Our Staff
Link Hands for Humanity is a thirty-year-old non-profit organization that is maintained by an international community of professionals who donate their time and skills.
We are linked by our commitment to humanitarian service; our willingness to be in a dialogue of diversity; and the recognition that there is something that unifies all life on this planet. Our staff is always expanding. The following lists some of them.
Nura Loeks, founder/director More Info»
Nura is director of Link Hands for Humanity. She lends her 40 years experience in leadership training, community development and holistic health. An interfaith minister and a teacher in the Sufi tradition, she has a passion for social justice, ecology and healthy families. Nura currently travels all over the world, helping the underserved and conducting leadership trainings and healing retreats. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Calcutta, India. [close]
Deborah Coffey, M.A., leadership development and education More Info»
Deborah has been an advisor to Link Hands for Humanity for two years. She has Masters in Fine Arts. Deborah has a passion for the leadership development of girls and women. She serves as a teacher of art in Zurich, Switzerland. She participates in leadership development and education projects for Link Hands. [close]
Holly Copeland, M.A., social justice and mental health More Info»
Holly has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for two years. She has a Masters in Counseling from Immaculata University. After thirteen years in private practice as a psychotherapist, Holly was inspired to take her gifts to the underserved in her home town of Philadelphia, by assuming the directorship of Child Guidance Resource Centers in Coatesville, PA. Holly has a passion for social justice and helps to guide projects for Link Hands in that area as well as in the area of mental health. [close]
Virginia Dofflemyer, Ph.D., economic development and cultural ethics More Info»
Virginia has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for two years. She has a Ph.D. in Indian and Southeast Asian Art History and a minor in Asian religions from the University of Southern California. Ginni is an Assistant Professor of Art History at the California College of Arts. For Link Hands, Ginny oversees economic development projects that engage native arts and crafts. She also serves as a cultural and ethical advisor for projects in Asia. [close]
Ted Fish, Ed.D., M.B.A., education and economic development More Info»
Ted has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for five years. He has a doctorate in education from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from the University of New Mexico. Ted has a passion for leadership development and the teaching of children. He helps to oversee educational and economic development projects for Link Hands, lending his expertise as a consultant and writer. He works with schools, school districts and businesses, including underserved communities throughout New Mexico. [close]
Christine Fonseca, European network More Info»
Cristine has served as administrative assistant for Link Hands for Humanity for two years. In this capacity, Christine coordinates the European network of supporters. Christine embodies the core values of Link Hands: she speaks five languages; has lived in three different countries; and has an unusual capacity to understand and negotiate different cultural traditions and perspectives. [close]
Nicoletta Gay, M.A., medical coordinator, Asia site evaluator, service tours More Info»
Nicoletta has been an advisor to Link Hands for Humanity for two years. Nicoletta has a Masters in Human Science with a special emphasis in Neuropsychology. Nicoletta practices psychological counseling at a complementary medical clinic in Brunnen, Switzerland. She has a passion for holistic health, spiritual leadership and medicine. For Link Hands, Nicoletta coordinates medical projects, spearheads fundraising efforts, functions as a site evaluator in Asia, leads service tours, and ignites inspiration. [close]
Angelique Hart, M.D., medical advisor More Info»
Angelique has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for two years. Angelique is a holistic pain specialist, board certified in anesthesia-pain management and holistic medicine, in private practice with her husband, Roy, in Miami, FL. Formerly the head of the pain management department at the VA hospital in Miami, Angelique has a passion for complementary medicine and women's health issues. Angelique helps to oversee medical projects for Link Hands. [close]
Roy Heilbron, M.D., medical advisor More Info»
Roy has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for two years. Roy is a board certified cardiologist in private practice in Miami, FL, with his wife, Angelique. The former chief resident in internal medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Roy specializes in holistic cardiology and internal medicine. While earning his medical degree, Roy served the health needs of the indigent in the Dominican Republic. The author of an upcoming book on cardiac health, Roy oversees medical projects for Link Hands. [close]
Rebecca Jeffs, D.O.M., economic development More Info»
Rebecca has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for five years. A Doctor of Oriental Medicine and respiratory therapist, Rebecca has devoted her life to humanitarian service. In addition to her work with Link Hands for Humanity, Rebecca has pioneered economic development and service projects that open new possibilities for the underserved throughout Northern New Mexico. Rebecca gives her gift in setting policy and structure for Link Hands. [close]
Char Leberer, N.D., C.N., nutrition More Info»
Char has been on the advisory board for two years. A doctor of naturopathy and certified nutritionist, Char is the founder and director of Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado. Char's work and vision is to empower people to come to their potential through the support of health and nutrition. She participates in Link Hands health programs. [close]
Ibrahim Loeks, ecological restoration, site evaluator More Info»
Ibrahim has devoted his life to studying the ways of indigenous people. Now 23 years old, Ibrahim specializes in assessing needs, making connections, and opening up the way for Link Hands projects in remote areas. He works in the fields of ecological restoration, permaculture design and farming. When not on walkabout, he is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. [close]
Heather Peck, social justice, economic development More Info»
Heather has been an advisor to Link Hands for Humanity for two years. She has a passion for social justice and spiritually guided economics. She assists in Link Hands fundraising efforts and helps to oversee projects in the areas of social justice and economic development. Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Heather works as the major gifts coordinator for the Virginia Organizing Project, where she enjoins people to social justice and charity. [close]
Johanna Taylor, M.A., green building and design, Asia site evaluator More Info»
Johanna has been a board member of Link Hands for Humanity for five years. She has a Masters in Architecture from the University of New Mexico. Johanna specializes in green building and design for Link Hands and serves on the project assessment team. She is the owner of Hana, a design company in Santa Fe, New Mexico. [close]
Birgit Tylla, M.D., medical advisor More Info»
Birgit has been an advisor to Link Hands for Humanity for three years. She is a physician in private practice in Neideruzwil, Switzerland, specializing in complementary medicine in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology. In addition, she has expertise in neural therapy and homeopathy. Birgit has a passion for women's health. She helps to oversee medical projects for Link Hands and for three years has coordinated the collection of medicines and supplies for distribution to clinics in India. [close]
Andi Tylla, multimedia More Info»
Andi has been an advisor to Link Hands for Humanity for three years. Initially trained as an engineer, Andi now practices craniosacral therapy in Neideruzwil, Switzerland. Skilled in photography and computers, Andi supports fundraising efforts in Europe by creating photographic and multimedia presentations. [close]