Our Team

Erin Valentino

Co-Founder + Co-Director

she/her

Erin is a graphic designer and mom to two lovely girls. Her youngest is from Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. She loves to spend time outdoors with her family and she is currently studying Mandarin at her local Confucius Institute.

Cassidy Sack

Co-Director + Content & Communications Strategist

she/her

Cassidy is an adoptee from Chongqing, China, who joined Nanchang Project in the autumn of 2022 as the organization’s first adoptee in a leadership role. Previously, she co-led another nonprofit organization. Cassidy is in reunion with her birth family and foster family after a lengthy nine-year search. She loves plant-based cooking and spending time with her pup Noodle.

Xavier Huang
(Beth Neeson)

Operations Manager

they/them

Xavier is an orphan from Jiangxi province and is a settler on the unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples (colonially known as Victoria, B.C.). X completed a BA in Political Science, a certificate in Briefing Ministers and Senior Officials, and holds certificates in both French and Chinese Language and Culture. They are currently completing a secondary BA in English. X is a prolific writer who is working on a fantasy novel and a collection of short stories. Xavier is thrilled to be a volunteer with the Nanchang Project and hopes to conduct their own birth family search along the way.

Jolanda Blaauw

Birth Family Registration Manager

she/her

Jolanda is a mom to three daughters from China—one adopted from Jiangxi and two from Guangxi. She's a co-founder of International Child Search Alliance (ICSA) and volunteered for this organization for 7 years until November 2025. She and her husband are the owners of a supermarket. Outside of volunteering for Nanchang Project and doing the administration for her supermarket, Jolanda loves to travel.

Abby Le

Translation

she/her

Abby was adopted from Jiangxi, China, raised in Massachusetts, and recently moved to Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Michigan, where she studied statistics and math, and she currently works in data science. In her free time she enjoys dancing, figure skating, reading, and playing with her cat Kumquat. Abby is looking forward to connecting  with and helping fellow adoptees through volunteering with the Nanchang Project.

Abby Papritz

Grants and Research

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Abby is a Chinese adoptee from Sanming, Fujian Province, China. She is currently a pre-med, undergraduate student studying Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology. Abby loves to draw, do outdoor activities, and cook.

Anna-Li Bateman

Grants and Research

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Anna-Li is an adoptee from Jiujiang, Jiangxi. She was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. She is currently attending college in Maine, double majoring in psychology and sociology and minoring in Asian studies. She is planning on pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her cats, baking, and knitting.

Ava Letterie

Social Media & Content Creation

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Ava is an adoptee from Pingxiang, Jiangxi, China, who was raised in Seattle, WA. Ava holds a BA in Media Arts and Culture, with minors in Critical Theory and Social Justice and Religious Studies. Her academic and creative work centers on storytelling and representation in media, particularly where Asian American narratives intersect with the experiences of Chinese adoptees. She is interested in questions of identity, belonging, cultural memory, and how media can create space for more nuanced and authentic representations of adoptee experiences.

Brenna McKeown

Adoptee Reunion Support

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Brenna was adopted from Jiangsu Province and grew up in Florida, U.S.A. She is passionate about creating spaces where adoptees feel seen, supported, and connected through shared experiences and community. In her free time, Brenna enjoys cooking, running, reading, and spending time with her dog, Sunnee. Her commitment to fostering inclusive environments and well-being shapes both her personal and professional life.

Caitlyn Campo

Trip Leadership

she/her

Caitlyn was adopted from Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China and joining The Nanchang Project has helped her reconnect with her adoption story while supporting others on similar journeys. She lives in Michigan and works as a dental hygienist, where she enjoys building meaningful relationships. Outside of work, Caitlyn loves running, cuddling with her rescue pitbulls, and finding the best hamburgers around! She is passionate about fostering connection, understanding, and supportive spaces for adoptees and families through shared experiences.

Catherine Van Weele

Web Development + Grants and Research

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Catherine is an adoptee from Guangdong province. She attended San Diego State University where she majored in Political Science, minored in Economics, and received a Certificate in Human Rights. Catherine currently works in the nonprofit marketing and communications field. Catherine grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys watching cdramas, trying new restaurants, and practicing yoga in her free time.

Dawn Liu Shan Beck 柳扇

Social Media & Content Creation

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Dawn is a Chinese adoptee from BeiHai 北海，Guangxi 广西 raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She is currently studying business at the University of Victoria, with interests in international business, cultural identity, and community engagement. She is passionate about reconnecting with her Chinese heritage and creating more space for adoptee voices and belonging. In her free time, she enjoys studying Mandarin, dancing, traveling, and spending time with friends. She hopes to continue building meaningful connections through culture, education, and shared experiences.

Emily Donovan

National Reunion Database Program

she/her

Emily was adopted from Nanchang, Jiangxi, and was raised in South Jersey, USA. She works with veterans as a registered dietitian, and spends her free time at the gym and trying new foods. She is excited to dive deeper into the adoptee community and help others find connection to their roots and heritage. 

Emma Sampson-Green

Search Partner Referrals

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Emma is an adoptee from Yiyang, Hunan, and was raised in Louisiana, USA, with her identical twin. She is currently attending college majoring in history with a minor in Chinese. She is planning on pursuing a graduate degree in a related field with the goal of teaching at the college level. She spends her free time hanging out with her dog, reading, and listening to music. 

Isabella DiFulvio

Fundraising

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Isabella was adopted from Gaozhou, Guangdong. She grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs and returned to the area after graduating college. She is passionate about connecting with other adoptees and uplifting the adoptee community. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and lounging with her shih tzu.

Jenna Makin

Web Development

Jenna is an adoptee from Hunan, China. She grew up on the East Coast of Canada. She loves to read, bake, dance and take photos outside. Jenna is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science at University. She is excited to help other adoptees with their own journeys as she is currently on her own journey to learn more about her roots.

Katie Lauder

Organization Representative

she/her

Katie was adopted from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China and grew up in the Chicagoland area of the USA. She joined Nanchang Project due to a passion to advocate for Chinese adoptee issues that intersect with her interests in international relations, cultural education, and establishing adoptee voices in the Asian American community. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with friends and keeping up to date with movies and tv shows.

Katelyn Connor Lin

Blog + Book Project

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Katelyn Connor Lin (KC Lin) is an adoptee from Hanchuan, Hubei, China, raised in the midwestern United States. KC has a deep love and devotion to creating artistic spaces, particularly those that amplify Asian adoptee voices and connect them with their community and roots. She has a BFA in Dance, BA in Media, and a minor in Arts Administration. She works in digital advertising for the arts. KC loves drinking London Fogs, moseying in bookstores, and discovering her next artistic fixation.

Kailyn Eagy

Social Media & Content Creation

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Kailyn was adopted from Jiangsu province and raised in Idaho, USA. She now lives in Chicago. She spent a summer semester during college in Shanghai and is current learning Mandarin. In her freetime, Kailyn enjoys reading, volunteering, and seeing movies with friends.

Kathy Schroepfer

National Reunion Database Program

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Kathy is the mom of two daughters from China . She has recently retired and travels as much as possible with her husband of 37 years. In her free time she likes to dance, quilt, and ride her bike. Kathy is also a volunteer for International Child Search Alliance (ICSA).

Kendall Jing Kuhn

Birth Family Registration

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Born in 2000, Kendall was adopted from Hubei Province and grew up in Colorado, USA. Her biggest passion is creative storytelling through various artistic mediums. She returned to China at the start of 2024, working as an English teacher in Shanghai, then later decided to further her education at East China Normal University. In 2025, she reunited with her birth family for the first time in Huanggang during Spring Festival with the help of a search partner referred to her by Nanchang Project. Kendall now hopes to assist other adoptees as much as possible in their own search for birth relatives, connection to culture, and self-identity.

Liana Marciante

Blog

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Liana is an adoptee from Hunan and was raised in Illinois, USA and later moved to Maryland, USA. She is currently studying Information Systems and Marketing at the University of Maryland and minoring in Asian American Studies. Liana loves spending time with her friends, traveling, and being active!

LuLu Grant

National Reunion Database Program + Book Project

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LuLu grew up near Seattle, USA but has called Mexico home for the last decade. When she’s not teaching English to Chinese children, you can find her reading, studying Mandarin, or writing. LuLu was adopted from Fuzhou, Jiangxi. She found her birth family in 2022 and visited them for the first time in 2024.

Mayana Holland

Fundraising + Discord Support

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Mayana was adopted from Nanning City in Guangxi province, China. She grew up in Connecticut in the USA with her older sister who was also adopted from China. She holds a BA in Government and Classical Studies and is in graduate school pursuing an MBA. Mayana joined Nanchang Project because she is passionate about connecting with other adoptees and helping to uplift their voices and experiences. In her free time, Mayana enjoys reading, baking, and live music.

Meghann Trago

Finance

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Adopted from Hunan Province, Meghann has spent her life on the East Coast. Grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA and now living on the unceded lands of the Munsee-Lenape lands of Brooklyn, NY. She is a professional dance artist, performer and freelance bookkeeper and arts administrator.

Nikki Flack

Trip Leadership

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Nikki is an adoptee from Nanping, Fujian, China who was adopted in 2001 and raised in Alaska. She strives to engage in Chinese culture as much as she can by learning Mandarin, cooking Chinese food, listening to Chinese music, watching C-Dramas, and participating in Chinese cultural events. She’s volunteered with other non-profits and is excited to be part of the Nanchang Project Team doing invaluable work to help reunite families and spread awareness of the complexity of Chinese International Adoption.

Phoenix Vicari

Adoptee Match Support

she/her

Phoenix was adopted from Guangdong, China, and grew up in Boulder, Colorado. She now lives in Boston, Massachusetts. As co-lead of Nanchang Project’s operations, she’s passionate about helping fellow adoptees reconnect with their roots in China. In her free time, you’ll usually find her eating good food or learning Mandarin—she recently reunited with her birth family and hopes to one day be able to speak to them in Chinese.

Ruby Holman

Social Media & Content Creation

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A Chongqing adoptee now based in San Francisco, Ruby is a trilingual bridge-builder fluent in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. Driven by a lifelong passion for linguistics, she leverages her diverse language skills to foster deeper connections and communication within the international adoptee community. In her free time, Ruby enjoys being active, traveling, dancing and also plays ultimate frisbee for the Bay Area women's semi-pro team.

Sam Tingdal

Adoptee Match Support

he/him

Sam was adopted from Yugan, Jiangxi, China, and raised in Sweden. Since 2021, Sam has been in reunion with his birth family. Currently a university student, Sam is majoring in Chinese and psychology and has completed a study abroad in Beijing for a year.

Sarah Bolinger

Fundraising

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Sarah is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas, pursuing a degree in Information Systems and Technology. Originally from the Yu Lin province in China, Sarah is passionate about leveraging technology to make a difference in healthcare, education, and non-profits.

Sarah Baker

Finance

she/her

Adopted from Guangdong Province, China, Sarah is a Financial Analyst passionate about supporting mission-driven organizations and creating meaningful impact through her career and volunteer work. She currently lives in Rhode Island and enjoys spending her free time reading, tackling DIY projects, traveling, cooking, and making memories with friends and family. She is excited to support the adoptee community alongside the Nanchang Project.

SarahWen Williams

Social Media & Content Creation

she/they

SarahWen is an adoptee from Guangxi, China, and raised in North Carolina, USA. She is currently an art teacher to retired people in her community and finds lots of enjoyment in teaching them about art. When she is not sleeping, she enjoys creating art, hanging out with friends, and playing video games.

Sophia Bird

Content Creation + Translation

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Sophia is a transracial, intercountry adoptee from Beijing and grew up all over the west coast states. She graduated from the University of Oregon’s Chinese Flagship Program, majoring in Global Studies and Chinese Language with a minor in East Asian Studies, and is excited to continue her education at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Outside of school and work, she loves music, art, poetry, and photography.

Sydney Welch

Social Media & Content Creation

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Sydney was adopted from Fengxin, Jiangxi Province, and was raised in Wisconsin, USA. She is currently attending college at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she is studying Marketing with a minor in Chinese. In Sydney's free time she enjoys binge watching TV, traveling, being active, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to contribute to Nanchang Project and give back to the adoption community.

Taylor DePetris

Graphic Design

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Taylor is an adoptee from Hunan, China, and was raised in the mid-west of the USA. She grew up around art and creativity, which eventually led to her day job as a 3D designer at an advertising agency. Outside of work she enjoys playing with her pup Terra Bear, learning to crochet, and simply draw. In 2022, Taylor started volunteering her illustration skills to CCI for their social content. Now she expanded those talents to Nanchang Project as a graphic designer. Taylor hopes to continue to make beautiful work that helps spread awareness for adoptees as we search for our connected roots.

Yaëlle Fosse

Discord Support

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Yaëlle, a daughter of Chongqing, grew up in France. A postgraduate student in Asian Studies at EHESS, she is currently studying the case of French adoptees born in mainland China. After a semester spent studying, rediscovering and enjoying her time in her native country, she decided to get closer to it by learning Mandarin. Joining the Nanchang project is linked to her deep desire to make the voice of adoptees born in China heard.

We also appreciate the time spent by our former Nanchang Project volunteers. Visit our Former Volunteer page to learn more about them. We appreciate everyone, past and present, for their contributions to our organization. 谢谢!