Staff

Julia Cuba

Education: B.A. in Women’s Studies, Creative Writing, Literary Studies, Beloit College, Beloit, WI; Master of Science in Social Work, University of Texas at Austin

Experience: Before GENaustin, Julia worked
for nine years at the Girl Scouts of Central Texas running
various outreach programs that served high-risk girls, such
as girls in shelters, teen parents, girls on probation, girls
whose mothers were incarcerated, girls with emotional disorders and more. Prior to that, she worked in Chicago at various grassroots women’s agencies on equal employment opportunities, international women’s issues fundraising, mentor programs for high-risk youth, rape victim counseling, and a women’s art gallery.

What I like about GENaustin: I love that GENaustin is addressing critical issues that girls face today, both locally and nationally. GENaustin is an amazing catalyst for change because we are educating our community about the uphill battle of growing up female. The staff members of GENaustin are as passionate about women’s and girls issues as I am, and that makes our work environment not only energetic, but educational and very fun. Together we are committed to being a resource for our community – so that when a parent, educator or girl calls us for help, we have a way.

Rachel Ladov

Education: B.A. in Urban Studies, Haverford College, Haverford, PA; Master of Science in Social Work, University of Texas at Austin

Experience: Rachel Ladov, LCSW, is GENaustin’s program director. Rachel began her career in social services working for 2-1-1 Texas, United Way Capital Area’s information and referral helpline. After pursuing a master’s degree in social work at the University of Texas, she worked for several years at a local nonprofit healthcare clinic. At the clinic, she provided counseling and other support services to  youth, including many with developmental and/or behavioral issues. Through her work with youth and families, she became increasingly aware of the community’s need for creative, engaging programs to support the healthy development of teenage girls. Since coming to GENaustin, she has helped to grow and develop several programs designed to meet that need. Rachel’s focus has been to develop these programs so that they are relevant to girls, reach a diverse population, and based in sound research and evaluation. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys being outdoors, traveling, cycling, reading, and spending time with her family.

What I like about GENaustin: I love working with all the passionate, talented staff and volunteers who are a part of GENaustin. I am most inspired when I get to spend time with the smart, funny, strong girls who are part of GENaustin’s programs.

Jana Collins

Education:
B.A., Business Administration, Austin College, Sherman, TX; M.B.A., Finance, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Experience: Jana’s most recent experience was as Back Office Manager for Greenlights for Non Profit Success. She has also worked as the accountant for a small consulting firm, and as a financial analyst for Travis County. Jana began her career in Dallas as a banker.

Jana has been a PTA volunteer for 17 years. She has served in almost every capacity including President, Treasurer, and Fundraising Chair.  Jana has been married to her husband Clay for almost 26 years, and they have three children. Outside of work, Jana enjoys traveling, gardening, and reading.

What I like about GENaustin: As the mom of
a teenaged daughter, I think GENaustin is doing incredible work
and focusing on important issues facing young women today. The
GENaustin team is a strong, dedicated group, and I enjoy to contributing to the team and furthering our mission.

Lora Alaniz

Education: Bachelor of Fine Art, Magna Cum Laude, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Texas Teachers Certification; Austin, TX.

Experience: Lora Alaniz, a Mexican-American native of South Texas is a first generation college graduate. Before coming to GENaustin, she taught in Tucson, Arizona for over seven years and came to Austin to serve as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) with College Forward. Her teaching experience is focused within Latino communities, where she helped develop socially and politically relevant curriculum to meet the needs of at-risk youth. Her curriculum has been published in a variety of venues and managed the South Tucson oral history book project entitled Cuentos de la Alma: Stories of the Soul (2005). Outside of GENaustin, she is a passionate artist. Her artwork has been exhibited at PlaySpace in San Francisco, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater in New York, Prenelle Gallery in London, and Arroyo Arts Collective in Los Angeles. Lora is a founding member of the all women International Plugged Video Art Collective.

What I like about GENaustin: I am excited to be on
teamGEN and contribute my experience and knowledge to the amazing
group of women who are dedicated to serving teen girls.
The efforts are seen in the smiling faces and confident postures of
clubGEN members.

Ami Kane

Education: B.A. in Political Science, Psychology, and Gender Studies from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN; M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN.

Experience: Ami is from the Indianapolis area which is where her passion for girl services began. This interest was initially sparked through her undergraduate studies and was further inspired by work with Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis. After arriving in Austin, Ami worked briefly with Foundation Communities before joining the staff of GENaustin. In her free time Ami loves to watch movies, read, volunteer, and blog. Ami is also an avid, although clumsy, Turbo Kickboxer.

What I like about GENaustin: Having worked in girl services since 2005, I know first hand how vital GENaustin’s empowering messages and skill building activities are for girls. I am so happy to be a part of an organization led by women working to make a real difference in the lives of girls.

Krystal Mathis

Education: BA in Zoology, minor in Psychology from Texas State University

Experience: Before GENaustin, Krystal worked at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation as Director of Outreach.  This title encompassed community education and outreach, running the intern and volunteer programs, and organizing/fundraising for events.  Prior to that, she worked at the San Antonio Zoo as Graphics Supervisor and as a Zookeeper.

What I like about GENaustin:  There’s nothing I don’t like about GENaustin!  This collection of amazing, friendly, funny, intelligent women works so hard to make life better for girls.  Our programs for girls are well-thought out, expertly executed, and truly make a difference.  Our work environment is fun and supportive but professional and serious at the same time.  Our fundraising program is genuine and principled.  I’m thrilled to be a part of such an exemplary non-profit organization!

Brittany Yelverton

Education: B.A. in Communications, Creative Writing and Women’s/Gender Studies, Elon University, Elon, NC; Master of Arts in Media Studies, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Experience: Brittany Yelverton is the Volunteer Specialist at GENaustin and is serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Though originally from Texas, Brittany pursued her undergraduate degree at Elon University where she served as Director of the Service Learning Community and coordinated numerous service projects with Elon Volunteers! While attending graduate in South Africa, Brittany was heavily involved in women’s advocacy and outreach work through the Grahamstown Rape Survivors Support Group and the 1in9 Campaign against sexual violence. Outside of work, Brittany enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and eating things which consist of chocolate and cheese (separately, of course).

What I like about GENaustin: I have an overwhelming amount of respect for the work that GENaustin does, and I am thrilled to be able to contribute to an organization dedicated to empowering girls and creating inclusive and supportive programs for young women.

Maria Geary

Education: B.A. in Political Science from Beloit College, Beloit, WI.

Experience: Maria is the Marketing and Fundraising Specialist at GENaustin & an AmeriCorps VISTA. She is originally from Wasilla, Alaska and is a first-generation college graduate. Maria began working on behalf of low-income youth while still in college, as a peer mentor and tutor for Help Yourself & Student Support Services, both of which are dedicated to encouraging educational achievement in underrepresented student populations. She was also inspired by a semester spent in Washington DC at American University’s Transforming Communities program, where she saw first hand the positive impact non-profits serving girls and young women can have on their participant’s lives. In her free time, Maria enjoys reading, exploring Austin, and eating at as many food trucks as is physically possible.

What I like about GENaustin: I love that GENaustin provides resources and opportunities for girls and young women to celebrate themselves & overcome the challenges that often come with being a girl in society today. On a personal level, I feel privileged to work in such a positive, female-driven environment, and one that is doing such good work in the lives of girls and young women.

Angela Funke

Education: Angela holds an MA in Counseling and a BA in Communication and Media Production, both from St. Edward’s University. Angela is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFT-A) in the State of Texas.

Experience: Following 10 years in the public information field, Angela followed her passion working with people into the marriage and family therapy field. Primarily counseling elementary children in the school environment and juvenile offenders and their families, she has also led a multi-family recovery group and run her own art therapy, self-esteem summer programs. Her skills include individual and family counseling, art therapy, group facilitation, graphic design, and photography.  Her combination of skills brought her to a happy home at GENaustin for this school year!

What I like about GENaustin: “GENaustin is an amazing blend of extraordinary women sharing their skills with girls in Central Texas.  I love being part of an organization that helps girls empower themselves.”

Allyson Miller

Education: Bachelors in Psychology from UT, working on Masters in Counseling St. Edward’s University and certification with Prevention Specialist with the Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies.

Experience: Ally has worked as a Community Educator with Austin’s YouthLaunch program, served on the iChoose teen summit committee, volunteered for the clubGEN program this past year and is in her second year of mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

What I like about GENaustin: I love that GENaustin helps girls embrace who they are and to be proud of why they’re unique. Plus they support and encourage girls to be good to themselves, as well as others.

Stephanie Martin

Education: Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work – Direct Practice, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, Licensed Master Social Worker

Experience: During my education I completed internships with Phoenix House and Southwest Keys Programs-Community Connections Program.  Both experiences gave me the opportunity to work with adolescents and provide case management services to teens who were on probation and overcoming substance abuse.  Before GENaustin I worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas and have been a volunteer since 2007.  In addition to working with GENaustin, I work as a social worker with the Seton Healthcare Family hospitals providing services to individuals who enter the emergency room and case management to inpatient adults and children.

What I like about GENaustin:  I’m thrilled to be apart of GENaustin and excited about spreading the mission and empowering the young women of Austin.  This is such a unique and great opportunity for girls to learn, grow and challenge themselves.  I remember what it was like to be a teenager and am honored to serve as role model and support positive choices.
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Candace Birkelbach

Education:  B.B.A. in Finance, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Texas Teachers Certification, Austin, TX.

Experience:  Candace Birkelbach serves as an advocate of arts education and inclusive, creative programming. After college, she worked as an education reporter in Killeen and wrote for several Austin publications, including The Austin-American Statesman, Austinist and Community Impact Newspaper. Later, she served as program director at Austin Bat Cave—a creative writing center for kids—where she discovered her passion for helping youth find their inner voice. Outside of GENaustin, Candace teaches Creative Writing and Meditation courses at ACE Academy, a school for gifted learners. She loves to write stories, swim and spend time with her dogs, Evey and Buckley.

What I like about GENaustin: I am thrilled and honored to be a part of the GENaustin staff and work with the girls in clubGEN. There is a powerful energy surrounding the program, showing that positive role models and engaging curriculum can inspire girls to speak up about issues too often left in the dark.

Joy Beth Myers

Education: B.S. in Mass Communication and Electronic Media Production from Middle Tennessee State University

Experience:  After a few years in the production field, Joy Beth decided to follow her passion for the healthy development girls.  Prior to coming on staff, Joy Beth was a GENaustin Workshop volunteer as well as a volunteer for Austin Child Guidance Center and the YWCA in Nashville, TN.  She is thrilled to pursue a career in providing direct service to girls and women in her community.

What I love about GENaustin:  GENaustin provides incredible programs and experiences to so many girls in our community.  GENaustin’s  message of empowerment is allowing  girls to have an even stronger voice here in Austin.  It is a privilege to be a part of a team that is dedicated celebrating girlhood and helping girls build a healthy self-esteem!

Ani Mirasol

Education: Master of Science in Social Work, University of Texas at Austin; Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Minor in Women’s Studies, Illinois State University, IL

Experience: Ani is a passionate social justice advocate who works tirelessly for causes in which she believes. Her deepest passion lies in empowering youth, especially serving as an advocate for those who are most at-risk and often given up on. Hailing from the great state of Illinois, Ani headed south after Hurricane Katrina to build a school for youth who had been displaced. She spent several months there as a counselor and mentor to youth and families who were dealing with this devastating crisis. Then heading west, Ani landed in Austin, TX where she fell in love with the music, the breakfast tacos, and GENaustin. While serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA to increase civic engagement on college campuses across Texas, Ani began volunteering with GENaustin. She later began working part-time as a campus coordinator while enrolled at UT-Austin for her Masters degree. Ani worked part-time with GENaustin all through her graduate studies and is now on board full-time as the 180 Program Manager. Outside of work, Ani sings karaoke, plays trivia, walks her adorable dog Stanley, and practices yoga.

What I like about GENaustin: I love the simple fact that an organization like this exists. We provide girls, parents, and educators with the tools and resources to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. Our programs are unique and targeted to the specific issues girls are facing. We are current, relevant, and up to date on the latest concerns girls and parents are facing. I love that everyone in our office is passionate and committed to our cause. I always love coming to work!

Marisa Levans

Education: BA in Photography from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a MS in Counseling from National Louis University in Chicago.

Experience:

Marisa works as the GirlConnect Coordinator at GENaustin.  A recent Austin transplant, Marisa spent the last nine years working for The Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls in Chicago, a non-profit that provides recreational  and enrichment programs to over 2,000 Chicago area youth.  It was because of her work at The Menomonee Club that she knew she wanted to continue to work for other organizations that are making a real difference in the community.  This idea is what first drew her to GENaustin.

When not working, Marisa enjoys going camping, hanging out with her dog, having picnics, eating apple pie and collecting vintage cameras.

What I like about GENaustin: I think GENaustin is doing such important work for the girls here in Central Texas. I wish I had something like GENaustin when I was growing up! I am so grateful to be part of this amazing team of women who are helping to make a difference in the lives of girls.