Who We Are
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.
Nancy Gaddy
Chief Advancement Officer
Nancy Gaddy has over 20 years of experience working with non-profit organizations across the southeast, engaged in fundraising and external affairs. Most recently she was the Regional Director of Philanthropy with Mercy Housing, the nation’s largest non-profit provider of affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and people with special needs. Nancy was responsible for all fundraising, marketing, community and media relations activities throughout Mercy Housing’s southeast geographic footprint.
Carey Serafin
Program Director
Carey 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.
Emily Laney
Development Director
Emily Laney has over ten years’ experience working with refugees and vulnerable populations, both in the Atlanta area and globally. Most recently she led the Refugee and Immigration Services program at Inspiritus (Formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia), where she grew and expanded the program to serve more refugees and immigrants statewide. Emily is a licensed social worker for the state of Georgia.
