Meet the NOVA Team

Claire Ponder Selib (she/her) has over 25 years’ experience providing direct advocacy services to victims of crime and managing victim assistance programs for civilian and military agencies. In April 2020, Claire was appointed by the NOVA Board of Directors to serve as NOVA’s new Executive Director. In this role, Claire leads the strategic vision for the organization; serves as the agency’s primary spokesperson; and manages all operations and staff. Since 2013, Claire has served on the NOVA staff in the following roles: Deputy Director; Director of Education; and Director of the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP). Prior to joining NOVA, Claire served for over five years as the Project Manager for the Army’s Victim Advocacy and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Contract; managing a staff of 164 Victim Advocates at 56 Army installations around the world. Claire has extensive experience developing policies, anti-violence campaigns, training curricula and facilitating national trainings for military and civilian audiences. She has managed state and national anti-violence programs at the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Additionally, Claire provided on-call advocacy, individual counseling, and psychoeducational groups to survivors of sexual assault/abuse and domestic violence while working at Prince George’s Hospital Center, Children’s National Medical Center and Women Empowered Against Violence. Claire holds a BA in English from Columbia University and a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sandra (Sandy) Hunt began working at NOVA on July 10, 2023 as the Senior Director of Operations.  She is responsible for managing the NOVA headquarters including overseeing the administrative functions and workflow.

Prior to joining NOVA, Sandy worked for the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Victim/Witness Division in Dayton, Ohio.  Sandy was a Victim Advocate for 20 years, before being promoted to Director in 2010.  Sandy retired from the Victim/Witness Division after 33 years of dedicated service.  She has experience working with victims of felony violence, with specialized training in domestic violence, sexual assault and supportive services for homicide survivors.  Sandy has been trained in Restorative Justice and was responsible for coordinating all post-conviction and parole cases.  In addition to providing direct services to victims of crime, Sandy provided presentations and training to schools and community agencies.

Sandy is a NOVA trained Crisis Responder and while in Ohio was a member of the Ohio Crisis Response Team.  During her time in Ohio, Sandy was instrumental in coordinating the response to the Oregon District mass shooting that occurred on August 4, 2019.  She was recognized by several state agencies for her outstanding leadership she provided to her community.

Shannon Collins is a survivor advocate who strives to cultivate collective leadership, survivor empowerment, and peer support. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), Shannon has dedicated over 25 years to working to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) through advocacy, response, prevention, and education primarily in college and university settings. At NOVA, Shannon currently serves as the Associate Executive Director, where she collaborates on organizational strategy, strategic planning, communications, and NOVA’s victim advocacy policy and research initiatives. She is responsible for managing NOVA’s portfolio of federal grants and contracts for programs designed to build the capacity of victim service professionals and victim assistance programs.

Shannon specializes in developing and sustaining trauma-informed victim advocacy programs and Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Teams to address DVSAS. She has provided specialized training and consultation to numerous institutions of higher education and federal agencies, including overseeing multiple Training and Technical Assistance Grants funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women and Office for Victims of Crime Offices to support campus-based victim advocacy, support for military-connected survivors, and youth advocacy initiatives. In 2023, she was appointed by the congressionally mandated Advisory Council to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Additionally, Shannon serves as an adjunct faculty member at several universities and teaches workshops and academic courses on the ethics of campus advocacy, evidence-based practice, trauma-informed leadership, and gender-based violence across the lifespan.

Shannon is grateful to serve her community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA). Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, a Master of Social Work degree, and a Women’s Studies Certificate of Graduate Study from the University of South Carolina, as well as an Executive Certificate of Nonprofit Management from the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute.

Roger Roberts is a graduate of the Wright State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.  Roger was the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the London City-Madison County Health District for 6 years and in 2008 became the Director of Emergency Management for Madison County. In 2018, Roger became the Director of Crisis Response Services for the National Organization for Victim Assistance. He is an active member of the Ohio Crisis Response Team. He has responded, as well as coordinated, team deployments to various traumatic events. Roger served as the team lead for NOVA’s team deployed to the family assistance center in Las Vegas following a mass shooting on October 1^st, 2017, Santa Fe High School shooting in May 2018 and Robb Elementary Schooling in June 2022.

NOVA certified and TOT trained, he, has presented workshops at the National Organization for Victim Assistance National Conferences since 2008. Roger has also presented the NOVA basic Community Crisis Response Team Training® nationally and internationally. Most recently Antigua, Canada, Ecuador, and Russia.

María Cristina (she/her/ella) is a bilingual (English/Spanish) senior leader and counseling professional with over 20 years of international and U.S.-based experience advancing victim advocacy, gender justice, and systemic responses to gender-based violence. Skilled in program management and grant compliance, she has a proven track record of leading federally funded training and technical assistance (TTA) initiatives, both as a national technical assistance provider and as a federal grant manager. Most recently, she served as a Grant Management Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), where she supervised a portfolio of over 50 grantees and five training and technical assistance cooperative agreements. In addition to her primary role in the OVW Campus Program Unit, she spearheaded the OVW Culturally Specific Campus Program and the OVW Campus Sexual Assault Victim Services Pilot Program.

She contributed to national policy development and internal strategic priorities through her service as co-chair of OVW’s agency-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee and her active membership of OVW’s peer review and language access working groups. Before her tenure at OVW, María Cristina worked as a TTA provider for national organizations, including the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) and Esperanza United, where she managed TTA grants funded by the Office on Violence Against Women and the Health and Human Services Administration. She also served as the Founding Director and faculty member of the Gender Equity Program at the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina, where she taught undergraduate courses in criminal justice and established the campus Coordinated Community Response Team to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. With a deep commitment to intersectional approaches grounded in feminist values and trauma-informed practices, she currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Dominican University in their Master of Arts in Trauma-Informed Leadership program. She has served on multiple nonprofit boards and consulted with numerous nonprofits in training, technical assistance, policy development, and grant writing. María Cristina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras and a Master’s degree in counseling psychology from Turabo University.

Michael Ashman (he/him) is the Director of Finance at NOVA.  He has over 25 years of accounting and finance experience working in publicly traded, private and non-profit organizations.  Prior to his current position he was the Director of Finance at the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers.

Michael has a BS in Accounting from Rhode Island College an MBA from Strayer University.

Over two decades, Michelle (she/hers) has been a relentless advocate in the intricate landscape of violence prevention, navigating the complexities of risk and vulnerability with strategic acumen and unwavering commitment. Her journey began in the rigorous environment of military intelligence, where she honed her analytical skills and leadership while serving within the high-pressure locations with multiple deployments to the Middle East. This experience instilled in her a data-driven analytic approach, a cornerstone later leveraged in shaping her dedication to systemic change within the realm of violence prevention.

Michelle leverages her diverse skillset to develop and provide trauma-informed support to individuals and communities threatened by various forms of violence. She seamlessly blends her military-honed precision with the profound empathy cultivated through years of advocating for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse. Whether crafting comprehensive risk mitigation frameworks, implementing evidence-based prevention strategies, or delivering impactful training programs, Michelle demonstrably strengthens the capacity of institutions and systems to protect their most vulnerable community members.

With the background of being  a Subject Matter Expert Trainer and Consultant with the Office for Victims of Crime, Michelle contributes to national initiatives aimed at thwarting and responding to violence. She has spearheaded the development of innovative programs and resources, empowering communities to proactively address domestic abuse, with a focus on BIPOC communities. Additionally, delivering crucial training programs to strengthen collaborative efforts between military and civilian communities in mitigating violence, she has been on front-end discussions of change in various marginalized communities.

Michelle holds a Master’s degree in Human Services and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Her expertise is further bolstered by diverse certifications in clinical trauma counseling, disaster management, criminal profiling, and school emergency management. Michelle embodies a relentless pursuit of creating a world where all individuals can flourish free from the threat of violence. Her exceptional combination of expertise, dedication, and passion has left an enduring mark on the field of violence prevention, and her impact continues to illuminate a safer path for countless vulnerable individuals.

At NOVA, Ava provides military and civilian CCR consultation and Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) on domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS).

Ava has over 13 years of diverse experience in victim advocacy, prevention/intervention, case management, and military service. Prior to NOVA, Ava worked in the non-profit sphere conducting outreach, prevention/intervention education for youth, schools, and in her community, while also volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth in foster care.

Ava is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, with almost nine years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan. She discovered her passion for advocacy while serving as a Uniformed Victim Advocate (UVA) for military sexual assault survivors.

Ava earned her Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, with a specialization in Victimology in 2021, with past academic achievements to include a Masters of Philosophy in Forensic Psychology, a Masters of Arts in Human Behavior, and a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. Ava is also a RYT-500 certified yoga instructor, with specialty in Trauma-Informed and All-Body Accessible practices. She is currently in training to obtain her 850-Hr Yoga Therapist (IAYT) Certification.

Altogether, Ava believes in advocacy, education, and empowerment for all!

Jasmine(she/her/ella) is the Associate Director of Youth Engagement with NOVA and works with campus, community, and systems-based organizations across several grant programs on the Training & Technical Assistance (TTA) team. In addition to her TTA work she also leads conference planning and management for NOVA’s Annual Training Event. Jasmine is a leader in the anti-violence movement with 15+ years of experience working in community with youth and adult allies to develop innovative programs and culturally affirming resources. As a graduate from California State University, Los Angeles she uses her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development with a Certificate in Youth Agency Administration to advocate and establish programs that center the multi-faceted needs of BIPOC individuals,  and create systems that increase the quality of life for underserved communities.

Prior to NOVA, Jasmine spent the early years of her career working with K-12 students as a Teacher Assistant and Community Outreach Liaison. She began her national prevention education and response efforts in 2010 with Break the Cycle, a national youth-serving organization. In 2021, Jasmine launched into nonprofit consulting  and has worked  with organizations such as Esperanza United, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, love is respect, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and SafeBAE to build and increase capacity, strengthen programming, and address cultural responsiveness. She is a skilled public speaker, training facilitator, and curriculum developer, and has been featured in national conferences, podcasts, radio, and network television shows as a subject-matter expert.

When Jasmine is not working, she loves taking trips to reconnect with nature, attending community cultural events, finding new places to eat and relax, and supporting artists and local vendors. She enjoys having conversations about media and pop culture and considers some of her binge watching to be “research” as she often finds ways to connect themes around media messages and representation into her trainings and writing.

Kellie Portman is NOVA’s Senior Community Crisis Response Training Manager. Kellie joined the NOVA community as a certified NOVA Crisis Response Team® training instructor in 2018 before accepting a full-time staff position in 2020. As a Core Energy Life Coach with over 20 years of experience working with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, Kellie is best known for her humor and reality-based approaches to helping individuals achieve a greater quality of life for themselves and those around them. Kellie earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Services Leadership from Urbana University and her coaching certification for the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). In addition to her education, Kellie’s extensive training, knowledge and lived experiences has allowed her to coach and train hundreds of youth, families and personnel in the helping profession. Kellie is a member of both her local and state crisis response teams and is actively involved in local and national responses.

Colleen Phelan is a seasoned advocate and program developer specializing in empowerment-based advocacy and crisis intervention within the victim services field. With a wealth of experience, Colleen currently serves as the Learning and Development Program Manager for the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), where they design and deliver impactful training programs to professionals in victim services nationwide.

 Previously, Colleen held key roles such as Victim Advocate Supervisor at the Pima County Attorney’s Office in Tucson, Arizona, overseeing policy implementation for crime victim advocacy initiatives like the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative and the Courthouse Dog Program. Their efforts led to significant advancements in survivor support and interagency collaboration, culminating in notable awards, including the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council Victim Advocate of the Year. Before her time as a systems-based advocate, she started her career as a non-profit-based advocate at the local rape crisis center, providing crisis response through hospital advocacy and 24 hr crisis hotline.

 As a Subject Matter Expert and Instructor for NOVA, Colleen brings a wealth of knowledge to their role, shaping educational programs that enhance coordinated community response with victim-centered, trauma-informed care. Before this, Colleen served as Director of Communications at the Courthouse Dogs Foundation, where they established peer support networks and amplified educational efforts through podcasts and social media.

 Passionate about advancing victim advocacy and professional development, Colleen continues to drive positive change in the field, fostering collaborations and empowering survivors through education and support of advocates.

Alisa is the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) Senior Program Manager at NOVA. She manages the congressionally mandated program to certify all civilian and military Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Managers (SAPR PMs), Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs), SAPR Victim Advocates (SAPR VAs).

Alisa has experience in victim advocacy and public policy. Before NOVA, Alisa served as a congressional staff member at the U.S. Capitol for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) U.S. Senator Chris Coons (DE), and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), where she worked on several policy subjects. She also worked in the nonprofit sector at the Obama Foundation.

Alisa has nine years of military service. She currently serves as a U.S. Army Reserve Commissioned Officer. Her commitment to advocacy was revealed during her mobilization, where she served as a Uniformed Victim Advocate (UVA) for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Alisa is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Delaware State University. She is also a certified credential advocate through the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP).

Mayumi serves as the Senior Office Manager at NOVA, overseeing day-to-day operations. Originally from Japan, Mayumi contributes a unique perspective to her role, facilitating the connection between the remote teams and headquarters.

Before joining NOVA, Mayumi held various positions that showcased her adaptability and skills. She played a key role in promoting events through email marketing campaigns and provided crucial support for budgets, accounting, and financial administration. In her previous role as a finance coordinator at the Brookings Institution, she gained valuable insights into nonprofit operations.

At NOVA, Mayumi’s role involves managing the annual conference registration process and providing daily essential support across the team as needed. Her focus on details and organizational skills ensure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

In her personal time, she finds relaxation in playing golf, sailing, and enjoys gardening.

Karlene Wright is currently serving as the Deputy Program Manager for the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) at NOVA. She is a dedicated human services and administrative professional with a background in victim advocacy, crisis intervention, and program coordination. As a military spouse, Karlene has a personal connection to the military community, an experience that continually reinforces her desire to serve and advocate on its behalf.

Before NOVA, she worked in the roles as a sexual assault victim advocate and an administrative assistant with the U.S. Army Sharp (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) Program.  These opportunities strengthened her commitment to supporting service members through survivor-informed policy advocacy and a professional standard of victim support. In addition, Karlene spent time working in education, where she managed and implemented behavioral intervention and support programs.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from Oregon State University. She is a D-SAACP Credentialed Advocate. Karlene’s personal and professional journey has always been grounded in empathy, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping others. She is especially passionate about opportunities that allow her to translate advocacy into meaningful action.

Mariel Jewell is currently NOVA’s Senior Community Relations Manager. Throughout her time at NOVA, she has been a part of the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) team and has managed NOVA’s online training academies. Prior to coming to NOVA, Mariel managed several projects at a reentry program for women reintegrating into the community from incarceration. Her role focused on community engagement and partnerships, outreach, and volunteer management.

Mariel received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University (Go Monarchs!) and has her Master’s degree in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time outdoors.

Michelle is NOVA’s Marketing and Communications Manager. A native of Newport News, VA, Michelle has experience working in human services organizations that advocate for the underserved in programmatic and administrative capacities. During her 10 years in the nonprofit field, she has worked in a variety of roles including direct support professional at a home for children with disabilities, mental health case manager, after-school program leader, job coach for individuals with disabilities, development coordinator, administrator at a political foundation, and more. Michelle has obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Old Dominion University, and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University. She has since worked in fundraising and marketing roles in nonprofits of various sizes, creating content for and designing annual reports, solicitations, social media posts, flyers, merchandise, newsletters, and other publications. Utilizing her direct service experience, she enjoys leveraging language and media to make personal connections, engage audiences, and build community.

 Michelle is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., volunteer, avid book reader, and huge movie buff. You can find her on weekly solo dates to the theatre, binge-watching “behind-the-scenes” documentaries, traveling with friends, or at home playing with her cat, Zeus.

Tawny Rogers is the Military Domestic Abuse Lethality Assessment Program Manager for NOVA, where she focuses on risk and lethality assessment and fatality prevention in military domestic abuse cases. Her work supports and enhances the DoD’s Coordinated Community Response (CCR) structure.

Tawny brings 15 years of comprehensive experience as a victim services provider, with eight years dedicated to the non-profit sector and seven years to state government. Prior to NOVA, she served as the Victim Services Liaison for the Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC). In this role, she was instrumental in developing and implementing Coordinated Community Response Teams and spearheading the rollout of domestic violence risk assessment and lethality training across Montana communities to ensure a uniform response for high-danger cases.

With a strong specialization in trauma-informed practices, Tawny has extensively trained professionals, including law enforcement and victim advocates, on implementing these critical approaches within the criminal justice system. Her deep focus on risk management and the complex needs of diverse victim populations is further demonstrated by her bi-weekly educational “Power Hour,” which highlights innovative victim service programs across Montana.

Tawny holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Investigative Criminology and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Literature. This academic background, combined with her years of practical expertise in services and systems, uniquely qualifies her to lead programs focused on high-risk domestic abuse interventions.

Tawny is committed to applying her expertise to enhance military and civilian collaboration for the safety and empowerment of all survivors. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the mountains of Montana with her dogs, a Bernese Mountain Dog, Barry Allen, and a Great Pyrenees, Fitz Gerald.

Angela Willmore (she/her) is the Military Domestic Abuse Operations Credentialing Program Manager. She manages all aspects of professional credentialing for the DoD Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates (DAVAS) and provides logistical support for NOVA’s DoD DAVA webinars and other trainings.

Since joining NOVA in 2020, Angela has worked on both the D-SAACP and NACP programs and is adept at managing all aspects of the credentialing process.

Prior to NOVA, she worked for 15 years in child welfare, specializing in international adoption. Angela is passionate about ensuring that all trauma survivors are heard and receive appropriate support and resources.  One of her most rewarding professional experiences, and one that deepened her passion for advocacy work, involved co-facilitating a support group for women who were incarcerated and survivors of domestic violence.

Angela holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Kent State University and a Master in Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina.  She is a Credentialed Advocate and has completed NOVA’s CRT training.

Outside of work, Angela loves to travel, read a good novel, and curl-up with her wheaten terrier, Louie and chihuahua, Willa, to watch her favorite tv shows.

Carolyn Eskin (she/her) is the Education & Outreach Program Manager at NOVA. As a part of the Professional Development & Outreach Team, she coordinates and assists with the delivery of the NOVA Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA), NOVA’s Virtual Training Event, and produces NOVA’s quarterly newsletter. She has experience includes conference and event planning, research, and credentialing. 

Prior to her current position, Carolyn was the Outreach and Credentialing Coordinator at NOVA, and has worked on both the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) and the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP).

Carolyn is a Credentialed Advocate (C.A.) with the NACP and is trained in Crisis Response. She received her Masters of Art in Forensic Psychology from the George Washington University and her B.A. in Sociology with a Criminology concentration from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.  A lifelong learner, Carolyn loves getting the opportunity to continue her education through the trainings NOVA provides.  

Kelly Muklevicz, Crisis Response Team Development & Outreach Manager. Kelly joined NOVA in 2024 with nearly 10 years of experience providing trauma informed, crisis response services to at risk youth, and crime victims. Prior to joining NOVA, Kelly worked as a Supervising Victim Advocate for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office within the Ventura County Family Justice Center (FJC), providing direct services to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, sexual assault and homicide.  The FJC model brings together more than 40 public and community based organizations working together to reduce trauma, eliminate repeat victimization, and mitigate future risks by providing a safe environment to access comprehensive resources and close gaps in services.

Kelly has experience working with survivors and families of mass violence incidents including deployments to 2 mass shootings, the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017, and the Borderline Bar & Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA on November 7, 2018, subsequently managing a $1.6M federal Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Assistance Program grant which provided no cost long term mental health support services for survivors, and families of these incidents.  Kelly has received commendations from the Attorney General of California and Nevada, received Victim Advocate Team of the Year Awards in response to Rt. 91 & Borderline, as well as the Tadini Bacigalupi Program Distinction Award from NOVA for her collaborative partnership with Give an Hour on the Route 91 Heals Program.

Through lessons learned Kelly has presented nationwide on mass violence response, participates in a statewide planning collaborative of victim advocates in all 58 counties in California, and has worked closely with Resiliency Center Directors nationwide in a partnership with the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center.  Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Sociology from York College of Pennsylvania, holds a 30 emergency substituting teaching credential in the State of California, and is trained as a Hospice Patient Care Volunteer.   In 2023, Kelly became NOVA certified and TOT trained.

Aysia Evans-Kidd (she/her) was born and raised in Chatham County, North Carolina. As a double alumna of UNC-Greensboro, Aysia found her passion for student activism and dismantling systems of oppression. After graduating with her masters, she began her professional career in housing & residence life while strengthening her passion for advocacy and empowerment work. As a former campus victim advocate, Aysia values racial justice and the decolonization of trauma-informed approaches. As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Aysia has a passion for social justice and community conscious initiatives to support equity and multicultural support within sexual violence response and higher education.

Katy Rogers (she/her) joins NOVA as a seasoned higher education professional, credentialed advocate, violence prevention educator, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Botswana 2012-2015). Katy holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Youth and Family Development from the University of Montana. She resides with her family in the upper Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland, located on Piscataway and Susquehannock land.

Katy served for six years as a Project Director for the Office on Violence Against Women grants to reduce dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking on college campuses in Maryland and Washington state. She specializes in leading teams to implement large-scale, systems-level change. Together with collaborators from many different disciplines and backgrounds, Katy helped develop initiatives to address not only sexual and relationship violence but also HIV/AIDS prevention, LGBTQIA+ rights, youth empowerment, disability justice, accessibility, and dismantling racism. In her journey from crime survivor to trainer and technical assistance provider, Katy feels distinctly honored to build upon the successes and struggles of the many lineages of activists and grassroots organizers who came before her.

Betty Smith (she/her/ella), born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Puerto Rico and Ohio, holds a Bachelor’s in Social Science from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. With nearly ten years of experience in advocacy, she has focused on sexual assault, domestic violence awareness, and victim/survivor support, specializing in project coordination, case management, and culturally specific services. Betty has worked with organizations to bridge language and cultural gaps, ensuring messages are clear, relevant, and culturally appropriate for diverse Spanish-speaking audiences. Her approach combines evidence-based practices with a deep commitment to social justice, particularly in the areas of gender-based violence and victims’ rights.

In 2017, Betty conducted extensive research and collaborated with experts to develop best practices for supporting Latinx and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) survivors of sexual violence. She presented her findings and translated complex research into accessible, culturally sensitive materials to raise awareness and strengthen support systems for these communities, particularly in Ohio’s sexual assault advocacy efforts.

In addition to her work with survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS), in 2024, Betty designed a Sexual Assault Advocacy Curriculum for the Latinx community and trained advocates (Promotoras) to offer peer support to survivors. She has also led community outreach efforts by translating materials, supporting legal processes, and connecting clients to essential resources such as mental health and housing assistance.

In her free time, Betty loves hanging out with her family and giant fur baby, getting lost in a good book, exploring new places, baking delicious treats, and binge-watching fascinating documentaries.

Michaela McKenna is a dedicated advocate and seasoned professional in the field of victim services, her career has been shaped by a deep commitment to supporting survivors.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Western New England University, where her passion for advocacy first took root. Michaela began her career as a Victim Witness Liaison during an internship, a formative experience that set the trajectory for her lifelong work in victim support.

In 2018, Michaela married her husband Henry, an active-duty Service Member with their first PCS move being to Fort Polk, Louisiana. While there, Michaela began the role of Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate (DAVA). In 2021, she continued this vital work at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The McKenna family later relocated to Pensacola, Florida, where Michaela served as a Family Advocacy Program Victim Advocate (FAP VA) at Naval Air Station Pensacola. During her time there she also served in the SAPR Program as a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), further expanding her impact on the military community.

Michaela’s journey came full circle when she was selected as the Department of Defense DAVA Training Program Manager with NOVA (National Organization for Victim Advocacy), a role she considers her dream job. In this position, Michaela brings her wealth of experience, empathy and leadership to a national platform, helping shape the future of victim advocacy across the armed forces.

She continues to service with unwavering dedication, proud of the path that brought her here and excited for the work ahead.

Melissa recently graduated from George Washington University with a master’s in forensic psychology. She got her bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Criminology from Cleveland State University. Melissa is originally from Ohio and moved to Alexandria in 2022. She interned with The National Youth Advocate Program for two summers during undergrad, and The ACPD while getting her master’s.

Outside of work she likes to read, crochet, and paper crafting.

Prior to joining NOVA, Madison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology from George Mason University. During her time at George Mason University, she volunteered with the National Center for Victims of Crime as a Volunteer Victim Assistance Specialist. As a Volunteer VAS, Madison quickly discovered her passion for victim advocacy. After graduating in 2021, Madison handled the operations at a rural nonprofit domestic violence organization. In this role she gained experience in a variety of areas including volunteer and donor management, training development, and strategic planning. She also worked hands-on with clients providing direct services both in-person and via the 24/7 crisis hotline.

Outside of work, Madison enjoys reading, hiking and fostering kittens.

Catherine joined NOVA in July of 2023 as a member of the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) team. She graduated from Furman University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a minor in Environmental Studies, and relocated to Arlington, Virginia in the Fall of 2022.

In her free time, she volunteers with the DC Metropolitan Police Department as a Domestic Violence Liaison. The program pairs MPD Volunteer Corps DVLs with patrol officers to respond to domestic violence calls for service, providing victims with the necessary resources and support they may need. Through the program she received specialized training from DC Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (DC SAFE) and MPD, equipping her with the tools necessary to provide victims and survivors of violence with valuable resources and support.