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OUR TEAM
About Me
Marisa Pedron, Executive Assistant
Marisa has held several positions at The Connecticut Women’s Consortium, with her current title being Executive Assistant. In this position, Marisa works closely with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and other members of the The Consortium's team to make sure all aspects of our daily operations are running smoothly. She also coordinates the Women’s Services Practice Improvement Collaborative and the Trauma and Gender Learning Collaborative. When Marisa isn’t in the office, you can find her with her nose stuck in a book or frequenting a local thrift store for some secondhand goods.
Alicia Feller, Executive Director
Alicia spent almost 30 years of her career at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) where she last served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Southwestern CT Mental Health System. Alicia obtained her MSW from Southern CT State University and is an LCSW. She obtained a Master of Arts in Integrated Health and Healing in 2019. As the Executive Director, Alicia oversees and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Consortium. Her favorite things about working at The Consortium are the ability to create new training opportunities for the behavioral health professionals of CT, and knowing that the work done at The Consortium helps create better care for the residents of CT. Alicia’s favorite quote is by Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Jaquanna (Quanna) Soules, Director of Marketing & Administration
Quanna is the Director of Marketing & Administration for The Consortium. In this role, she manages core marketing, development, and HR responsibilities, including building The Consortium’s website, designing the training catalogs, fundraising, benefits, and developing promotional materials. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clark Atlanta University. Quanna’s favorite thing about working at The Consortium is being surrounded by “strong, accomplished women”. Her passion is photography, and she cannot live without family, faith, and technology.
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Alana Valdez, Project Coordinator
Alana is the Project Coordinator at The Consortium. She holds an MA in Teaching from Smith College and a BFA from the University of Connecticut. In her multifaceted role, she creates social media content, edits the Trauma Matters newsletter, collaborates on TAG evaluations, manages the Trauma Services Provider Directory, and more. Her favorite thing about working at The Consortium is the opportunity to use her creative skills to make our community a better place. Outside of work, Alana is most likely crocheting or painting, playing video games, or spending time with friends and family.
Alexandra (Allie) Caruso, Director of Programs
Allie has spent multiple years working for The Consortium as an Administrative Training Specialist and brings Director of Operations experience to her role as the Director of Programs. Allie graduated from Southern in 2021 with her masters in exercise science, and also from Eastern in 2019 with her bachelor's in social work. Allie loves working at The Consortium because she is surrounded by empowering women everyday. She also loves having the opportunity to learn from the community that The Consortium provides. Outside of work, Allie enjoys playing tennis and weightlifting in her free time.
Chaniya Jackson, Administrative Training Coordinator
​Chaniya Jackson is a recent graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. In this position, she collaborates with trainers on preparing for upcoming training, processes CECs for workshop participants, and assists the Director of Programs in preparation for the upcoming training catalogs. Chaniya thrives in the warm and growth-oriented atmosphere at The Consortium. Her favorite quote, "Everything meant for you is always on time," reflects her positive outlook. Beyond her professional role, she enjoys listening to music, writing fiction, and cherishing quality time with her best friends.
Jordan Reda, Education & Training Specialist
Jordan Reda is an administrative training specialist at The Consortium. She handles training coordination and provisioning, event planning, and data entry. Her favorite part of working at The Consortium is the closeness of the staff and the mental health education we provide. In her free time, she enjoys quality time with family and friends, as well as spending her free time relaxing on the beach or by a lake.
Sandi Young, Education & Training Specialist
Sandi has over 10 years’ experience in the education field. She previously worked to ensure students graduated high school, while also providing emotional and mental health support, as well as advocacy, for personal, school, and home-life concerns/issues. Sandi holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Sacred Heart University, and in 2020 earned a master’s degree in psychology, with a Graduate Certificate in Life Coaching, from Grand Canyon University. Sandi’s role at The Consortium consists of providing support for both trainers and participants, handling training coordination and provisioning, coordinating event planning, and processing registration and CEC’s for workshop participants. What Sandi enjoys most about The Consortium is being part of a combined team effort that encourages and supports the advancement of mental health wellness by providing both resources and practices. To contribute to her own wellness, Sandi enjoys being in the sun, at the beach, and listening to the ocean waves. One of Sandi’s favorite sayings is, “Be the reason someone feels welcomed, seen, heard, valued, loved and supported."
Madison Mickey, Education & Training Specialist
Madison, an Education & Training Specialist at The Connecticut Women's Consortium, graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Human Rights and Political Science. In her role, she edits and revises training documents, processes CECs, coordinates training events, and manages event trends. Madison enjoys being part of a supportive and intelligent team focused on advancing mental health within the community. She is inspired by Simone Biles' advocacy for mental health and lives by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's quote on justice. In her free time, she loves traveling with friends, music, and sunsets on the beach.
Rachael Burs, Assistant Project Coordinator
Rachael is The Consortium’s Assistant Project Coordinator. She is responsible for project support, research, and liaising with state agencies. She holds an A.B. from the University of Chicago in English Language and Literature. Rachael is excited about working in a close-knit team of multitalented women doing work that strengthens communities. She is a native plant gardener, rescue dog fanatic, and the fortunate favorite aunt of four perfect humans.