Our Team
Karen Spencer, Founder & Board Chair
Karen Spencer founded Whole Child International in 2004 when, as a single mother of two, she discovered an absence of services to address the social-emotional well-being of children living in orphanages. For the past 20 years, she has led an international team to improve systems of care, advocate and influence policy, and conduct related research. She has provided the vision and strategic direction for the organization’s growth, with a passion for systems change, sustainability, scalability, research, and third-party evaluation. The organization’s scope has expanded to reach an even broader group of vulnerable children, while retaining the original focus on emotional well-being. She is co-author of articles published in the peer-reviewed Infant Mental Health Journal and Perspectives in Infant Mental Health, contributing important insights and realistic solutions to the public debate. In 2010, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama came to Los Angeles, especially to lend his personal support to Whole Child. In 2015, she was elected an Ashoka Fellow for identifying and filling a gap in care for orphans and vulnerable children. In 2016, she was made a Fellow at the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom. In 2017, People Magazine named her one of “25 Women Changing the World.” Since 2020, she has held a position on the Board of the Center for Global Development (CGD).
Julie Grier-Villatte, Chief Executive Officer
Julie brings more than 20 years' experience working with children and families around the globe to build their resilience in the face of adversity. Julie has worked in child protection, mental health, and international development and humanitarian assistance in seven countries and four languages, from direct service provision with children and families to 13 years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, shaping policy and programming. Julie is a tireless advocate for ensuring that children receive developmentally supportive care, even in the most difficult circumstances, by helping local communities and their governments leverage existing strengths and identify feasible, appropriate solutions to address complex challenges. Julie holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the College of Charleston, an M.Litt. in International Security Studies from the University of St. Andrews, and an M.Sc. in Public Policy and Development from the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance. She speaks French, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, in addition to English. Her greatest joy is helping others realize their full potential, whether it be her own son or the children and caregivers reached through Whole Child International.
Guillermo García, Chief of Party
Whole Child International is pleased to introduce Guillermo as the new Chief of Party of USAID´s initiative “Protection and Quality of Care for Children Project” in El Salvador. Guillermo is a professional with extensive experience in program design, management, and implementation in areas such as violence prevention, human rights, governance, and early childhood protection, care, and development. He has led teams in countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, and Afghanistan, managing projects for USAID, UNDP, and other USA Government organizations. Guillermo holds a degree in Economics from the Universidad Centro Americana José Simeón Cañas (UCA) in El Salvador and a Master’s in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in The United States of North America.
Kathryn Luehm, Early Childhood Care and Development Advisor
Over 20 years ago, Katy began her social work career in early intervention and family strengthening. She is passionate about empowering vulnerable children and families and has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of settings and care environments. Her experience working with children in the child welfare system motivated her to pursue postgraduate studies in trauma, attachment, and resiliency. During her service as a youth development volunteer in the Peace Corps, Katy fell in love with El Salvador and in 2018, she returned with her family and has been serving as a trauma-informed care consultant. Beyond her professional experience, Katy brings her personal passion to this work. As a foster family, she and her husband have provided temporary care to many children over the years, and they are currently in the process of adopting their youngest son. Katy is thrilled to be a part of the Whole Child International team now and is committed to working towards sustainable systemic change that will improve the quality of care for children in El Salvador.
