Casa welcomes new staff members in 2022!

Rowan Mueller

Rowan was born and raised in Houston Texas, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree  in Anthropology. She spent most of college working to support wheelchair athletes and children with Autism. Her time spent studying abroad in Peru was extremely formative, as she loved studying the effects of climate change on indigenous populations  and having the opportunity to work at a special education center abroad. After graduating from college Rowan was set to volunteer with the Peace Corps in Mongolia, but was unable to go due to the pandemic. This led her to search for a Peace Corps like experience at home in the U.S, and she was shocked and thrilled to find something as wonderful as Posada Esperanza. Rowan has absolutely loved her time serving the women at Posada, and plans to continue to advocate for and support refugees as an Occupational Therapist in the future.

Paula Sanín Naranjo

Paula was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia. Growing up, she had the fortune to travel to different places throughout Colombia, Europe and Latin America. This led her to study anthropology and later human rights and political science, focusing on cultural differences, violence, social inequality, and human mobility. Paula believes in small actions as a way to make the world a better place for those who suffer from injustices. She is grateful to be part of Casa staff and the opportunity to learn from her coworkers, Casa residents and community members. Coffee and chocolate are always welcome!

Cindy Hall

Ever since being offered the choice to learn French or Spanish in middle school, Cindy has pursued her interests in foreign language learning. Having decided to go the French route, Cindy pursued French classes through middle school, high school, and college where she earned her undergraduate degree in French from the University of Oregon. Having lived in France twice for a collective total of 16 months, Cindy was looking forward to finding multicultural opportunities in the USA. Originally from California, Cindy has spent the last 13 years living in the Pacific Northwest immersed in rain and missing the sun. Luckily, in the pursuit of sunshine and French language opportunities, Cindy found Posada Esperanza, a place to rest her rain soaked feet that also gives her the privilege of being able to help immigrants in the Austin community.

Jennifer Lopez Guerrero

My name is Jennifer Lopez Guerrero, I am from Austin, Tx. I went to Texas State University and majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. I’m a first generation college student. I’m currently an Americorps member. My first language was Spanish and I learned English around the age of 9.  My family immigrated to this country from Michoacán, Mexico. Throughout my life I have witnessed first hand experiences that immigrants go through as a child of immigrant parents. I feel some sort of reward to help my community back and intend to keep helping later on in the future. I have learned a lot from residents and co-workers.

Matthew Aufiero

Matthew Aufiero is a benefits coordinator at the Benefits office in Casa Poeta. He graduated from the University of Texas with majors in Plan II honors, English honors, and philosophy, with the intent of spending his life reading, watching, writing, and making film and literature. Fresh out of college he signed up with Americorps in order to volunteer and learn about different peoples’ experiences—luckily he was assigned to Marianella!

Suzanna Metcalf

Suzanna was born and raised in East Austin, just a few miles from Casa Marianella. For her undergrad, she moved to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico, where she graduated in 2021 with a degree in Population Health Spanish. Suzanna then moved back to Austin and served with Austin Public Health as an AmeriCorps volunteer before joining Casa Marianella! Since she was a child, Suzanna has seen the beautiful impact of Casa Marianella’s work on her community, and she is honored to now contribute to their mission. Later, Suzanna hopes to volunteer with the Peace Corps before pursuing a Master’s in climate epidemiology a career as an advocate for global health and climate justice.

Frances Garnett

Frances got her first introduction to Casa Marianella as a volunteer in 2020, while she attended the University of Texas at Austin, before joining as a full-time staff member in 2021. She studied International Relations and Theatre, and recently received her ESL teaching certificate. American and British by birth, she grew up in Belgium, Morocco, Thailand, and the United States. She is grateful that she can use her French as a force for good to help welcome people into the US, and is constantly inspired and humbled by the generous spirits of her coworkers and clients alike.

Lina Franco

Lina grew up in Colombia and became an Asylee in the United States at the age of 13. She is a case manager at Casa Marianella and has a deeply strong connection to Casa’s purpose, staff, and residents.

Olivia Amore Petipas

Olivia started at Casa Marianella after graduating from Colorado College in 2021. There she studied Spanish Literature and Race, Ethnicity and Migration Studies. Throughout her studies, she participated in sanctuary and accompaniment movements in Colorado Springs and worked as a legal assistant for detained immigrants at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Olivia is grateful for the opportunity to work against the U.S. deportation machine and accompany asylum seekers in Austin alongside her lovely co-workers. Outside of work you are likely to find Olivia in the garden.

Katie Tallman

As a child, Katie traveled to other far off places in the world through books. Her curiosity about the world led her to study International Studies and spend a year in Mexico studying Spanish in university. After graduating, she traveled to South America where she lived for five years and worked as an English teacher. Having found her way back to the U.S., she is grateful to be a part of the Casa community and part of immigrants’ and new community members’ lives