Staff

Nan Roman
President and CEO
Areas of Expertise: Press Calls, Housing Policy, Funding, Hurricane Katrina

Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is a leading national voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance is a public education, advocacy, and capacity-building organization with a network of over 9,000 nonprofit and public sector agencies and corporate partners around the country. Under her leadership, the Alliance has developed a pragmatic plan to end homelessness within ten years. To implement this plan, Ms. Roman works closely with members of Congress and the Administration, as well as with cities and states across the nation. She collaborates with Alliance partners to educate the public about the real nature of homelessness and successful solutions. She has researched and written on the issue, is frequently interviewed by the press, and regularly speaks at events around the country. Her unique perspective on homelessness and its solutions comes from over twenty years of local and national experience in the areas of poverty and community-based organizations.

Shalom Mulkey
Chief Operating Officer
Areas of Expertise: Finance

Shalom Mulkey, the COO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, oversees the day-to-day operations and directs, administers and coordinates the activities of the Alliance in support of policies, goals and objectives established by the President & Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors. Shalom brings to the Alliance over 10 years of experience with nonprofit organizations and five-plus years working specifically in administrative and programmatic management of homeless service organizations. She has a strong background in budgeting, financial management, human resources, and project monitoring. Prior to joining the Alliance, Shalom served as the Executive Director of St. Luke’s Shelter and the Director of Administration and Programs for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. She holds an M.P.A with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from George Mason University and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, C.A.

Steve Berg
Vice President for Programs and Policy
Areas of Expertise: Housing Policy, Discharge Planning

Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs and Policy, specializes in employment, economic development, and human services, and the crossover between those issues and housing. He came to the Alliance from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, where he worked on state-level welfare reform and employment. Before coming to Washington, he spent 14 years as a legal services attorney in California and Connecticut, working on housing, government benefits, employment and family integrity. His experience includes nonprofit management and staff training and development.

Barbara Anzelmo
Director of Finance and Administration
Areas of Expertise: Finance, Administration

Barbara Anzelmo is the Director of Administration and Finance. She assists the Executive Director in managing the organization’s administrative and financial functions. Her responsibilities include administering fiscal policies and procedures, including internal controls, audit, cash management, account reconciliations, expense allocations, recording contributions, and financial reports. She is also responsible for human resource duties including payroll, employee benefits, and oversight of evaluations; and administrative duties as administering office insurance policies and vender contracts, maintaining inventory of Alliance products and equipment, and maintenance of office equipment. Ms. Anzelmo came to the Alliance with twelve years experience in nonprofit accounting.

Samantha Batko
Capacity Building Associate
Areas of Expertise: Technical Assistance, Housing First

Samantha Batko, Capacity Building Associate for the Center for Capacity Building at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, helps state and local governments, communities, and nonprofit programs implement plans to prevent and end homelessness. The Center for Capacity Building also provides specific technical assistance and training for communities and organizations implementing Housing First. Samantha joined the Alliance in February 2006 as the Communications Associate. As the Communications Associate, she edited the online newsletter and managed the website in addition to developing fact sheets, reports, and other educational materials. Prior to working for the Alliance, she worked for a crisis hotline while obtaining her Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech. While in high school, Samantha worked with the Carpenter Shelter in Alexandria, providing food for homeless families.

Elizabeth Doherty
Administrative and Development Associate
Areas of Expertise: Development, Finance and Administration

Elizabeth Santa-Donato works closely with the Director of Development and the Director of Finance and Administration. Her responsibilities include maintaining financial logs, accounts payable and receivable, account reconciliation and various human resource duties. Elizabeth is also responsible for donor cultivation and stewardship as well as aspects of the Alliance's development related marketing strategy. Elizabeth graduated from the University of San Diego with a BA in Sociology and a Certification in Nonprofit Business. While in college, she conducted research for Coastal Habitat for Humanity and gained experience as a development intern at Women for Women International.

Damien Heath
Director, Center for Capacity Building
Areas of Expertise: Training and Technical Assistance

Damien Heath is the Director of the Center for Capacity Building. He leads the development and implementation of the Alliance’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of local communities, states, and faith and community based organizations to end homelessness. Prior to joining the Alliance and the Center for Capacity Building, he has worked in the nonprofit sector providing training and technical assistance for over 10 years. In that time he has trained hundreds of organizations, foundations, and government agencies on a variety of programmatic and organizational topics. He has led or played a significant role in the management and execution of 10 national capacity building initiatives that have directly impacted over 1000 unique nonprofit organizations across the country.

Meghan Henry
Research Associate
Areas of Expertise: Data Analysis and Research

Meghan Henry is a Research Associate at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Joining the staff in July 2006, she is responsible for the analysis of various data and research on homelessness, writing research reports and briefs, monitoring progress on the Ten Year Plan, and for connecting policymakers with research on homelessness. Meghan graduated from Tufts University with her Master's degree in Urban and Social Policy and Planning in May 2006. While pursuing her Master's degree, she worked at a substance abuse clinic and as a Research Assistant at Tufts University in the field of Urban Economics. Prior to graduate school, Meghan was a researcher for special projects at US News and World Report, and has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Florida.

Richard Hooks Wayman
Senior Policy Analyst
Areas of Expertise: Youth, Outreach, Runaway Youth

Richard Hooks Wayman is the Senior Youth Policy Analyst. Formerly the Public Policy Campaign Director for the Minnesota Youth Service Association, Mr. Hooks Wayman authored the Minnesota Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the Minnesota Youth Advancement Act. Rich received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1992 and worked as a public interest litigator for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis for 8 years, primarily focused on disability civil rights, fair housing, and family law. Rich left Legal Aid to serve as the Collaborative Director of StreetWorks for six years. The StreetWorks Collaborative is comprised of thirteen youth-serving agencies providing street-based outreach to homeless and runaway youth in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. While at StreetWorks, Rich coauthored a national training manual - StreetWorks: Best Practices and Standards in Outreach Methodology to Homeless Youth. Rich also represents abused and neglected youth in juvenile court on a pro bono basis.

Sarah Kahn, MSW
Director of Field Mobilization
Areas of Expertise: Legislative Advocacy

Sarah Kahn is the Director of Field Mobilization with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She advocates in collaboration with the Alliance’s local, state, and national partners for the advancement of policies and programs that promote permanent solutions to homelessness. In this position she assists in managing legislative campaigns and instructs advocates in building and strengthening relationships with elected officials. Prior to working with the Alliance, she assisted in the coordination of the Continuum of Care processes at the Homeless Services Coalition of Greater Kansas City, Missouri while working towards a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas.

D'Arcy Klingle
Meeting and Event Coordinator
Areas of Expertise: Event Planning

D'Arcy Klingle is the Alliance’s Meeting and Events Coordinator. She is responsible for the planning and execution of the Alliance’s special events including the annual conferences and awards ceremony. Prior to joining the Alliance, D’Arcy worked at The Webster Group, a Washington, DC-based event planning company specializing in event planning, fundraising, strategic planning and foundation management with a large focus on nonprofit organizations. D’Arcy’s roles at The Webster Group covered event production and marketing including budget and timeline development and management, stage management, event production, program journal coordination, online auction management and fundraising. During her time at The Webster Group D’Arcy worked with numerous vendors throughout the Washington, DC metro area including venues, caterers, designers, florists and audio visual companies and was also able to learn about and work with many local DC nonprofit organizations. D’Arcy received her degree in Public Relations from Northern Michigan University.

Amanda Krusemark
Assistant to the President
Areas of Expertise: Policy, Administration, Online Communications

Amanda Krusemark joined the Alliance in June 2008 as the Assistant to President Nan Roman. In this position, Amanda works closely with the President, providing her with support for both policy and administrative issues. She also maintains a majority of the Alliance website, as well as compiles and edits the Alliance's weekly e-newsletter. Amanda graduated from Dickinson College with a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, as well as a minor in Philosophy. While in college, she gained policy experience by working as an intern for a non-profit marine conservation organization. She has also served as a Congressional Intern. Throughout high school and college, Amanda volunteered for homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and programs aimed at educating children from low-income families.

Sharon McDonald
Senior Policy Analyst
Areas of Expertise: Families, TANF, Housing First for Families

Sharon McDonald is a Senior Policy Analyst with a focus on policy and program strategies to address family homelessness. Ms. McDonald joined the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2001. Prior to joining the Alliance, Sharon was a direct practitioner in a Richmond, Virginia community-based service center for people who are homeless for nearly seven years. She has experience providing service-enhanced housing in a subsidized housing development for low-income families with children and in housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. Sharon served as a Social Work Congressional Fellow in Senator Paul D. Wellstone’s office where she focused on welfare and housing issues. Sharon has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1991 and holds a Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University.

LaKesha Pope
Youth Program and Policy Analyst
Areas of Expertise: Youth, Foster Care, Runaway Youth

LaKesha Pope is a Youth Policy and Program Analyst. Prior to joining the Alliance, LaKesha Pope worked at Public Strategies, Inc. in government relations to provide client support in the areas of media strategy, market research, project management and legislative affairs. She was also responsible for program development for various statewide Governors’ Conferences for Women. Ms. Pope served two terms as the Points of Light Foundation Youth Engaged in Service Ambassador for Texas. As the youth spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, she developed and facilitated trainings nationwide and managed a statewide youth service council that implemented thousands of volunteer service hours throughout Texas. LaKesha has a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs with a Concentration in Nonprofit Management. While pursuing her graduate degree, she worked at the Children’s Defense Fund, where she provided analysis of national and state policies on child and youth development. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Xavier University in Louisiana.

M William Sermons
Director, Homelessness Research Institute
Areas of Expertise: Cross-Disciplinary Research, Program Evaluation, Performance Improvement

M William Sermons, Director of the Alliance’s Homelessness Research Institute, specializes in cross-disciplinary research and program evaluation. As Director of the Homelessness Research Institute, he is responsible for advancing the Institute’s aim of building and disseminating knowledge that informs policy and practice. Prior to joining the Alliance, Mr. Sermons served as Outcomes Manager at Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc., where he evaluated the organization’s health, education, and social service programs and coordinated performance improvement efforts. He provided direct services to homeless families while serving as the Homeless Education Liaison for the Alexandria City Public Schools. Mr. Sermons is a graduate of Duke University and holds a Master of Social Work degree from Catholic University. He also holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, where his research focused on the ways that race, household dynamics and socioeconomic status influence residential location decisions.

Norm Suchar
Senior Policy Analyst
Areas of Expertise: Fannie Mae Grant-related Activities, Chronic Homelessness, Disabilities

Norm Suchar is a Senior Policy Analyst with a focus on chronic homelessness. He joined the staff of the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2002. Mr. Suchar promotes effective policies and practices related to supportive housing, mental health, substance abuse treatment, health care, and other services for homeless people as well as programs that facilitate rapid rehousing for families and individuals. His prior experience includes three years in the Budget Office at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he focused on homelessness and community development programs, and two years working in child welfare for the State of Utah.

Aisha Williams
Capacity Building Associate
Areas of Expertise: Strategic Planning, Program Analysis and Evaluation

Aisha Williams is a Center for Capacity Building Associate with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In her role she serves as resource for state and local governments, communities, and nonprofit programs wishing to implement the core strategies of their plans to prevent and end homelessness. She does this by providing technical assistance, training, strategy development and system analysis for clients. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2008, Aisha served as a business and program development consultant with various corporate, government and nonprofit organizations. In her eight-plus years of experience, Aisha provided services for dozens of organizations whose program development, management and evaluation needs mirrored those of the Alliance’s clients. Aisha has a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and completed her undergraduate degree at Smith College.

Catherine An
Media Relations and Communications Specialist
Areas of Expertise: Media Relations, Communications

Catherine is the Media Relations and Communications Specialist at the Alliance. She handles media inquiries, coordinates with the press, assists with website development, and manages the organization’s presence on social networks. She also assists with the organization's newsletter publication and printed materials. Prior to joining the Alliance, Catherine served on the communications staff at NARAL Pro-Choice America. She hails from Northern California and received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Davis.