Our Team

Vaun Swanson

Founder, Board Member

Vaun has spent her life working in the helping professions as a licensed social worker, pastor, non-profit founder and director, international missions advocate and mentor of seminary students. She holds degrees in social work/sociology, educational psychology, Christian ministry, and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in ministries to women.  Her heart for marginalized women and children has led her around the world and she often speaks and writes about the need for biblical equality in the church as a primary tool for addressing poverty and abuse.

Anne Coughlin

Executive Director

Anne became a founding member of our Board of Directors after her visit to Nepal in 2016 and the Executive Director of Daya International in 2021. She has been a passionate advocate for young women in Nepal who desire to attend college and better their lives. Anne loves all things international. In fact, in 2018 she traveled the world with her husband and two children for a year. Anne also works at Denver’s Platt Park Church in both Children’s Ministry and Local/International Service Ministry. Prior, she worked as Development Director for the Humanitarian Aid organization, IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates) and for the business consulting organization, Accenture. Anne has a Masters in International Studies from the University of Denver and a degree in Business from the University of Georgia. She calls Denver, Colorado home when not traveling.

Mandy Anderson

Treasurer

Geriatrics, women, and children hold a very special place in Mandy’s heart. She is in her fourteenth year of serving the geriatric population as a long-term care pharmaceutical representative. Her mission experience has been working with women and children. Mandy is from Louisiana and now living in Baton Rouge after spending a six-year season in Denver. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in communications.

Salome Bhatta

Board Member

Salomé Bhatta is currently studying at Harvard in the US and is a recent graduate from Shimla University in India, with a bachelor’s in business and Law. Having grown up in an orphanage she wants to do what she can to support and empower children, young adults especially girls as they prepare to step out of the orphanage. Salome Bhatta completed a traineeship program with World Vision International in Nepal. Salome has earlier volunteered in Justice and Mercy Legal aid Clinic, Denver, ServLife International in Indianapolis, and the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority in Nepal. Salomé is very fond of poetry and hiking.

Holly Johnson

Secretary of the Board and Media Producer

For the past 20 years, Holly has been working full-time in the television production industry.  Most recently, she served as a writer on two Rocky Mountain PBS original series, Arts District and Colorado Experience.  Prior to this, Holly produced films for the National Park Service with Denver-based Great Divide Pictures and also worked with High Noon Entertainment producing series and specials for networks:  HGTV, History Channel, and Food Network. Holly is happy to finally merge her love for story-telling with her desire to help non-profits deliver inspiring messages.  A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Holly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication in 1993.

Holly produced and directed the videos for Daya International as well as the creation of Daya’s website.

Heather Nathan

Board Member

Heather is passionate about education and social justice. Working in special education as a speech/language pathologist, she has worked on multi-disciplinary teams in public schools and the home-health setting. Most of Heather’s work focuses on connecting children to appropriate education and families to community resources. Her first international outreach was with children in Guatemala where she was immediately captivated by the positive impact that educated children have on rural villages. She is excited to expand her learning and serving to Nepal! Heather received her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Arizona State University in 2011. Currently, she is receiving another Master’s Degree in Social Work from Denver University. Originally from Texas, Heather moved to Colorado in 2012 in favor of the mountains and cooler climate of Colorado.

Allison Saer

Board Member

Allison is passionate about education and the advancement of women. As a former teacher, she knows the power of education and believes it is vital to creating an equitable and safe society. Currently, Allison works in corporate communications and change management. She lives in Denver with her family and loves exploring the outdoors.