Staff

	Sarah Kasman, Executive Director Sarah Kasman has been affiliated with Shanti since 1994 and currently serves at its Executive Director. Her vision for Shanti is that the programs and services remain innovative and dynamic to meet the evolving needs of the HIV/AIDS community. She continues to be impacted by the people who come through Shanti’s doors. She loves interacting with the community of clients, volunteers and supporters who make Shanti the Agency with the Caring Heart!
	Bruce Vancil, Case Manager Bruce Vancil is Shanti Orange County’s Case Manager. With a background in medical psychology, Bruce has worked in patient service programs in Orange County for over 25 years, including several years working in oncology. A self-proclaimed “ship nerd,” he loves maritime history and hanging out on the Queen Mary.
	Michael Jarvis, Director of Counseling Services Michael Jarvis, Ph.D., is the Mental Health Director for Shanti, a post he assumed in 2002 after volunteering for more than six years. He began his career working with the developmentally disabled and moved on to work with children and families. Now in his role at Shanti he particularly enjoys the mix of administration, clinical work, and training of doctoral students. Throughout his career, Dr. Jarvis has also maintained a small private practice in both Laguna Niguel and Costa Mesa.
	Tekeilla Peterson, Operations Manager Tekeilla Peterson is Shanti’s Operations Manager; She has a bachelor’s of science degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism and is currently working on obtaining her master’s degree in psychology with a specialization in media. Writing is Tekeilla’s passion, so in her spare time she loves to write fiction novels consisting of many genres.
	Naomi Irvine, Volunteer Coordinator Naomi Irvine is the Volunteer Coordinator for Shanti. Prior to coming to Shanti, Naomi worked as a Counselor and Volunteer Coordinator for an organization that works with homeless youth and young adults in San Francisco. Naomi feels passionate about working with people, and especially working with volunteers. In her free time she enjoys anything that involves competition and being outdoors.
	Linda K. Smith, L.C.S.W., Shanti Group Facilitator Linda Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker having provided social work, group, and therapeutic services for the County of Orange for many years. Her career has included developing a suicide hotline for teens, Lifeline, as well as a Resource Coordinator and Program Developer for the State of California. She is coauthor of The State of California Tool for Domestic Violence and graduate of University of Southern California. Linda is most fond of her advocacy work for the mentally ill senior population and homeless in Orange County.
	Chrystal Rahmani, M.A., Counseling Services Intern Chrystal Rahmani is a Counseling Services Intern at Shanti and a 4th year doctoral student at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. Prior to coming to Shanti, she worked with at-risk youth and adults at the Children’s Collective. She is passionate about advocating for the LGBTQ population and volunteers as lifeline counselor for the Trevor Project. She is also working on a research project that is examining LGBTQ bullying. In her free time, Chrystal enjoys cooking, yoga, and spending time with her dog.
	Kelly Lewis-Rauch M.A., Counseling Services Intern Kelly Lewis-Rauch is a 4th year graduate student in the California School of Forensic Studies doctoral program at Alliant International University, Irvine. Her clinical experience extends from working with adults and adolescents with acute and chronic mental disorders and substance abuse in a psychiatric hospital to counseling at risk youths, children with special needs and learning disabilities. Kelly’s greatest passion, other than her work as a Psy D intern, is raising her two wonderful children. When she has time to spare, she enjoys exploring her creative art side in scrapbooking and card making.