TASSC Staff

Aymen Tabir

Executive Director

Aymen started as Executive Director in August 2022. In his home country of Sudan, Aymen worked for the Sudan Human Rights Network and the Sudanese Victims of Torture group, among other human rights organizations. Aymen was detained and tortured in Sudan, where he and his family faced the brutality of the Al-Bashir regime. Aymen has years of experience in nonprofit and project management for NGOs and has managed several regional projects with Arab human rights organizations and for the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists in Egypt. He graduated from Omdurman Ahlia University in Sudan with a degree in Political Science and Business Administration. He is also a certified human rights consultant. Aymen is committed to the abolition of torture and passionately believes that human dignity is best enhanced by protecting human rights. Aymen is also committed to protecting and expanding the second home that so many survivors of torture found in TASSC.

Andrea Barron, MA

Advocacy & Outreach Program Manager   

Andrea Barron has managed TASSC’s Advocacy and Outreach Program since November 2013. She works closely with survivors to educate policymakers about human rights policies toward countries whose governments tortured survivors, and on other issues that affect them such as the asylum backlog. She also coordinates the Truth Speakers program, which brings survivors to faith-based and human rights organizations. Before coming to TASSC, Andrea was Senior Program Manager for Civic Engagement at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, where she organized volunteer projects for college students on global women’s rights, Mideast peace, homelessness, the environment and immigrants’ rights. She graduated from New York University, holds a master's degree in history from Boston College and completed doctoral courses in government at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Mary Larson

Executive Assistant

Mary joined TASSC in February 2023. Prior to starting at TASSC, she was a Program Associate at IREX where she worked on a program that trained educators in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. She has also been involved in community organizing as a staff member and volunteer with a handful of local non-profits. Mary graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and from George Washington University with a Masters degree in Middle East Studies. She studied Arabic in Morocco and Jordan and conducted research for her Masters Capstone in Tunisia.

Mireille Makambo, MPA

Career Development Coordinator

Mireille Makambo joined TASSC in July 2018, first as a volunteer coordinating other volunteers’ activities, then in November 2018 as a Career Development Coordinator. Mireille is a graduate from the University of Oregon where she holds a bachelor’s in international studies with a concentration in Diplomacy and International Relations, aMaster’s degree in Public Administration. Before joining TASSC, Mireille worked as an intern at Mobility International USA and Holt International. Afterwards, she stepped away from the workforce to take care of her family. Mireille is a passionate advocate of issues related to social justice and the respect of human rights.

Dawit Shiferaw

Paralegal

Meet Dawit Shiferaw, our new dedicated paralegal at TASSC. Originally from Ethiopia, he is not only an Asylee and a torture survivor but also a loving father, caring brother, and devoted husband. Before joining our team at TASSC, Dawit gained valuable experience at a fast-paced private law firm, where he successfully assisted attorneys with complex immigration issues, including immigration court cases. His expertise in immigration law and unwavering commitment to helping others made him a valuable asset to the firm. In addition to his private sector experience, Dawit also contributed his talents to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc (CLINIC). There, he served as a paralegal in the Religious Immigration Service department (RIS), assisting attorneys in completing various immigration forms to help RIS clientele.

 Dawit is a native Amharic speaker and fluent in English. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) degree from Addis Ababa University, which laid the foundation for his legal knowledge. Furthermore, he holds a paralegal certificate from Nairobi, Kenya, further enhancing his skills and capabilities in the field. Driven by his deep sense of compassion and empathy, Dawit's primary interest lies in advocating for fellow survivors, refugees, and promoting just immigration policies and human rights law. His dedication to creating a more equitable world aligns perfectly with the values of TASSC. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dawit is an enthusiastic supporter of Liverpool Football Club. His passion for a beautiful game and dream of visiting Anfield, the legendary home stadium of Liverpool Football Club, exemplify his dedication and determination

 At TASSC, we are honored to have Dawit as a part of our Legal Service Program team. With his wealth of experience and genuine commitment to making a positive impact, he plays a crucial role in our mission to support survivors, and vulnerable communities while championing human rights and advocating for just immigration policies. With Dawit's expertise and shared values, we are confident that together, we can make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Welcome to our team, Dawit, and thank you for being an invaluable addition to TASSC.

Rachel Ryu

Staff Attorney

Rachel Ryu is a Staff Attorney at TASSC. Before joining TASSC, Rachel worked as a legal fellow at a human rights non-profit organization. During law school, she worked on asylum and immigration matters in an immigrant family legal clinic. She is passionate about asylum, refugee, and human rights law. Rachel looks forward to serving the TASSC community by listening to survivors and working with them to prepare their legal cases.

VOLUNTEERS

Annie Couture Newton, MA

International Human Rights Research and Advocacy

Annie started her professional journey working with torture survivors at Chicago's Kovler Center under the mentorship of Dr. Mary Fabri. This took her to Rwanda on a couple occasions where she worked alongside local therapists addressing the impact of the Rwanda collective trauma. At TASSC she participates with the Advocacy Program in two capacities. She meets with congressional staff and torture survivors to discuss the plight of survivors and advocates for meaningful change on current policies that hinder their full recovery. She also works with the Advocacy Program on International Human Rights, conducting research and preparing materials to hold accountable perpetrators of torture and others who commit serious human rights abuses.

MERWYN DE MELLO

survivors' social groups coordinator

M.A in conflict transformation and peace Building

He grew up in Nairobi, Kenya and Mumbai, India.  In Japan, he worked as an immigrant rights advocate and community organizer to change policy for asylum seekers.  In Tanzania, he co-coordinated projects in thirteen refugee camps on Tanzania-Rwanda-Burundi borders and developed community education programs on advocacy and peacebuilding.  At the Institute of Peace, Leadership, and Governance in Mutare, Zimbabwe, he designed and taught courses in Transitional Justice and Trauma Healing, Peacebuilding, and provided coordination for peacebuilding strategy development in Harare, Zimbabwe.  Also in Mumbai, he coordinated programs for promoting honesty, transparency, and accountability in governance.