We are delighted to welcome Luana Ma, Finance and Operations Manager, and Jessica Leventhal, Development Manager, who joined the WWIN team last month. Both women bring a passion for WWIN’s mission and extensive nonprofit management experience. Hear from each of them in their own words:
“I felt so compelled to join WWIN because of the women we support and the way we do it – not just scholarship funding, but our holistic approach. As a first-generation college graduate myself, I see so much in our Star Scholars’ stories that resonates with my own experience. This is a small but mighty organization, and I am thrilled to help this amazing team lay the foundation for the future.”
Luana joins WWIN with more than 10 years of management experience in nonprofit operations. Born and raised in Seattle, Luana is a Washington State University alum with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology and a minor in criminal justice. Luana is passionate about education and helping others, and she credits her mother – a three-time cancer survivor and a sought-after medical interpreter within Seattle’s Chinese American community – with instilling in her the desire to use her talents to contribute to the greater good. Luana lives in Puyallup with her fiancée, two daughters and two kittens.
“When someone says, ‘I believe in you,’ that makes such a powerful difference. Community and personal encouragement are built in to WWIN’s mission and the way we work, and I’m so excited to help connect our passionate, committed alumnae, volunteers and donors so we can do even more together. There is a place for everyone who wants to be involved in our mission.”
Raised by a single mother whom she witnessed become a first-generation college graduate utilizing the kind of support WWIN offers, Jessica approaches her work with joy and authenticity. She holds a master’s degree in cultural anthropology and social transformation, having focused her research on the impacts of trauma. She studied Buddhism in monasteries across India and explored the medicalization of sexual trauma in the US while advocating alongside those who experienced sex trafficking. Jessica is a certified Trauma-Informed Yoga and Meditation instructor who co-developed and led classes for folks who are currently incarcerated.