonprofit development and marketing experience. As the Chief Growth Officer at WAW, Dawn leads fundraising, marketing, and strategic partnerships to expand the organization’s impact. With deep experience across nonprofit development, communications, and management, she has built her career connecting organizations with the communities they serve to drive visibility, engagement, and meaningful support. Prior to joining Women for Afghan Women, Dawn served as Vice President & General Manager of Fundraising and Vice President of Marketing at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where she led national growth strategies, revenue development, and integrated marketing campaigns. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to equity, collaboration, and building meaningful connections that drive lasting impact.

• Saima Mohammad

  NYCC Program Director

  Saima Mohammad is a physician, public health professional, and humanitarian leader whose career has been shaped by her early experiences as a refugee from Afghanistan. She earned her M.B.B.S. from Rawalpindi Medical College and later obtained a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Saima has held leadership, healthcare, and humanitarian roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, Jordan, and Zambia, supporting refugees, women, children, and vulnerable populations through public health, protection, and medical programming.

  Fluent in English, Pashto, Dari, Urdu, and Arabic, Saima currently serves as NYCC Program Director at Women for Afghan Women, where she leads programs supporting immigrant and refugee women, families, youth, and survivors of domestic violence through advocacy, case management, education, mental health initiatives, and community engagement.

  Her journey from refugee to physician, public health professional, and advocate reflects a lifelong commitment to service, dignity, and empowering vulnerable communities.

• Amanda Dombach

  VACC Program Director

  Amanda brings over 15 years of experience in social work, refugee resettlement, and grassroots community leadership. Her career has focused on supporting vulnerable communities particularly women, youth, and refugee families with compassion and cultural sensitivity. Before joining WAW, Amanda served in leadership roles at the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), overseeing case management, building partnerships, and leading programs in health, education, and wellness. Her approach is rooted in equity, collaboration, and community advocacy. Amanda has also led grassroots initiatives from establishing student libraries in Grenada to designing trauma-informed services for newcomer families in Northern Virginia. She holds a Master of Social Work in Social Innovation and Leadership from Boston College and a Bachelor of Social Work from Temple University.

• Sanam Ghandehari

  Esq. Senior Immigration Attorney

  Sanam Ghandehari is the Senior Immigration Attorney at Women for Afghan Women (WAW), overseeing legal services at both the New York and Virginia Community Centers. A New York-licensed attorney, she has been representing immigrants for over five years, specializing in asylum law, family-based immigration, removal defense, and humanitarian relief. Since joining WAW in March 2022, Sanam has provided high-quality legal representation to more than 6,000 Afghan refugees and asylum seekers before USCIS and immigration courts nationwide, achieving near 100% success and approval rate. Many of her clients, particularly those she represented in the early days following the fall of Kabul, have secured permanent residency and reunited with their families in the U.S. Sanam is deeply committed to human rights and pro bono legal services, believing that pro bono representation is essential to bridging the gap in the legal system and ensuring fair due process for everyone, regardless of their financial background. Throughout her career, she has primarily represented progressive Afghan women, including former police officers, prosecutors, women rights lawyers, and activists, all of whom have faced persecution for their commitment to justice and equality. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Sanam earned her Master’s degree in Law from Tehran University before obtaining her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Minnesota Law School. She remains dedicated to advocating for immigrants and ensuring their access to justice.