Niema Ismael is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women's Wellness and Parenting Support Center, a Minnesota nonprofit dedicated to trauma healing, maternal mental health, and culturally responsive care for Somali women, youth, and families. She founded WWPSC to create a safe, professional space where families can reclaim dignity, resilience, and wellness through care that honors culture and faith. Under her leadership, WWPSC has grown into a trusted center for trauma-informed, community-driven care, with signature programs addressing unmet needs in Minnesota's Somali community and a specialized focus on women and maternal wellness.

These include Let's Heal, Hooyo and Circle of Healing, safe group spaces for emotional healing and connection among women and youth; Infant and I, supporting maternal health and family systems; and Dareen Circle, the first survivor-led program of its kind in the state to address the trauma of female genital cutting. Each initiative blends evidence-based practice with local traditions, language, and faith.

Niema's academic background is in Counseling Psychology and Alcohol and Drug Studies, with long-term plans to pursue doctoral research on culturally responsive approaches to intergenerational trauma and immigrant mental health. Her guiding principle remains central to WWPSC's work: healing must honor culture, faith, and dignity.

Debbie holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Adler School of Professional Psychology (also known as Adler University, Chicago, IL). Debbie has experience working with complex trauma, play therapy, autism spectrum disorder, multicultural support, sexual acting out behaviors, mood and behavioral disorders, and personality disorders. Debbie has experience working with community mental health, outpatient therapy, day treatment programming, residential treatment, and individuals with legal/court involvement. In her clinical practice, Debbie provides individual therapy to children, adolescents, and adults, as well as family therapy and parenting support. Debbie's areas of interest include trauma work, play therapy, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, personality disorders, comprehensive psychological assessment, psychosexual evaluations, AD/HD assessments, and autism evaluations.

Naima Diriye is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner committed to supporting individuals in achieving emotional well-being, resilience, and personal growth. She works across the lifespan with children, adolescents, and adults, bringing deep clinical expertise to the treatment of anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, ADHD, mood disorders, trauma-related conditions, and stress-related concerns. Within her practice at WWPSC, Naima offers comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, thoughtful medication management, and collaborative treatment planning.

Her clinical approach is holistic, evidence-based, and deeply person-centered, tailored to meet the unique needs, values, and goals of each individual and family. She strives to create a therapeutic space where clients feel fully validated, understood, and empowered in their healing journey.

Outside of her clinical work, Naima enjoys reading, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. She brings that same warmth, care, and grounded presence into every session, operating from the core belief that healing is possible and always begins with feeling heard.

Therapy is all about moving from a place of poor emotional health to a place of good emotional health, making healthy decisions, and setting healthy boundaries. My clinical interests include working with individuals to develop their own personal goals and to identify ways to help folks experience whatever emotion they are experiencing at the moment. I believe that the vehicle to do this work is through the development of a strong therapeutic relationship of kindness, compassion, and understanding. I believe that fostering wellness and recovery are the most important components of a successful experience.

Melody Rossiter has a master's degree in clinical counseling and art therapy from Antioch University Seattle and is working towards becoming a registered art therapist (ATR) and licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Most of Melody's experience has been in residential treatment, working with adolescents experiencing mood disorders, complex trauma, disrupted attachment, suicidal ideation, and non-suicidal self-injury. Melody utilizes an integrated approach with art therapy, drawing on concepts from neuroscience, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), gestalt art therapy, sensory processing, polyvagal theory and other somatic approaches, the expressive therapies continuum, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).

Art therapy uses materials and the creative process to promote expression beyond words and language. Not only can the act of making art support stress management and coping and offer alternative forms of communication, but the resulting imagery and metaphor can also lead to new insight and deeper understanding. Everyone deserves an opportunity to heal and to be heard, and art offers a special way that transcends spoken language.

Afrah Hashi is a Community Health Worker at WWPSC and a certified Doula with over five years of experience supporting children, mothers, and families. She has worked with nonprofits and school-based programs, including supporting children with autism, and is committed to ensuring every child feels valued and supported. Afrah is currently pursuing her Social Work degree at Metropolitan State University and enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures.

Ke'Neisha Whyte brings nearly 20 years of experience in healthcare and team operations to her role as Director of Human Resources. She began her career in direct care, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Certified Medication Aide (CMA), where she developed a strong understanding of the day-to-day realities facing frontline staff. As her career progressed, she stepped into leadership roles, including Business Office Manager and Social Services Director, where she gained valuable experience in compliance, staff development, and organizational support.

Now serving as Director of Human Resources, Ke'Neisha applies that hands-on experience to her strategic work. She focuses on HR operations, employee relations, compliance, leadership development, and creating inclusive workplace cultures. Her approach is grounded in empathy, shaped by real-world experience, and driven by a commitment to supporting people and strengthening teams. Outside of work, she is a proud mother and a lifelong fan of sunflowers.

Saynab Abdillahi is a mental health professional-in-training with a rich background in psychology, public health, and human services. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has extensive experience working across residential healthcare settings, supporting individuals navigating diverse physical, emotional, and behavioral health needs. Her background includes providing specialized, individualized support to children on the autism spectrum, focusing on fostering skill development, personal independence, and meaningful community inclusion.

Saynab has also served as a Disability Waiver Case Manager, where she assisted individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in coordinating care and navigating Minnesota's complex healthcare and social service systems. Through these diverse roles, she has developed a deep foundation in advocacy, person-centered care, and cross-cultural support.

Currently pursuing her graduate degree in counseling to become a licensed psychotherapist, Saynab is passionate about advancing mental health equity. As Youth Program Manager at WWPSC, she is dedicated to building programs that cultivate ambition, skill-building, and resilience, while fully supporting the well-being of refugee and immigrant youth.

Zahra is a highly accomplished professional serving as the Vice President of WWPSC. She holds a Master of Social Work in clinical social work from Augsburg University, where she gained extensive knowledge and expertise in the field.

Over the past 12 years, Zahra has excelled as a Senior Social Worker, specializing in providing comprehensive support to individuals with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on Autism. She actively delivers training and education to the community, fostering awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.

As a devoted mother of seven, she effortlessly balances her roles and nurtures a loving and supportive environment for her family. Zahra's holistic approach to social work, coupled with her extensive experience, makes her an invaluable asset to WWPSC and the broader community.

Dr. Lucy Mkandawire-Valhmu is a nurse scientist whose research focuses on analyzing and addressing the complex health needs of women who have experienced violence. Her scholarship centers on advancing nursing science to improve health outcomes and minimize barriers to healthcare access for survivors, with a particular dedication to women of color in the United States and women in East and Southern Africa.

Deeply committed to community engagement, Dr. Mkandawire-Valhmu believes in centering local voices to develop effective health interventions and policy. She is dedicated to serving WWPSC in a way that deepens her understanding of local needs while offering her clinical and research insights to promote community-wide healing and well-being.

At the Women's Wellness & Parenting Support Center, Asha brings a deep commitment to advocating for women and children. With a background in nursing and public health, she has extensive experience supporting vulnerable populations and ensuring access to compassionate, evidence-based care.

Her passion for community outreach, education, and holistic well-being aligns with the organization's mission to empower women and children through meaningful programs and initiatives. As a board member, Asha looks forward to leveraging her skills and insights to create lasting impact and a brighter future for the community.

Mary Hearst, PhD, MPH, is a Social Epidemiologist and Professor in the Child and Family Health Division, School of Nursing, at the University of Minnesota. Her work is driven by a passion for naming and addressing the social and structural factors that impact health equity for women and children, with particular focus on food justice and decolonizing approaches to research.

She brings years of experience across clinical settings, local public health, and academia, and approaches her work through collaborative community engagement. Mary is eager to contribute that experience to WWPSC's mission and to learning from the work and people of the organization.

Zainab Mohamed is an educator and special education professional who brings instructional leadership and specialized academic insight to the WWPSC board, with a particular focus on strengthening partnerships between schools and the families we serve. She currently serves as a Special Education Evaluator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she manages K–12 evaluation processes and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to advocate for and support students and families.

Zainab holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, where she double majored in Global Studies and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a minor in Political Science. A licensed teacher in both Minnesota and Missouri since 2020, she has specialized training in the Science of Reading, including LETRS certification.

Driven by a deep commitment to equitable access to high-quality education, Zainab is currently completing advanced graduate coursework at Endicott College toward her Board Certified Behavior Analyst credential. Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Kathie Culhane-Pera is a family physician and medical anthropologist with over 30 years of experience serving multiethnic communities in St. Paul, MN. She is a qualitative researcher with the SoLaHmo Partnership for Health and Wellness, where she has co-led numerous community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) projects. She is also the co-editor of Healing by Heart, a case-based guide for partnering with Hmong families in healthcare.

Now retired from clinical practice and living in Wisconsin, Dr. Culhane-Pera remains active in community-engaged research. She is passionate about WWPSC's mission, vision, and actions and is committed to supporting culturally grounded, empowering spaces for women and families.