Ms. Saaty-Tafoya has more than 25 years of non-profit leadership experience, with a specific focus on providing integrated healthcare to underrepresented populations.  She has a proven track record in providing dynamic leadership, corporate governance and securing impactful funds.  Most recently, she served as the Executive Director for the Institute for Mental Health Research and before that, President & CEO of Adelante Healthcare for 13 years. Ms. Saaty-Tafoya holds an MBA in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix, and a BA in Biology from Capital University. 

 

Ms. Saaty-Tafoya’s family were refugees, moving from Kurdistan to the United States after spending time in a refugee camp and a brief time in Germany. She brings empathy and understanding from her lived experience to the role at Friendly House. She identifies strongly with the mission of Friendly House to empower Arizona communities through education and human services, possessing a deep understanding and experience working to improve the lives of underrepresented populations.