FAMILY REPRESENTATIVES

Malorie Clemens, homestudy processing manager, graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor of arts in psychology in spring 2005. Malorie has five years of experience as a preschool teacher and plans to pursue graduate studies in counseling for children, perhaps with a focus on adoption training. She is the oldest of three children in her Olympia, Wash., family, who adopted her when she was three days old. While adopting privately, Malorie’s parents frequently consulted with WACAP during their search for her, a circle she completed by coming to work for the agency in March 2007.

Leslie Dobias, homestudy processing coordinator, has been connected with WACAP for the past 15 years. In addition to being a busy mother of five children (three of whom were adopted from India), she works with her husband in their family business, Illusionz, a highly awarded magic entertainment center in Issaquah, Washington. In her spare time, Leslie keeps track of the more than 2 tons of in-kind donations of clothing, toys and medical supplies that are delivered to needy children each year! WACAP often depends on Leslie’s magic ability to pack a “grow-bag” of donations utilizing every cubic centimeter available.

Meg Alley, homestudy processing coordinator, grew up in Montana and attended Southern Oregon University, where she majored in English. She recently moved to Seattle from Cleveland, where she worked for an environmental advocacy group and as a fundraiser for the Cleveland Orchestra. Meg enjoys reading, classic movies, baseball, sarcasm and politics.

Family Finders

Jo Reed, supervising waiting child case manager, is an adoptive mother of children from India and Russia. She brings a diverse background to WACAP that includes healing arts, teaching, business, sales, and social work. She has combined social services with her theatre education for work with homeless teenagers, a program for Tulalip Tribes youth, and sexual abuse prevention education for elementary students. She brings more than 10 years of adoption experience to her work with families.

Lynne Mason, Family Finders recruitment specialist, is thrilled to live in the Northwest after residing in the Midwest and on the East Coast. She has an advanced degree in psychology and a background in psycho-physiological research and teaching. Meeting her adopted niece, Christine, deeply inspired her to join WACAP. Lynne loves hiking, native plants, birding and sailing the magnificent Pacific Northwest.

Beth Harnett, waiting child case manager, has more than 10 years of child placement experience as a social worker for the State of Washington. Beth received a B.A. from Western Washington University in sociology and an M.A. from Antioch University in education. Her family has also recently adopted a girl from China.

Spring Hecht is the director of WACAP's Family Finders Team. A Korean adoptee, she graduated from Columbia University with a master's degree in international social work, and has a strong commitment to improving the lives of women, children and families all over the world. Spring has lived in various parts of the country, as well as overseas in Cameroon as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. She enjoys spending her free time reading, hiking, traveling and spending time with her husband and son.

Janet Anderson is the Family Finders Program Information Specialist. With a degree in visual communications education from Western Washington University, Janet has put her expertise to work in the fields of marketing, public relations, event management and publishing in the Seattle area. Being a member of a large extended family that includes adopted kids and children with special needs, she greatly values her family’s love and affection for every child. Gardening, boating and family gatherings are passions she shares with her husband and 4-year-old son.

ASIA

Since 1991, Mary Moo, vice president, international adoptions, has had the joy of bringing families and children together through international adoption. During these years she has coordinated adoptions in China, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, India, Korea, the Philippines and Romania. Mary comes to the adoption field with a bachelor of arts degree in international relations and many family members who have joined her immediate and extended family through adoption. In her time outside of WACAP she is the proud parent of two children by birth and one child by adoption.

China Adoptions

Bixin Huang, China development director and WACAP staff member since 1995, received his Ph.D. in East Asian history with a minor in international relations in 1994 from Michigan State University. Born and raised near Guangzhou, China, Bixin first traveled to the United States in 1988 as a Fulbright graduate student from the University of Sun Yat-sen, where he taught history. Having grown up in China and been a professor there provides Bixin with important insight into the matters that impact orphaned Chinese children and those who are responsible for them. Bixin serves as a bridge between WACAP and the authorities in China, providing guidance to WACAP’s cooperation with the China Center of Adoption Affairs in working for Chinese children and American families.

Alicia Akins is WACAP's China adoption supervisor. She is thrilled to be working with parents growing their families through adoption. After graduating with an international affairs degree and studies in geopolitics and sociology, she directed her child advocacy energies for special education students at Mercer Island High School. Alicia joyfully accepts her wanderlust and is eager to add Italy and Greece to her travels.

Linda Holman, China adoption case manager, was born in Indonesia and raised in Sweden. Her parents spent one year in Indonesia and adopted Linda at 5 months old. After high school, Linda decided to move to Washington state to pursue a degree in journalism. She attended Green River Community College and Pacific Lutheran University. Linda has always had an open heart toward adoption and helping children in need. She enjoys traveling and exploring the Pacific Northwest together with her husband, son and two Dobermans.

Yu Ping Kuang is a China adoption case manager and assistant to the China development director. She was born and raised in China’s Guangdong Province, and moved to the United States at 14. Because of the help she received as an immigrant, Yu Ping has chosen a career that allows her to give back to the community. She has worked as a certified medical interpreter in clinical settings, and was a project interviewer for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She has also volunteered for the Chinese Information and Service Center and the Wing Luke Asian Museum. Yu Ping holds B.A. degrees in sociology and American ethnic studies in the University of Washington.

Rachel Green is WACAP’s adoption programs assistant. She was thrilled to start 2008 by joining the WACAP team. She has long had an interest in children’s issues and adoption in particular, having close family members who were adopted. She has a background in Soviet history and wrote a dissertation on Soviet orphans during World War II. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends—especially her three nieces—and her cat, Claudio. She hopes to adopt from Russia in the future.

India Adoptions

Elana Roschy, India adoption manager, recently earned her master's degree in social work from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her studies focused on working with children with special health care needs. Raised on the East Coast, she moved to Seattle, by way of Alaska, with her husband and chocolate lab to attend school. Elana has embraced the Pacific Northwest as her new home and loves to take advantage of the numerous hikes in the area.

Korea Adoptions

Natalia Powers is WACAP's Korea adoption manager. She was born in Chicago and moved to Seattle, where she earned a degree from University of Washington in anthropology with a minor in international/South Asian studies.

Natalia has also worked for WACAP's India adoption program, where she helped to coordinate adoptions of children like Sraboni, with whom she's pictured here. In addition, Natalia serves as WACAP's compliance and improvement coordinator. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in biocultural anthropology. Her interests include world travel, dancing, clothing design/sewing, performance art, computers, biology/evolution, kayaking, hiking and biking.

Thailand Adoptions

Andrea Carruthers, Thailand adoption manager, was born in Washington but has spent significant time in Germany, her parents’ native land. After graduating with a bachelor of arts in international studies from the University of Washington, she spent a year working for the U.S. and German governments. In 2000, Andrea received her master’s in business administration, with a focus on nonprofit work, from the University of Nyenrode in the Netherlands. She’s spent the last few years in the both the financial and education fields. She now enjoys caring for her young son, mountaineering, international travel and gardening.

Vietnam Adoptions

Elizabeth Rose, Ethiopia adoption co-manager and Vietnam adoption manager, Elizabeth has always been interested in child welfare and international relations. She has volunteered for several organizations in the United States (including AmeriCorps), teaching and assisting immigrants and refugees. She holds a B.A. in sociology and anthropology from St. Mary's College of Maryland. Several members of Elizabeth's family were adopted, and she hopes to be an adoptive parent someday. She enjoys bicycling, photography and gardening.

EUROPE

Mary K. Duncan, vice president, development and communication, began working for WACAP as a volunteer assisting caregivers in Romanian orphanages. Since 1993, she’s worked in WACAP adoptions, with the Family Finders Team recruiting families for waiting children, and as director of development. Mary K. has a bachelor's degree in Asian studies, is the mother of two children and the proud auntie to two nieces adopted from India.

Russia Adoptions

Jamie Herlich, Eastern Europe regional manager, has lived in the Northwest for most of her life and loves the weather and nature. Her natural affinity for and experience with children contributes to her enthusiasm for the work done at WACAP; she has built very meaningful personal relationships with adopted children, which contributes to her strong support and advocacy of adoption. Jamie is an active member of the Seattle musical theatre community and enjoys a variety of other extracurricular activities, including singing, reading, hiking, playing on local coed sports teams and spending time with her friends and family.

Hailee Stewart, Russia adoption case manager, graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in sociology and a minor in psychology. She has volunteered many years in multiple nonprofit organizations and has always been focused on helping children, both directly and indirectly. Born and raised in Washington, Hailee loves spending time with her family, especially her twin sister. She also enjoys photography, scrapbooking, shopping and playing with her cocker spaniel.

Jessica McPherson, adoption programs assistant, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Washington in Seattle. Jessica has a passion for nonviolent activism and healthy families. Before coming to WACAP she worked with survivors of domestic violence, families in crisis and sexual minorities. Away from work, Jessica writes with the Bent Writing Institute, sails around the Puget Sound and enjoys traveling.

United States

Claire Scranton, US Kids adoption supervisor, has worked for more than 30 years in social work, including 20 years completing homestudies and adoptions of children with special needs for the State of Washington. She has enjoyed continuing this work with a private agency with such a strong focus on working for the welfare of older kids. She loves the diversity of families who seek to adopt older children from foster care, and is excited to assist them in this process. Away from work, Claire enjoys gardening, traveling, reading and a variety of handcrafts.

Megan Cook Nikiema, African-American infant adoption supervisor and Ethiopia adoption co-manager, graduated from Seattle University with a degree in applied social work and criminal justice. She recently returned from Burkina Faso, West Africa, where she served two years with the Peace Corps as a community health educator in a small rural village. Re-entering the United States has given Megan a new perspective and energized her to continue advocating for families. Megan is thrilled to be part of the WACAP community and hopes to be an adoptive parent herself. She also coordinates WACAP's Ethiopia adoptions.

Liz Richards, African-American infant adoption case manager, grew up in Anacortes, Washington. Liz earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Her time abroad in Thailand, along with a year in AmeriCorps, has fed her passion for social service. She enjoys reading, writing, running and music.

Carol Mooney, US Kids recruitment specialist, has many years of experience as a teacher, working with children and parents in a variety of nonprofit educational settings. She knows the tremendous impact families have on children’s lives. Carol is eager to use her skills at WACAP to help waiting U.S. children find permanent homes with loving adoptive families. Carol enjoys volunteering with her church, reading, walking, photography and being with friends and family.

Joel Neier, US Kids adoption case manager, comes to WACAP with over 20 years of nonprofit social service experience. Over the course of his career, Joel served as the associate director of the Seattle Jewish Family Service and as the executive director of Epilepsy Foundation Northwest. Among his many accomplishments, Joel is most proud of his work to establish the first group homes in Seattle to serve the needs of Jewish adults with chronic and acute mental illness. A WACAP dad himself, Joel states: “Coming to work at WACAP feels like coming home. It is a though a circle has been completed.” Joel is the proud dad of David, 23 (adopted from Honduras), and Aaron, 20 (adopted from Colombia through WACAP). Joel, a native of New York City, is an avid baseball fan and still plays on two softball teams during the spring and summer.

Social Services

Karen Whitgrove is WACAP's assistant vice president of social services. She has 26 years of experience working with adoptive parents, adoptees and birth parents and with counseling clients. Karen has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in early childhood development. She has traveled to Korea several times representing WACAP. Karen enjoys the many opportunities she has to work with parents and children who are brought together through adoption.

Becky Dion grew up in Connecticut, and has also lived in Colorado and Washington. She has a grown daughter and is a stepparent to two daughters, who are also now adults. Becky earned her bachelor’s degree in social welfare from the University of Southern Connecticut and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. She has been a practicing social worker for over 34 years, including work in protective services, crisis intervention, foster care and adoption. She has worked in the field of international adoption for over 20 years. She is also a licensed social worker in the state of Washington. Becky leads a support group at WACAP for single adoptive parents, in addition to her work with families throughout their adoption process.

Mary Ann Curran, vice president, social services, has worked for 12 years in international and domestic placements at WACAP. She has served as an adoption coordinator and Family Finders team member, and is now WACAP's director of social services. She also has 11 years of experience with permanency planning for foster care placements. "I switched careers from teaching because I saw that adoption made lasting and incredible improvement in the well-being of children," she says. Mary Ann holds master’s degrees in education and counseling from Johns Hopkins and Antioch. Her four children are adopted.

Zia Freeman, adoption counselor, has been with WACAP since 1999. She has an MA in behavioral science, with experience as a marriage and family therapist. She is licensed in the state of Washington as a mental health counselor. Zia is an animal enthusiast, and enjoys her Chow Chow dogs and her many adopted cats. She has worked for several years with children and parents in foster care and adoption, and in addition to doing training, homestudies and postplacement visits, Zia facilitates a monthly support group for parents adopting older children.

Elaine Cordova, WACAP social worker, provides homestudy services to families in Alaska. She is a lifelong Alaskan with over 22 years of adoption experience, including writing homestudies as well as providing education to families on a multitude of topics in the adoption field. Elaine received her B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Chico, and her MA in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Louisiana. She has four children and is currently a member of the American Counseling Association. Elaine has served on both the Adoption Rules Committee for the State of Alaska and on the Marriage and Family Therapists Board.

Sue Koentopp, social worker, was born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, and has lived in Spokane with her husband for over 30 years. Sue earned her bachelor of arts in social work/sociology in 1973 and her master’s in social work in 1985 from Eastern Washington University. She has worked in adoption since 1991, after becoming an adoptive mother in 1986 to a little boy of 7 from Washington state. Sue formerly operated a small private agency, conducting homestudies and postplacement reports for domestic and international adoptions. She began working with WACAP in 2003, and by 2006 had closed her agency to devote her time and career to WACAP's eastern Washington families. Her hobbies are volunteering, self-improvement, tending to her roses, and reading historical novels.

Judith Hurlburt, WACAP social worker, provides homestudy services in Alaska. Judith is a longtime resident of Anchorage, Alaska, and is the mother of Joy, who was adopted from China in 1995. Judith received her bachelor's degree from the University of Denver in elementary education and sociology, a master's degree in special education from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and an administrative certificate from the same university. She has taught children in kindergarten through sixth grade, and worked closely with their parents. As an administrator, Judith directed a five-year training project for the Anchorage School District's 1,100 elementary teachers. She is a member of Families with Children from China, serves on the Board of Directors of the Alaska Chinese Association and helped lead an effort to begin a Mandarin Chinese language immersion school in Anchorage. Judith has worked as adoption advocate since 1995 and as a homestudy writer since 2003. She loves outdoor activities, reading, gardening and traveling.

Steve Sutton, Oregon social worker , holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. He has worked his entire career with foster care and adoptive families. He’s a licensed independent clinical social worker and a registered counselor in Washington, and a licensed clinical social worker in Oregon. Steve is the full-time director of mental health services for Multnomah County Corrections Health, and contracts with WACAP to perform homestudies in the evenings and on weekends. He finds it rewarding to work with families beginning their journey toward adoption, and feels fortunate to help WACAP match children with loving families in Oregon and southwest Washington.

Jim Vevang is the social worker for Russian and US Kids adoptions. Prior to working at WACAP, he spent 30 years as a social worker for The Casey Family Programs supporting youth and families in long-term foster care. He was also a probation officer for the King County Juvenile Court for a few years. He was born in Brooklyn and lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota before finding his way out to the Seattle area. He has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington. He and his wife are the parents of two children and the grandparents of four. Jim is pleased to be on a team with such dedicated people doing great work.

Kate Shchetnikova, WACAP social worker, provides homestudy and postplacement services to families. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in cultural anthropology and has several years of experience working in various children’s programs. She also worked as a case manager for the State of Washington in Child Welfare Services, which entailed working with abused and neglected children and foster/adoptive families. Kate has traveled to over 13 countries within Europe and several times to Russia, where she met and married a Russian native. She most enjoys time with her husband and child and feels fortunate to have a job in which she can blend her love of foreign cultures with helping others to build their families.

Camilla Brooks, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and holds advanced degrees from New York University and Columbia University. She is a homestudy specialist and an adoptive mother. She also has a private psychotherapy practice in New York City with areas of specialty in post-traumatic stress disorder, and healing impacts and stored effects of trauma, neglect, loss and abuse. In trauma treatment, she is an advanced-level trainee in somatic experiencing, and is a certified practitioner in EMDR. She also provides adoption counseling and has developed and led groups on stress management and parenting issues, among others.

Adoption social worker Connie Mancini Haack, LCSW, MSW, has conducted adoption homestudies for families for the past 20 years. She is a regular speaker at adoption meetings and conferences on adoption. She has also been a social worker for a local social service agency working in foster care, residential treatment center care and adoption, and has worked in the fields of adolescent counseling, psychotherapy and parent support/education groups. Connie is a member of the National Association of Social Workers Academy of Certified Social Workers and has a certificate in family therapy.

Child Assistance

Elmer Wagner, sponsorship volunteer, has volunteered for three years in WACAP’s Child Assistance Department. He drives 60 miles to our office every week, except when he’s leading tour groups abroad. He works primarily with child sponsors, mailing them updates, photographs and letters from their sponsored children. He posts the information in our databases and keeps the files up to date. On occasion, he also translates from Russian to English. He is a retired director of counseling from Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Washington, where he taught for 35 years.

Communication

Mary K. Duncan, vice president, development and communication, began working for WACAP as a volunteer assisting caregivers in Romanian orphanages. Since 1993, she’s worked in WACAP adoptions, with the Family Finders Team recruiting families for waiting children, and as director of development. Mary K. has a bachelor's degree in Asian studies, is the mother of two children and the proud auntie to two nieces adopted from India.

Martin Stillion, Webmaster, joined our staff after working on several WACAP projects as a freelancer. Martin holds a B.A. in journalism from Seattle Pacific University and enjoys making music in his spare time. His youngest brother is adopted.

Sasha Shchetnikov, communication assistant, is a Russian native married to a U.S. citizen. He holds a master's degree in intercultural communications and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Washington. He speaks Russian, English and French, and is certified as a medical and social services interpreter by the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services. Sasha has six years of PR and communication experience for government and private employers. He works part-time for WACAP and also works as a freelance interpreter/translator.

Lindsay Dygert, WACAP’s communication editor, graduated from Willamette University with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in art history. While in school, Lindsay interned with several nonprofits and spent a year studying abroad in Egypt and France, which cemented her interest in perpetuating global compassion. In her free time Lindsay enjoys razor clamming, crossword puzzles, traveling, being outside and occasionally reenacting Civil War battles with her father.

Julie Snyder is WACAP’s communication manager. With a degree in public relations from Central Washington University, Julie has worked at a variety of nonprofits, including Seafair, the Museum of Flight and the Children’s Museum of Denver. For 15 years she has specialized in the areas of communications and event management, and most recently managed the grassroots advocacy program at The Children’s Hospital in Denver. Born and raised in Seattle, Julie is thrilled to be back in the Pacific Northwest. She currently enjoys beachcombing and playing with her two dogs, and looks forward to adopting a child from China in the future.

Development

Wilson Abbott is WACAP's development coordinator. After a 25-year career as a computer programmer in the ski industry, he's enjoying being on the "user" side of the computer world.

Wilson is the father of three adopted children and an official member of the extended WACAP family. He appreciates the opportunity to have a direct impact on children's lives.

He's an avid windsurfer and musician, having played Dobro in a number of bands on Vashon Island, where he has lived with his family for 30 years. In their spare time Wilson and his family enjoy hiking, skiing, boating and traveling.

Irina Vodonos, grant writer, moved to Seattle from New York City, where she worked at the Rainforest Alliance, an environmental nonprofit organization. Irina graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in Russian regional studies and environmental policy, and holds a certificate in fundraising management from the University of Washington. Irina was born in Moscow, Russia. Her interests include good books, music and art, as well as traveling and camping with her husband, a native of the beautiful Lake Baikal region in Siberia.

Staff Support Services

Becky Kent-Dobias, database administrator, began her work with WACAP as a volunteer. She has two adopted children through WACAP, a son from India and a daughter from Korea. Becky has 11 years of database development and software training experience. She has a B.A. in information systems management from Washington State University.

Sharon King, executive assistant, spent most of her career life in the corporate world, but now says she has found her “home” in the nonprofit sector and is very proud to be a part of WACAP. She says: "I have always been a strong advocate of children. I believe that families are the backbone of society, but children are the heart. Just to be a part of a wonderful organization that improves the lives of our children is very energizing and adds a positive force to my life."

Kelly Pinkston, accounting assistant, moved to Washington from the East Coast. Kelly is attending Renton Technical College, pursuing a career in office management. Kelly loves shopping and spending time with her wonderful children, Kelsi and Miguel.

Stephanie Perkal, executive assistant to the CEO, has worked for WACAP since 2004 and is dedicated to international children’s issues. Stephanie is a published writer, a photographer and the author of a multicultural children’s book. Stephanie’s dream has always been to adopt from Russia, the country her ancestors emigrated from, and she is looking forward to adopting a Russian child (or two!) in the near future.

Administration

Lillian Thogersen, president and chief executive officer, began volunteering for WACAP in 1976 while her husband served on WACAP's founding Board of Directors. Following his term, Ms. Thogersen served on the Board for six years, three as president. During that period she also served on the Washington State Governor's Committee for Adoption, assigned to create new adoption legislation, which passed into state law. As a strong advocate for children, Ms. Thogersen has worked with the juvenile justice system and served as a guardian-ad-litem for children for more than 11 years. She also held a national representative position with North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), representing Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. She has represented WACAP in China, Korea, India, Ecuador, Colombia, the Philippines, Russia and Thailand, as well as across the United States, and is a 2004 recipient of the Angels in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, a nonpartisan alliance of more than 200 members of Congress. Ms. Thogersen, whose educational background is in psychology, has worked in the field of adoption for 28 years and as a WACAP officer since 1987. In November 2006, the Board of Directors appointed her to serve as CEO. Eight of her nine children joined the Thogersen family through adoption.