Alyssa Bonheur, LSW
Alyssa Bonheur, LSW is a Social Worker at the Sanar Institute. Alyssa was born and raised in New Jersey, currently living on the shore where she regularly enjoys the beach! She attended Ramapo College of New Jersey for her undergraduate, studying social work with a public policy minor. From there, she pursued her MSW from New York University, graduating in May 2019. Alyssa is committed to working within communities to empower and strengthen the voice of its members as a collective. At Sanar, Alyssa’s role includes providing direct healing services to survivors of complex trauma, as well as conducting outreach efforts in Newark, a community very dear to her heart.
Kate Keisel, Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Keisel leads a diverse team in both the provision of direct trauma-informed services for survivors and the expansion of capacity strengthen efforts. She works at the local, national and global level to ensure individuals, organizations, and communities have the necessary tools to build empowered lives in the aftermath trauma.
Ms. Keisel has over a decade of experience working in the anti-trafficking field in direct services within the United States, Latin America, and West Africa. Prior to founding Sanar, she served as the Director of Polaris New Jersey working to expand comprehensive services for survivors of all forms of human trafficking. Ms. Keisel has also worked in Central Mexico supporting individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and exploitation.
Ms. Keisel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies with a focus on human rights in Latin America and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work with a focus on complex trauma. She holds post-graduate training certificates in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and has participated in training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Sensory-Based Modalities.
Ms. Keisel’s work is informed by her own lived experience with complex trauma recovery, clinical training, and years of working with hundreds of individuals on their own healing journey. She believes that every survivor should have the opportunity to heal in their own way, at their own pace, and have access to the resources that foster resiliency, inspire hope, and allow each person to build a life of their choosing.
Sarah Lott, MPA | Deputy Director
Sarah Lott has served as the Deputy Director of the Sanar Institute since March 2019. In her current role, she oversees the day to day functions of the Wellness Center in Newark, NJ including staff management, community outreach, workshop and training facilitation, partnership cultivation and coalition building. With more than a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, Sarah is deeply committed to social justice and equity. Sarah holds a Master of Public Administration – Nonprofit Management from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Jessica Mora, LCSW
Jessica Mora, LCSW, is the Senior Resiliency Clinician and Immigrants’ Rights Specialist. Jessica joined the Sanar Institute team in 2018. She commits her efforts to elevate the voices of individuals who have experienced gender-based violence with a well-rounded holistic trauma-informed care at the therapeutic and community level. In addition, she applies the intersectionality theory and impact of systemic oppression in her therapy by implementing an anti-racist and anti-oppressive approach.
Jessica graduated from New Jersey City University (NJCU) in 2010. She pursued a Master’s in
Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2012. Jessica’s trainings and
certifications include TF-CBT, play and expressive art therapy, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and Trauma Conscious Yoga Method (TCYM).
Jessica started her career as a social worker in New York serving children in the foster care system with a history of complex trauma. In 2013, she transitioned to Hudson S.P.E.A.K.S. Against Sexual Violence, formerly known as the Hudson County Rape Crisis Center, where she dedicated four years to providing case management, counseling, and advocacy services to individuals who experienced various forms of gender-based violence. In addition, Jessica was a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
Jenna Pannepacker, Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Pannepacker oversees Sanar‘s global operations of trauma-informed services for diverse survivors of gender-based violence and individuals vulnerable to exploitation.
In addition, the office provides specialized services for survivors of all forms of human trafficking that support complex trauma recovery including individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations and medication monitoring, expressive arts and music, trauma-sensitive yoga and mindfulness, acupuncture, trauma-informed advocacy, legal support, and economic empowerment. Ms. Pannepacker also oversees and facilitates services in the music programming and economic empowerment programs.
Prior to founding Sanar, Ms. Pannepacker worked as School Director with Education First, a world leader in international education based out of Miami Beach, Florida. During her time at Education First, she directed all operations of the Miami Beach school and helped thousands of international students fully integrate language learning and cultural immersion. Moreover, Ms. Pannepacker has worked in Argentina and Peru developing partnerships and coordinating volunteer programs for marginalized communities to help vulnerable children and families thrive. Ms. Pannepacker holds a BA from Rutgers University and speaks Spanish and French fluently.