Paula Tusiani-Eng, Co-Founder and Director of Strategic Growth at Emotions Matter Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to educate, support, and advocate for those impacted by borderline personality disorder (BPD).

She received her Master's in Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 2001 and her Master's in Social Work from Adelphi University in 2014. She received her Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Adelphi University in 2019.

Paula is co-author with her mother, Bea Tusiani, of Remnants of a Life on Paper: A Mother and Daughter's Struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). She lost her younger sister, Pamela Tusiani, who suffered from BPD at the age of 23 in 2001.

Her passion for BPD education, resources and advocacy is in her sister's memory to help others survive and thrive with BPD with access to mental health care needed to achieve a meaningful recovery. Paula lives with her husband and four children in Garden City, New York.

Kim Gradisher is the Co-Executive Director of Emotions Matter Inc.

With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Kim has led initiatives to improve overall health and well-being, address mental health, support underserved communities, and promote equitable access to care. Kim’s dedication to mental health advocacy is inspired by personal experience and lived experience and her commitment to making a difference for individuals impacted by BPD and other mental health challenges.

Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreational Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a certificate in Women’s Leadership from Cornell University. She is currently pursuing her master’s and PhD in Psychology at Arizona State University.

In addition to her role at Emotions Matter, Kim enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, running, music, and exploring nature.

Kristin is honored, grateful and humbled to serve as Emotions Matter's first Peer Support Specialist. 
Volunteering as a Peer Support Group Facilitator for Emotions Matter during the COVID-19 pandemic was an immeasurably inspiring and fulfilling way for her to move forward toward peace during the most challenging time of her life thus far. 
Knowing she was encouraging others during their most vulnerable moments in some of the same ways her support system had rallied around her during her mental health crisis was a major catalyst for her healing journey.

In her experience with BPD, she’s come to accept that she can be hurting and healing at the same time. 
Her hope as Emotions Matter's Peer Support Specialist is to work to expand our services to help even more people living with BPD and achieve new heights in the BPD peer space.  

For the past five years, Alyssa has dedicated herself to the healing process and is in functional recovery from borderline personality disorder (a diagnosis that she received in 2018).

Part of Alyssa’s life worth living includes being a peer facilitator and trainer with Emotions Matter where she's able to use the skills of making meaning and contribution within the BPD community. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys playing guitar, being in nature, creating memes, writing, and playing with her adorable cat (Sky). She is grateful to be part of the Emotions Matter team! You can reach her via email at peers@emotionsmatterbpd.org.

Elizabeth (she/her) began working with Emotions Matter, Inc. in 2024 as an Administrative Assistant and is passionate about the mission to educate and advocate for those impacted by BPD.

Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services and has spent the past seven years working in immigration law. She is dedicated to equality and equity for all people and is excited to leverage her administrative skills and support the future of Emotions Matter, Inc.

In her free time, Elizabeth likes to hang out with her family, snuggle her dogs, read three books at a time, and binge watch reality television.

Christina Byrnes serves as the Bookkeeper for Emotions Matter.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting from Fordham University and a Master’s of Science degree in secondary education from St. John’s University.  She has over twenty years of experience working as a secondary mathematics educator.  Christina is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Emotions Matter team to connect and empower those impacted by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and to raise awareness about BPD.