People of Daya

Client Services Team

Client Services Team

contact@dayahouston.org

This team provides compassionate, confidential, and professional services to survivors of abuse.

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Autoosa Abadi, LCSW

Director of Programs

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Autoosa leads Daya's major programs through planning, implementation, grants management, and impact assessment.

Joined Daya: 2017

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Nusrat Ameen, PhD

Senior Director of Legal Services

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Dr. Ameen leads Daya's legal program and elevates survivors' voices on local, state, and national advocacy forums, sparking initiatives that grow into core Daya programming.

Joined Daya: 2008

Ariel Ceeney

Office Manager

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Ariel organizes Daya's daily operations and provides comprehensive administrative support to the Staff and Board.

Joined Daya: 2024

Hareema Mela, LPC

Interim Executive Director (5/1/24)

Director of Client Services

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Hareema Mela leads the client services team in providing culturally specific mental health services and comprehensive case management to clients. As a trusted leader at Daya, she is serving at the helm of Daya during the organization's Executive Director search.

Joined Daya: 2017

Elisabeth Swim

Helpline Client Advocate

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Elisabeth serves on the frontline, providing safety and support to survivors. Passionate about communication across barriers of language and ability, Elisabeth has also produced abuse-education tools used throughout our field. 

Joined Daya: 2021

Tasneem Rajan

Executive Director​

With over 17 years of experience in social services, child welfare, and family violence prevention, Tasneem brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her new role at Daya. Tasneem’s expertise spans financial oversight, event management, and building key partnerships to support long-term solutions for survivors. She is committed to fostering sustainable change through education and prevention, guiding Daya into a new chapter of growth and impact.

Joined Daya: 2024

Minoo Advani

Financial Coordinator

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Minoo manages the details of Daya's robust financial system through accounting, data management, and quality assurance.

Joined Daya: 2021

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Aparna Asthana

Development Director

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Aparna oversees Daya's community programs, manages donor and volunteer relationships, and leads fundraising efforts. 

Joined Daya: 2024

Barbara Le

Director of Finance & Administration

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Barbara oversees Daya’s success behind the scenes, including budget development and management, financial compliance, and human resources. 

Joined Daya:  2018

Swati Narayan

Houston Director of AAPI Community Safety & Belonging

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Swati Narayan provides safety services, community programing, and interagency collaborations to build collective safety for the AAPI population.

Joined Daya: 2023

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Misbah Lakhani 

Outreach Coordinator ​

Misbah Lakhani (they/them) holds a B.A. from Colorado College in Feminist and Gender Studies. They have been a member of the National Women's Studies Association for 3 years and have attended the annual conference every year. They conduct trainings and facilitate outreach events and manages Daya's social media. Joined Daya: 2024