Meet the Board of Directors
Sandra E. Chai, M.D.
Founder/President
Sandy earned undergrad (BS Zoology, ’84) and MD degrees (’88) from OU and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, respectively. She then did post-graduate training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and entered private practice in Little Rock. None of that prepared her to help start or lead a non-profit! Her first exposure to Haiti was through medical missions in 1998, but during her time as coordinator for the La Gonâve Haiti Partnership (www.lagonavepartners.org, 2000-2005), she saw the great need for economic development. She and several other creative women decided to partner with creative women in Haiti in 2003, and Beatitudes was born. The Beatitudes board and the Haitian ladies have all learned together what it takes to work effectively “tét ansanm” (with heads together). The Lord has also knit our hearts together. We are still learning, but we have been blessed to accomplish good things along the way.
Melody Mattson
Treasurer
Melody Mattson has a degree in Accounting from Louisiana Tech University. She is a stay-at-home mom and home school teacher. She enjoys reading, baking, stringing beads and watching college football with her husband, Greg. She has also been learning by missteps how to grow an organic garden. Beatitudes is blessed to have her to keep us balanced in all kinds of ways!
Rachel Hunt
Board Member
Rachel Hunt has a B.A. in history from the University of Arkansas (Little Rock) and is currently earning her Master of Arts in New Testament at Northern Seminary (Lisle, IL). Rachel is the president and CEO of The Great Commission Inc. and the president of She Walks in Light International. Through writing, preaching, and teaching, Rachel explores what it means to love God and love others. She is married to James and they have one daughter, Emma.
Amy Livers
Social Media
Amy is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University (B.S. in political science), University of
Arkansas (M.A. in political science), and is currently enrolled in the M.Div. program at Asbury
Theological Seminary. She is passionate about empowering and equipping women to lead, and
loves Beatitudes’ mission of sisterhood and partnership with the women of Pwoje Fanm. Amy has served as social media and fundraising coordinator, and looks forward to traveling to La Gonave to deepen relationships and continue our work there.
Robin Certain
Board Member
Robin joined Beatitudes in January, 2011. Her background in jewelry has led to her assisting in the design, teaching, and quality control of Beatitudes’ jewelry products. Robin has a B.A. in Writing from the University of Central Arkansas and has worked in state government since graduating. She enjoys baking yummy things and refurbishing furniture found in trash piles. Robin lives with her husband, Josh, and their fur herd in a house she can’t stop renovating.