YWCA is on a MISSION
Rose Wong
Chief Executive Officer
With over 30 years of leadership experience in education and nonprofit management, Rose is a dynamic executive dedicated to driving strategic growth and community impact. She joined YWCA Princeton in January 2022 as Chief Operating Officer, was promoted to Chief Finance and Operating Officer in December 2022, and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in July 2023. In these leadership roles, she has played a critical part in strengthening the organization’s financial health, operational efficiency, and programmatic expansion.
Rose has devoted her career to empowering girls and women through education. She began her career as an economics and history educator in independent schools in Australia, rapidly advancing into administrative leadership positions focused on curriculum development and faculty support. After relocating to the United States, she held key leadership roles in prestigious independent schools across New York and New Jersey, including Middle School Division Head, Assistant Headmaster, Director of Curriculum and Faculty, Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Head of School. At Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, she was instrumental in launching STEM initiatives and Finance & Economics programs, while also playing a pivotal role in fundraising campaigns for scholarships and new educational initiatives.
Transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Rose leveraged her expertise in fundraising, business management, and education to drive meaningful change for children and families in Mercer County. As Executive Director of Princeton Nursery School, she successfully navigated reopening the organization as soon as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of care and education for children. She also led a comprehensive support program addressing food insecurity and financial hardships for families affected by the crisis. In addition, she spearheaded program expansions in health and wellness, hunger prevention, and early childhood literacy. Under her leadership, the school achieved a prestigious 4-star rating from Grow NJ Kids, a testament to its commitment to high-quality early education. She also developed and executed comprehensive fundraising strategies that significantly increased individual, corporate, and foundation giving, securing vital resources for scholarships and capital improvements. Over four years, she successfully led the completion of five capital projects, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.
Rose is deeply committed to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women across Central New Jersey. She is supported in her journey by her husband of 23 years and their amazing daughter, who is beginning her college career pursuing physics and computer science. Together, they share a passion for advocacy, equity, and creating lasting positive change in their community.
Tara O’Shea
Chief Operating Officer
In her newly appointed role, Tara O’Shea serves on the Executive Leadership Team as well as Co-Directs The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton and Youth Programs. Her responsibilities include the daily operation of the YWCA and childcare facility. She manages a staff of over 25, which includes the TBFECC, Robotics & EXPRESS Summer Enrichment and Tiger Camp for Princeton University’s Alumni Weekend. Tara’s responsibility, vast experience, and strong communication skills are just a few of the essential traits Tara possesses in this role.
Tara has served over 28 years as part of the childcare & youth programs team. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. She is a member of the National After School Alliance (NAA).
Since 1996, Tara has been an active member of the YWCA. Her years of experience include aquatics both on site & satellite sites, working with young children, teens & seasoned adults in land & water health & fitness.
Tara’s educational/recreational experience includes over 28 years of working with the youth, from infants to school-age children. Tara stays focused on utilizing the most developmentally appropriate practices in cognitive development, exploratory play, and physical and motor development for children. Furthermore, the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women shapes both Tara’s childcare program as well as her leadership style. She values inclusivity and diversity in her classrooms—from students to staff and works to ensure anti-bullying and tolerance are practiced in each classroom.
Tara received a BA in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Reading from Brooklyn College. She also holds certifications as an American Red Cross Instructor for First Aid, CPR/AED.
Karen Faiman
Chief Advancement Officer
Karen Faiman joined the YWCA Princeton in January, 2024. For the past seven years, Karen was the Executive Director of the Lawrence Township Education Foundation. The Lawrence Township Education Foundation (LTEF) was created to be a bridge between the Lawrence Township community and the public schools ~ to encourage private philanthropy to enhance public education for all students. Their mission is to foster educational excellence, creativity, and achievement in the Lawrence Township Public Schools. In addition to working for the YWCA, Karen teaches group fitness at New Jersey Athletic Club.
Karen also worked previously for the Mercer County Wildlife Center Friends and Womanspace, in addition to nonprofits in Maine, where she grew up. Before that, Karen was a high school Spanish teacher.
Karen earned a B.A. in Spanish from Colby College (Waterville, Maine), and a Masters of Public Policy and Non-Profit Management from the University of Southern Maine (Portland, Maine). Karen is a board member of the Lawrence Township Community Foundation and an active volunteer for many other nonprofits, including EASEL Animal Refuge League. Karen and her husband live in Lawrence Township with their two teenage boys.
Brigitte Jean-Louis
Director of Mission Advancement
Brigitte joins the Senior Leadership Team as the Director of Mission Advancement. In this role she looks forward to leading the organization in their “mission forward” approach to eliminating racism and empowering women. She joined the team at YWCA Princeton in May 2022 as the Administrative Coordinator before taking over advocacy and racial justice efforts for the organization. As Director of Mission Advancement, Brigitte also manages external communication and marketing for the organization.
Prior to being employed by YWCA Princeton, Brigitte spent 6 years in early childhood education, most recently as the Assistant Coordinator for the Howell Township Police Athletic League’s Little PALs Preschool. In this role, she maintained covid protocols, curated the preschool’s social media pages, taught a Pre-K class, and supervised daily closing procedures for over 200 students.
During her employment with YWCA Princeton, Brigitte served as a voting member of YWCA USA’s delegation to World YWCA’s World Council, was selected as an Emerging Leader for YWCA USA, and was named a finalist for New America’s US@250 Fellowship.
Brigitte has a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Kean University and an associate’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in humanities from Ocean County College. In addition to her work at YWCA Princeton, Brigitte is the Junior Varsity volleyball coach at Notre Dame High School and coaches for Ocean Volleyball Club.
Melissa White-McMahon
Director of the Breast Cancer Resource Center at YWCA Princeton
Melissa joined the organization on September 5th, 2018, as the Support Services Coordinator for the Breast Cancer Resource Center program. In 2021, Melissa was promoted to the Director of the BCRC program where she led her team and the BCRC members through the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. During her time as the Program Director of the BCRC, Melissa spent her days and nights building complementary care programs, such as free wigs and support groups, healing arts and meditation classes. She also advocated for women’s health through seeking resources for low cost/free programs and presented to various groups throughout the community to educate them about preventable risk factors. Melissa is a passionate and avid student of integrative therapies for women with cancer and is equally passionate about empowering women and eliminating racism.
As a cancer survivor herself, Melissa is an extraordinary mentor for women and families facing challenging situations. She is a certified Patient Navigator and a dedicated lifetime member of the non-profit sector including working for national organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (where she is excited to share that YES, she even met Jerry Lewis!).
Melissa is married to her husband Rick and is the proud bonus mom to two smart and strong daughters and Grammy to a granddaughter and a grandson!
Heledona Katro
Director of English as a Second Language and Literary Programs
Heledona brings over three decades of educational expertise in Adult Ed and nonprofit management. She joined the staff at YWCA Princeton as Director of English as a Second Language in 2015. She is also Adjunct Professor of Education at Eastern University, where she has been teaching for over 20 years. Prior to joining the YWCA, Heledona was the IELP Center Director at Eastern University and St. Joseph’s University in PA, where she excelled in building partnerships locally and overseas.
Her roles as an international educator, curriculum developer and successful recruiter of international students, are a testament to her dedication to linguistically and culturally diverse communities. Her academic journey includes a Bachelor's degree in Economics, and a Master's degree in Education with a concentration in Teaching English as a Second Language from Eastern University in PA. Heledona actively supports language minority communities through presentations and committee participation, driven by her dedication to building partnerships and commitment to linking theory and practice.