Our staff

Beverly C. Dusso, Executive Director/President, was hired to lead Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter in 1989. During her tenure annual operations have increased from $700K to $7M, a new facility was built, and the focus of the agency was broadened from crisis intervention to include prevention. Beyond intervention programs, services include: transitional family support; jobs, education and training partnerships; housing at Tubman and on the community agenda; educational and emotional assessments for children and youth both in residence and in community; and introducing key counseling programs for men, women, and children. Key Community Education and prevention work began in 1993 with media staff and a new focus on volunteers. In 2000, Ms. Dusso initiated discussions to consolidate the Metro's two largest domestic violence service and education agencies, and instituted a new culture and service methodology within the organization. Finally, bringing the work and methodology to a statewide and national level substantially focused on public prevention education. Formerly, Ms. Dusso led other non-profit ballet companies in Miami, Houston, and the Twin Cities. In all cases, capital projects were involved. She holds a Bachelor's degree in music from the University of Kentucky, and a Master's from the Bolls Center for Arts Administration, Graduate School of Business, University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Susan Winslow, Director of Clinical Services, has been with the agency since 2004. She has worked in the mental and chemical health field for 18 years providing psychotherapy and supervision in a range of clinical settings including out-patient therapy, day treatment, case management, crisis assessment, and a college campus. Winslow holds a Master's in Social Work from Smith College, a Bachelor's from Wesleyan University, and a Master's in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago. She was licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of Minnesota in 1992. Winslow published an article titled "The Use of Ritual in Incest Healing" in 1990. She was a diversity trainer for Hennepin County Human Resources and Employee Relations, 1995-97. She has also presented several trainings in the metropolitan area on working in therapy with gay, lesbian and bisexual clients and providing quality services to clients with serious and persistent mental illnesses.

Jen Polzin, Director of Strategic Initiatives, joined Tubman Family Alliance (then Family Violence Network) in 1992. She has served in a variety of capacities working with clients, volunteers, community members and staff. Her current responsibilities include leading interdepartmental program activities, strategic planning, and serving through community collaborations and outreach activities.

Ms. Polzin also taught in the Department of Human Relations at St. Cloud State University as an adjunct faculty member for eight years. Her undergraduate degree is in Speech Communications and she earned her Master's of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the College of St. Catherine in 2003, where her graduate thesis focused on using therapeutic humor with clients and one another in non-profit organizations.