Neusa Gaytan is a proud Latina immigrant from Brazil, her beautiful homeland. Currently the Senior VP of Programs, Neusa joined Mujeres Latinas en Acción (Mujeres) in 1987. At Mujeres, she has served as a case manager, a supervisor of programs, a director, and as Interim President & CEO. As Senior VP of Programs, Neusa provides oversight to all of Mujeres’ programs and serves as a part of Mujeres’ management team, collaborating with the President & CEO in establishing priorities for policy and advocacy advancement. Neusa has a B.A. in Psychology from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon in Mexico and completed her Psy.D. coursework from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. She is trained in the healing of trauma domestic and sexual violence and a respected voice in coalitions advocating on behalf of Latinas survivors.

Neusa is the agency delegate for Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), has served on the board of the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional Board (ICDVP), and is currently on the Board of Directors of LIDERAMOS, a national nonprofit lifting the leadership of Latinx immigrants and their children.

The Impact Award honors three leaders working to improve the lives of women and girls by expanding economic security, ensuring freedom from violence, and/or enhancing access to health services and information.