Administrative Consultants and Leadership
Allison Fresher
Co-Executive Director
Allison Fresher was appointed the Co-Executive Director of A Sacred Place on March 1, 2025, after serving as its Financial Consultant since January 2018. She has over 35 years of finance and management experience, having retired from Bank of America as a Managing Director and executive with national responsibilities. Allison’s involvement in spiritual endeavors is diverse, including serving as a lay chaplain for Connecticut Hospice for 4 years and providing life skills training to incarcerated men at Connecticut’s Osborn Correctional Institution. She is active at her church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Essex, CT, where she recently served as its Minister of Worship Life, trust investment committee chairperson and secretary of the endowment committee, among other activities. Allison is a member of the Verger’s Guild of the Episcopal Church and a Board Member of the Episcopal Church Women of Connecticut. She enjoys volunteering for ASP’s various programs, most recently serving on the volunteer team for Caregiver and Me.
She lives with her family in Haddam, CT.
Ann Derouaux-Welch
Co-Executive Director
Ann Derouaux-Welch was appointed the Co-Executive Director of A Sacred Place on March 1, 2025, after serving on the Board of Directors.
Ann comes to a sacred place with a history of serving in prison and parish ministry. Her early years were spent as a Pastoral Associate in Baltimore’s inner city. This position included outreach to the women’s prison in Baltimore and to incarcerated men in the Jessup correctional facility.
She also participated in a pilot project run by the Sisters of Mercy called Francis House. It was one of the first halfway houses to serve women leaving prison.
After receiving her degree from Andover Newton Theological School, she served in leadership positions, including Director of the Council on Aging and Supervisor of Continuing Education at a hospital. Later years were spent as a facilitator for women’s groups and an energy therapist.
Our Board
Elizabeth Buhler
Director
Elizabeth (Liz) Buhler received an Associates Degree in Computer Science from Thames Valley State Technical College in 1976 and a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2009. She retired in 2022 after working 46 years in the Information Technology field.
After joining Niantic Community Church in 1986, Liz became involved in many programs with their part-time Pastor, the Reverend Laurie Etter, who was also serving as the Chaplin at York Correctional Institute. Liz worked for several years with Laurie on the Host Home Program and the Christmas Toy Project and other events that included the women at York. One of her favorite tasks was making panels from squares made by the women at York to create an Aides Quilt that was part of the NAMES Project displayed on the National Mall. As one of the founders of A Scared Place, Laurie introduced Liz to their many programs. Liz has been a long time supporter of A Scared Place and now has the time to become involved in The Storybook Project.
Liz believes we need to address recidivism and help the women at York change. She is excited to be part of the work A Sacred Place is doing and looks forward to being part of providing Programs of Hope for Incarcerated Women.
Marissa Crean
Director
Marissa Crean received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bryant University and a Master of Science in Taxation from the University of Hartford. She began her career as a Certified Public Accountant in public accounting in RI and CT.
Marissa leveraged this experience when she transitioned her career to corporate finance in the property casualty insurance industry, where she held leadership positions overseeing significant business initiatives.
Recently retired from the corporate world and formed her own career coaching business, Marissa is currently the President of the Alumni Leadership Council for Bryant University and serving on a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee for Women on campus. She has been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter since 2007, having served on their Board of Directors as Audit Committee Chair, Finance Chair, Vice President and President, and is currently volunteer committee lead for Public Policy and Advocacy.
Juanita Durham, APRN
Director
After graduating from the school of nursing at Syracuse University in 1966, Juanita worked in oncology, as a school nurse, instructor in various schools of nursing, public health, childbirth education, and as a nurse manager in labor and delivery. In 1995 she graduated from The University of Rhode Island with a masters degree in nursing education and in 1996 completed a post masters certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. During the masters programs she taught childbirth education at York Correctional Institute.
After graduating, Juanita went into private practice caring for OBGYN patients in 1966 while also working in OBGYN at York. In 2001, she dedicated her practice solely to the women at York CI. Women needed the same care in both practices, but at that time she was the only female OBGYN provider at York. She said “I have never regretted the decision. I loved my practice there!”
After leaving York in 2016, she sought volunteer opportunities to return to serve the women there and was blessed to meet Barbara when she spoke about A Sacred Place at our church. In January of 2018 she began teaching prepared childbirth and postpartum classes every Wednesday morning. Then, with support and encouragement from YCI administration, a labor coach program was initiated.
“My current volunteer service to the women of York is rewarding and treasured.” – Juanita
Marisol Garcia
Director
Graduate of Trinity College 2022 in Public Policy and Law, currently pursuing a graduate degree in Public Policy and applying to law school in 2023.
She is also the 2022 Yale Prison Education College to Career Fellow and a compliance specialist with LAZ Parking in Hartford.
Marisol is also serving as an advocate for Regulate DOC Healthcare Coalition addresses the healthcare inequalities in DOC and other research on the carceral impact on incarcerated individuals and returning women. re-entry services.
Shonda Northup
Director
Recovery Supporter committed to assisting men and women achieve their goals in recovery. Passionate about advocacy and speaking up for others. Driven to create change for the betterment of all. Active spokesperson for rehabilitation and education in the prison system in hopes to bridge the gap. Devoted to helping with social change and human services whenever given the chance.
Shonda is an RSS: Recovery Support Specialist helping men and women recovering from mental health and substance use disorders. Shonda is an advocate for treating both diseases in order to create change in the person’s life. Shonda has training in Harm Reduction and helping people live a safer lifestyle.
Verna Swann, BS, MS
Director
While working full-time, Verna began her college studies in 1989 at Mohegan Community College (now Three Rivers Community College) where she received an AS degree. She then furthered her studies and received a BS from the University of Connecticut and MS from Eastern Connecticut State University.
“My passion is to extend a hand wherever there is a need and share my blessings.” Verna is currently a volunteer at the Smilow Cancer Center and the East Lyme Senior Center. She is excited and honored to be a member of ASP Board of Directors.
Rhode Van Gessel, A.AS Graphic Design
Director
Rhode graduated with an A.AS Degree in Applied Graphic Arts & Science from Springfield Technical Community College. Since then she has joyfully applied her skills as designer and art director for various corporations, advertising agencies and design studios.
In 1991, she formed Rhode vanGessel Design – consulting and designing for myriad New England based clients.
Rhode joined ASP as a volunteer Prayer Partner in 2009.
She is thrilled to be able to offer design and advertising help for A Sacred Place and other non-profit groups, participate as an active volunteer for Storybook, and especially honored to be a member of the ASP Board of Directors.
Rhode considers her relationships within A Sacred Place and York CI continuously life-altering, sacred and priceless.
With Sincere Appreciation to our Former Leaders
The Rev. Valerie Dixon
Sister Elaine Deasy
Sister Patty Cook
The Rev. Charlotte White
Susan York
The Rev. Dianne Warley
Marty Purdy
A Sacred Place, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to providing rehabilitative programs and educational opportunities for incarcerated women in Connecticut.
Contact
A Sacred Place, Inc.
61 Main St.
Suite 1nb
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Information regarding the Barbara Mahon College Fund:
barbaramahonfund@gmail.com