Break the Cycle’s staff is comprised of talented, passionate individuals committed to ending domestic violence. With a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, the staff makes up the “bricks and mortar” of the Break the Cycle community. Learn more about our remarkable team and contact individual staff members.
Eric Anderson
Director of Youth Programs
Eric Anderson joined Break the Cycle in 2009 as Director of Youth Programs. An advocate for positive youth development and mentoring, Eric previously served as Programs Director for Young Musicians Foundation of Los Angeles, where he helped design, implement and promote classical music education programming and artistic training for over 5,000 youth annually. A graduate of Louisiana State University and the University of Southern California, Eric also works as a classical pianist, recording artist for motion picture soundtracks and award-winning theatrical producer.
Contact him at eric.anderson@breakthecycle.org.
Jon Blankenberg
Digital Strategies Coordinator
Jonathan Blankenberg began working with Break the Cycle in 2009. As the Digital Marketing Coordinator, he is responsible for the maintenance and expansion of Break the Cycle’s many on-line social media profiles. Jon graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers College in 2008 with a Bachelors degree in psychology.
Contact him at jon.blankenberg@breakthecycle.org.
Cristina Escobar
Senior Coordinator, Development & Communications
Cristina Escobar graduated from Occidental College in 2006, a Phi Beta Kappa member with degrees in English Comparative Literary Studies and Spanish Cultural Studies. Along with garnering academic honors, Cristina worked with youth and women’s organizations both on and off campus. With Break the Cycle since 2006, she has held a variety of positions and now works on our fundraising and communications efforts.
Contact her at cristina.escobar@breakthecycle.org.
Susannah-Faxon Mills
Senior Coordinator, Youth Education
As Youth Education Coordinator at Break the Cycle, Susannah Faxon-Mills works on multiple levels to educate young people about domestic and dating violence. Susannah graduated with honors from the University of California-Santa Cruz in 2006 with a BA in Community Studies. Her commitment to young people and their right to stay informed and healthy has guided her academic and professional choices. She organized youth in Chicago, co-created and taught a class on Youth and Sexual Politics at UCSC, and served as a Resident Advisor and instructional assistant in college.
Contact her at susannah.faxon-mills@breakthecycle.org.
Juley Fulcher, Esq.
Director of Policy Programs
With a lengthy career in domestic and sexual violence issues, Juley Fulcher opened Break the Cycle’s Washington, DC Office in 2004. She had spent more than five years as the Public Policy Director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence where she successfully led a grassroots campaign to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. Currently, Juley serves as Board of Directors Chair for the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and teaches at Georgetown University. Originally from South Carolina, Juley received her law degree from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University.
Contact her at juley.fulcher@breakthecycle.org.
Colleen Gallopin
Director of Training and Technical Assistance
Colleen Gallopin began working at Break the Cycle in 2007. As the Director of Training & Technical Assistance, Colleen works with local government and schools to create effective policies to address dating violence. Prior to that, she worked as a staff attorney for House of Ruth Maryland, legally representing survivors of domestic violence. Colleen has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Oberlin College and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Contact her at colleen.gallopin@breakthecycle.org.
Giselle Garcia
Advocacy & Resource Coordinator
Giselle Garcia joined Break the Cycle in 2007. As the Advocacy & Resource Coordinator, she manages our youth activism efforts, develops thesafespace.org and responds to help and information requests, ensuring effective and sensitive youth services. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of La Verne and a Masters in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Prior to her work at Break the Cycle, Giselle worked as a litigation researcher.
Contact her at giselle.garcia@breakthecycle.org.
Marjorie Gilberg
Executive Director
Marjorie Gilberg began working at Break the Cycle in 2004. She has a long-standing commitment to social justice and the nonprofit sector. Since 1997, Marjorie has raised funds for causes ranging from homelessness to the arts to at-risk youth. Originally from Florida, Marjorie received her Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Southern California and attended Emory University School of Law.
Contact her at marjorie.gilberg@breakthecycle.org.
Tabitha Joyner
Education & Outreach Coordinator
Tabitha Joyner began working with Break the Cycle in October of 2007. As the Education & Outreach Coordinator, she educates youth and service providers about teen dating violence, conducts community outreach and provides public education in the Washington, DC area. Tabitha is a long-time advocate of youth and community based services, recently helping launch a statewide bilingual outreach program for the Florida Department of State. Originally from Indiana, Tabitha has traveled extensively and worked in the private, government and nonprofit sectors.
Contact her at tabitha.joyner@breakthecycle.org.
Negar Katirai
Staff Attorney
Negar Katirai joined Break the Cycle in 2009 as Staff Attorney, providing direct legal services to young victims of domestic violence. Prior to joining Break the Cycle, Negar worked as an associate at Steptoe & Johnson, where her pro bono practice focused on family law, asylum law and legislative and administrative advocacy on behalf of child victims of trafficking. In 2008, Negar served as a loaned associate to the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. Negar has a B.A. in History from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Contact her at negar.katirai@breakthecycle.org.
Raquel Mata
Contracts & Administrative Coordinator
Raquel Mata began working with Break the Cycle in 2009. She has a background in community organizing, having worked with a number of youth-to-youth development programs. Originally from Northern California, Raquel graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science-Public Law and a minor in Anthropology. As the Contracts & Administrative Coordinator, she is responsible for a host of development and administrative projects with a primary focus on government grant contracts and fundraising support.
Contact her at raquel.mata@breakthecycle.org.
Darlene Mowrey, CPA
Controller
Darlene Mowrey began working for Break the Cycle in 2004. Prior to becoming the Controller, she lent her time as a volunteer. In 2003, Darlene left her career as an accountant at a CPA firm and committed herself to working in the nonprofit sector. She served as accountant at MotherNet LA and then Richstone Family Center before joining Break the Cycle. Darlene received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Contact her at darlene.mowrey@breakthecycle.org.
AJ Pearlman
State Policy Attorney
AJ Pearlman joined Break the Cycle in 2009 as the State Policy Attorney, working to pass laws and implement policies to prevent dating violence. She has worked extensively for and with youth, including as a mental health coordinator and as a volunteer mentor for a youth organization. During law school, she completed internships in the Arizona State Legislature and in the U.S. House of Representatives. AJ received her J.D. from Arizona State University Law School and a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Contact her at aj.pearlman@breakthecycle.org.
Christibelle Salazar
Director of Development
Christibelle Salazar joined Break the Cycle in 2005 as the Development Manager. She became Director of Development in 2008. She has worked in programmatic, fundraising and administrative aspects of the nonprofit field since 2001. A San Diego native, Christibelle graduated from University of California, Riverside with a Bachelors of Science degree in Sociology-Administrative Studies.
Contact her at christibelle.salazar@breakthecycle.org.
Chaitra “Chai” Shenoy
Policy & Technical Assistance Attorney
Chaitra Shenoy joined Break the Cycle in 2008 as the Policy & Technical Assistance Attorney. In 2004, she served as a Break the Cycle legal intern while earning her JD from American University, Washington College of Law. After graduation, Chai worked in the New York City government researching and developing city and state-wide domestic violence policies. Chai earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles.
Contact her at chai.shenoy@breakthecycle.org.
Tonya Turner
Senior Staff Attorney
As the Training & Technical Assistance Attorney, Tonya Turner trains youth-serving adults on how to better help teens experiencing abuse. She also provides direct legal services to young victims of domestic violence. Prior to joining Break the Cycle, Tonya managed a private practice that primarily helped low income people pursue claims against negligent landlords and immigrants seek political asylum. Tonya received her undergraduate degree from Howard University and her advanced degree from Rutgers School of Law.
Contact her at tonya.turner@breakthecycle.org.