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.
Katie stepped into the role of executive director in 2025, after serving as chief operating officer during two and a half years of record-breaking growth for the organization. With more than 25 years of experience in public health and nonprofit leadership, Katie brings a deep, lifelong commitment to advancing the well-being of women, families, and all survivors of gender-based violence.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s health and an advanced degree in midwifery and has delivered hundreds of babies across the Intermountain West, the Pacific Northwest, and in Bangalore, India through international service. Before joining Haven, Katie spent 12 years in healthcare administration as the clinic director at Community Health Partners in Bozeman. Katie served on the board at Bridgercare and is a past president of the Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club.
When not at work you can find Katie in her kitchen cooking up comfort food for the folks she loves, cheering on her remarkable daughters, or chasing her rowdy dogs through the mountains of this glorious state.
Kareena began her career at Haven as a survivor advocate in 2016. During her tenure, she’s had the privilege of empowering survivors, supporting direct service staff, and building collaborative relationships with our community partners. As the director of programs, she’s keen to develop Haven programs that cater to the needs of survivors in our community; she’s also committed to making sure that Haven policies prioritize survivors’ autonomy and privacy.
Kareena graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. She’s enamored with Bozeman and the compassion this community shows survivors. In Kareena’s free time, she enjoys baking, crocheting, diving into a romantasy novel, playing a wide range of games, and spending time with her partner and their sweet fur baby, Misa.
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.
Chanan joined Haven in 2026 as our inaugural staff attorney, implementing and overseeing the Survivor Legal Services program. Prior to Haven, Chanan practiced health law as an attorney with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Montana Legislature. Chanan started his career in criminal law, working as a prosecutor for the City of Bozeman and the Hopi Tribe and as a public defender for the Montana Office of the State Public Defender.
Chanan holds a bachelor's degree in comparative ethnic and American studies from The Ohio State University, a master's degree in political science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. Chanan is licensed to practice law in Montana and is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Sarah joined Haven in August 2020. Over the years, she's supported the volunteer and internship program and has advanced fundraising operations. In her current role, she supports Haven’s executive director, board of directors, and two internal teams while managing development operations, events, and other logistics. She’s eager to bring her organizational skills and collaborative spirit to this role and to continue contributing to 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 work, you may find her spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, reading, connecting with friends, or attempting a DIY project.
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.
Grace joined Haven in January 2026. She graduated from Montana State University in 2025 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Grace likes to build meaningful connections with survivors and is dedicated to fostering trust while helping people access resources. She’s also committed to strengthening relationships with community partners throughout the Bozeman area, to better support people seeking services.
Outside of work, Grace enjoys swimming, reading, practicing yoga, paddle boarding, and enjoying a good cup of coffee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kaylee supports the Survivor Legal Services program; before this job she spent three years as a Haven legal advocate, and before that, she was a Haven intern. She’s pleased to be part of a team that addresses and fills the gaps in legal services available to survivors.
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, dog, and friends/family. She enjoys reading, traveling, and advocating for reproductive issues, as well as a good nap and all the laughing she can squeeze into one day.
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.
Nia’s involvement with Haven began when she joined the Peer Education team in high school. Six years later, she joined Haven’s staff to co-facilitate the same Peer Ed program.
Nia graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in gender, race, sexuality, and social justice studies. She believes our relationships with each other shape the wider world and she wants young people to have clear, accessible information about healthy relationships. Nia looks forward to building on the work of Haven’s previous prevention coordinators and being part of Haven’s community again.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Nia is glad to be back spending time with the land that grew her. Outside of Haven, you’ll find her connecting with the people, critters, and lands she loves.
Lila joined Haven in April 2026. Before joining the Haven team, Lila worked at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital as a chaplain resident, and completed coursework in a program that prepares clergy, seminarians, and laypeople to provide trauma-informed spiritual care, emotional support, and end-of-life care for individuals and families. Lila has a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and a master’s from Union Theological Seminary.
Outside of work, Lila enjoys rock climbing, biking, ice skating, playing music, and spending time with family and friends.
Jess’s work with Haven began as an intern in November 2024; she took the full-time custodian role in February 2026.
Jess has a bachelor’s in health and family sciences from Montana State University and is pursuing her master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Her goal is to make mental health support more accessible. Her education, advocacy work, and experiences have all contributed to Jess’s interest in supporting people during difficult experiences.
Outside of work and school, Jess enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends, and exploring Montana, being outdoors, and working on her many hobbies like crocheting, baking, stained glass work, botany, and more.
“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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