BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Who We Are
ARAXIE JENSEN
Director
Araxie is certified in Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1, Level 2, Couples Addiction Recovery, and Trauma and Affairs. She is also a certified leader for the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work courses. She is currently a Masters student at UIS, where she is studying marriage, couple and family counseling.
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Araxie earned her BA in English from Brigham Young University and has completed Masters level work in Instructional Technology.
Araxie's research into family systems, resilience and intergenerational trauma started with a love of family history research, which she started in 2009. She and her husband have traveled to Serbia and Turkey researching distant family lines.
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MARIA NIGHINTGALE
Board Member
Maria is a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, formerly American Humanics. She has a Master's of Social Work from the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston and a BA in Human Development and Family Studies. She brings a wide variety of experience with nonprofits ranging from adoption centers, disability and early childhood education, homeless recovery services, veteran's affairs, and therapy providers.
A Spanish-speaking veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Her hobbies include Scouting, international travel, and photography. She is originally from El Salvador. The Nightingale family if currently in China on diplomat mission.
NATHAN JENSEN
Secretary
Nathan has his BA in History through the University of Houston and a Masters in Public Administration through Sam Houston State University and works in court administration at the state level.
Nathan has been researching family history since 2009 and most recently has been learning research techniques for the online Turkish database to further family history work in Turkey. He has broad experience in program management and grant writing.
Kara Maughan
Activities Director & Public Information Officer
Kara holds a BA in Elementary Education and Professional Studies, with certifications in Social Media Marketing, Graphic Design, and Family and Marriage Studies. With a passion for working with children and families, Kara is dedicated to strengthening communities through education, connection, and support.
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Her background in both teaching and creative communications allows her to bring a unique blend of skills to her nonprofit work, from designing engaging outreach materials to developing meaningful programs for families. Beyond her professional pursuits, she loves traveling, reading, and spending quality time with her family. Guided by a genuine desire to make a difference, Kara strives to build resources, opportunities, and supportive spaces that empower children and families to thrive.
Rocio Shelter
Board Member
Rocio is from Peru, where she holds a JD from the National University Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, an MA in Civil and Commercial Law from San Martín de Porres University in Lima, and completed doctoral studies in Law at Federico Villarreal University, also in Lima. She is also certified as a conciliator and judicial arbitrator.
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Her experience includes five years in family law with Peru’s Department of Justice, five years investigating judicial misconduct and bribery. Since moving to Illinois, Rocio and gained an additional six years of experience in public service with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Illinois Department of Human Services. She currently serves as a policy writer for DCFS, focusing on policy development, legal research, and rule-making.
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Rocio is always passionate about learning, and will soon start the Masters of Social Work program through Urbana-Champaign.