Tahirih is proud to welcome five distinguished members from prominent organizations and corporations to our Board of Directors. The new members began their service today in Washington, D.C.
They join fifteen current board members, making this the largest and most diverse board in Tahirih’s 16-year history of protecting immigrant women and girls in the United States from violence.
“Tahirih does critically important work to protect the rights of immigrant women and girls fleeing human rights abuses. It’s an amazing honor to be joining such a distinguished organization and I look forward working with everyone at Tahirih to help provide a voice to women in need,” said Kelly Mahon Tullier<, a new board member and the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at PepsiCo. Also welcomed today were Maria Cestone, Partner at Cestone & Thompson, P.C., Navid Haghighi, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of XO Communications, James J. Sandman, President of Legal Services Corporation, and Clifford Yee, Senior Director of Community Affairs and Market President Network of Capital One. All board members commit to serving three-year terms.
“Our newest board members really do embody the soul of Tahirih. They are committed to ending violence against women. They are passionate about our work. They are efficient and innovative. As we look to expand our impact in the coming years, their service and skills will be invaluable,” said Tahirih Executive Director and Founder Layli Miller-Muro.
With offices in the DC area, Baltimore, Md., and Houston, Texas, Tahirih is a national nonprofit that protects courageous immigrant women and girls refusing to be victims of violence by providing free, holistic legal services and advocacy in communities, courts and Congress.
The Tahirih Board of Directors plays a crucial role in supporting and guiding the organization. Its members provide issue-area expertise surrounding the legal challenges faced by Tahirih’s clients and contribute significant management, consulting, policy and fundraising experience.
Members include an array of professionals working in law, corporate, medical, entertainment and nonprofit sectors from around the country. All have chosen to dedicate their time and knowledge to helping Tahirih protect immigrant women and girls fleeing violence.
“Tahirih is a growing organization aiming to meet the high demand for its services,” said Paul Glist, Tahirih board chair and Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. “Our board invites visionaries who can think strategically and thoughtfully around how Tahirih can continue to be a recognized national leader helping women and girls access justice in this country. We are so proud today to welcome five members to the board who will help us achieve that goal.”
Meet Tahirih’s Newest Board Members
Maria Cestone
Prior to the formation of Cestone & Thompson, P.C., Cestone maintained a private tax practice in Roseland, New Jersey. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration (domestic & international), the counseling of fiduciaries regarding estate, trust and charitable administration issues, as well as the creation, implementation and taxation of businesses.
Navid Haghighi
As Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for XO Communications, Haghighi leads the XO legal and regulatory department, and serves on the executive management team. Haghighi manages all aspects of legal and telecommunications regulatory functions at XO, including complex transactions, litigation, employment, corporate, real estate, procurement, intellectual property, state and federal regulatory compliance and legislative affairs.
James J. Sandman
Sandman was appointed president of the Legal Services Corporation in January, 2011, bringing more than three decades of legal experience to LSC. He was with Arnold & Porter LLP from 1977 to 2007 and served as the firm’s managing partner from 1995 to 2005. From 2007 to 2011, he was general counsel for the District of Columbia Public Schools.
Kelly Mahon Tullier
As the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for PepsiCo, Inc., Kelly Mahon Tullier manages the global operations of the PepsiCo Law Department, which includes more than 250 lawyers in the businesses in countries around the world, as well as centralized teams leading M&A, intellectual property, regulatory, litigation and procurement legal work.
Clifford Yee
Clifford Yee is the Senior Director of Community Affairs and Market President Network at Capital One Financial Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified bank headquartered in McLean, Va. In his current role, Mr. Yee leads local community relations teams charged with developing and implementing Capital One’s “Investing for Good” strategy through philanthropic grant-making, associate volunteerism and community programming.
