Elika Dadsetan-Foley takes the reins from co-founder Dr. Val A. Batts as of March 2.

Elika Dadsetan-Foley

After 36 years in the captain’s chair, Dr. Valerie Batts stepped down as VISIONS’ Executive Director, announcing Elika Dadsetan-Foley her successor. Dr. Val will remain part of the organization, and will focus her time in keeping her hands and mind in The Work, while Elika will focus on the actual running of VISIONS as an organization.​

"I'm thrilled to join VISIONS, both in the US, and across the world, through our widespread consultant team," Elika said.

Not surprisingly, Elika has an impressive resume - she has nearly completed her EdD - and has worked in five continents doing social justice, development, and humanitarian work, including with the World Bank. (Her linkedin page is inspiring!)

She’s been an activist from an early age, concerned and fighting for the environment, homelessness, and refugees since childhood, and she’s excited to bring that energy to Boston.

“I feel very humbled to join the VISIONS community,” she said, adding that she is very excited to come on board and support VISIONS in continuing to do the amazing work they do, across the country and the world.

She chose to settle into work in the U.S. after nearly a decade abroad, after she rescued her German Shepherd mix, Server, from Lebanon - a choice that brought her back to be closer to her family, and which eventually led her to meeting her now-partner, Sean Dadsetan-Foley, in Baltimore.

She has made the “first real home” of her adult life in Duxbury, Mass.-- after time in France, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Sierra Leone, and Iraq-- and looks forward to continue the important work VISIONS started over 35 years ago. Elika finds great peace in nature, and would spend more than is wise in a book shop, if left unattended.​
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"I am delighted to welcome Elika to VISIONS! [The] VISIONS board decided in early 2019 that our work was clearly needed in the world more than ever, and that it was time to find a new leader who could guide us into the future. Our vision is to be a catalyst for a more equitable world where differences are valued and utilized for the benefit of all. Elika’s passion and life’s work are so synchronous with this view; the breadth and depth of her experience in living into this vision will enhance all of our ability to help achieve this goal.”
-Dr. Valerie A. Batts

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