About Us + Contact Us
Thea T. Bader, MSW, LICSW – Founder
Thea graduated from Simmons College School of Social Work in 1983 and has dedicated almost 40 years in the social work field making a difference in the lives of people in the U.S. and in countries throughout the world.
Hannah Taverna, MSW, PhD – Executive Director
Hannah received her Ph.D. at the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development at UMass Boston. Her research has focused on the wellbeing of unaccompanied refugee minors transitioning into adulthood in the U.S. She also holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Bridgewater State University. Hannah is a former ISWS recipient who traveled to Guatemala City to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment. She has also conducted research on gender based violence prevention in Guatemala, and has volunteered at NGOs in Ecuador, Cambodia, and Belize.
Brian Hubbell, MBA – Director of Finance
Brian comes to ISWS with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and IT. He specializes in financial management, operations management, emergency management, strategic planning, and change management. Brian holds a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Brian is also an active paramedic who helps during national disasters around the world.
Caroline Kinyanjui, MSc – Director of Fundraising
Kenyan-born and fluent in three languages, Caroline’s areas of expertise include relationship-building, problem-solving, and an ability to execute on key organizational projects. She earned her Master of International Business from HULT International Business School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Currently residing in North Providence, Rhode Island, Caroline has a passion for travel and has served as a board member at International Social Work Solutions, Inc. (ISWS) since 2021.
Molly Ellson, MSW – Director of Volunteers
Molly has volunteered with ISWS as a trainer on treating trauma survivors for an organization based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and developing content for an online mental health resource for an organization in Vietnam. Molly is also a previous ISWS recipient who traveled to Vietnam to assist in training professionals and women on trauma-informed self-care skills, strategies, and practices so they can educate, empower, and serve their clients and themselves. Molly received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from East Tennessee State University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University.