SOUTH BEND — Dismas House of Indiana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing and support for citizens returning from incarceration, has announced the appointment of Andee Huxhold as its new executive director. Huxhold, a South Bend native, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for justice reform to the role.
Currently completing her graduate studies in justice reform and restorative justice through Vermont Law and Graduate School, Huxhold also holds a degree in social and behavioral studies from Indiana University South Bend. Before joining Dismas, she served as the executive director of the Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce in Tucson, Ariz.
“It’s really the focus of my graduate education, and it’s what I’m passionate about — progressive and innovative solutions to the U.S. incarceration issues,” Huxhold said, highlighting her alignment with Dismas House’s mission.
Reflecting on her vision for Dismas, Huxhold emphasized the importance of creating a strong sense of community for those transitioning out of incarceration.
“One of the most important things when exiting incarceration is community and a sense of belonging; that’s what Dismas is all about,” she said. “In my work in community corrections, one of my frustrations was the challenge of providing people with that sense of belonging.”
A Vision for Growth at Dismas House of Indiana
Huxhold succeeds Maria Stancati, who served as executive director since July 2017. In her new role, she will oversee a dedicated staff of six and numerous volunteers who work to enhance communication skills, foster a respect for education and secure employment opportunities for residents.
“We’re grateful for the board and hiring committee’s work during the selection process and are excited to have new leadership in place,” Dismas Board President Doug Elder said. “We’re very pleased with the hiring of Andee, and she’s really hit the ground running. We’re confident she’ll do a great job.”
As part of her strategy moving forward, Huxhold plans to focus on evaluating the organization’s programs and gaining a deeper understanding of its operations before implementing any major changes. A key goal is to expand Dismas House’s capacity to serve more individuals each year.
“We’d love to increase the number of residents we can serve,” she said. “As long as we can reorganize staff into their original roles, we’ll have the increased capacity here at our primary location. Being Dismas House of Indiana, we also have opportunities to address housing shortages in Elkhart County and other neighboring areas to support those exiting incarceration.”
Huxhold also aims to enhance programming at Dismas by involving residents in brainstorming and workgroups to ensure offerings are both meaningful and impactful. Strengthening community partnerships is another priority.
“We’ll be reevaluating our programming and working with the residents to see what can be engaging and beneficial for them. We’ll also be looking at our community partnerships to identify where we can grow and fill gaps,” she said.
Huxhold returns to the region with her husband Patrick, daughters Lissie and Miriam and all their family critters, while her adult sons Drew and Alex are also carving their personal paths in Indiana.
For more information or to arrange press coverage, email director@dismasin.org.
Dismas House of Indiana is a not-for-profit organization providing housing, services and a supportive environment to men and women returning from incarceration. Our residents consist of people returning from incarceration and junior/senior undergraduate or graduate college students; they live and work together to develop a supportive community. Through programs, services and a supportive and productive community, residents gain communication and social skills, a new respect for education and secure employment.
