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Carlee Dawodu

Carlee is the co-founder of Gifts of Grace and serves as our Executive Director. She earned her B.S. in Child Development and Family Studies from Purdue University in 2001.

Since then, Carlee has worked in the foster care and adoption field, helping expecting moms and adoptive families navigate the process.

Carlee and her husband, Femi (our other co-founder), are the proud parents of seven daughters, three through the gift of adoption.

Carlee has been on staff since the agency opened in 2013.

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Rachael Rush

Rachael is our Adoption Programs Supervisor and provides support and supervision to all of our Adoption Support Specialists. She graduated from Ball State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Family Consumer Sciences with an emphasis on Family Studies.

Since graduating, Rachael has worked in the social work field providing support to children and their families. Her passion for supporting children and families led her to Gifts of Grace. She’s passionate about educating, counseling, encouraging, and guiding families on their journey through adoption.

Rachael and her husband, Jake, have twin daughters.

Rachael has been on staff at the agency since 2018.

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Jocelyn Wallace

Jocelyn serves as the Director of Development and Administration . She earned her B.A. in Communication from Purdue University in 2000.

Since 1999, Jocelyn has provided case management and leadership in early intervention, faith-based transitional housing and residential treatment, as well as local church based women’s ministries and biblical counseling. Jocelyn has held a Level 1 ACBC Certification in Biblical Counseling since 2006.

Jocelyn and her husband, Brian, have been married since 1996 and are the parents of two adult daughters.

Jocelyn joined the staff team in 2023.

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Kyla Bridges

Kyla is an Expectant Family Support Specialist and serves our expectant mothers, helping them navigating their options, making adoption plans, and supporting them in pregnancy, labor, delivery, and during post-partum recovery. She graduated from Ball State University in 2008 with a B.S. in Social Work as well as an interest in interpersonal relations.

Since graduating she has worked for local Community Schools and The Head Start Program assisting families and children accomplish their life goals, pursue their interests, and helping them live a better life.

She moved to the Lafayette area with her husband and three children in 2023.

Kyla joined the agency staff team in 2024.

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Laura Chupp

Laura is an Adoptive Family Coordinator and supports our adoptive families in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties of Indiana. She also helps with Gifts of Grace outreach and training.

Laura earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from IUPUI in 2020. Since graduating, Laura has been working in social services providing support and services for families through case management.

Laura was led to Gift of Grace to pursue a passion to provide education, support, and services to families who are navigating their adoption journey. Laura has been married to her husband since 2019 and has two beautiful daughters.

Laura joined the staff team in 2022.

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Heather Halsema

Heather is our Office Bookkeeper. She graduated in 1999 from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in Children’s Ministry.

After graduating, Heather moved to Memphis, Tennessee to work with an inner-city Missions church. It was there that she started learning office skills that paired well with ministry. Heather moved back to Lafayette in 2004 to work as an Office Manager for a local church, and she joined the Gifts of Grace team in December 2019.

Heather and her husband, Ken, have three boys.

Heather joined the staff team in 2019 as the Office Manager and transitioned to Bookkeeper in 2023.

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Sarah Goysich

Sarah is our Office Receptionist. She graduated in 2012 from Oakland City University in Oakland City, Indiana with a B. A. in Voice Performance and All-Grade Music Education.

She spent the last several years working as an administrative clerk in housing at Purdue University. She is a volunteer choir director for a local student choir as well as volunteers in children's ministries at her church.

Sarah and her husband, Daniel, have been married since 2013 and have two children.

Sarah began at the agency in late 2023.

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Bethany Sheets

Bethany is an Adoption Support Specialist and supports our adoptive families as an Independent Contractor servicing Central Indiana. She also helps with Gifts of Grace outreach in Central Indiana and marketing strategy. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Purdue University in 2006.

Bethany has served in multiple roles at Gifts of Grace, giving her a unique perspective from both sides of the adoption relationship. She's supported adoptive families' journeys and walked alongside birthmothers as they made adoption plans.

She and her husband have three children and live in NW Central Indiana.

Bethany joined the staff team in 2017.

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Courtney Winzeler

Courtney is an Adoption Support Specialist and supports our adoptive families as an Independent Contractor servicing Northeastern Indiana. She earned her B.S. in human services from Purdue University in 2012 and her master’s in social work from Indiana University in 2015.

Courtney has been in the social work field since 2009, and she became a licensed social worker in 2016.

Courtney joined the staff team in 2015 and has served in a variety of capacities.

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