Ramtin Arablouei, Program Manager for Environmental Health and Environmental Justice

Ramtin Arablouei joined the HEFN staff in December of 2007 as a Program Assistant. Previously, Ramtin served as Executive Assistant at the Children’s Law Center (Washington D.C.) and Coordinator of the St. Mary’s Votes project in Southern Maryland. He holds a B.A. in History & Psychology, Cum Laude, from St. Mary’s College of Maryland (2005).

In his free time Ramtin loves to write, play basketball, work as a sound engineer, and play drums/percussion in his band Drop Electric.

Karla Fortunato, Director

Karla Fortunato joined HEFN’s staff as Deputy Coordinator in September 2004.  Fortunato previously served as Associate Director of Policy at Health Care For All, a statewide health advocacy organization in Massachusetts.  She also provided strategic guidance in the planning and establishment of the Public Policy Institute, an organization committed to building the infrastructure and skills set of social justice organizations.  She holds a B.A. magna cum laude, from Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and an MBA from the George Washington University.

When she's not thinking about health and the environment, Karla enjoys yoga, running, reading, and spending time with the loves of her life: her husband, son, her cat and her mastiff pups.

Kathy Sessions, Director

Kathy Sessions is HEFN’s Director and has served in that role since its inception in 1999.  Sessions is a member of the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology of the National Research Council.  She is a Trustee and the Secretary of the Barbara Smith Fund.    She has worked for a range of philanthropic, nongovernmental, and multilateral organizations.  She holds an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton (1990), and an A.B., magna cum laude, in Social Studies from Harvard (1983).  Kathy is the parent volunteer coordinator of the Walt Whitman High School Robotics Team (a.k.a. "The Body Electric").   She has two teenagers, two cats, a 20-year old bike, a house in perpetual renovation, and a start on some blog-essays on philanthropy and social change.