Our staff collaborates for maximum impact and joy for adoptees.
Angela Tucker
Chief Executive Officer
Angela (she/her) is a transracial adoptee, the author of “You Should Be Grateful”: Stories of Race, Identity and Transracial Adoption, the host of the podcast The Adoptee Next Door and the subject of the documentary CLOSURE. Angela lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband Bryan and their cat "Grandma Pearl." When she's not working to amplify adoptee voices, you can find her at the spa, on the basketball court or hostessing at Jazz Alley. She drinks a London Fog nearly every single day, and is currently debating the importance of kicking this sugary (but, oh-so-delicious) habit.
amanda paul
Chief Operating Officer
amanda (they/ them) is a seasoned consultant, analyst, and steward of organizational culture. Their work with AMS focuses on aligning daily operations with organizational values, designing programmatic strategy, and shaping operational practices that prioritize centering humanity in the ways we work. They volunteered with AMS for two years prior to becoming the first employee in the company, and they also run a thriving pet sitting business. They are a queer, neuroemergent, sometimes disabled, korean & american interracial adoption survivor, living on the unceded land of the Duwamish people with their cat, escher. They enjoy spending time with trees, writing, bouldering, and learning new languages.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Adoptee Mentoring Society, you can schedule a complimentary call with amanda by clicking here.
Juliet Rubin Ramirez, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Juliet (she/her) brings over a decade of experience driving strategy, operations, and financial stewardship across the public, political, and private sectors. With a career spanning Capitol Hill, national political campaigns, early-stage startups, and mission-driven organizations, Juliet has built a reputation for aligning big-picture vision with operational execution. She holds an MBA from Rice University, with a focus on entrepreneurship, and is the Founder of J.R. Consulting, a firm that advises nonprofits, small businesses, and startups on growth strategy, communications, and market alignment. When she’s not deep in spreadsheets or strategic planning sessions, Juliet can be found exploring the outdoors with her dog and her partner, Javier—usually in search of a good trail or an even better taco.
Bonni Goodwin, PhD, LCSW
Lead Researcher
Bonni Goodwin (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work and Director of the Center for Adoption and Family Well-Being at the University of Oklahoma. She also serves as the Statewide Coordinator of Adoption Preservation Services for Oklahoma Human Services. Dr. Goodwin’s research focuses on adoption, permanency, and mental health, and she provides training, consultation, and policy work at the state and national levels to improve services for adoptive families and adult adoptees.
View Bonni’s CV here.
Spring Hecht
Mentor Coach
Spring Hecht (she/her) is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals, children, and families. An adoptee herself, she specializes in adoption, trauma, grief and loss, and identity development, integrating lived experience with professional expertise. Spring previously served as Vice President of Social Services at a leading foster care and adoption agency and has held leadership roles with the Washington Adoption Reunion Movement, Vashon Island School Board, and Adoptee Mentoring Society. She holds advanced certifications in attachment and trauma therapy, TBRI, EMDR, and IFS, and is a sought-after presenter and trainer.