Marina Peshterianu joined Bridge Refugee Services Chattanooga in 1999 transitioning from the career in education. Before joining Bridge, she taught in an inner-city magnet school focusing on environmental and global issues.
During her time at Bridge, Marina participated in resettlement of refugees from Vietnam, Bosnia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Liberia, Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania, Congo, Chad, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Cuba and Colombia and performed a variety of job responsibilities such as case-manager, job developer, Early Employment (MG) program coordinator, sub-office coordinator, and became Associate Director in 2014.
“I am honored to have an opportunity to help refugees from all over the world to make a transition into their new life in our community and reclaim their freedom and independence. Their achievements are an everyday affirmation of human capacity to survive, rise and step forward”
(423) 954-1911
mpeshterianu@bridgerefugees.org
Jennifer Croxall has traveled extensively and has a passion for other cultures. She has been volunteering with Bridge Refugee Services in various capacities since 2000, when her church co-sponsored a refugee family. Jennifer became a Pre Arrival Specialist at Bridge in 2015. Her responsibilities include securing affordable housing for refugees, preparing apartments with community volunteers for newly arriving refugees, and providing them with housing orientation to assist them in their transition into their new home. Jennifer graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in Psychology.
(423) 355-5969
jcroxall@bridgerefugees.org
Angel Daugherty is our Tennessee Office for Refugees Liaison/Senior Case Manager. She is responsible for enrolling clients into appropriate TOR funded programs, managing cash and medical assistance eligibility, and timely reporting for all programs. TOR provides state administered refugee resettlement programs providing assistance (cash and medical) and social services to refugees with the purpose of increasing refugee prospects for early employment and self-sufficiency. She is responsible for providing Health Literacy Training (general health, nutrition, mental health, and other special topics) to all newly arriving clients, as well as assisting case managers with medical case management for clients with ongoing or more serious health concerns. Angel works closely with program staff to provide ongoing support and/or training as needed.
(423) 355-5969
adaugherty@bridgerefugees.org
Wies de Laat joined Bridge in August 2022 as a Programs Support Specialist. She was born and raised in The Netherlands where she graduated from Radboud University Nijmegen with a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology and a Master’s degree in Human Geography: Globalization, Migration and Development. Her interest in topics related to migration started when she lived a year in Mexico, where she learned more about undocumented migrants and migrant caravans passing through the South American continent. Having studied migration, she is excited to put her knowledge into practice at Bridge and assist those who come to this country through the refugee program. Her responsibilities include locating appropriate and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees, managing in-kind donations, and coordinating apartment set up with volunteers and Bridge staff. She will also provide clerical and administrative support for all Bridge’s programs.
In her free time Wies enjoys traveling, ballet classes, and going for a hike with her dog Cindy.
Isabella Eklund, MSW is a Maryland native who moved to Chattanooga to pursue her education in social work. She obtained her Bachelor of Social Work in 2023 and her Master of Social Work, emphasis in Crisis and Emergency Management, in 2024. Isabella values advocacy and empowerment, spending the last three years in the intersection between community and systemic resources. This includes working with unhoused families navigating school systems, as a diversity officer and research assistant at Southern Adventist University, and volunteering in community efforts in Chattanooga.
Growing up with an immigrant parent taught Isabella the importance of supporting migrants from any walk of life. Isabella hopes to ensure that all people have a place to access dignity as part of the Chattanooga community. In her free time, Isabella spends much of her time with her friends and her dogs. She enjoys getting coffee, engaging in local arts, and spending time outdoors on the weekends.
ieklund@bridgerefugees.org
Sarah Pedersen Hitchcock joined Bridge in January 2022 as a case manager and school liaison. She was born in New York and moved to Tennessee during high school. She attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and earned her degree in Early Childhood Education. After teaching second grade for several years, including teaching refugee students, she transitioned to working at Bridge. Sarah is now the Youth Services Coordinator, managing the Refugee School Impact (RSI) and Refugee Youth Mentoring programs.
She is passionate about helping others navigate the school system and welcoming refugees into their new communities. Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling to new places, and baking.
Kendra Hoogland joined Bridge in June of 2024. She was born and raised in Southern California before calling Chattanooga her home. Her love for culture, language, and travel was sparked by her first trip overseas when she was in high school. She went on to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from California Baptist University. Kendra has enjoyed numerous trips abroad, including a year-long residency in Southeast Asia.
She is passionate about connecting with people and welcoming refugees into the community. She firmly believes that there is so much to learn from other cultures, experiences and worldviews. Outside of the office, Kendra’s favorite activities include spending time with friends, being outdoors, film photography, and
writing music.
khoogland@bridgerefugees.org
Megan Revis joined Bridge Refugee Services in February 2022 as a Case Manager. She graduated from Liberty University with her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Public Health. Megan’s desire to work with refugees began when she had the opportunity to work with refugee and migrant centers in Europe during an internship. As a Case Manager, she is passionate about helping refugees resettle and integrate into Chattanooga. Megan enjoys a good book, a long walk, and kayaking in her free time.
Ben Stocksdale joined Bridge in September 2023 as a Program Specialist. He grew up in Kenya which sparked his passion for meeting people from diverse backgrounds and cultures and assisting displaced peoples. He graduated from Covenant College with Bachelors of Arts in Economics and Community Development with a focus on international development.
At Bridge he works with humanitarian parolees to connect them with public benefits while also assisting with case management. Outside of work Ben enjoys soccer, Chattanooga’s beautiful outdoor areas, and spending time with family and friends.
Thomas Totherow joined Bridge in November of 2024 as a Tennessee Office for Refugees Case Manager. He graduated from Toccoa Falls College with a Bachelors in Cross-Cultural Studies and a Minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in 2018, going on two internships to Bangkok, Thailand and Clarkston, GA. He later received his Masters in Ministry Leadership from Crown College. Thomas has been working with and serving refugee populations since 2017 through volunteer coordinating, teaching English, community integration, and case management. He served as a Reception and Placement Case Manager in Omaha, NE from 2022 to 2024. Thomas desires to empower refugees to thrive in their new communities through the support of Bridge and their partners. He is excited to help his new neighbors find “dignity, hope, and opportunity” through employment in Chattanooga. In his free time he enjoys hiking, trying new food, reading, learning about culture, and spending time with his family and friends.
Nathan Walker hails from Birmingham, AL but has gladly called Chattanooga home for a number of years. He joined Bridge in October 2022 as our new Volunteer and Co-Sponsorship Manager.
Nathan’s experience managing volunteers for nonprofits, undergraduate degree in Community Development from Covenant College (‘16), and drive to empower marginalized and at risk communities are all pieces that helped him find us. He enjoys the chance to facilitate our clients’ successful integration into Chattanooga through the invaluable aid of our volunteers.
Nathan’s passion to travel the world and see other ways of life developed his global perspective.
His travels took him to 15 different countries over the years; he hopes to see more in the future. “Everyone should practice being a minority in a different culture at least once in their life. When I intentionally invest time in this type of experience, it always positively changes the way I view the world and how I treat everyone around me.”
When Nathan is out of the office, you’ll most likely find him on the side of a cliff rock climbing or hugging his roommate’s dog Fozzie.