During NCTTP’s 16th Annual Symposium on March 18, 2024, Hawthorne Smith, Mary Kay Hazel, Sylvia Acevedo, and Jonathan Ryan spoke on “The Forced Migrant Crisis: The View from the Front-Lines.”
 

Authors/Presenters

• Hawthorne Smith
  Dr. Hawthorne Smith, PhD is a licensed psychologist and the Director of the Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the NYU School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Smith received his doctorate in Counseling Psychology (with distinction) from Teachers College; Columbia University. Dr. Smith had previously earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, an advanced certificate in African Studies from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, as well as a Masters in International Affairs from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. Among his clinical duties, Dr. Smith has facilitated a support group for French-speaking African survivors of torture for the past 25 years.
• Mark Kay Hazel
  As director of the Marjorie Kovler Center, Mary Kay Hazel (she/her) unites research, policy, and practice to support her team in serving more than 700 survivors of torture and severe trauma annually. Previously, Mary Kay partnered with asylum seekers and displaced people through her work at the State Department, where she launched the Storytelling for Human Rights project, and in her four years as the director of Ashraya Initiative for Children in Pune, India. Her experience across government, nonprofit, and private sectors enables her to speak multiple languages (both literally and figuratively) and to create lasting partnerships between affected communities and a broad range of stakeholders. Mary Kay holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan with a specialization in international practice and social policy. Outside of work, Mary Kay is an accomplished musician and avid gardener and will happily entertain any conversation about landscape design, pets, and pop culture.
• Sylvia Acevedo
  Sylvia Acevedo has been with Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services (Gulf Coast) since 2013 where she currently serves as Senior Director of Refugee Services. She has over 25 years of nonprofit leadership, dedicating much of her focus on developing and overseeing programs that address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. In previous years, her work focused on developing outreach programs to migrant workers vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking. She also led initiatives to build capacity around creating welcoming and affirming services for LGBTQ refugees/immigrants. In her current role as Senior Director of Refugee Services, she provides direction and administrative oversight to a full continuum of Refugee Programs within the state of Florida. Sylvia serves as President for Mi Gente Mi Pueblo, Inc., Vice President for the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs, Co-Chair of the NJHSA Newcomer Net and Community of Practice for ORR’s NICA Welcome. Sylvia received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Lynn University and her Master of Laws from St. Thomas University School of Law in Intercultural Human Rights. Sylvia is also a Mental Health First Aid Certified Instructor.
• Jonathan Ryan
  Jonathan Ryan is an attorney in private practice and the founder of the nonprofit organization, Advokato, which advocates on behalf of immigrants and refugees. Jonathan started his legal career as a staff attorney with American Gateways, launching the first Know Your Rights program for immigrants detained at the for-profit ICE detention center in Pearsall, TX. From 2008 to 2021 he served as CEO and President of RAICES. Jonathan currently serves as counsel to the Center for Survivors of Torture and represents numerous CST clients in their immigration cases.