Our Staff

Ellen Carter is vice president of program at the Connecticut Health Foundation. She oversees the foundation’s programmatic strategy, which includes grantmaking, policy, strategic communications, leadership, and evaluation.

Ellen joined the foundation after nine years at the Connecticut Community Foundation in Waterbury, where she most recently served as vice president of program and strategy. In that role, she guided strategy and leadership direction for grantmaking, evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement work. Recently, she spearheaded the community foundation’s COVID-19 response, working closely with community organizations and city agencies on equitable vaccine access, outreach and education. Ellen previously worked at the Connecticut Association for Human Services, serving as director of programs focused on building economic and food security for low-income families across Connecticut.

She is involved in many local and statewide organizations, including the Bridge to Success Community Partnership, Greater Waterbury Health Partnership, the Connecticut Healthy Living Collective, Age Well Steering Committee, Health Equity Trust Planning Committee, Waterbury Juneteenth Committee, and the Waterbury School Readiness Council.

Ellen is a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Connecticut.

Kevin Collins is director of grantmaking for the Connecticut Health Foundation. He leads the foundation’s grantmaking work, directs leadership development activities, and manages evaluation of the strategic plan and program initiatives.

Kevin came to the foundation from Health Equity Solutions, where he served as director of training and outreach, leading the organization’s educational and training programs, and overseeing community engagement and outreach. He previously served as director of the ALANA Multicultural Center at Vassar College, assistant director of the Center for College Student Success at the University of Chicago, coordinator of scholarships, leadership, and service within the Office of Multicultural Student Success at DePaul University, and coordinator of multicultural services at Sam Houston State University. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University.

Tamisha Phillip is the senior grants manager for the Connecticut Health Foundation. Tamisha coordinates the grantmaking process and provides administrative support for the department.

Tamisha came to the foundation from Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she served as an administrative assistant. She has also worked at Rockville General Hospital and Hartford Hospital. She has a bachelor’s degree in health care management from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in business analytics from Quinnipiac University.

Tonia Douglas is the program officer at the Connecticut Health Foundation, where she plays a central role in the grantmaking team. Tonia’s responsibilities including working with applicants and grantees, fielding inquiries, reviewing grants, evaluating projects, and tracking grant activities.

Tonia came to the foundation from Hartford HealthCare, where she served as quality performance improvement coordinator. She previously served as patient relations coordinator at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and as a caseworker and constituent liaison for the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and taught a course on cultural diversity at Western Connecticut State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from University of Saint Joseph, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of New Haven.

Arielle Levin Becker is the chief of staff and communications director for the Connecticut Health Foundation. She coordinates the foundation’s operational planning and strategy development, as well as the foundation’s publications, media relations, and strategic communications.

Before joining the foundation, Arielle spent six years as the health care reporter at The Connecticut Mirror, a nonprofit news organization focused on politics and public policy. She previously worked at The Hartford Courant, where she covered health care, education, criminal justice and municipal issues, and the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Her first job in journalism was at Real Change, a homeless newspaper in Seattle. She has a B.A. in history from Yale University.

Samantha Haun is the policy director at the Connecticut Health Foundation. She leads advocacy and policy work for the foundation, focused on eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities and the conditions that cause them.

Before joining the foundation, Sam served as a consultant and project manager for Learning for Action, an equity-focused firm in San Francisco where she implemented evaluation plans and other projects focused on public health, equity, education, and policy. She previously served in the Louisiana Department of Health, where she worked closely with the Medicaid chief of staff on issues including behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, and legislative policy. She also served as a program coordinator for National Medical Fellowships, a field organizer and organizing fellow for Organizing for America, and a training and resource manager at Medical Students for Choice.

Sam is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and has a Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Todd Thomas is the foundation’s vice president of finance and operations. He serves as the foundation’s primary liaison on asset management and finance and will lead the accounting, personnel, and technology functions, as well as office operations for the foundation.

Todd has served in finance, planning, and analysis roles at companies including Prudential Financial, Cogstate, Time Warner, Subway Restaurants, and PreciBake. He has also worked as a consultant and investment banker.

Todd is a graduate of Amherst College and has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Hartford.

Stephanie Tatro, CPA, is the director of finance for the Connecticut Health Foundation. She is responsible for day-to-day management of the Foundation’s financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, as well as the annual audit and tax return preparation.

Prior to working for CT Health, Stephanie worked in public accounting. In between her tenures with PwC, she gained experience in not-for-profit and governmental accounting. She also spent time as a substitute teacher in her local school system. In her spare time Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, walking their two dogs, reading Stephen King novels and remodeling her house and yard. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Michigan State University and is a CPA.

Anette Mendoza-Hollis is the executive assistant and operations manager for the Connecticut Health Foundation. Anette provides administrative and logistical support to the president & CEO and the board of directors, and supervises administrative and operational functions of the organization. Prior to her position at CT Health, she served as secretary for the Central Registration Department at the East Hartford Board of Education. She also worked at Jumoke Academy, a Hartford charter school, for over 14 years. Anette received a bachelor’s degree of science in Public Administration/Policy from Charter Oak State College.

Kamau Stewart is the accounting associate at the Connecticut Health Foundation. He supports the finance and operations department with accounts payables, contracts, and other accounting functions.

Before joining the foundation, Kamau spent 10 years in the Office of Finance at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, where he handled a wide range of finance and technology functions.

Kamau has a degree in materials science with a minor in alternative energy from the University of the West Indies.

Ines Aguilera is the administrative assistant at the Connecticut Health Foundation. She is responsible for supporting the entire organization. Before joining the foundation, Ines served as an assistant program manager and administrative assistant at Stone Academy in East Hartford, and as the office manager at Hotel Palacio Alcazar in Spain. She has a bachelor’s degree in business tourism and finance from the University of Seville and a master’s degree in Spanish linguistics from Universidad Europea del Atlántico.