Marnie Gustavson

Executive Director

In her work as Executive Director of PARSA and as a consultant, Marnie creates new approaches to social problems using humanity’s creativity, resilience, and ability. Understanding the importance of community partnership, three groundbreaking programs highlight the mission of PARSA. With the Ministry of Education, PARSA has helped rebirth the 70-year old Afghan Scouts program. With the Ministry of Social Affairs, PARSA has the Healthy Afghan Child Program and is working to initiate change in the Afghan National orphanage system so to insure the most vulnerable children in Afghanistan can have care in the post conflict country. In 2013, PARSA launched a marketing network for women entrepreneurs called Trade Afghan, to provide access to market for small farmer’s and producers. She has worked as a consultant and trainer for women leaders, Afghan women parliamentarians and NGO directors providing comprehensive organizational development, and a unique program of personal and professional support in this post conflict country. Working with her husband, Dr. Norman Gustavson, psychologist and medical anthropologist she has adapted psychosocial services to the Afghan culture. She and Dr. Gustavson have conducted staff training for shelter worker in the five NGO’s that oversee battered women’s shelters in 2012-2014. In 2017, PARSA launched a national psychosocial program in 8 provinces called Healthy Afghan Professional Women support groups, that is facilitated by trained local volunteers using peer counseling methodology. Her consulting work in organizational development, leadership and management has included Roshan Telecom, UN Women, UNOPS, DANNER, American University of Afghanistan, Equal Access Radio, She was a consultant for two years with American University of Afghanistan, to develop the curriculum and train teachers for the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Women Program” for Afghan women entrepreneurs.

In her work she creates new approaches to social problems using humanity’s creativity, resilience, and ability. Her international work focuses on developing leaders who have an appreciation for human interconnectedness, and an interest in developing sustainable systems that promote all people having access to equality and economic opportunities.

Ms. Gustavson was featured in Christiane Amanpour’s documentary, “Generation Islam” in 2009.