Michael Jascz, Executive Director
Michael Jascz is the founder of The Relationship Foundation, an educational non-profit initiative at the forefront of a unique approach to Social and Emotional Learning. Doing this work has helped him to face his own childhood trauma and ensuing anxiety and depression. His greatest hope is that getting this work out widespread will support educators in creating a safe space for children of all ages. Michael and the TRF staff have developed a groundbreaking program Healthy Relationships 101, which has been taught in New York City high schools since 2009. Michael has incorporated the work of Dr. Vincent Felitti, Research Director of the Adverse Community Experiences (ACE) Study, and Dr. Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication, whose work inspired the Healthy Relationships 101 curriculum and guidebook. Michael holds a degree in political science and anthropology from the honors program at Ohio State University.
Jazmyn Williams, Associate Director
Jazmyn Williams, an undergraduate student at Pace University, is dedicated to the fields of psychology and neuroscience. Currently serving as a Director, she leads with a passion for clinical psychology, leveraging her role to spearhead initiatives aimed at improving therapist practices for children with autism. Jazmyn’s mission revolves around implementing Nonviolent Communication (NVC) techniques and addressing adverse childhood experiences to foster a greater sense of safety within school communities, which was lacking during her time in school.
Dr. Pradeep Nagachandran, Education Director
Pradeep is an instructor and academic consultant for The Relationship Foundation since 2010. He holds an MD from the Israeli Institute of Technology. He has 10 years of research experience in child and adolescent psychiatry including developing and evaluating of psychometric tests as well as data analysis for one of the largest NIMH grant funded studies in the US. In addition, he is well versed in Nonviolent Communication and has integrated its concepts in both the workplace and his personal life.
Derrick Edwards, Senior Instructor
Derrick is a jack of many trades. Derrick has worked as a paraprofessional with an Autistic child, as a substitute teacher for the Department of Education for several years, a tutor, and NYC tour guide. Derrick holds a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Derrick has seen the power of bringing people together and this curriculum has helped enlighten him on humanity’s common bonds.
Marta Hauser, PhD, Grants & Research Development
Marta is passionate about supporting people in leading happy, fulfilling lives. Strengthening interpersonal relationships is a major pillar to this, so she is excited to be part of The Relationship Foundation and to support its cause by applying her background in psychology and research. Marta holds a PhD in clinical psychology and enjoys working with approaches that focus on mindfulness and committed value-based action. She has been involved in all aspects of research, including grant-writing and publishing of results, and is supporting the foundation as a Grant and Research Consultant.
TRF Board Members
Marta Hauser, PhD
Board Member
Marta is a licensed psychologist with 15 years of experience at large healthcare systems. She holds a PhD in clinical psychology and has published and presented her work on the risk for severe mental illness in adolescents and young adults internationally. She is currently part of the leadership team of an academic organization that supports clinical trials across the U.S. and also works in private practice.
Dr. Ron Gentile MD, FACS, FASRS
Treasurer
Dr. Gentile is a Professor of Ophthalmology. He serves as a Director at Ocular Trauma Service, and Surgeon Director at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEEI). Some of his trials have resulted in the newest therapies used today that save the vision of thousands of patients worldwide. He has lead humanitarian missions (operationrestorevision) to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Diandra D’Amico
Board Member
Diandra is a teacher with the New York Department of Education and serves as an Education Consultant with The Relationship Foundation.
Brooke Arent
Board Member
Brooke is a corporate Director of Project Management for a Fortune 100 company. She holds a B.S. from the Ohio State University’s College of Medicine in Health Sciences and has helped numerous non-profits over the last fifteen years with marketing, branding, feasibility studies, presentations, fundraising, and program development. She is deeply passionate about Adverse Childhood Experiences and has created a blog about resiliency at www.becomingindomitable.com in order to help others overcome traumatic experiences.
Jordan Sellers
Board Chair
Jordan is a logistics consultant with over 10 years of experience working with businesses of all sizes. Currently focused on enterprise cloud solutions, he serves as Team Lead at MHI (Myers-Holum, Inc). Jordan is also an experienced workshop and roundtable facilitator, assisting his mentors at NYCNVC as well as organizing his own groups on Zoom and Instagram. Jordan is also a certified trauma-conscious yoga teacher, volunteering his services in schools and prisons whenever possible.
Dean Whiteford
Board Member
Dean Whiteford is a business development executive with over 30 years of experience in the design, implementation, and leadership of Business Development and Marketing programs and strategies. Dean is a native of Perth, Australia, and spent over 20 years in business development roles with “Big 4” consulting firms Deloitte and PwC in the US, Hong Kong, and Japan. Dean has a Bachelor of Business Degree from Curtin University in Australia and is a CPA and Fellow of CPA Australia.
Sylvia Schwartz
Secretary
Sylvia Schwartz is a seasoned marketing professional who has applied her skills in assisting leading financial institutions in New York (CitiBank, BNYMellon, Smith Barney, TIAA) to achieve their goals. She has served on the boards of the Hoboken Historical Museum and the Mile Square Theatre.
Jessica Klein PhD, MSW, M.Ed.
Board Member
Jessica Klein is an Adelphi University (AU) Associate professor of sociology/criminal justice. She is the author of The Bully Society: School Shootings and the Crisis of Bullying in America’s Schools (NYU Press: 2012). She incorporates Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication in her work. She is also the co-author of the Healthy Relationships 101 Curriculum.
Latoya Attis M.Ed.
Board Member
Latoya Attis is an Academic Advising Administrator and Adjunct Faculty at Iona College. She teaches General Psychology I & II, Substance Abuse Treatment and Referral Methods, Drug and Alcohol Counseling, and co-teaches Seminars for Academic Success for probationary students. She holds an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities from Mercy College.
Rebecca Lefton MPP
Board Member
Rebecca Lefton is a Strategic Consultant with over 10 years of experience working with non-profits and B-corporations in program management, policy development, advocacy, and communications. Rebecca holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in public policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
Alice Kim
Board Member
Alice Kim is an Executive Director and Head of Investor Relations and Business Development for Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners. Alice is also on the leadership team for Morgan Stanley’s Mindfulness Initiative and a co-founder of Mindful on Wall Street. Alice has been trained by the Flow Research Collective as a peak performance coach, and is passionate about sharing the intersection of optimal performance and mindfulness practices – to provide tools and techniques for professionals to perform in their high intensity roles with greater ease. Alice is also a certified yoga instructor, and teaches at Sky Ting and the Studio, both in New York City.
David Fishelson
Board Member
David J. Fishelson is a producer, playwright, and director for film, theatre, and television. He was the lead producer of Golda’s Balcony, the longest-running one-woman show in Broadway history (2003–05), and is the founder/producer of Manhattan Ensemble Theatre (“MET”), an award-winning Off-Broadway theatre company. His films have been broadcast on PBS, exhibited theatrically, and presented nationally and internationally.