Our Team
Tom Block
Founder and Executive Director
Tom is a 50-times produced playwright, author of thirteen books, and 25+ year exhibiting visual artist. He has had his plays produced, shown his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East. Tom founded the International Human Rights Art Festival at Dixon Place (NYC) in March 2017. tomblock.com
Katie Mack
ArtForce Podcast
Webby award winner for best writing for a podcast series, and nominated also for best limited podcast series (for her autobiographical voyage to sobriety, “F*cking Sober”), Mack brings her outsized talents to the IHRAM, interviewing artists from around the world. A NYC-based multi-hyphenate artist, Mack is also an actor, writer, producer and all around creative. https://www.mackstage.com
Pradipto Vaskar Rakshit
Refugee Arts and Culture Associate
Pradipto Vaskar Rakshit is a humanitarian professional and social researcher addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh. He has worked with leading national and international nonprofits, contributing to programs focused on humanitarian protection, emergency education, gender justice, social inclusion, and grassroots advocacy for marginalized communities. A 2025 Institute of Civically Engaged Research Fellow with the American Political Science Association (APSA), he holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in International Relations from the University of Dhaka. Pradipto specializes in participatory research methodologies and qualitative analysis techniques, and remains committed to refugee protection and the defense of human rights in repressive contexts.
Costanza Bugiani
IHRAF Festival Assistant Producer
Costanza Bugiani is an Italian theatre-maker who moved to the U.S. four years ago. She co-founded Teatro del Mantice acting company based in Florence. She co-produced Sweet Prince (A.P.E. at 33 Hawley St, MA, February 2025) and Hamlet (La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, NYC, August 2022) with the company Junkyard Shakespeare. She worked as Covid Safety manager for multiple productions and theaters during the Covid era (Paper Mill Playhouse, 2022), worked as a temporary intern at The Tank (2023), attended the Summer Intensive Program at Atlantic Acting School (2024), and she is the associate producer for In Scena! Italian Theater Festival in New York.
Lina Restrepo Cardona
Social Media Manager
Lina is a Colombian-born creative professional with a strong passion for digital communication and community building. With a background in audiovisual and digital communication, she has always been captivated by the power of storytelling and the evolving role of social media in shaping human connection. She is particularly interested in how digital platforms influence culture, foster engagement, and create spaces for interaction across diverse audiences.
Aika Takeshima
IHRAF Festival Assistant
Aika (she/her) is a contemporary dance artist, choreographer, and instructor with certifications in Yoga 200h and as a DEI(Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) practitioner. Originally from Japan, she has over 15 years of experience nationally and internationally. She is the co-founder of sarAika movement collective, a multidisciplinary dance company known for its physically rich movement language and commitment to social impact. Also in 2025, she launched the Osaka International Contemporary Dance Festival. Aika’s choreographic and performance work has been performed nationally and internationally, with commissions from IATI Theater, Et Alia Theater, Naoko Tosa (Kyoto University) for Japan Society NY, Philip Baldwin (Stony Brook University), Peter Schelfhout (University of Bridgeport), and Museum of the City of New York.
Daniela Jayakumar
Accountant
Daniela is a finance professional from India who now calls Detroit home. She specializes in data analysis and visualization, accounting standards and has experience working in a financial capacity with non-profits and hospitals in India and Nepal.
Joe P.
Google Ads Manager
Joe helps teams strategize how to reach and engage larger audiences and potential customers to drive meaningful, actionable interactions, while providing executive leaders with solutions adjacent to goal-oriented, measurable KPIs. He’s uniquely proficient with audience development and community engagement strategies on YouTube, TikTok, & Reddit.
IHRAM Press
Bridget Reuame
Editorial Volunteer
If she won the lottery — someone knock on wood, quick! — she would invest her time earning as many degrees as possible, absolving loan debt, and fighting for affordable education. She believes the most powerful social change derives from education and a mindful inclusion of all voices. She was rasied in Portland, Oregon, and is now gallivanting across Scotland, following her Masters of Letters in Publishing.
Katherine DeChant
Guest Editor
Katherine De Chant has worked as an editor for academic and nonprofit publishers for over 7 years. She recently completed a master's in human rights at Sciences Po in Paris, where she was also a Fulbright scholar, and now resides in New York City.
Anne Look
Associate Editor
Publicity Assistant
Born and raised in the United States, Anne has called different international cities ‘home’ for the better part of the past eight years. In 2017, she moved to Montréal to complete her undergraduate studies at McGill University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Psychology. In 2022, she moved to Scotland to pursue her Master of Letters in Publishing Studies at the University of Stirling. Currently residing in Edinburgh, Anne can often be found facilitating creative writing workshops for a local charity dedicated to improving children’s literacy across Scotland.
Blair Peppe
Publishing Assistant Voluntee
Blair is a passionate reader, writer, editor, and film-maker with experience in publicity and marketing. Previously, she was a staff writer for The Dissonance, where she became well-versed in journalism and human rights advocacy. She is drawn to work which showcases the cornerstone of her values - that it is crucial to amplify unheard voices for a better future and more mindful present. In her free time, you can find her exploring art shows, writer's workshops, poetry readings, comedy shows, and open mic film festivals.
Lisa Zammit
Managing Editor
Lisa spends her time reading and dreaming when she's not designing funky graphics. Originally from a small island called Malta, she's now exploring what Scotland, and the world, has to offer. She values expressing one's voice boldly and honestly, because ultimately there's no other way we can be more authentic as humans. She hopes to continue helping people globally spread their stories and creating a colourful space.
Terseer Sam Baki
African Book Series Editor
Terseer Sam Baki is the author of the celebrated poetry collection, "Euphoria of Sophistry" (Runner up, ANA Poetry Prize 2015), as well as the founding editor of Pen & Pad Arts Publishers, PAPA, Makurdi. He is also the Vice Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Benue State chapter. He is presently researching for a master's degree in Language Education, all at the Benue State University, Makurdi. He is a senior staff of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Interior.
Julia García Garcés
Reader
Julia is a very curious and passionate person who loves literature and music. She’s a Spanish woman traveling around bonny Scotland. Meanwhile, she’s studying her second masters in Publishing Studies since she wants to work in the publishing industry. Julia is persevering, determined and perfectionist when she has a task at hand..
Kelly Kaur
Special Projects Editor and Reader
Kelly grew up in Singapore, came to Calgary to get her degrees at the University of Calgary, and stayed longer than she thought she would. Universities appear to be her playground; as a university educator today, she must have taught over 10,000 students and graded over 60,000 essays. To take a break from marking, she decided to write her own novel. Kelly lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Michele Chu
Book Designer
Michele Chu is a seasoned, award-winning graphic designer. She was the Art Director of Monitor on Psychology, National Geographic Traveler and US News & World Report. She also has worked in newspapers at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Michele has won numerous awards from the Society of Publication Designers, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Art Directors Clubs of Los Angeles, New York and Metropolitan Washington as well as the Society of Newspaper Designers.
Ashley Durer
PR/Marketing Assistant
Ashley Durrer is an alum of Northeastern University, BFA, with a Business Minor. From 2014 to 2025, she spent 10 years focused on paid social media marketing, email marketing, website optimization, content creation, and SEO. She helped build The Midlist Newsletter, which was sold to HarperCollins Publishers. Notably,she has worked on promotions for World Anemia Awareness, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars spin-off stories to expand their consumer audiences.
Emily Mercer
Marketing Assistant
Emily is a linguist and Masters scholar in Translation Studies at the University of Glasgow. Although from a small town near Liverpool, she has lived in Spain and Italy as a student. She is passionate about giving visibility to minority languages, particularly those that belong to Indigenous voices in South America. She is a member of the Experiential Translation Network and a freelance editor for HarperCollins Dictionaries.
Viola Vercelli
Reader
Viola is an MSc Global Migration graduate from University College London, a writer, and an artivist. Originally from Genoa, Italy, she lives in Glasgow, London, and Edinburgh. Her research at the French-Italian border explored transformative and creative knowledge co-production in counterspaces, advocating for freedom of movement and expression. Viola is also an aspiring author of feminist, decolonial speculative fiction and co-founder of the magazine ros•marinus.
African Secretariat
Mbizo Chirasha
Director, African Secretariat, Zimbabwe
Founder of the Writing Ukraine Prize (2022-23), UNESCO-RILA Affiliate Artist (University of Glasgow, Scotland). 2020 Poet of Residence at the Fictional Café, 2019 IHRAF Pan Writivism/African Fellow, 2020 free-Speech Fellow at PEN -Germany Writers in Exile Program, live literature hub Producer at Sotambe Film Arts Festival (Kitwe, Zambia). 2009 Poet in Residence at ICACD (Accra, Ghana). 2009 Fellow at UNESCO-Photo Novel Intensive Training (Tanzania). 2011 United States Embassy, Harare Guest Poet at World Poetry Day (Harare, Zimbabwe). 2007 Producer/Coordinator of This is Artist Artist in Residence Project (Goethe-Zentrum, Harare). 2006 United Nations Tribute to Kofi Annan Poet.
Geraldine Sinyuy
Director, African Secretariat, Cameroon
Geraldine is a Cameroonian Anglophone writer residing in the North West Region of Cameroon. She has a Ph.D in Commonwealth Literature and is a scholar and teacher by profession. She has published Music in the Woods and Other Folktales and Co-edited Poetry in Times of Conflict anthology, where her poems depicting the plight of the internally displaced people in her country also feature. Geraldine is also an advocate for a safe and clean environment. She is also an avid humanitarian and does voluntary work at GEH Orphanage in Bamenda, Cameroon.
Wole Adedoyin
Director, African Secretariat, Nigeria
Wole Adedoyin is the President of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) and the National Publicity Secretary (South) of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Adedoyin has published works in various literary reviews, journals and anthologies. The Gibran National Committee in Beirut, Lebanon appointed Wole Adedoyin as the Coordinator of Gibran Khalil Gibran Society in Nigeria and Africa.
Board of Directors
Prashant Mupparapu
Board Member
Prashant is passionate about IHRAM's work at the confluence of art and social justice, harnessing the powerful voice of art to highlight oppression and human rights violations globally. Growing up in India, he witnessed firsthand the sharp contrasts and trade-offs that humankind is faced with today: poverty, oppression and climate impact but also growth and ambition, fueling innovation and entrepreneurism. Prashant has more than two decades of investing experience in infrastructure, energy, resources sectors, particularly in energy transition and climate adaptation. Prashant studied to be an engineer and an oceanographer, currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids.
Jian Gong
Board Member
Chinese-born Jian Gong is a technology, cybersecurity and data privacy executive with over 18 years of experience working in information technology, media and healthcare. He is passionate about helping organizations scale their technology programs in a safe and secure manner. Jian currently resides in New Jersey
Patty McGoldrick
Board Member
Patty McGoldrick is an accomplished fundraiser in the non-profit sector. She currently serves as Director of Advancement for The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, overseeing an annual fundraising enterprise that raises more than $50 million annually. She previously served as a member of the Major Gifts team at Villanova University, where she built a parent philanthropy program that secured more than $150 million for the University during her tenure. Patty holds a Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University and a Master’s Degree in Public Relations from Rowan University. She lives in the Greater Philadelphia region, with her husband and daughter.
Mike Ruffner
Board Member
Detroit-born Mike Ruffner is the Deputy Coordinator for Financial and Programmatic Sustainability in the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC) at U.S. Department of State. He is leading the new PEPFAR effort to engage partner country Finance Ministries in the fight against HIV and in the investment into resilient and financially secure health systems. Mike is also the chair of the Board of Directors’ Audit and Finance Committee of the Global Fund for the Fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Thomas Zuzelo
Board Member
Thomas Zuzelo is a former infrastructure and energy banker turned entrepreneur with over a decade of experience working across Latin American. He previously worked with the Macquarie Group based in both Mexico City and New York, serving as co-chair of the regional LGBT employee resource group and spearheading Macquarie's first Corporate Equality Index submission to HRC. Thomas served for 6 years on the Board of Directors of the NYC Anti Violence Project. Thomas currently resides in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Adriano Machado
Board President
Adriano is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in the healthcare sector, where he has led finance organizations and driven company acquisitions. A native of Brazil, he has spent much of his career living and working across multiple countries, fostering a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an Executive MBA from INSEAD. A sport enthusiast, Adriano is also a husband and father to two high‑energy children. For the past three years, he and his family have called New Jersey home.
Sarah Feingold
Board Member
Born an artist, Sarah was Etsy's first attorney and 17th employee. For over nine years she helped Etsy scale from an inconspicuous startup to a publicly traded company. After that, she joined Vroom as its first General Counsel. In 2018, the New York Law Journal awarded her with the GC Impact Award. She is the creator/writer of the play, Dirty Legal Secrets, an investor, board member, and as an adjunct professor at NYU.
Mihir Shah
Board Member
Mihir is a seasoned data professional with a passion for storytelling and creative problem-solving, currently working as a Senior Analytics Engineer at SeatGeek. He’s excited by the opportunity to combine his analytical background with his love for empowering others through art as a board member at IHRAM. Mihir earned a BA in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina, where he also studied Writing for the Screen and Stage & Business Administration. Outside of work, Mihir is an avid runner and cyclist, a budding writer, and a movie enthusiast - always looking for the next story that moves him.
Ivy Nightingale
Treasurer
Ivy Nightingale is an experienced accounting and finance specialist focused on the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact. Her work spans process optimization, systems implementation, and strategic planning for mission-driven organizations. Ivy is committed to building future-ready financial infrastructure that supports transparency, equity, and global collaboration.
Danielle Strandson
Board Member
Danielle Strandson is a marketing professional currently working for the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. After earning degrees in art and international development, she built a career in marketing for nonprofits to help them share their mission and message with the world. Danielle has served on the board of several nonprofits including Hour Exchange Portland and Luke Leaders 1248. In her spare time, she engages in animal rescue volunteer work and enjoys traveling.
Bryan Driscoll
Board Member
Bryan Driscoll is a non-practicing lawyer, HR consultant, and legal content writer with nearly two decades of experience advocating for fairness, equity, and human dignity in the workplace. He serves on the boards of several advocacy organizations and brings a people-first lens to legal, organizational, and strategic conversations, helping mission-driven groups build inclusive practices, navigate risk, and amplify impact through storytelling and structure. Bryan’s work centers on protecting worker rights and dismantling systemic barriers, with a deep belief in the power of language, policy, and art to drive meaningful change.
Sumesh Menon
Board Member
Sumesh is a technology and operations leader driving digital transformation, enterprise system implementation, and innovation. He holds master’s degrees in Business and Technology from Harvard Business School and Michigan State University, and brings a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on leadership to every initiative. Beyond his professional work, Sumesh is a passionate sports and art enthusiast. He has a deep appreciation for visual storytelling, contemporary expression, and cross-cultural creativity. His interest in how art intersects with technology and social change reflects a broader commitment to innovation and lifelong learning.
Volunteers
Kriestelle Pradieu
ArtFroce Podcast Volunteer
Kriestelle is a senior at SUNY New Paltz and is majoring in black studies and women and gender sexuality studies. She holds multiple positions on campus and is very active in various organizations. Her passions and skills have coincided with her drive to work in social justice. She believes in the justice of all oppressed and stands with those whose voices have been silenced.
Fernanda Alonso
Website Design Volunteer
Fernanda is a Chicana User Experience Designer with a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction and 5 years of experience. She designs for the human experience, blending design and empathy to create accessible, meaningful solutions that foster connection, equity, and belonging. Guided by her advocacy for human rights and immigrant rights, Fernanda is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and using her designs to create lasting impact.
Zhuoyuan Nie
IHRAM Press Volunteer
Zhuoyuan from Shenzhen, China is passionate about Near Eastern Studies and Afghanistan’s human rights advocacy. As a mentor at the Afghan Education Student Outreach Project, he helps Afghan female refugees improve their oral English. He’s an Iowa Young Writer’s Studio & Kenyon Review Young Writer’s Workshop graduate and the tiniest Yale Writer’s Workshop participant. His debut memoir, "Voices From the Mountains," details the life of Afghan women pursuing freedom and can be read on Kindle. He believes literature has the power to combat injustice and bring representation to marginalized ethnic and gender communities.