Gatluak Thach, President & CEO
Gatluak Ter Thach is the founder and current President and CEO of the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE). Gat came to Nashville as a refugee from Sudan 15 years ago and obtained a BS in Computer Science from Tennessee State University in 2003. He then went to Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee and graduated in May of 2007 with a Masters of Public Service. He serves on several different boards including Board of Directors of Sudanese Human Rights Organization, Tennessee Immigrants and Refugee Rights Coalition, Advisory Committee of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, and Advisory Board Council for Nashville’s Mayor on Refugees and Immigrants. Gatluak has received numerous leadership and service awards, including a community service award from PCA of Sudan and Tennessee Immigrant Leadership Award from Tennessee Immigrants and Refugee Right Coalition and more. He speaks fluently in Nuer, Arabic, English, Amharic and other languages and dialects. Gatluak is married with his long time friend and the couple is blessed with three beautiful children, Duang and Ter, Jr., and Sarina.
Learn more about Gat’s incredible story! Read a Personal Interview by Rebecca West of Alive Magazine HERE.
Cindy Cunningham, Director of Resettlement and Operations
Cindy was born and raised in Iowa with her 10 brothers and sisters. She graduated from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. She spent over 30 years in corporate America starting in Quality Assurance and moving through several other areas including Finance and Sales. In Febuary of 2011, she started at NICE as a volunteer. In June, she was hired to be the Resettlement Program Coordinator overseeing all parts of NICE’s Resettlement Program, specifically R&P.
Idah Mathu, Financial Manager
Idah Mathu was born and raised in Nairobi Kenya. She later moved to South Africa to pursue a Degree in Computer Science and upon completion moved to the United States. Idah joined NICE in September of 2009 as a Financial and Administrative Coordinator. Idah speaks Swahili, English and Kikuyu.
Sue Lo, Education Program Coordinator
Sue Lo attended college in California and graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Marriage, Family, and Children’s Counseling. In her career, she has worked in various social service agencies. She also has a vast amount of experience in the non-profit sector working with volunteer management and program coordination. The experience of her parents as refugees in a new country fueled her passion to give back and help other refugees with similar stories. In May 2010, Sue joined NICE as a volunteer and assisted with administrative duties, recruitment of volunteers, and coordination of ELL classes. In October 2010, Sue joined the team of paid staff at NICE as the Education Program Coordinator.
A’isha Garba, Employment Coordinator
Aisha is originally from Nigeria. She came to the US for college and graduated from Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, KY in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She started as a volunteer with NICE in July 2009 and has enjoyed meeting and getting to know people from many different walks of life. She currently assists clients in finding gainful employment. A’isha speaks Hausa, English and Spanish.
Mark Eatherly, Refugee Integration Coordinator
Mark Eatherly is a native Tennessean that received his Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages from MTSU and has his Master’s from Peabody College at Vanderbilt. Mark worked with people with disabilities in an AmeriCorps program at Vanderbilt Medical Center. He also worked at Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement in Nashville. He speaks Spanish and other Romance languages. Mark is the program coordinator for the Refugee Integration program.
Mahmoud Jabassini, ECBO Program Assistant Coordinator
Mahmoud Jabasini graduated in 1987 from Marthawada University in India, with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting & Auditing. He came to Nashville in 1990. In 1992, he worked as a volunteer helping Iraqi, Kurdish, and other Arabic speaking refugees by taking them to their immigration appointments, medical screenings, and other social services organizations that assisted them in obtaining services needed for their adjustment. Mahmoud was employed with Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program from 1994-99 as the Home-based Work Coordinator. After that, he also worked for Metropolitan Social Services of Nashville and Davidson County and the United States Department of Defense as a cultural/translation advisor in Iraq. Mahmoud Joined the staff of Nashville International Center for Empowerment in 2011, and currently serves as the Assistant Employment Program Coordinator helping to find clients work throughout the greater Nashville area. Mahmoud is fluent in Arabic, English, and Urdu.
Sarah Russ, Outreach & Youth Program Specialist
Sarah Russ worked closely with refugees in her home state of Minnesota before relocating to Nashville. She has experience with instruction, program coordination, and volunteer management. She holds a TEFL certificate from Hamline University and a B.A. from Macalester College. Joining the NICE team in October of 2010, she coordinates summer and after-school programming for elementary, middle, and high school students. She also teaches adult ESL classes and facilitates Culture Exchange sessions for K-12 school staff to help ensure a smooth transition for refugee students into the education system.
Jordan Peoples – Resettlement Specialist
Jordan Peoples is from Lawson, Missouri, a rural town outside of Kansas City. He came to Nashville to attend Trevecca Nazarene University from which he graduated with a degree in Business—Community Development in May of 2011. While at Trevecca, Jordan started as a Grant Writing and R&P intern at NICE. In October of 2011 Jordan was hired as the Resettlement Specialist. He now oversees the Match Grant Program, Preferred Communities Program and helps with the R&P program as well.
Stephanie Adams, Eligibility Specialist
stephanie@empowernashville.org
Stephanie Adams was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating from Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School, she attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science. Afterward, she spent a year in Americorps working with At-Risk Youth and refugee families in East Nashville. During this time she gained experience working within the nonprofit sector, and with underprivileged populations. She was hired by the Nashville International Center for Empowerment in 2011 as an Eligibility Caseworker and Health Navigator.
Patrice Watson, Education & Volunteer Specialist
Patrice Watson was born and raised in Little Rock, AR. She moved to Nashville,TN in 1999 where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education from Fisk University in 2003. She later went to Tennessee State University and graduated in December 2005 with a MEd in Administration and Supervision. In her career, she has worked at Metropolitan Action Commission and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools as a teacher. She joined NICE as the Education and Volunteer Specialist in November of 2011.
Koang Chol, RSS Specialist
Koang was born and raised in Sudan where he attended the Sudan University of Science and Technology. He came to the United States in May of 2003 and began working for Walden Groups Inc. He went on to work for Dell Inc., Preferred Alternative Inc., and Quality Living Inc. In 2011, Koang graduated from Nashville State Community College with an associate degree in Business Information Systems. He joined the NICE staff in October of 2011 and is working as the RSS coordinator helping find sustainable employment for refugees. Koang speaks Arabic, English and Nuer.
Bhuwan Nepal, Case Worker
Bhuwan was born in Bhutan but had to leave the country when he was three months old. He moved to Nepal where he lived as a refugee for 17 years. He completed high school while he was there in 2008. He came to the United States in May of 2009. Bhuwan was hired as one of the caseworkers at NICE in June of 2011 where he serves R&P clients as they adjust to their new life in America. Bhuwan is currently studying Pre-Nursing at Nashville State Technical College. He speaks Nepali, Hindi, Dzonkha and English.
Lachu Siwakoti, Case Worker
Lachu was born in Bhutan and was evicted from the country when he was seven years old. He then lived for 19 years as a refugee in Nepal. While in Nepal, he earned his Bachelors of Commerce Studies(B.C.S) degree. In August of 2009, he came to the United States. He started working at NICE in July of 2011. Lachu is one of the caseworkers for the R&P program helping newly arrived refugees adjust to their new life in America. Lachu speaks Nepali, Hindi, English, Nagamis, Dzonkha and Ashamis.
Jessica Gilles, Research & Social Adjustment Assistant
Jessica Gilles was born in Athens, Greece but grew up in Nashville, Tennesse. She attended Father Ryan High School and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she received a degree in English. After graduating, Jessica joined the Peace Corps and served as an English teacher in Ukraine from 2009 to 2011. Upon her return to the States, Jessica began an internship as the President & CEO assistant at NICE. She was hired as a Research and Social Adjustment Assistant in 2012.
Board of Directors
Officers
| Chair | Kathy Edson | Nashville Public Television |
| Vice Chair | Donna Kumar | InfoWorks, TN |
| Secretary | Angela Harris | Tennessee Foreign Language Institute |
| Treasurer | Will Alexander | State of Tennessee Economic & Community Development |
Members
| Asrara Babikir | Catholic Charities, Nashville |
| Manny Ehiemua | Martha O’Bryan CWA Cayce Homes |
| Betsy Dooley | Health Leaders – InterStudy, TN |
| Jeff Pack | Gideon International |
| Julia Lydon, PhD | Metro Public School |
| J. Ryan Harvey | Federal Public Defender of Middle Tennessee |
| Yam Kharel | Catholic Charities of Tennessee |
| David Reath | Dell Computer |
| Choul Both | Toshiba |
| Gatluak Thach | N.I.C.E President/CEO |
Advisory Members
| Mahmoud Eltighani, PhD | TSU Professor |
| Andrea Ayers | Law Office of Andrea M. Ayers |
| Dr. Bill Thompson | Baptist Hospital |
| Rev. Curt Holland | The Donelson Fellowship |
| Avi Poster | Nashville for All of Us |
| Tom Negri | Loews Vanderbilt |
