Nurturely Team
We Nurture a Team of Passionate Humans
In Loving Memory
Angela Diaz de Leon
We are so lucky to have been graced by Angela’s presence on Nurturely Founding Board of Directors. She was much more than an integral part of this organization – she was a true friend to each of us. Angela had a fierce passion for birth work, community activism, and reproductive justice. Nurturely was just one of the many organizations to which Angela dedicated time, energy, and expertise. If this loss can teach us anything, it is to strive to create the type of community and world that Angela was humbly working toward. We can honor our memories of Angela by showing genuine compassion for others and by working hard to create a world where pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are supported with the sacred reverence they deserve. We have a lot of collective work to do, but Angela’s light will continue to guide us forward.
Board President
Sabia Wade, LE, Doula [she/they]
Radical Doula, Badass Investor, Systems-Visionary
Sabia is a revolutionary CEO, doula, educator, and somatic practitioner in training, elevating the voices and experiences of marginalized communities. Sabia embraces her role as a liberator of self by birthing new and hidden aspects of individuals while nurturing the spaces within them that have never known love, all with the goal of autonomy, justice, and equity for all.
Board Treasurer
Randy Tran, PhD [he/him]
Conscientious, Empathetic, Strategic
Dr. Tran serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the non-profit Nurturely. He utilizes his background in Human Biology and interests in reproductive health and child development to help guide Nurturely’s mission in promoting equity in perinatal wellness and creating a culture of support for infants and caregivers. Dr. Tran completed his PhD at the University of California, San Diego in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis on human memory, learning, and attention. In his day-to-day job, he brings science to the human-centered design of complex and high-consequence systems. He applies his research skills and interests to solve challenging problems in the design of user interfaces for unmanned vehicle command and control systems and for futuristic emerging technology concepts before they are fielded.
Board Member
Monique Offet, LE [she/her]
Generous, Passionate, Dedicated
Monique is not new to non-profit work. She has been a part of Junior League of Eugene since 2018 and is currently VP of Community Enrichment. She is dedicated to assisting with the needs of at risk youth and raising awareness for human trafficking. Monique is currently finishing her degree in Criminal Justice and will be pursuing a career in Juvenile Corrections. Monique above all is a wife and mother of three beautiful children ranging in ages from 8-22. As a young mother herself, it’s her personal mission to make sure that caregivers of all backgrounds have the tools and resources they need in order to provide the very best for their children. She is looking forward to the work she will be participating in with Nurturely and excited to gain more knowledge as a parent to continue being a strong role model for her children.
Board Member
Kyndl Woodlee, MS [he/him]
Father and Husband, Pop Culture Enthusiast, Young Black Psychologist
Kyndl Woodlee, MS, is a University of Kentucky Graduate and counseling psychology doctoral candidate, scheduled to graduate from the University of Oregon in 2022. Over the last 3 years, he has worked as a therapist in university, family, and community settings. He has focused much of his research on Intimate Partner Violence and Masculinity. Having become a father in 2020, Kyndl has begun to merge his interests and expertise to develop and provide sources of support for new and expecting fathers.
Board Member
Celeste Mena, MA [she/her]
Genuine, Persevering, Family-Oriented
Celeste Mena, M.S., was born in El Salvador and grew up in Guatemala. She came to the United States in 2013. Celeste got her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Oregon in 2016. She is a graduate from the Couples and Family Therapy Program at the University of Oregon (2019). She is currently working with the Stress Neurobiology and Prevention (SNAP) Research Laboratory as a bilingual and bicultural editor. She also works with 90by30 at the Center for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect with the Stewards of Children evaluation project. She looks forward to continuing to learn and support families in nurturing their children’s development.
Founder & Executive Director
Emily Little, PhD, CLEC [she/her]
Perinatal Researcher & Advocate, Global Explorer, Outdoor Enthusiast
Emily Little, PhD, CLEC, is a perinatal health educator, researcher, and advocate, and is the Founder and Executive Director of Nurturely. She completed her PhD at University of California, San Diego in experimental psychology with a specialization in anthropogeny. Emily conducts community-participatory research that combines approaches from anthropology, psychology, and public health to explore infant-caregiver interaction and perinatal health systems, with the end goal of improving policies and societal practices so all infants and caregivers can thrive. She is trained as a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor and Babywearing Educator and is passionate about co-creating community-led programs that facilitate equitable access to wellness during the perinatal period. Her time living and working in Micronesia, Central and South America, and India inspired her passion for strengthening cultures of support for infants and caregivers and promoting equity and cultural humility in all aspects of her work.
Equity & Inclusion Lead
Ayisha Elliott, BS, LE [she/her]
Black Beauty-Uplifter, Salsa Dancer, Community-Builder
As a single mother of three beautiful children, Ayisha earned an Associates degree in Nursing at Santa Monica college, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with focus on Cognitive Neuroscience, and a minor in Sociology at the University of Oregon. The programs she has created and the lives affected by the work she has dedicated herself to, have led her to lean into her power and move into full time Equity/Inclusion facilitation and advising. True to her nature, she has again created an intimate approach around learning Anti Racism work through skilled conversation and leadership.
Coordinadora de Programas
Roshny B. Martuscelli, BA, QMHA, LE [she/ella]
Immigrant, Multicultural, Social Worker
Roshny B. Martuscelli, born in Panama, immigrated to the United States at the age of 8. A native Spanish Speaker, Roshny’s passion has always been people and giving back to the community that served her and empowered her single-mother to navigate her resources independently and raise her kids to be as successful as possible. Although her family faced numerous adversities as immigrants, Roshny still managed to graduate from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Spanish with focuses in Business and Ethnic Studies. She is now a mother to two beautiful boys and a wife to her high school sweetheart. Roshny is passionate about Social Justice, Perinatal work, serving marginalized communities, advocacy, and all things Equity. She has also made dance her life’s work and is currently the Artistic Director of Elite Dance Company, an adult performance group in Eugene, OR.
Rural Support Navigator
Alyssa Davidson [she/her]
Determined, Goal-oriented, Ethical
As a mother of 3 kids, Alyssa experienced a lot of things in life that shaped her identity and passion for Perinatal Wellness. As a bisexual person in a heteronormative relationship with her children’s father, she struggled with finding and accepting that her LGBTQIA+ identity didn’t go away while in that relationship. When her middle daughter was born with a cleft palate and subsequent hearing loss and behavioral issues, she was challenged with changing her parenting style for her and had to do some real work together so that she could be best supported in all aspects of her life. And most intensely, as she was experiencing struggles with breastfeeding, postpartum depression, and anxiety after her last two pregnancies and not finding the support that I needed to parent in the most healthy and safe manner, she recognized her passion to help other parents find the support that they need so that they are able to be the best parents possible.
Advisory Team
Miranda Lanning, MD, IBCLC [she/her]
Pediatrician, Lactation Consultant, Mother
Dr. Miranda Lanning is a pediatrician and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She completed her medical education at Oregon Health & Science University and her pediatric training at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. She is a current member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She uses her passion and skills for breastfeeding to care and advocate for her patients and their families as a pediatrician with PeaceHealth Medical Group in Springfield, Oregon. She enjoys caring for families from prenatal visits through adolescence and is passionate about breastfeeding education as a way to promote health for infants and caregivers. Miranda currently lives in Eugene with her husband and their two year old daughter who enjoys their ongoing breastfeeding relationship.
Advisory Team
Michaelyn Wipf, JD [she/her]
Lady-of-the-Law, Garden Enthusiast, Mother-of-Spitfires
Michaelyn Wipf, JD, graduated from University of San Francisco in 2014 with a certificate in public interest law. She is a 2010 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Economics and Policy and a minor in City Planning. She became partner in a civil law firm in her hometown of Ukiah, California, in 2018. She is the mother to two spitfires, Austen and Arlo.
Advisory Team
Alejandra Leon [she/her]
Madre, Surrogate, Advocate
Alejandra has over a decade of experience working for non-profit organizations focusing on pregnant women, including looking at pregnancy outcomes, lifestyles, and exposures during pregnancy and lactation; coordinating programs for underserved communities, and working directly with families in their natural environment by providing tools for healthier beginnings. Alejandra has her B.A. in Psychology and a professional background in research working for the MothertoBaby teratogen research center.
Advisory Team
Liz Hampton [she/her]
Compassionate, Resourceful, Creative
Liz has a BS in biochemistry and cellular biology from UCSD with several years experience in research as a molecular biologist. After having children and struggling with two high needs babies, Liz was compelled to help support other families in her community. She is a certified babywearing educator, former president of Babywearing International of San Diego (now San Diego Carries), and a trained postpartum doula. Liz has recently shifted her focus toward educating her children. She served on the Nurturely board for 3 years and will continue as an advisory board member to assist with grant writing.
Advisory Team
María Paz Aguirre [she/ella]
Mother, Friend, Community-Worker
María Paz was born in Santiago de Chile where she majored in Arts and Design. She moved to Ecuador a few years later , where she found her passion for connecting and supporting others. Her first son was born in this country and a few months later she migrated to the United States with her family. In 2015 she moved to Eugene OR, where she has found her community and is actively working to support and advocate for the Latinx community in the area.
Advisory Team
Elydé Arroyo [she/her]
I believe in aliens. I love mushrooms and pineapple on my pizza.
Elyde Arroyo is a Mother, Grassroots Activist, Trauma Informed Birthkeeper(specializing in postpartum support) Co-Founder of Sacred Healing Collective and The Source Holistic Space, founder of Grounded Womb as well as Director and founder of BIPOC Community Clinic San Diego.
Elyde is a somatic practitioner whose focus is post-traumatic growth. She began her Birthkeeper journey by supporting people through abortions then later post-partum.
Advisory Team
Martina Shabram, PhD [she/her]
Compassionate advocate for justice
Martina Shabram (she/her pronouns) is an advocate, educator, and program coordinator for Sexual Assault Support Services in Eugene, OR. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Oregon in 2015, researching pain theory, disability studies, and the medical humanities. After completing her doctorate, Martina spent three years working for Planned Parenthood, teaching sexual health education and directing the youth leadership program REV. In 2019, Martina joined SASS to lead their outreach and education program, uniting her background working in reproductive justice, disability justice, and racial justice with her passion for sexual violence prevention. Martina believes that Black lives matter, love is love, no humans are illegal on stolen land, and we all have a duty to dismantle white supremacy.
Advisory Team
Jen Hahn-Holbrook, PhD [she/her]
Scientific Explorer, Teacher, Maternal-Child Health Activist
Dr. Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UC Merced and the Director of the LATCH Lab. Dr. Hahn-Holbrook received her Ph.D. from the Institute of Cognition and Culture at Queen’s University Belfast in 2010 and then completed postdoctoral training at UCLA. In collaboration with the LATCH Lab team, Dr. Hahn-Holbrook conducts basic research and fosters community and industry partnerships to address key health problems facing families.