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In the Spotlight
 Become a Friend of PAIR
As a Friend of PAIR, your gift sustains and grows PAIR programs, directly impacting the lives of our students.
You will receive a regular update that shares the story of a young participant in one of PAIR's programs, youth who are
moving toward fulfilling their dreams for their future thanks to the ongoing support of Friends like you.
Go to our Friends of PAIR page and open our Friends of PAIR booklet to learn more about our students and the activities we carry out with your support. 
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Office | Board
Our Office
Nicole Tritter Ellis, Executive Director
Nicole brings a diverse skill set to her leadership role at PAIR. She previously worked as an immigration attorney and later gained experience in marketing, training, and strategic planning at a multinational information company. She holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from American University in Washington D.C. and a law degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her life, Nicole has pursued personal and professional experiences that allow her to learn about others and assist in their struggles. She is deeply committed to PAIR's mission of empowering refugee youth to reach their highest potential and she hopes to provide volunteers with experiences that increase their understanding of and ability to work with diverse cultures.
Jenelle Thomson, AmeriCorps VISTA
Global Learners Program Manager, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Jenelle began as a VISTA with PAIR in November 2010. She moved to Houston from Los Angeles, where she spent two years in service with a national AmeriCorps program. Her service experience included tutoring and mentoring middle school youth, managing an after-school program, coordinating events and service projects, and leading students through a youth leadership development program. Jenelle graduated from the University of Southern California in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. As an undergraduate, she conducted research abroad on development in Mexico, participated in service learning programs, and was active in the campus chapter of UNICEF. After her time with PAIR, Jenelle plans to teach abroad before pursuing a graduate degree.
Amanda Grant, AmeriCorps VISTA
Global Leaders Program Manager, Resource Development
Amanda graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies and Islamic Studies and a minor in Arabic. During an independent study abroad in Jordan, she encountered refugees for the first time and volunteered regularly with the English Speaking Club at the University of Jordan. While at UT, she founded and led the Middle East Culture Club. She also held leadership positions in the Liberal Arts Student Counsel, the Campus Environmental Center, and Student Government. After graduation, she spent a year traveling internationally before settling in Bahrain. There she participated in a new local youth organization and wrote about health and the environment for its magazine. She also taught a course at a local university and taught English to primary and secondary school children in an after-school program. Following the Arab Spring, she returned to the United States to join AmeriCorps and started her VISTA year with PAIR in July 2011. After PAIR, she plans to serve in the Peace Corps and possibly explore other international and domestic service opportunities before going to graduate school. Amanda speaks Arabic and French.
Karen Schousboe, AmeriCorps VISTA
Global Explorers Program Manager, Volunteer Coordinator
Karen joined PAIR in July 2011 after graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies Honors Program and South Asian Studies. She has worked both abroad and on campus with organizations dedicated to community service and multiculturalism such as mentoring and refugee buddy programs. Karen also has non-profit experience working at a grassroots organization in India with self-help groups for women. She is very excited to continue her passion for social change and diversity through empowering refugee youth as part of the PAIR team. After her AmeriCorps service, Karen plans to continue traveling and working abroad before going to graduate school. Karen speaks Hindi, French and Spanish.
Cynthia Adi, AmeriCorps VISTA
Cynthia will be starting this November. She is a native Houstonian who graduated with honors from Emory University with a degree in International studies and a concentration in African Studies. As a child of Nigerian immigrants, she has always held a fascination for the different cultures and languages of the world. While at Emory, Cynthia regularly volunteered with the International Rescue Committee as a family mentor to refugee families from Burma, Bhutan, Congo, and Iraq that were being resettled in the United States. Most recently, Cynthia lived and worked abroad in Uganda with the Foundation for Sustainable Development as the International Programs Coordinator. Her interests include reading, writing, international human rights and learning new languages. Cynthia is very excited about joining PAIR and looks forward to working with the refugee community in Houston.
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Malcolm Gillis, Honorary Chairman
Malcolm Gillis spent the first twenty-five years of his professional life teaching economics and bringing economic analysis to bear on important issues of public policy in nearly twenty countries, from the U.S. and Canada to Ecuador, Colombia, Ghana, and Indonesia. Since 1986, his career has been devoted primarily, but not exclusively, to university leadership. He is a past president of Rice University. He serves as a board member of a wide variety of academic, cultural, and service organizations. Dr. Gillis is honorary chairman and an advisory member of the board.
Renee Stern, President
Renee Stern has worked as a teacher, writer, and researcher and is currently responsible for research and writing for Cornerstone Consulting Group, Inc., which advises health and human services organizations. In the course of this work she has participated in assessing and advising many nonprofit organizations involved in education and youth development. As a volunteer, Renee worked with refugee families from Russia and from Somalia for many years, helping them through the settlement process and continuing to assist in a variety of ways. She has also taught writing and linguistics to undergraduates and English-as-a-second language and literacy skills to adults.
Christina Triantaphyllis
Christina is an associate consultant at the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit that helps nonprofit and philanthropic leaders in developing strategies and building organizations that inspire and accelerate social change. Prior to joining Bridgespan, Christina completed a Master of Science at the Harvard School of Public Health in Global Health & Population. While at Harvard, she was a Reynolds Foundation Fellow in Social Enterprise focused on applying entrepreneurial principles to public sector and nonprofit organizations. She has worked in Lesotho, Nepal, Bolivia and Argentina in the areas of pediatric HIV/AIDS, maternal & child health, and the base of the pyramid strategy for microcredit and health organizations. While an undergraduate at Rice University, Christina created an interdisciplinary major in Biological Sciences for Global Health Policy and was involved with the Baker Institute for Public Policy through the Baker Institute Student Forum and the DC Summer Fellowship program. She developed a passion for the nonprofit sector as a founding member of PAIR and has remained involved in refugee issues through coursework and research in graduate school and her role on PAIR's board.
Stephen Dictor
Stephen is currently Senior Manager of Performance Analysis at EDP Renovaveis in Madrid, Spain following 3 years at EDP's Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy branch analyzing opportunities to improve the operation of wind power plants. He was a founding member of PAIR and a participant in PAIR's early, successful submission to the RGK Competition. While studying economics and Hispanic studies at Rice University, Steve participated in different community projects and spent a year abroad in Latin America. These include tutoring Houston school children, giving employment workshops to Cuban refugees, organizing improvement projects in low-income communities in Chile, and doing field research with small business owners in Nicaragua.
Rajen Mahagaokar
Rajen is currently part of the Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs, a division that invests in community development projects in underserved areas. His work includes making investments in community development financial institutions, mixed income housing projects, and commercial retail projects. Previously, Rajen worked in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs primarily focusing on merger, acquisition, and divestiture advising and helping firms raise capital through the issuance of debt and equity. Rajen has conducted research on micro-insurance in India and been involved in numerous activities related to refugee and poverty issues internationally and domestically. He is a founding member of PAIR and a graduate of Rice University with a B.A. in Mathematical Economic Analysis.
David Berry
David is Vice President of Finance and Strategy at Clean Line Energy, a company devoted to building power lines to America's best renewable energy resources. He previously was responsible for project financings at Horizon Wind Energy, a leading owner of wind farms in the United States. David has worked with several non-profit organizations that focus on youth education. He graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor's degree in history and economics
Stella Umutomi
A native of Rwanda, Stella Umutoni is a graduate of New York University Silver School of Social Work. She has had extensive experience in the field of social work and administration of NGOs at Legal Aid Society in New York City, the United Nations, and the International Rescue Committee. In addition, she has worked abroad in Kosovo and Rwanda in relief programs for populations affected by war and displacement. Stella received the 2004 Voices of Courage Award, given by the Women's Refugee Commission to refugees who have worked to help other refugee and internally displaced communities. She has spoken about the impact of war and violence on women and children around the world through her involvement with the IRC Youth Leadership Program. Through her professional, creative, and personal endeavors, Stella is committed to raising awareness on issues of human rights and to working to stop the destructive cycle of poverty and violence in countries around the globe.
Angela Lutz
Angie is currently an Associate at Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP, a local law firm that specializes in public finance and public law. Angie works with special purpose districts, such as municipal utility districts, public improvement districts and municipal management districts, both in the role of general counsel and of bond counsel. She graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor's degree in political science and sociology and graduated from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable Wanda McKee Fowler of the Texas 14th Court of Appeals.
Meredith Kottler
Meredith is a kindergarten teacher at The Kinkaid School. She currently serves as the Kindergarten Team Leader and participates on the Literacy Committee and Curriculum Mapping Committee, both of which focus on aligning curriculum across grade levels. She works as a mentor for the Kinkaid Organization for Community Involvement (KOCI Kids). Meredith earned a Bachelor's degree in religious studies from Rice University and completed a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Houston. As an undergraduate, Meredith held an ExxonMobil Internship with the Chinese Community Center in Houston, planning instruction for the summer program. Meredith is an active member of Empower Nepali Girls, an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for at-risk children in Nepal.
Special Advisor: Alex Triantaphyllis
As the original founder of PAIR, Alex Triantaphyllis has exercised the organizational and leadership abilities he garnered through years of public and private sector experience. After completing a Masters in Economics program in Argentina, Alex spent two years at Goldman Sachs in its Investment Banking Division, where he focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions advising for clients in the firm's Global Natural Resources group. Alex is currently in his second year at Harvard Law School, where he serves on the Law Review. An extensive international background coupled with research and professional experience in poverty, migration, and community development afford him the necessary tools to make a significant contribution to PAIR. Alex is passionate about the refugee community, and his dedication to the issues refugees face resonates throughout the organization. Alex graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in political science and Hispanic studies.
PAIR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Houston, Texas.
Please contact us at PAIR@pairhouston.org.
6440 Hillcroft, Suite 302, Houston, TX 77081 | (713) 771 - 1111
6440 Hillcroft, Suite 302, Houston, TX 77081 | (713) 771 - 1111