Meet Our Team

Brittany Defeo (she/her)

Program Director

Samantha Ellingsen (she/her)

Donor Engagement Manager

I was born and raised in Albuquerque NM and graduated from New Mexico Highlands University's Social Work Program in 2016. I am a single parent to an 11 year old daughter who lives full time with me in Albuquerque. I have been working with this organization since 2015 in many different roles while simultaneously building our abortion fund to what it is now. My degree in Social Work has given me many opportunities to work closely with community organizations such as EQNM and NM NASW. I also interned for Senator Ortiz Y Pino. My catholic upbringing, love for community, and passion for social justice has helped me grow into the person and advocate I am today. 

Hi! My name is Samantha, and I am the Donor Engagement Manager at Faith Roots Reproductive Action. I have lived in Albuquerque since 2006, and having moved frequently  for most of my childhood, it is so nice to have a place to call home.  I am blessed with  two boys, ages 6 and 10.  I graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2014 with a dual license in General and Special Education. While this position is unlike any other job that I’ve  had, my passion has always been to help people  and I feel this is the perfect fit for me.  My strong faith is what got me to this point, and my passion is what continues to  help me succeed! I look forward to getting to know all the beautiful faces I am sure to encounter  with this organization and within this movement. “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation...” -Audre Lorde  

Mónica Girón (she/her/ella)

Bilingual Case Manager Lead

Mónica (نادرة) is a Mexican-Palestinian liberation advocate born and raised on the US/Mexico border. She advocates by bringing to light our interconnected struggles in the border region, Palestine and abortion rights. She's also an artist who creates as an act of resistance and to process the injustice of being part of the Palestinian diaspora. In her free time, she's either gardening, bird watching or working on her tiny house.  

 

Janeth Orozco (she/her/ella)

Communications Director

Janeth is the Communications Director at Faith Roots Reproductive Action. She is a proud Mexican American with immigrant parents from Chihuahua and Zacatecas, Mexico. She is a native Spanish speaker, and was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Spanish. Janeth developed a passion for social justice growing up, witnessing her parents’ struggles as undocumented immigrants and having a disabled brother eight years younger than her. These experiences opened her eyes to social injustice early on and inspired her to drive change.

 

Stephanie Tarin (she/her)

Operations Manager

Stephanie  Tarin is a dynamic guest experience professional with a proven track record in optimizing operations across diverse hospitality sectors, ranging from fine dining to high-volume nightclubs to community-driven events. A skilled manager, she excels in identifying operational deficiencies and implementing innovative standards to drive success. As the Operations Manager for Faith Roots Reproductive Action, she is excited to bring her spirit of hospitality to her team and community. 
 
Having relocated to Albuquerque in 2019, Stephanie is a dedicated learner, currently pursuing her BBA at UNM Anderson School of Management and an alumnus of CNM Culinary Arts Program. With a belief in the enriching power of travel and exposure to diverse cultures, she brings a unique perspective to her professional endeavors.