NSVRC offers the Visionary Voice Awards, in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month each April, to recognize the creativity and hard work of individuals around the country who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence. Each year, state, territory, and tribal coalitions select an outstanding individual to nominate for the awards. Nominees may be partners from a local community or other outstanding individuals that have worked to end sexual violence.
Jennifer Runge
Nominated by Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Jen Runge joined Victim Witness Services (VWS) for Northern Arizona in 2018. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to expand the reach from just Coconino County to the Arizona portion of Navajo Nation that also covers Apache and Navajo Counties, spanning over 28,000 square miles.
During her tenure at VWS, Jen has overseen an increase in clients served from 1,200 to 2,400 annually. In her first year at VWS, staff responded to 450 crisis calls; this year, they have responded to 997. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many other programs were forced to restrict or eliminate services, not only did VWS not decrease services, their numbers of clients served continued to increase.
In June 2020, under Jen’s leadership, VWS opened a satellite office in Tuba City. Tuba City is a border town with both Navajo Nation and Hopi. In late 2021, when Delegate Amber Crotty of the Navajo Nation Council was interested in developing a victim service program on the Nation, she called Jen. This collaboration resulted in an invitation for VWS to participate in a working group that resulted in a partnership with Utah Navajo Health Systems, Inc., to create the Diné Bikéyah Victim Service Program. This program houses eight advocates on Navajo Nation.
During the same time, VWS has continued to grow in its off-Nation area, opening offices in Grand Canyon Village and Williams, Arizona. In five years, VWS has grown from 15 staff including 12 advocates to 30 full-time staff including 24 advocates.
Sherrie Searcy-Lyle
Nominated by Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Sherrie Searcy-Lyle is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the field of nursing, particularly focusing on sexual assault care, forensic nursing, and system improvement of sexual violence response. Her role as the visionary and Director for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) Sexual Assault Assessment Program (TeleSANE) showcases her commitment to expanding access to SANE expertise through digital technology, ensuring that even remote hospitals in Arkansas can benefit from specialized care.
Sherrie and her team’s remarkable achievement in securing funding and successfully launching the first Arkansas TeleSANE program has impacted the entire care system. Since 2021, the expansion of the TeleSANE program to serve 24 hospitals and crisis centers, with an additional 10 hospitals in the onboarding process for 2024, demonstrate the program's impact on increasing community access to expert medical forensic examinations. The mission to enhance mental and physical health outcomes, facilitate just legal proceedings, and contribute to safer communities reflects a comprehensive and holistic approach to care.
Sherrie and her team's achievements significantly improve Arkansas's medical-forensic care landscape. Their efforts have increased the reach of expert services and contributed to building a more knowledgeable and skilled healthcare workforce in the state.
She not only aspires to change the trajectory of the state of Arkansas, but also assist other states in advancing their practices in medical-forensic specialty services by
mentoring other leaders on how to accomplish this vision through her and her team’s TeleSANE development and practice experience.
Bethany Bernal
Nominated by Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Bethany Bernal, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, is the Forensic Nurse Coordinator at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, CO. Bethany and her team provide SANE services in the four corners area, a very diverse and rural region of the state. They see sexual assault survivors from Tribal communities and neighboring states. Bethany is always seeking ways to do better and learn what it means to walk alongside survivors and be culturally informed.
She also serves on the statewide Forensic Compliance Team and is engaged in supporting policy reform. Bethany inspired Colorado House Bill 22-1309 when she recognized that the CDC guidelines had changed to a 7-day dose of antibiotics to prevent STIs but that Colorado law only allowed hospitals to dispense 3-days worth of medications. This put public health (prevention of STIs) at odds with being survivor-centered and trauma-informed (due to the added stress, time, financial, transportation, and other barriers to survivors of going to a pharmacy for the drugs). She compiled information regarding the statute and public health impacts, provided feedback on the proposed bill, and testified on behalf of the bill, which was expanded to include up to a month of drugs for HIV PEP. She also helped inform a medical forensic exam kit tracking bill and advocated for equitable access to the system for Native survivors.
Rachel de Leon
Nominated by Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Rachel de Leon is a reporter and producer for TV and documentaries for Reveal. She's won two Emmys for her work on deadly oil fields and systemic failures leading to unsolved Jane and John Doe cases. Rachel is an alum of California State University, Northridge and the UC Berkeley graduate school of Journalism. In the Spring of 2023, her film Victim/Suspect, a Netflix original feature documentary which she reported and produced, was released and premiered at Sundance in the U.S. Documentary Competition. Watching Victim/Suspect allows us to go on a journey with her as she travels nationwide to uncover a pattern of women reporting they’ve been sexually assaulted to police only to be charged with false reporting, but Rachel is committed to creating change not just raising awareness.
Rachel is an incredible investigative journalist and a masterful storyteller who makes difficult content both authentic and deeply relatable. When the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence reached out to ask her to come to Connecticut and talk about how to support survivors, she showed up ready to empower a room full of law enforcement, legislators, advocates, and survivors to build connections and drive change. Rachel’s work provides irrefutable evidence of the challenges survivors face when engaging with systems, but it was the way she showed up, and has continued to show up, that created space for conversation and actionable policy changes.
Adi Goldstein
Nominated by Day One (Rhode Island)
Adi Goldstein has demonstrated her dedication to the pursuit of justice throughout her distinguished career. Adi is the current Deputy Attorney General of Rhode Island and was previously a prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island where she also became the first female Criminal Chief in 2014. Adi holds a Doctor of Law (JD) from Columbia Law School and received her B.A. from Harvard University.
Adi has been a relentless champion for victims and survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence throughout her career. Her involvement in the Rhode Island Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Task Force exemplifies her dedication to combating these critical issues. Additionally, Adi served as a member of the Day One Board of Trustees, contributing her insights and expertise to the organization's mission for many years.
Most recently, Adi has provided support, strategy, and advocacy with the Rhode Island Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). Her multifaceted involvement showcases her ability to address the complex challenges faced by victims and survivors. Adi’s commitment to best practices for child sexual abuse victims and their families has been evident in her most recent involvement with Day One and the CAC’s Multi-Disciplinary Team Advisory Committee.
Day One is grateful for the advocacy and leadership Adi has provided over the years. Her tenacious and unwavering commitment to seeking justice for Rhode Island victims of sexual violence has left an indelible mark. Adi Goldstein is not only a legal luminary but also a compassionate advocate, making her an ideal candidate for the NSVRC 2024 Visionary Voice Award.
Allison Jackson
Nominated by DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence
Dr. Jackson is the Division Chief of the Child & Adolescent Protection Center at Children's National Hospital and holds the Washington Children’s Foundation professorship in Child and Adolescent Protection. Additionally, she is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at George Washington University. She is a brilliant leader and direct service provider with expertise in adverse childhood experiences, specifically child maltreatment, trauma informed practices, medical education, and multidisciplinary team leadership.
Dr. Jackson specializes in providing direct medical care to abused and neglected children; and she advocates for individual children within human services, law enforcement, and other arenas of the metropolitan area, providing consultation to police, attorneys, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. Dr. Jackson is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the International Society of the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN). She has been a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Abuse and Neglect, and is currently the Children’s National Team Supervisor for the District of Columbia’s Multidisciplinary Team on Child Abuse and Neglect. She regularly gives trainings and presentations on the subject of child maltreatment to organizations in the metropolitan area, including the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office.
Sergeant Ron Mullin
Nominated by Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence
Sergeant Ron Mullin has been serving the Wilmington Police Department since February 1998. In 2004, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Special Victims Unit (SVU) as an investigator. During this time, he investigated or assisted with all sexual assault investigations. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2012 and returned to the CID as a supervisor in 2014 overseeing the SVU.
As supervisor of the SVU, Sergeant Mullin supports eight investigative positions, including Youth Aid, Sex Crimes, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Cold Case investigations. He utilizes his years of experience and knowledge to mentor both current investigators and first responding patrol officers. In addition to direct service, he sits on several committees that support victims, as well as influences local policy and response to Sexual Assault cases.
Sergeant Mullin listens to and believes victims and survivors, as well as advocates and collaborates to make sure cases are addressed. He understands the delicate nuances regarding having consent from victims in moving forward with investigating their cases.
Wilmington is full of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Rather than being daunted by potential barriers, he uses all available supportive resources and services to communicate with victims and understand the cultural differences in which victims handle interactions with police. Sergeant Mullin has contributed significantly to bridging a positive relationship with the community; establishing a trust in the dedication of investigators assigned. Sergeant Mullin has also contributed to a positive working relationship with the Department of Justice in the prosecutorial aspect of these cases.
Eva Fiallos-Diaz
Nominated by Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
As Rural Project Manager at the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV), Eva Fiallos-Diaz has done more in the last eight years to develop services, support community-building, and end sexual violence than many are able to in a lifetime. Eva's focused and skillful engagement with programs and advocates serving Florida's rural areas is tailored to each community, making masterfully creative use of available resources, while challenging administrators to provide the resources that underserved communities truly need. Her commitment to transformative justice shapes the collaboration of advocates and primary prevention specialists in these communities. Eva is a wonderful colleague who cares deeply about people and their communities and believes that each day not only offers endless opportunities to make the world a more just, peaceful, and loving place, it demands that we take those opportunities. Florida is fortunate to have such an incredible advocate. We at FCSAV are fortunate to know and work with her.
Linda Wilk
Nominated by Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
Linda Wilk is a fierce advocate who has been working on issues of interpersonal violence for more than three decades. She is a leader in Indiana on best practices and adapting to changing community needs. She joined the staff of the local family service organization in Marion, Indiana in 1994. As the organization grew and changed, Linda remained dedicated to advocacy. She continues to serve as the Director of Hands of Hope, a division of Radiant Health Services, overseeing sexual assault response and prevention. Linda is a leading voice in her community raising awareness of sexual assault and working to build holistic care for those who are impacted by it. She has taken on roles with community and state organizations to shape policy in support of survivors. She Co-Chairs the local Sexual Assault Response Team and works tirelessly to strengthen the systemic response to sexual violence and human trafficking. She frequently engages with the media to raise awareness on issues of sexual violence, service availability, and community wellness. Linda Wilk stands up for what she believes, and she does not back down.
Maria Alonzo Diaz
Nominated by Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Maria Alonzo Diaz is an advocate at Polk County Crisis and Advocacy and has been in the movement for 22+ years. She is driven by her passion for the community and works to cultivate hope and resilience through advocacy, empowerment and relationship-building.
Maria has been a mentor and an advocate for women of color in the movement since the beginning of her advocacy. In the early 2000s, she served on the committee for the Women of Color Advisory Network (WOCAN). Since then, she has been instrumental for the revival of the affinity group, now known as “We Empower Culture and Networking (WECAN)”. Maria has a record of outstanding work to end sexual violence, but what is most admirable is the way she interacts with advocates of color. She assures that every advocate is seen, heard, and feels empowered, valuable, and connected to the movement. Maria often recognizes others for their contributions and listens intently and patiently before she shares wisdom.
Maria is also a mother, a mentor and leader in her community. She co-founded Giant Pekes Soccer, a year-round community soccer program aimed at engaging Latinx families and youth to promote wellness, character, sportsmanship and social responsibility.
Outside of her advocate role, Maria has served on several boards including Des Moines Public Schools school board, Proteus, Latinas Unidas Por Un Nuevo Amanecer, Latina Leadership Initiative and the Hola Center of Iowa.
Maria has a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Iowa State University and a Master’s in Counseling from Drake University.
Gabby Boyle
Nominated by Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Gabby Boyle is the Prevention Specialist at the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center in Lawrence, Kansas. Since 2020, they have played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the community’s Sexual Violence Prevention Workgroup, showcasing a commitment to addressing the root causes of sexual violence. Recognizing the pandemic’s exacerbation of the local housing crisis, as well as the connection between stable housing and safer communities, the Workgroup chose to address housing as a violence prevention strategy.
Gabby's work extends beyond traditional prevention approaches, as they actively engage with grassroots organizing and local tenant organizations. This holistic approach exemplifies their commitment to creating meaningful and sustainable change in the community. Gabby’s extensive research, relationship-building, and policy advocacy efforts were instrumental in the passage of a 2023 city ordinance in Lawrence that prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of a person’s source of income. This systems-based, community-level prevention work is innovative and paves the way for other communities in Kansas and beyond.
Gabby's ability to navigate the complexities of housing issues and collaborate with local stakeholders underscores their visionary leadership. In the spirit of the Visionary Voice Award, which honors those making a significant impact in the field, Gabby Boyle stands out as a leader who continues to inspire and drive positive change.
Laura Sudkamp
Nominated by Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs
Laura Sudkamp started her career at the KY State Police Central Crime Lab nearly 30 years ago, and retired in 2023 as the Forensic Services Division Director. Beginning in 2015, KY started working to eradicate the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence kit backlog, and was the first to do so on a statewide level. This important initiative all began because Laura Sudkamp started asking, "where are the kits?" It was then through a statewide audit with the Attorney General's office that over 2,000 untested kits were discovered in law enforcement evidence rooms across the state. In addition, Laura and her team successfully applied for funding to not only test all kits in the initial backlog count, but to also expand that testing to include kits from as far back as the 1970s, bringing the total number of kits tested to roughly 5,000! As one can imagine, the untested kits affected a lot of survivors, and Laura's team worked with law enforcement and advocates to create a trauma-informed notification process for survivors whose kits were previously untested. Laura worked with KASAP and Legislators to help create the KSP SAFE Kit Tracking Portal to help ensure survivors were empowered and able to follow-up on the testing status and results of their kit. The tracking portal also created oversight within the systems that are responsible for collecting, storing, and testing the kits so as to help ensure a backlog never happens again in KY. The increase in funding and growth in the Forensics Services Division of the KSP Lab has also decreased the overall testing time for all forensic evidence, and included the addition of rapid DNA testing. Laura has been a phenomenal inspiration, mentor, advocate, and ally in her life-long work to ensure survivors who choose to submit forensic evidence have their evidence tested and taken seriously, and that together, we can end sexual violence.
Christine Tenorio
Nominated by Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence
Assistant Attorney General Christine Tenorio, currently the sole sex crimes prosecutor handling 100 criminal sexual assault cases at trial/appellate levels, serves as the lead for the Office of the Attorney General of Guam’s sex crimes unit. In this capacity for over five years, she has trained prosecutors and police officers on evidence collection, victim sensitivity, and victim interaction; these strategies have resulted in increased convictions of various sexual predators in Guam. As Guam’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) member, Attorney Tenorio has called attention to issues affecting sexual assault victims within the criminal justice system, such as media coverage and relationships between victims and their families; she has championed efforts to improve systems’ response and interagency collaboration on sexual assault cases, including streamlining information between agencies to ensure that more cases are investigated and prosecuted.
Attorney Tenorio has worked with local legislators on policies that support the protection of sexual assault victims, such as defining consent in sexual assault cases, that consent had to be freely given, and that the existence of prior relationship does not equate to consent; increasing the penalty of sexual assault of minors ages 14 and 15 years old from a misdemeanor to third degree felony; and prohibiting judges from departing from mandatory sentencing terms for convictions of First and Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. She continues to advocate for the protection of sexual assault victims through policy changes and affords legislators a better understanding of how victims are affected in the criminal justice system.
Chris Nakamoto
Nominated by Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault
Chris Nakamoto has been a tenacious investigative reporter for a local news station in Baton Rouge for the past 16 years, covering subjects that run the gamut of public interest. However, of particular interest to LaFASA, Chris has diligently shone a light on the broken systems, public corruption, and disparate treatment of sexual assault survivors across the State of Louisiana.
Chris and his team doggedly investigated and fearlessly reported on the story of a survivor, who was raped when she was 16 and gave birth to a child from that assault. Several years later, a local judge not only awarded partial custody of that child to the rapist, but he also ordered the survivor to pay child support. Chris’ reporting was picked up by nearly every news outlet in the United States and also garnered significant international media attention.
This survivor’s story is obviously just one of many that highlight the significant barriers standing between sexual assault survivors and meaningful healing. It was not Chris’ first investigation to benefit sexual assault survivors, and it surely will not be his last. Thanks to Chris and his team, public knowledge of these barriers is expanding dramatically and impactful change has been and continues to be realized.
Public awareness of cultural and systemic problems is a critical step to changing systems and improving survivors’ journey to healing. Chris’ professional dedication to speaking truth to power, demanding accountability, and actively fostering change is a shining example of professional allyship at its finest.
Representative Nina Milliken
Nominated by Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Representative Nina Milliken has brought her experience in sexual assault advocacy and a trauma-informed lens to the Maine Legislature and recently sponsored a bill that created civil penalties for the non-consensual removal of or tampering with a condom, known as “stealthing”. This new law makes Maine only the second state in the nation to create legal remedies for these acts. Representative Milliken exemplifies the idea that bringing an advocate’s values and on-the-ground experience into public service can make one an incredibly effective and respected legislator.
Jessica M. Volz DNP, CRNP, FNE A/P, FNP-BC, NE-BC, AFN-C, SANE-A, SANE-P
Nominated by Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Dr. Jessica Volz is a patient-centered forensic nurse examiner in Maryland, helping survivors of sexual assault and of other power-based crimes. She is a leader in both local and statewide advocacy, helping to ensure that the pressures of bureaucracy and efficacy take second chair to the needs of the patient-survivors she helps. Dr. Volz is currently the Clinical Director of Forensics at Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland, a large urban jurisdiction outside of Washington, DC. She currently serves as Co-chair of the Montgomery County Sexual Assault Response Team, and sits on the Victim Services Sub-Committee for the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Committee, and the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, Child Fatality Review Team. Her statewide leadership includes working with the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Kit and Funding Committee, and the Medical Sub-Committee for the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force. She is a valued partner of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, frequently advising on development of legislation and regulations.
Dr. Volz has earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science Degrees in both Nursing and Behavioral Science, and is a NIOSH fellow in the PhD program at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. A Nightingale Award winner, Dr. Volz is a nurse practitioner with a background in critical care, emergency and forensic nursing, working with patients across the lifespan for more than ten years.
Alison Feigh
Nominated by Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Alison Feigh is a bold advocate for missing and murdered people, and sexual abuse prevention who has worked in the field for nearly 20 years. As Director of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, a program of Zero Abuse Project, she educates communities on child abuse prevention in positive, empowering and accessible ways; organizes events to honor the families of missing people; is active at the legislature; and attends and provides guidance at community notification meetings. She works with students, parents, youth workers, faith leaders, law enforcement, and the media to help prevent childhood abuse and abductions. Alison is involved in every facet of the issue. She has authored a children’s book and textbook on the subject, and even developed her own master’s degree on the topic of missing children.
OutNebraska
Nominated by Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
OutNebraska believes in a Nebraska that embraces and celebrates the full spectrum of LGBTQIA2S+ people. They are advocating for reform, connecting with local and state representatives, encouraging civic engagement and making investments for the betterment of our communities. At a time when LGBTQIA2S+ communities face disproportionate rates of sexual and domestic violence, OutNebraska is a leader working toward ending violence in our communities.
Example of their work includes:
• Partnering with the Nebraska Coalition to provide a Learning Community training series to educate sexual and domestic violence programs.
• Being an active and contributing member of the Coalition’s Sexual Violence Prevention Collective since its inception.
• Advocating for statewide health standards curriculum that included comprehensive and inclusive sex education and sexual violence prevention. In addition, they have advocated for housing and public accommodations protections, voting and civic engagement, banning the “panic defense,” opposing the abortion ban, and debunking sexual violence myths around bathroom safety.
• Building a community of support for LGBTQ+ youth and families across the state and offering a variety of spaces for folks to gather together. OutNebraska offers numerous learning opportunities for churches, campuses, and communities to learn more about LGBTQ+ issues, violence. They are laying the groundwork for community mobilization through education and awareness with a strong lens towards equity.
Norah Lusk MSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, AFN-C
Nominated by Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Norah Lusk is currently the co-founder and Executive Director for the Nevada Institute of Forensic Nursing in Elko, NV. A proud graduate of Great Basin College of Nursing in Elko, she was inspired to pursue a career in Forensic Nursing after realizing the enormous gap in care for survivors of sexual assault and maltreatment. This led to the completion of her Master of Science in Nursing degree, specializing in Forensic Nursing where she graduated from Oakland University in Michigan. Prior to co-founding NVIFN, she was and still is, working PRN as an emergency room nurse and house supervisor at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital. Currently, Norah is continuing her education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner through Chamberlain University and is set to graduate in October of this year. In her free time, she can be found enjoying time with her family at her home in Spring Creek, NV.
Jessica E. Miranda
Nominated by Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
State Rep. Jessica Miranda, Ohio House Democratic Whip, is a lifelong Ohioan passionate about ensuring access to early childhood education, fair school funding, and greater economic opportunity for the taxpayers and families of Ohio’s 28th House District. As a survivor of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, Jessica plans to continue fighting for laws that make our state safe for our children and families. In this General Assembly, Rep. Miranda sponsored and passed the Scout’s Honor Law in 2023, which benefits Boy Scout survivors and their ability to obtain comprehensive justice by creating a window for expanded civil statute of limitations. She is also the current sponsor of bills to end the spousal rape loophole in Ohio and to reform the civil and criminal statutes of limitations for survivors of rape and other sex crimes.
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio
Nominated by Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
State Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) is honored to represent District 23 and serve as Minority Leader in the Ohio Senate. Antonio, who was first elected to the Senate in 2018 and again in 2022, previously spent eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives representing District 13. Antonio has previously worked as a Lakewood City Councilmember, Executive Director of an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program for women, Adjunct Professor and a teacher for children with special needs.
Antonio has made a number of historic firsts in the Ohio General Assembly. In 2010, she became the first member of the LGBTQ+ community ever elected to the Ohio General Assembly in its 208-year history. In 2018, she became the first woman to hold the Senate District 23 seat and the first member of the LGBTQ+ community ever elected to the Ohio Senate. She has since continued these historic firsts with her Senate leadership positions of Minority Whip, Assistant Minority Leader, and her current position of Minority Leader.
The first in her family to graduate from college, she holds both an M.P.A. and a B.S. Ed. from Cleveland State University. She was named a CSU Distinguished Alumni in 2013. She is also an alumnus of the Bohnett Fellow of the Kennedy School Harvard Leadership Program (2011).
She has been a dedicated champion of workers’ rights, high-quality education, local governments, equal rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community, health care for all and fighting the opioid crisis.
Marlene Austin
Nominated by Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect
Marlene Austin entered the anti-sexual violence movement in November of 1996 as the Prevention Education Coordinator For PASSAGES, Inc., a rural rape crisis center providing services in Clarion and Jefferson Counties in Pennsylvania. As an elementary school teacher, she was new to the issue of sexual violence. Marlene was like a sponge soaking up the information she needed to present prevention messages to the community. She provided prevention education services to people ranging in age from children in pre-school to people 60+ years old. It was not unusual for someone to disclose sexual abuse or assault following her presentations. She was able to provide crisis intervention and connect the people with services. When PASSAGES increased their service area to include Clearfield County, Marlene embraced the new challenge. Her commitment to prevention has never wavered and she always looked for new and innovative ways to provide prevention messaging.
In 2014, Marlene became the Executive Director of PASSAGES, Inc. and although her duties and responsibilities changed, her commitment to prevention remained as strong as ever. She continues to ensure that the prevention messaging by PASSAGES is innovative and wide-reaching. She is active on the Education Committee for the PA Association of Sexual Assault Centers and encourages other center directors to keep prevention at the forefront of their service provision. Marlene’s 28 years in the anti-sexual violence movement truly demonstrate her commitment to prevention and the creation of a world free from sexual violence.
Tina Johnson
Nominated by Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Tina Johnson, born in Bristol, TN, holds a Bachelor's Degree from Milligan College. She is currently the Director of Victim Services for Frontier Health SAFE House in Northeast Tennessee. With a dedicated commitment to victim services, Tina has contributed to this field for 25 years, drawing from personal resilience as a survivor of domestic violence. Her journey is marked by compassion and advocacy, making a lasting impact in supporting others facing similar challenges.
Dr. Yanira Carmona Quiñones
Nominated by Coordinadora Paz para las Mujeres (Puerto Rico)
Dr. Yanira Cardona holds a master's degree and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is trained as a Legal Advocate in gender violence and has extensive experience and expertise in child and adolescent sexual violence. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings as an evaluator, therapist, and director. She has been a professor and faculty member at multiple universities in Puerto Rico. In addition, she has participated in several conferences and committees with the purpose of eradicating violence against the child and adolescent population, even chairing the Interagency Committee for the development of a protocol for the management of sexual abuse cases in Puerto Rico. In addition, she excelled in the Department of Justice conducting psychological evaluations with families and victims of crimes of sexual violence, domestic violence, witnesses of murders, among others. Currently, she provides psychological services and directs the Integrated Services Centers for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse (CIMVAS) of the Biospiscosocial Program at the Medical Sciences Campus, which is aimed at the interdisciplinary and interagency evaluation of children who suffer physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse. She also serves as a psychologist for survivors of domestic violence in the RAMA Program of the Municipality of Carolina; participates in the Advisory Committee "Profile of the Sexual Offender of Minors''; is an active member of the Peace for Children Coalition; and is a student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. She has received multiple awards for her professional and community work.
La Dra. Yanira Cardona obtuvo una maestría y un doctorado en Psicología Clínica. Está capacitada como Intercesora Legal en violencia de género y cuenta con vasta experiencia y peritaje en temas de violencia sexual infantil y adolescente. Se ha desempeñado en distintas áreas asociadas a la salud mental, fungiendo como evaluadora, terapeuta y directora. Ha sido profesora y facultativa de varias universidades en Puerto Rico. Además, ha participado en múltiples conferencias y comités con la finalidad de erradicar la violencia contra la población infantojuvenil, llegado a presidir el Comité Interagencial para el desarrollo de un protocolo para el manejo de los casos de abuso sexual en Puerto Rico. Asimismo, se destacó en el Departamento de Justicia realizando evaluaciones psicológicas con familias y víctimas de delitos de violencia sexual, violencia doméstica, testigos de asesinatos, entre otros. Actualmente, provee servicios psicológicos y dirige el Centro de Servicios Integrados para Menores Víctimas de Abuso Sexual (CIMVAS) del Programa Biospiscosocial en el Recinto de Ciencias Médicas, el cual está dirigido a la evaluación interdisciplinaria e interagencial de menores que sufren maltrato físico, negligencia y abuso sexual. También funge como psicóloga de sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica en el Programa RAMA del Municipio de Carolina; participa del Comité Asesor “Perfil del Agresor Sexual de Menores”; es miembro activa de la Coalición Paz para la Niñez; y es estudiante de la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Ha recibido múltiples reconocimientos por su labor profesional y comunitaria.
Tracy Matheson
Nominated by Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
Tracy Matheson is from Fort Worth, Texas, president and founder of Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission. Tracy and her husband, David, have four children. Three sons and a daughter named Molly. Molly's life inspired her to found Project Beloved and gave Tracy her most crucial role: a momma with a mission. She has discovered her life's calling to do her part to change the conversation about sexual assault and empower survivors to find their voices.
Tracy identifies gaps and helps build bridges that connect advocates, law enforcement, SANES, policymakers, and other allied professionals. Her work helps exemplify how working together helps strengthen support so survivors don't fall through the gaps and can receive more trauma-informed care.
Tracy partners with sexual assault programs to provide survivors with Beloved Bundles, which include necessary items survivors need to leave a forensic exam with dignity. Thousands of bags have been provided across the country.
Tracy works with law enforcement agencies to transform the physical space in interview rooms, ensuring survivors can talk about their experiences in a welcoming, calm, and safe space.
Tracy is a force at the legislative level. She played a crucial role in changing Texas laws. Tracy uses her experience to impact the hearts and minds of criminal justice professionals and motivate them to enhance their practices. Her work raising awareness around using the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCap) has been instrumental in helping officers communicate about cases and identify patterns between offenses across Texas.
Gary A. Scheller
Nominated by Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Gary Scheller, BACJ, CPM, is the Director of the Utah Office for Victims of Crime (UOVC). Gary began his career in victim services in 1992 as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for child victims in Utah’s Second Judicial District and as a victim advocate in the Weber County Attorney’s Office. He became a Reparation Officer in the Utah Office for Victims of Crime (formerly Crime Victim Reparations) in 1998 and was appointed Director of that agency in October, 2012. Gary is very active with the Utah State Legislature, advising and educating law makers and fiscal analysts regarding crime victim issues at the local, state and federal levels. He has served multiple terms on the boards of directors for the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators and the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards and is a past President of that National Association. Gary has three decades of experience working with victims of crime and helping to develop victim centered policies and legislation at the local, state and federal levels.
Gary has supported the strengthening of sexual assault programs in Utah. As the Director of Utah’s Office of Victims of Crime, his vision and collaborative approach has helped increase services for sexual assault survivors. The Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault has seen a growth in SANE programs and rape crisis center programs.
Keely Linton
Nominated by VALOR (Formerly the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault)
Keely Linton is Íipay and Kupa Native from the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians. She currently lives and works within her community. She began her career in domestic violence and sexual assault while working for the Indian Health Council, Inc. Keely provides community education on domestic violence and sexual assault, including training service providers and other professionals. She is the Chairperson for the Judicial Council of the Intertribal Court of Southern California and Mesa Grande Business Development Corporation. Keely currently works as the Executive Director for the Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition and is devoted to her community to assist with the reduction in family violence. She hopes to make policy changes within the local tribal governments that she serves to better protect our families.
Jim Kranz
Nominated by West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services
Jim Kranz, Vice President, Quality and Data Services for the West Virginia Hospital Association, has been an integral partner in addressing gaps in forensic exam access in the state. As a member of the WV Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Commission since its inception in 2014, Jim has worked to create and implement policies with the state’s hospitals that have improved the quality of care that sexual assault victims receive as well as improved evidence collection to increase offender accountability.
In that role, Jim collaborated with the WV State Police Forensic Lab to design and implement a project to provide feedback to forensic examiners at medical facilities on the quality of evidence each examiner is collecting to better identify training needs and improve the collection process. He served as the liaison to the hospitals in implementing two state mandates: the submission of reported sex crime kits from the hospitals directly to the crime lab for testing, and a victim portal in the state’s kit tracking system based on kit numbers received from medical facilities at the time of forensic exams. In 2023, Jim worked with the SAFE Commission to draft a legislative rule outlining training standards that all hospitals must address regarding forensic exam access. Mitigating the needs of the hospitals and the desires of the advocacy field was often challenging, but Jim helped create a shared vision that has resulted in systemic changes for forensic exam training and access in West Virginia.
