The Haven team is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds with unique skillsets, collaborating creatively for the benefit of our community. Our work is wholehearted, as well as strategic.
Due to the nature of our work, not all of our staff are listed here or are listed here with their full names.
Erica has worked in the field of intimate partner violence intervention and prevention for more than a decade and has served in the executive role at Haven since 2014. She holds a master’s in public administration and has bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish. Erica serves on the board of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, providing resources and support to domestic and sexual violence organizations statewide, while also advocating for legislation that best serves survivors.
Under her leadership, and in partnership with the larger Haven team, Haven’s staff size has tripled, and the number of programs offered has doubled. With this growth, Haven has been able to increase the quality of its services as well as expand the number of services available to survivors. Additionally, during Erica's term, Haven has increased its focus on mobilizing the greater Gallatin Valley with the education and resources needed to support survivors and create community-wide change.
In addition to her work at Haven, Erica loves spending time with her husband and their two children, traveling, and exploring Montana in their camper.
Kareena began her career at Haven as a survivor advocate in 2016. In her time here, she has had the privilege of empowering survivors, supporting direct service staff, and building collaborative relationships with our community partners. She is excited for the opportunity to maintain and expand our programs to meet the needs of survivors in our community.
Kareena graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology. She loves Bozeman and how our community shows their compassion for survivors. In her free time, Kareena enjoys games of all varieties, reading, quilting, and spending time with her partner and their three fur babies.
Leisha joined Haven in February 2022 after serving as the finance and operations director for Big Sky Community Organization. Prior to that, she worked in corporate accounting at Exclusive Resorts. Leisha has a passion for various not-for-profits and tries to volunteer as much as she can. Haven’s mission and values are what drew her to join the team. She is thrilled to bring her experience and to be part of such an amazing organization.
Leisha graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. When not at work she enjoys being outdoors, cross-country skiing, cooking, and traveling.
Beth joined Haven in 2021 with 20+ years of experience in communications, writing, PR, journalism, and communications strategy related to advocacy and fundraising. Of note is her strategic communications work that helped pass a bill to protect Yellowstone National Park from gold mining, national television and print media placements for organizations, and more than a decade of work as a freelance foreign correspondent for national newspapers and magazines. Beth was part of a cross-border team of journalists who won the 2011 Daniel Pearl Global Investigative Journalism Award.
Beth attended the University of Montana and Lawrence University. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing with her husband/dog/friends, live music, and traveling.
Sarah joined Haven in August 2020. She brings with her a background in recruitment and higher education, specifically supporting people on their career development journeys and helping them discover meaningful ways to engage the world through service. She is excited to bring these experiences to her role at Haven and to be part of such a vital community resource.
Sarah holds a master’s in educational leadership from Miami University and a bachelor’s in sociology and management from Luther College. Outside of Haven, you may find her spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, reading, connecting with friends, or attempting a DIY project.
Katie joined Haven in 2022 after 12 years in healthcare administration as the Bozeman medical clinic director at Community Health Partners. Her background includes delivering hundreds of babies in the Flathead as a midwife, raising her own great kids, providing peer support to new moms through the Gallatin City-County Health Department’s WIC program. Katie has served on the board of Bridgercare and is a past president of Bozeman Sunrise Rotary.
When not at work you can find Katie in her kitchen cooking up comfort food for the folks she loves or chasing her rowdy dogs and remarkable daughters through the mountains of this glorious state.
CJ joined Haven in July 2024 with more than two decades of experience as a fundraiser and nonprofit leader. Most recently, she served as chief advancement officer at the American Alpine Club, and prior to that the University of Colorado Foundation. She also volunteers as a board member and advisory board member for several nonprofits.
Her personal philosophy is to remain committed to nurturing trust through transparent engagement in philanthropy. CJ is thrilled to be part of the Haven community, and is pleased to be supporting Haven’s empowerment model.
Outside of work, CJ balances life by creating and exhibiting art, and striving to become a stronger ice climber and ski mountaineer. When not scaling mountains, she's strolling the neighborhood with her senior pup, Radar, at a leisurely pace.
Cara grew up in the small town of Noxon, MT, and found herself in Bozeman to study psychology. She holds her bachelor's in psychology and joined Haven in May 2017 as a weekend advocate. In addition to her part-time work at Haven, Cara worked full time as a behavioral specialist at Ridgeview Elementary School for six years. She started full-time with Haven as the sexual assault survivor advocate in January 2023; she became an advocate team lead in 2024. Cara loves being a part of Haven's organization, supporting survivors through crisis intervention, emotional support, and connecting individuals to other local resources.
When she isn't working, Cara enjoys hiking, fishing, and watercolor painting; she even has her own watercolor painting business.
Isabel joined the Haven team in February 2023. Isabel went to college in upstate New York, where she majored in environmental studies and sociology and minored in public health and outdoor studies. She then spent two years working remotely for COVID-19 response teams to provide support and resources to people affected by the pandemic. Isabel knew she wanted to continue working in a role that allowed her to positively impact the community, and she was thrilled when the opportunity to work with Haven presented itself.
When not at Haven, Isabel can be found outside (mountain biking, backpacking, running, skiing), reading, playing with dogs, and attempting to perfect her baking recipes. She also values spending time with her partner and connecting with friends through various activities, from camping to playing basketball.
Bailey joined Haven in August 2023.
Before working at Haven, Bailey worked as an education specialist in Uganda for the Peace Corps, as a COVID-19 contact tracer for the state of Michigan, and most recently, as the program coordinator for the Montana Science Center.
Outside of work, Bailey enjoys watching the show “What We Do In The Shadows,” playing soccer, sharing meals with friends, and traveling whenever she can.
Meilyn joined Haven in August 2021. As the Prevention Coordinator, they have the privilege of increasing outreach to surrounding areas, providing education for the community, and providing our volunteers with educational training. As a long-time advocate of education for all, this position is a dream come true for Meilyn.
Meilyn has a bachelor’s in social work from a small university in southern California. They relocated to Montana in 2017 and have not looked back. Meilyn enjoys spending their free time at the gym, camping, or doing anything with their dog.
Julie joined Haven in March 2021. Prior to Haven, Julie served as executive director for a charitable non-profit in Dallas that provided about $2 million in financial assistance each year. She discovered that she loved the operations aspect of her job and decided to pursue a career in administration and office management. Joining the team at Haven feels like a fulfillment of what she has been called to do with her life.
Julie holds a bachelor’s in communication arts with a minor in business. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and spent most of her childhood in the deep south. She lived in Texas and Virginia before moving to Bozeman in 2015. For fun, Julie’s favorite pastime is making dinner with her partner and dancing to music while they wait for the meal to be ready. You can also find her hiking during the summer and cross-country skiing and ice skating in the winter.
Nyah began volunteering at Haven in summer 2024, and joined our staff in November of that year. Nyah graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's in psychology. While volunteering at Haven, she witnessed the transformative impact of its services – providing a space not only for healing but also resources to empower survivors to build resilience and regain agency. She wanted to devote her time to supporting people as they overcome complex challenges, particularly those challenges faced by people with intersectional and marginalized identities.
Outside of Haven, Nyah enjoys drawing, painting, writing, and pottery. She also volunteers with other community organizations, and enjoys creating playlists, traveling, and connecting with friends and family.
Rebecca joined Haven in March 2023. She lives in Bozeman, and comes to Haven from the environmental non-profit world. She has an undergraduate degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in environmental science, and has worked at the intersection of conservation and human rights around the world for the past two decades.
Outside of work, Rebecca reads, writes, draws, skis, trains for marathons, backpacks, studies languages, and travels. She enjoys doing art and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Sam joined Haven in fall 2024. Sam grew up in Maine and found his way to Montana State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. After working odd jobs as a professional Christmas light installer and mountain bike coach, Sam found his way into special education and worked as a paraprofessional at a local elementary school. He was thriving, and appreciated being able to help others be successful. When a position opened at Haven, he was excited by the opportunity to work for an organization that does such meaningful work for survivors.
Outside of Haven, Sam loves spending time in the mountains with his friends skiing, hiking and mountain biking. He also enjoys reading good books and being a bad banjo player.
Bailey joined Haven at the start of 2022. She’s excited to help her community in the beautiful Gallatin Valley. Before this position, Bailey served in the Peace Corps as a youth development specialist in Morocco and worked at MSU’s Student Success Center. Bailey holds an associate’s in science, a bachelor’s in early childhood education and child services, and a master’s in executive leadership.
Bailey loves anything outdoors. She is an avid mountain biker, races motorcycles on weekends, and her goal this year is to go camping every weekend when the weather permits.
Justice completed an internship with Haven in spring 2021, and joined our staff in December of that same year.
Justice graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences, and wanted to be part of an empowering profession. She has a passion for assisting people and providing support when and where it is needed. Justice wanted to join Haven’s team because she could do just that with empowering survivors. She admires the work Haven does for the community and wanted to be part of their great work.
Outside of Haven, she enjoys spending time with her husband, being a mom, immersing herself in any outdoor activity, connecting with friends and oddly enough, cleaning and organizing anything she can get her hands on.
Kaylee completed her internship with Haven in spring 2021, and joined the legal advocacy team in September 2023.
Kaylee graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in community health. Her background includes working in mental health and housing, and that background is an advantage when it comes to connecting people to resources. Kaylee wanted to return to Haven to serve survivors using the empowerment model.
Outside of Haven, Kaylee enjoys connecting with her partner and dog, reading, and eating good food. As well as a good nap and all the laughing she can squeeze into one day.
Sarah joined Haven in December of 2023. Her background in survivor advocacy in her home state of Wyoming inspired her to apply for a position at Haven.
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and a master’s in anthropology (as well as a graduate certificate in gender and sexuality studies) from the University of Chicago. Her interests lie in the intersection of mental health, survivor advocacy, and the power of storytelling.
Aside from her work at Haven, Sarah is involved in her family’s third-generation business and engages in research projects at MSU. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, long bike rides, and skiing with her partner and friends.
Leah began volunteering in January 2024 and joined our team in July. With a background in neuroscience and philosophy from Middlebury College in Vermont, she is deeply interested in understanding the impact of trauma on both the body and mind.
In addition to her role at Haven, Leah works as a patient care technician in cardiology at Bozeman Health. Her work experience and academic background reflect her commitment to exploring the intersections of mental and physical health. In her free time, Leah enjoys mountain biking and skiing, finding balance and adventure in the Montana outdoors.
Before coming to Haven in spring 2023, Sha (pronounced “SHAY”) worked with survivors at the Law & Justice Center in Bozeman, and in New Mexico, did a legal internship and worked as a legal advocate.
Sha’s education includes studies in domestic violence involving all genders, sexual assault, elder abuse, and stalking, and she earned her bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University. She was drawn to Haven because of the empowerment model that the organization uses when working with survivors. Sha also understands that there’s a gap in resources for survivors trying to navigate civil law procedures, and she’s pleased to be able to offer support in this area.
Outside of Haven, Sha likes cooking, reading, listening to podcasts, and being outside.
Eliza joined our staff in May 2024. A former licensed midwife, she believes in empowerment and agency in all systems that an individual and/or a family might engage in – and she practices this empowerment model in her own home with her two daughters.
Eliza went back to school and received her master’s in fine arts in fiction in 2021. She’s currently working on a collection of short stories. When she’s not at Haven, Eliza is writing, reading, and attending writing conferences and residencies, as well as running in the mountains, gravel-bike riding, tending to her perennials, and taking care of a multitude of animals.
Grace joined Haven in spring 2023. Her qualifications include a bachelor's in psychology and three years' experience at the VOICE Center at Montana State University, where she worked with survivors of interpersonal violence. Grace is committed to empowering survivors and providing support in ways that feel beneficial to them.
Outside of Haven, Grace enjoys hiking, climbing, swimming, skiing, and the overall exploration of Montana’s mountains and lakes. Grace also loves to spend time with her partner, friends, and her cat Honey.
Kiah joined Haven in summer 2024, inspired by the organization’s mission to empower survivors. Kiah’s dedication to fostering human flourishing drives her work and aligns with Haven’s values.
Originally from Bozeman, Kiah studied psychology at Ohio University. Her work experience includes The Gathering Place, a non-profit supporting adults with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance-use disorders. There, she honed her skills in empowering and supporting people through their various challenges.
Outside of work, Kiah enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her friends and her dog. She’s a frequent visitor to Bozeman’s local coffee shops and bookstores, and she loves competitive Frisbee.
“The staff and volunteers helped me to learn that no one deserves to be controlled by another person and that abuse is not my fault. It was through both the tangible resources and the compassionate support of the Haven staff and volunteers that I have moved forward.”
– Anonymous survivor
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