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Senior Management Team

Paedia Mixon

Chief Executive Officer

Paedia is a recognized leader in the refugee service community. She led the successful merger of RRISA and RFS from initial concept through the creation of New American Pathways on October 1, 2014. Her vision for a comprehensive service model that guides a refugee’s journey—from arrival in the U.S. through swear-in as a U.S. citizen—captured the attention of the local and national philanthropic community and resulted in a merger fundraising campaign that exceeded its $1.5M goal.

Under Paedia’s leadership, New American Pathways’ resettlement program has been recognized nationally as one of the most successful in the country, placing more than 90% of refugees in jobs within their first six months of resettling in the U.S. Among her many accolades, Paedia was selected for Leadership Atlanta (2016), is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb (2012) and of the Fanning Institute’s Executive Leadership Program in Non-profit Organizations (2010), and she received a prestigious scholarship to attend the Harvard Business School’s Executive Nonprofit Leadership Program for “Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management” (2013). Earlier in her career, Paedia served in fundraising and program roles at Junior Achievement Worldwide, the Carter Center, and Catholic Social Services. She has a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Development from Clarke Atlanta University, and a BA in International Relations from Georgia State University.

Paula Scotman

Chief Financial Officer

Paula has 20 years of experience in non-profit financial management and human resources. Her career began in New York where she worked as a contract accountant with KPMG, conducting nonprofit and government audits. She later worked as the Senior Director of Finance and Systems for Church World Service’s Immigration and Refugee Program.

Most recently Paula worked as the Associate Director of Finance at Emory University’s Campus Life Finance Service Center. There she managed a budget of $47M and was responsible for the daily finance and human resource operations for Campus Life Residence Life & Housing. In 2013 she received a Humanitarian Award from Emory University for her work with various non-profit organizations.

She is the co-founder of Eagle’s Wings Academy, Inc., a non-profit organization that works with families and students who have behavioral and academic challenges that affect their academic success. She is currently an active volunteer with Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and other community nonprofit organizations. Paula received her Bachelors in Accounting from Herbert Lehman College and a Masters in Nonprofit Management from New School University.

Senior Management Team

Amy Crownover, Marketing and Communications Director, brings 20 years of experience in communications, marketing and fundraising to her role. Before New American Pathways, Amy served as the Development Director for RRISA and as a freelance writer and editor, including grant, training, and communications development for a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations. She was a founding board member for The Museum School of Avondale Estates, a start-up DeKalb County charter school that opened in August 2009, and serves today on its Foundation board. She has secured major grants up to and over $1 million from government entities, public and private foundations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Florida State University.

Carey Serafin, Programs Director, brings significant experience working with refugees, diverse communities and underserved populations to her new position. Before New American Pathways, Carey worked as the Employment Manager for RRISA and, before that, she worked in the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health. She also has served as a Resettlement Case Manager for World Relief in Atlanta and as Communications Coordinator for Food for the Hungry in Ethiopia. Carey has Master’s degrees in both Social Work and Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her BS degree in Family and Community Services from Berry College.

Suzanne Baker, Development Director, joined New American Pathways in November 2015 as Development Director to help secure the resources needed to support the mission of the organization. She previously spent seven years as a director of development at Emory University, and five years managing foundation grants at L’Arche USA, an organization dedicated to building communities that break down boundaries for people with special needs. Suzanne is also a founding board member of the Tapestry School in Atlanta, an inclusive, public charter school that offers individualized learning for middle and high school students.

Bambi Bakatukanda, Controller, has worked in the New American Pathways finance department since 2006. Bambi has extensive financial experience as the long-time Church Business Administrator for the New Jerusalem Atlanta Church of God and also as a former Financial Services Representative for SunTrust bank. Bambi came to the United States after attending Protestant University of the Congo, where she graduated with two degrees: Bachelors of Science in Economics and Business Administration. She then went on to another Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a Minor in Accounting from Atlanta’s Mercer University. In her free time, Bambi performs with the Atlanta-based Congolese dancing and drumming group Mbondafrika.