Our Team & Board

During her twenty-eight years at St. Francis House, President & CEO Karen LaFrazia has provided a steady and visionary hand in guiding the agency's growth. Her leadership has fostered a culture of innovation, compassion, and bold action, positioning St. Francis House as a national model for integrated services that support individuals experiencing homelessness in rebuilding their lives. Karen has been instrumental in advancing the agency's commitment to permanent housing as a solution to homelessness. She has led the renovation of 39 Boylston Street, St. Francis House's flagship building, into a vibrant, trauma-informed space. Most recently, her leadership has been central to the development of 41 LaGrange Street, an ambitious project that will add 126 units of affordable housing in the heart of downtown Boston. These initiatives reflect Karen's unwavering belief that everyone deserves a safe, dignified place to call home.

Michael oversees all aspects of the accounting and finance operations, human resources, and information technology to ensure their alignment with the organization’s goals and strategic plan. As the Vice President of Finance and Administration, Michael creates and monitors the annual budget, establishes all internal controls, manages external business relationships, and oversees all administrative functions. In Human Resources, Michael provides strategic leadership and direction to maximize staff engagement, while providing oversight for all HR functions. Michael also provides direction in support of best practices and functions for IT. Michael is an accomplished and collaborative business leader with 30 years of CFO, consulting and financial advisory experience. Most recently, Michael served as Interim CEO and CFO at Hildebrand Family Self Help Center, Inc. based in Cambridge. Prior to Hildebrand, Michael founded and led his own business advisory and consulting firm.  Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Fordham University. Contact Michael at mhughes@stfrancishouse.org.

As Vice President of Program Strategy and Initiatives, Dr. Andrea Farina leads the strategic expansion and integration efforts of existing programs as well as the planning and launch of new initiatives.  She also oversees the agency’s data collections and outcome measurement work. Andrea joined St. Francis House in 2010 and holds a PhD in sociology from Boston University, an MS in counseling from Shippensburg University, and a BA in psychology from the University of Delaware. Her professional background includes a variety of roles related to addressing poverty and economic equity issues at the individual and community level such as managing non-profit and city government programs, consulting to practitioners, funders and municipal entities, conducting research, and teaching. Prior to joining St. Francis House, Andrea was a Research Associate at Harvard Business School, where she worked on projects related to practices in the consumer finance sector, particularly those that have significant effects on the economic well-being of low and moderate-income families. Contact Andrea at afarina@stfrancishouse.org.

As the Vice President of Operations, Culture, & Inclusion, Liliana Ruiz leads operational strategy, organizational development, and cultural initiatives. With over 15 years of experience, Liliana is an expert in fostering inclusive environments and driving positive change within diverse organizations. Passionate about empowering individuals and communities, Liliana is committed to creating a trauma-informed and supportive environment for people experiencing homelessness. Her leadership focuses on ensuring St. Francis House remains a place where everyone feels safe, respected, and supported. Prior to joining St. Francis House, Liliana held leadership roles at the Boston Public Health Commission. There, she spearheaded initiatives to help individuals facing homelessness transition to permanent employment. She also oversaw low-barrier transitional shelters, providing individualized support to guests actively using drugs and experiencing street homelessness. Earlier in her career, Liliana served as Managing Director of the Boston School of English, where she drove consistent enrollment growth and cultivated a diverse student body. Liliana holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia. Contact Liliana at lruiz@stfrancishouse.org.

Andrew Russell is a philanthropy executive with over 20 years’ experience in fundraising and community development. Most recently, Andrew served as the Chief Advancement Officer at the Museum of Science, where he led an integrated fundraising strategy across individuals, government, corporate, and foundation sources. Prior to the Museum of Science, Andrew was Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where he was responsible for developing and executing corporate citizenship programs for the leading provider of K12 content in the United States, including external non-profit partnerships, volunteerism, matching gifts, and other employee engagement opportunities. Prior to joining HMH in 2014, Andrew was Director of Institutional and International Relations at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, leading a team that solicited support from the corporate, foundation, and government sectors as well as setting international strategy and business development for the Museum. Previous career stops include the Boston Symphony Orchestra, GBH, and ABC Television. Born in Buffalo, NY, Andrew is a graduate of Boston College. He lives in Milton with his three children. As the VP of Philanthropy & External Affairs, he oversees and leads the Agency’s annual fundraising efforts through several methods including individual giving, events, corporate and family foundations, tributes, community partnerships, and planned giving. Contact Andrew at arussell@stfrancishouse.org.

As the VP of Programs and Services, Keri oversees all of Saint Francis House's programming and service delivery. She works to ensure all of our programs and services are fully integrated, up to date in best practices, and meet the needs of our guests. As a licensed clinical social worker, Keri brings expertise in housing and homeless services, advocacy, intimate partner and sexual violence, and crisis intervention.

Contact Keri at kerithomas@stfrancishouse.org.

As Senior Director of Operations, Stephen Rose supports organizational effectiveness by strengthening systems, operational alignment, and cross-department collaboration at St. Francis House. With more than 20 years of experience in human services and nonprofit operations, Stephen brings a deep understanding of trauma-informed practice, compliance, and organizational change. Stephen works closely with program and department leaders to improve workflows, support best practices, and ensure operations are aligned with the mission to restore dignity and rebuild lives. He is known for bringing clarity to complex systems, supporting teams through change, and helping the organization translate values into sustainable, day-to-day operations. Stephen holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.

Contact Stephen at srose@stfrancishouse.org.

Nikia Bodden has over 13 years of experience serving homeless survivors of domestic and sexual violence. A survivor, life coach, and advocate for change, Nikia finds joy in uplifting others and helping them overcome challenges. Recognized locally as an expert in the field of housing for survivors, she is a sought-out speaker and mentor for people new to the field. She was also nominated for the MA Women of Color Network 2023 Irvienne Goldson Community Care & Connection Award for Outstanding Leadership award, amongst many other deserving women of color.

As the Director of Housing, Nikia is responsible for overseeing and directing all aspects of programs and operations across the department to ensure tenants remain successfully housed and achieve overall stability with their behavioral health, income, and day to day living. Contact Nikia at nbodden@stfrancishouse.org.

Farrah brings over a decade of experience in HR leadership, with a background that spans both mission-driven nonprofits and fast-growing startups. She's known for building strong HR foundations, supporting inclusive workplace cultures, and aligning people strategies with organizational values. Farrah earned her B.A. in Political Science and Political Philosophy from Boston University and completed a Master Certification in Human Resources at Cornell. She's also continued to deepen her leadership work through programs at Yale School of Mangement and the Center for Creative Leadership. She is currently working on her Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law at Tulane University Law School. Farrah is passionate about making workplaces more human, more equitable, and more effective. Contact Farrah at fcoady@stfrancishouse.org.

As the Director of Behavioral Health, Molly oversees all programming related to substance use treatment, mental health and case management, ensuring that staff have the tools and support needed in those areas to coordinate resources that help guests work overall toward more stable income, housing, and behavioral health. Contact Molly at mdugan@stfrancishouse.org.

As the Associate Director of Behavioral Health, Rachel oversees treatment based clinical services including the Seeds of Change Day Treatment Program, Access Clinicians, and the Women's Center. With values rooted in harm-reduction, person-centered and trauma-informed care, Rachel ensures that our guests receive the highest quality clinical assessment, engagement, treatment, care, and support available. Rachel joined St. Francis House in June of 2023. They hold an MSW from Columbia University and a BA in psychology from Eckerd College. Rachel is a DBT certified, independently licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) and their professional background is built upon a foundation of crisis intervention through years of experience as a Mobile Crisis Clinician with the Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST). Additionally, they bring a wealth of experience in the provision of outpatient clinical therapy for vulnerable populations, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ communities, individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses, survivors of trauma, unhoused populations, and transitional aged youth. Their dedication to underserved populations extends to program development and management, with a successful track record of overseeing the integration of clinical services within shelter environments, including the implementation of additional shelter and residential programming at Bridge Over Troubled Waters prior to joining the St. Francis House team. Contact Rachel at rellingson@stfrancishouse.org.

James comes to St. Francis House with over 15 years of Adult Education and Workforce Development experience in the US, Japan, Finland, and the United Kingdom. He holds a PGD from the University of Surrey, and a BA from the University of Oregon. In addition, he holds a Professional Certificate in Mediation and Dispute Resolution from the University of California, Santa Barbara. As the Director of Workforce Development, James oversees the Workforce Development team, who work to ensure that the guests of St. Francis House are supported in their efforts to enter & re-enter the workforce though Instructional Services like the Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP), Workforce Development programming such as Employment Coaching, and skills training opportunities through our partnership with MassHire. One of the keys to obtaining stable housing is employment, and the Workforce Development team assists St. Francis House guests in that journey. Contact James at jhenderson@stfrancishouse.org.

As Director of IT, Eddy Guerrero is responsible for performing and overseeing the IT infrastructure of the organization, determining requirements for IT systems, and eliminating security risks. Contact Eddy at eguerrero@stfrancishouse.org.

As a professional working in the human services field for over 25 years, Sandra believes that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process and that there are many pathways to recovery. Her hope is to help as many people as she can on their journey to recovery. Contact Sandra at shonterwilliams@stfrancishouse.org.

As the Director of Day Shelter Services, Jumaane leads, coordinates, and integrates the programs that comprise our day shelter: meals, safety and security, clothing distribution, volunteer services, and guest services including the art therapy studio. The Director of Day Shelter is responsible for the overall management, operation, and strategic direction of the shelter, ensuring a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for our guests experiencing homelessness. Contact Jumaane at jkendrick@stfrancishouse.org.