FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Harry Shipps, harry@ninetywest.com
Hema Sarang-Sieminski Named Next Executive Director of Jane Doe Inc.
Boston, July 31 – Today, Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, announced that Hema (Hay-muh) Sarang-Sieminski will become the organization’s next Executive Director. Sarang-Sieminski will replace current Executive Director Debra Robbin, who announced earlier this year that she would be transitioning out of the role this coming fall.
“Since she joined JDI in 2020, Hema has brought invaluable insight, compassion, and energy to the work of supporting survivors and strengthening JDI as an organization,” said Dawn Sauma, Chair of the JDI Board of Directors. “We could not be more excited for Hema to step into the role of Executive Director. Debra Robbin leaves an incredible legacy after more than two decades at JDI, and no one is better suited than Hema to carry forward JDI’s essential efforts on behalf of survivors, our Coalition members, and communities across the Commonwealth. As a Board, we look forward to working alongside Hema in this new role to support the JDI team, our member programs and partners, and to build on JDI’s position as a leading state SA/DV coalition nationwide.”
“I am honored and elated to step into the role of Executive Director of JDI,” said Sarang-Sieminski. “Together, the vibrant team at JDI, our member programs, and partners are invested in the life-changing work of supporting survivors and transforming our communities every day. I’m excited to bring the sum of my experience and expertise, derived from our collective wisdom, to help lead this organization forward. My deepest gratitude to Debra Robbin for her guidance and friendship over the past four-plus years, and to every member of the JDI team, who are constantly pushing to make JDI even bolder, more inclusive, and more effective on behalf of survivors across Massachusetts. I look forward to continuing to do this work in partnership with everyone in the JDI community, and to embodying JDI’s commitment to be an organization led by survivors and focused on equity, justice, and wholeness for all.”
Prior to joining JDI, Sarang-Sieminski was a Senior Attorney at the Victim Rights Law Center, where they provided local and national training and technical assistance to enhance access to civil legal services for sexual assault survivors, as well as direct legal representation to immigrant and LGBTQ survivor communities. She has worked with survivors of partner abuse and sexual violence for well over 20 years in various roles, including private immigration practice, community engagement in LGBTQ communities with The Network/La Red, and as a Staff Attorney at the Immigration Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services.
Sarang-Sieminski will officially assume the role of Executive Director on September 16.
ABOUT JDI
JDI (Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence) is the only statewide membership and advocacy coalition in Massachusetts dedicated to addressing sexual and domestic violence. We aim to support survivors and end violence by promoting gender equity, racial justice, and safety for everyone. JDI’s mission is to complement and support the expertise and leadership of our 60 community-based member organizations with a statewide strategy involving public and private partners to tackle systemic issues that foster and perpetuate violence, to create policies and explore innovative solutions that improve the lives of survivors, and to prevent gender-based violence. To learn more visit https://janedoe.org.
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