Our Agency Team of Experts

Lisa P

Executive Vice President
oklahomaexecutive, international

Our Agency Expert:

Lisa P

Executive Vice President
Email Address: Lisa@Nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Favorite Adoption Story: Suubi’s story is Lisa’s favorite. You can read more about Suubi’s story through the link below..
Education: Lisa has a BSW from the University of Oklahoma and an MSW from the University of Kansas. Lisa is a licensed social worker in the state of Oklahoma and has previous work experience in child protective services and therapeutic foster care.
Responsibilities: In her role as Executive Vice President, Lisa helps in writing policies and maintaining Quality improvement within Nightlight. Lisa is involved in program development and maintenance for our all Nightlight programs. Lisa is an LMSW and assists each team member in clinical decisions and crisis management.

April

International Coordinator
coloradointernational

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April

International Coordinator
Email Address: april@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Education: BA in Spanish from Western Kentucky University with minors in English and psychology
Responsibilities: Respond to online inquiries, answer incoming calls, guide families in deciding which of Nightlight’s programs are the best fit for them.

Becca T

International Program Coordinator
kentuckyinternational

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Becca T

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: rebecca@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story is of a family who originally came to Nightlight desiring to adopt a young girl, under 3 with minor special needs. They had been waiting in our China program for a couple of months and they saw a child we were advocating for who had down syndrome. They initially asked about her and said they weren't sure about adopting a child with that special need but were considering it. After taking time to pray and consider her file, they decided to move forward with her adoption. She is now happily home with the family and they have been thrilled with this joyous child in their home. I love that God opened their heart to adopting their daughter and they listened to that call. Sometimes we can miss out on so much when we aren't open to what God has in store for us.

Celeste

International Program Coordinator
kentuckyinternational

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Celeste

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: celeste.rupp@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: My favorite Scriptures are the chapter of Psalm 23 and the verse John 14:27
Education: Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing and Management
Responsibilities: I work in the Nigeria program alongside families from the inquiry phase until they submit their dossier to Nigeria. I work in the Colombia program advocating for waiting children, and alongside families in that program when they are in the home study and dossier phase through submitting their dossiers to Colombia.

Gracie

International Program Coordinator
coloradointernational

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Gracie

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: gracie@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2
Favorite Adoption Story: When I was an intern with Nightlight in 2020 my favorite memory was the discharge of a newborn baby from the hospital and driving the baby to meet their forever. Witnessing and taking part in this first meeting was absolutely breathtaking!
Education: I attended Colorado State University and graduated in May 2020 with a Bachelors in Social Work.
Responsibilities: Managing the day to day operations of the Hong Kong and China Adoption Programs. Responsible from the delivery of services to the coordination of services.

Julie E

International Program Coordinator
coloradointernational

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Julie E

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: julie.eagleson@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. (Isaiah 46:11)
Favorite Adoption Story: A family I was working with was adopting a sibling group of 3 in Colombia. They were in Colombia with the children and the judge was ready to sign the adoption decree when the birthfather showed up at ICBF and said he'd like to have the children. He brought with him not an attorney but a member of the press. This was a number of years ago, just after there had been very damaging press on TV about ICBF's programs over the years. The judge made the decision to stop the process and have ICBF investigate whether the birth father was willing and able to parent the children. The children said they thought they might have seen this man a time or two but did not identify him as their father and had no relationship with him. No one knew how long it would take for this to be resolved, but the adoptive family, a very strong Christian family, made the decision that the mom and their bio son would remain in Colombia with the 3 siblings, where she homeschooled them all, and dad would go home and work to earn money to provide for everyone. They contacted all of their church friends and relatives and so did I and we all began to pray and pray and pray. In the end, it took 7 months for ICBF to determine that the birthfather had neither the means nor the interest in parenting the children, and that he had been encouraged to carry out his actions by members of the press. Finally, the family came home with the children. I asked them to send me a photo of the moment when they stepped off the plane in the US, which they did. What a moment! It was a very long 7 months for everyone, but the family never gave up and the children got to come be with their forever family!
Education: I have a BA in Spanish and a BA in Psychology from Linfield College
Responsibilities: Coordinate Mexico Program

Karson

International Program Coordinator
indianainternational

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Karson

International Program Coordinator
Favorite Adoption Story: Since starting to work in international adoptions, I have been able to be a little part of our families' adoption journeys. I would say my favorite adoption story would be meeting and sitting down with a Burkina Faso family going over their travel consultation with Sonja, the program director. Once the family traveled and brought their sweet little boy home, they brought him in to the office to meet everyone. Looking into the little boy’s eyes and being able to shake his little hand will be a memory I’ll never forget. This is exactly why we do what we do!
Education: Bachelors of Art in Psychology, currently working on Masters in Social Work
Responsibilities: My responsibilities are managing our Bulgaria and Haiti programs out of the Indiana office. My duties include dossier assembly, immigration filing assistance, documentation tracking and updating, receiving referrals from the country’s Central Authority and providing assistance with court and travel for families bringing home their children.

Liana

International Coordinator
coloradointernational

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Liana

International Coordinator
Email Address: Liana@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Favorite Adoption Story: I have a couple of favorite adoption stories. The first one would be my own. I was adopted from St. Petersburg, Russia at age 11. I feel truly blessed to have a family, a very wonderful loving family. In the orphanage I prayed to find my biological family and for them to take me back home but another family found me instead, my true family. My second favorite adoption story is the adoption of my first son. I ended up pregnant at age 18 and could not provide for a child. My best friend’s parents asked if I would consider them to be my baby’s parents. I decided that that would be the best option for my son and he would be well taken care of. Since I have known this family since I came to the U.S. we have maintained a great relationship and have a wonderful open adoption. I am so grateful that I still get to be a part of his life and he knows that I am his “birth mama” and that I love him.
Education: Business Administration student at Grand Canyon University
Responsibilities: Assist families in the international adoption process

Lisa W

International Program Coordinator
kentuckyinternational

Our Agency Expert:

Lisa W

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: LisaW@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Joshua 3:5 “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Favorite Adoption Story: I have been honored to witness and be a part of many adoption stories and they are all my favorite. The one I will share with you is a time when a birthmother gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and the adoptive couple was there at the hospital. But this young woman wanted to spend time with her baby. This was a difficult time for the adoptive couple because they were afraid that she would change her mind and decide to parent her son. I stayed with this birthmother during her stay at the hospital. We talked as she dressed her son and took so many pictures of him. She had to say hello and that she loved him. The adoptive couple gave her the space to do that. On the day she left the hospital, the birthmother said, “Lisa, I want to give him to you and leave.” When it was time for her to leave, she hugged and kissed her son and placed him in my arms, with tears running down her cheeks. Then she turned and sat in the wheelchair as the nurse wheeled her down the hallway. Her cries filled the maternity floor as she made the most difficult choice of her life. I was left standing in her hospital room holding this precious baby boy. As I held him, I prayed for him and the plans God had for him. I then took him to his adoptive parents. They stood holding one another, having heard the birthmother’s cries. I wiped the tears from my eyes and encouraged them to hold their son. Today this little boy is 8 years old. I continue to get pictures of birthdays and holidays when his adoptive family and his birth family spend time together. Moments now filled with smiles and laughter.
Education: Lisa is a graduate of Morehead State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Prior to joining Nightlight in 2012, Lisa worked with the Cabinet for Families and Children completing abuse/neglect investigations and working with foster children. She has worked with A Helping Hand Adoption Agency completing home studies for couples adopting from China. Upon joining the Nightlight team in 2012, Lisa worked as Domestic Program Coordinator/Birthparent Counselor/Home Study Provider. Lisa now works in the International Programs. She coordinates the countries of Albania, Honduras, Malawi, Uganda, and some Nigeria cases.
Responsibilities: Lisa helps coordinate the Albania, Uganda, Honduras, Malawi, and Nigeria adoption programs and assists families throughout their international adoption process.

Nicky

Vice President International Adoption Services
missouriexecutive, international

Our Agency Expert:

Nicky

Vice President International Adoption Services
Email Address: Nicky@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:16 Do not be anxious about anything
Favorite Adoption Story: As an adoptive mother I have to say my favorite adoption story is my own. After working with families for over 15 years I became an adoptive mother as well. Going through the adoption journey helps me to understand all the emotions and difficulties adoptive families go through.
Education: Nicky holds a B.A in Psychology from the University of Missouri- Columbia. She also has an MSW from St. Louis University. She has worked in the International adoption field for over 20 years.
Responsibilities: Nicky is the Vice President of all international programs at Nightlight.

Rhonda

International Program Director
californiainternational

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Rhonda

International Program Director
Email Address: rhonda@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. Yerushalmi Talmud 4:9
Favorite Adoption Story: More of my family members are adopted then born into our family. I first became aware of adoption, when my brother came home on my 5th birthday, a month after his birth. Adoption was the way my husband and I chose to build our family through the adoption of five school aged children from Russia and one from Kyrgyzstan. Adoption is a way of life for me and I feel very blessed to help other families throughout their adoption journey.
Education: Rhonda Jarema earned her B.A. In psychology from University of Michigan and her M.A. from Pepperdine University.
Responsibilities: Manage the California office with specific responsibility for Kinship and UAA Adoption programs, Education Programs, Intercountry Home Study services, Home Study Abroad, and Hague Accreditation.

Tiffany

International Program Coordinator
oklahomainternational

Our Agency Expert:

Tiffany

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: tiffany@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Education: BSW and Pastoral Development License
Responsibilities: Managing day-to-day operations of our Honduras and Jamaica programs, maintaining working relationships with our in-country providers, and walking adoptive families through the process

Viktoriia

International Program Coordinator
indianainternational

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Viktoriia

International Program Coordinator
Email Address: viktoriia@nightlight.org
Education: Viktoriia is originally from Ukraine, where she obtained her Specialist in Law degree in 2007 and PhD degree in 2010. In the USA she received her Master of Laws degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2016.
Responsibilities: Viktoriia is working with prospective adoptive parents hoping to adopt from the countries of Ukraine, and Samoa. She is assisting families throughout their international adoption process.

Yesenia

International Program Assistant
californiainternational

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Yesenia

International Program Assistant
Email Address: yesenia@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 5:8: God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Education: B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Spanish
Responsibilities: Conducting inquiry calls with families interested in country programs; answering questions to help guide families to programs that best fit their needs; assisting the International Program Coordinators with dossier preparation.
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