Our Team

Crystal Waddell holds a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration and is an Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist with over 17 years of experience in the prevention field. She became the Director of the Phoenix House of Texas Prevention team in February 2017, previously serving as Prevention Supervisor at Phoenix House from 2002 to 2015. Her nonprofit management experience also includes positions at Harris County’s Residential and Treatment facility, Young Men About Change (YMAC), and Women Helping Ourselves (WHO-A), where she was responsible for planning, organizing, directing, controlling the management and service delivery and related administrative and support activities; as well as ensured compliance with program standards and contract requirements.

She has years of experience working in residential, juvenile, public, and charter school settings, servicing youth and adults throughout the city of Houston. With her dedication to the individuals that she serves, her goal is to increase awareness of the dangers that are associated with drugs and alcohol and give the community resources that will equip them to live a healthy lifestyle.

Anunoy Mou is a seasoned finance professional with over a decade of experience, predominantly in the Not-for-Profit sector. In August 2024, Anunoy joined Phoenix House Texas as the Finance Director, where she leverages her expertise in financial management to enhance organizational stability and support strategic growth initiatives.

Prior to joining Phoenix House Texas, Anunoy held significant roles in London that shaped her career. She served as the Financial Controller at Common Purpose Charitable Trust, where she was instrumental in overseeing financial operations and ensuring regulatory compliance. Her tenure as Finance Manager at the Institute of Risk Management further honed her skills in strategic financial planning and risk management. Earlier in her career, Anunoy gained valuable management experience at J Sainsbury’s plc as Learning and Development Manager, where she developed her leadership and operational skills.

She earned her Master of Science in Finance with a focus on Investment Management from Texas Tech University and is advancing her ACCA qualification, having graduated from Oxford Brookes University, London.

Anunoy is passionate about connecting with professionals across various sectors to share knowledge and drive collective success. Outside of her professional endeavors, she cherishes spending time with her family and caring for her pets.

Brandi Hughes is the Director of Human Resources at Phoenix House Texas. She possesses over a decade of Human Resources Management experience, complemented by a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of North Texas. Holding two HR certifications–Senior Professional and Global Professional in Human Resources–Brandi has successfully overseen HR departments across diverse industries, including sales, software, healthcare, commercial real estate, and substance use treatment and prevention.

A distinguishing feature of Brandi’s HR approach is her unwavering commitment to treating all employees, irrespective of their position, with the same level of respect, care, and attention that our company offers its clients. This philosophy has consistently fostered a positive and inclusive workplace culture, increasing employee satisfaction and productivity.

Stephanie Grogan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Chemical Dependency Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional; she is also trained in EMDR. Stephanie serves as the Impact Director for Phoenix House Texas. Prior to this, Stephanie served PHT as the Program Director for the Hill A. Feinberg Residential Treatment Academy, and she has also served PHT in the roles of Program Manager, Quality & Development Supervisor, and Residential Counselor.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Writing & Rhetoric from St. Edward’s University, where she focused her studies on nonfiction writing and editing and interned with the Office of Sponsored Programs and later with the Kozmetksy Center of Excellence. She also studied abroad at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Stephanie earned her Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University (SMU), where she was active in SMU’s Association of Student Counselors as Treasurer and later as President, coordinating volunteer opportunities, student mentoring, and community training and events.

She has experience treating adolescents, adults, and families with substance use, mental health, and relational concerns. Additionally, she has experience providing support for conducting clinical audits as well as providing training on motivational enhancement strategies, recognizing signs of substance use in adolescents, the neuroscience of addiction, and positive psychology principles. She is passionate about improving health equity through not only direct treatment but also by improving accessibility and the social determinants of health at every level.

Stephanie enjoys cycling, improv comedy, and traveling in her free time.

Tram holds a degree in Psychology and Child Development, with a deep passion for supporting children, families, and communities. Her journey began as a volunteer with CASA in Dallas, where she advocated for the best interests of children in the foster care system. This experience, along with an internship with the Dallas County Juvenile Department, provided Tram with critical insights into the challenges faced by at-risk youth, further fueling her commitment to helping those in need.

In her role with Child Protective Services, Tram worked closely with families, monitoring visits to ensure the safety and well-being of children, which deepened her understanding of the systemic issues many families face. These experiences guided Tram toward a growing interest in addressing substance use prevention, a crucial issue impacting both youth and adults.

Today, Tram serves as the Administrative Assistant for Phoenix House Texas. In this role, Tram supports the mission of helping individuals and families struggling with substance use, leveraging her background in Psychology, juvenile justice, and family services to contribute to meaningful change.

Ghazala Gia Yasmeen is an Advanced Certified Professional Specialist, and she is also trained in CPR, Crisis Management, Community Based Prevention of Tobacco Use, Alcohol Prevention in Teens, communication, and Cultural Competency. Gia serves as the Youth Prevention Indicated (YPI) Director and Community Coalition Director for Phoenix House Texas. Prior to this, Gia served as a clinical psychologist at the Giddu Hospital in Pakistan.

Gia earned her Master of Arts in Behavior Science at the University of Houston Clear Lake, where she focused her studies on human behavior. She also studied at the University of Sindh, Pakistan, where she received her Bachelors in Physiology and Psychology and a Master of Science in Psychology. At the University of Sindh, Gia spent time coordinating volunteer opportunities and working with patients with mental health disorders and individuals dealing with substance abuse. At PHT, she spends additional time organizing community events, focusing on youth projects to educate and involve adolescents in drug prevention activities.

Prior to becoming director, Gia was a Licensed Chemical Dependency Intern, where she facilitated group and individual counseling sessions for adolescents with substance use disorders. Gia has transitioned from treatment to prevention, as it allows her to work with individuals with the risk factors of becoming chemically dependent, where she feels she can have a greater impact. This allows her to work closely with communities and youth groups in a fun and educational way.

Outside of work, Gia enjoys walking her dog, cooking, interior design, and listening to music.

Erin Vesely holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and is an Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist. She has 15 years of experience working in the prevention field. She became a Prevention Director of the Phoenix House Texas Prevention team in September 2019, previously serving as a Prevention Supervisor at PHT from 2015 to 2019 and as a Prevention Specialist from 2008 to 2015. Erin is compassionate, hardworking, and dedicated to the PHT Prevention Program.

As a Prevention Director, Erin supervises the prevention team in delivering services, procedures, documentation, and program implementation to ensure compliance with program standards and requirements. She has years of experience working with the community, giving youth and their families the education and skills needed to avoid substance misuse, improve their social and emotional behaviors, and build stronger positive relationships in their lives.

With eight years of experience in the recovery field, Paulina Citzman found her passion for serving at-risk populations while volunteering in orphanages throughout Central America. Though Paulina initially pursued music, she discovered that Social Work was a better fit and and began her career at Phoenix House Texas in 2020 as a PRN Recovery Advocate in the Austin Residential Treatment Center. Within a year, Paulina was promoted to Supervisor and then advanced to Patient Services Manager.

Paulina now serves PHT as Prevention Director. She is deeply committed to supporting individuals struggling with addiction, as well as their loved ones, and she believes that “people respond better when you give them a plate to step up to instead of a mold to sink into.” Paulina holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas in Austin.

Stacy Young is a Prevention Director at Phoenix House of Texas in Austin. She was a Kodak All American basketball player earning her BA in Multidisciplinary Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Her early career included teaching high school English, Public Speaking and Physical Education while also coaching basketball and track. Most recently her career involved working as an administrator in the home health industry overseeing HHSC rules and regulations. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling to obtain her license as a professional counselor. Stacy’s passion has always centered around working with youth and adolescents, mentoring many in her community of New Braunfels. Joining Phoenix House Texas provided her with an exciting opportunity to integrate education and prevention. Stacy loves the outdoors, is an avid sports fan, and enjoys spending most of her free time with her three children, Mekaylah, Charlie and Addy.    

Connor Gilbertson graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. After graduation, he began working in the Substance Use Prevention field at The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council with the Region 5 Prevention Resource Center (PRC) as their Public Relations Coordinator. He then moved to Houston, where he served as the Public Relations Coordinator for the Region 6 PRC at the Council on Recovery. Connor serves Phoenix House Texas as the Region 6 PRC Director.