Presenter Information

VICTIM ADVOCATE COORDINATOR

Abby Navarrette began her advocacy work in 2015 as a volunteer advocate, later taking on roles as family advocate, sexual assault/domestic violence advocate, and now coordinating all advocacy efforts at Affirming Heart Victim Services. She advises each program's advocacy work, ensuring a survivor-centered approach, and also oversees the agency’s website and outreach materials. Abby is dedicated to strengthening victim services, expanding community awareness, and ensuring survivors have access to the resources they need.

CAC's- More Than Just the FI

CLINICAL MANAGER & FLOOR NURSE

Alejandra is the bilingual clinical manager and floor nurse at Casa de Salud, a community clinic serving monolingual Spanish speakers, transgender individuals, intravenous drug users, and all in the community with dignity, respect, and trauma-informed care. She worked with Albuquerque SANE Collaborative as a SANE for 13 years and helped survivors for over 20 years. She is one of the Bloomberg Fellows at Johns Hopkins University. Originally from Mexico City, she has advocated for uninsured, undocumented, and immigrant patients throughout her career. She is a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence bringing her experience to treat all individuals with respect and dignity.

Survivor Centered Helpline Response

CAC's- More Than Just the FI Panelist

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LA PINON

Angelica started her career with La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services in 2012 as the Advocate Coordinator and later became a Child Forensic Interviewer where she was able to create a safe place for children to have a voice and provide services to survivors and their families. She was a part of cultivating the Doña Ana County Child Abuse MDT and leading the CAC. Angelica is now the Executive Director of La Piñon and has spearheaded opening satellite offices in Deming and Truth or Consequences. Her vision is leaning on the grassroots of the organization and expanding the comprehensive services. Angelica leads her agency with compassion for victims and survivors by guiding her team with respect and integrity. Above all, she is the mother of three wonderful children and the ‘Abuela’ to two beautiful granddaughters.

Cultivating Community: Engage With Purpose

PRESIDENT, SINGLE SPACE STRATEGIES

Angie Poss is the President of Single Space Strategies, where she leads the vision of the company, connecting communications and data to impactful policy efforts for clients ranging from national philanthropies, local non-profits, private companies, and government entities. Angie’s career as a communications & public relations professional is grounded in storytelling that uplifts the voices & values of New Mexicans to advance policy change. Her work is informed by the knowledge that in order for our people to have more opportunity to thrive, their lived experiences have to be heard by those wielding power.

Rising in Truth: Data and Storytelling as Catalysts for Change

SENIOR PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Arianna Sessoms serves on the Workplace and Economic Opportunity team at Futures Without Violence. Prior to that, she worked at the sexual and domestic violence state coalitions as a primary facilitator delivering training, technical assistance, and resources for professionals serving survivors. Prior to coalition work, Arianna worked in higher education where she provided campus violence prevention programming, Title IX response services, confidential advocacy, and course development and instruction. She is a preventionist at heart, passionate about changing social conditions that cultivate and perpetuate harm. Arianna advocates for intersectional social justice strategies, comprehensive sexuality education, creative innovations, and building collaborative relationships as a path toward ending violence.

Creating Safer Workplaces to Prevent Sexual Violence and Promote Economic Justice

VICE PRES., SINGLE SPACE STRATEGIES

Brittany Poss is the Vice President of Data & Research at Single Space Strategies, where she leads a team of researchers focused on translating complex information into actionable insights for mission-driven organizations. Her work spans mixed-methods research, including quantitative analysis, qualitative synthesis, and geospatial mapping, with a focus on equity-centered policy and program design.

Rising in Truth: Data and Storytelling as Catalysts for Change

CO-FOUNDER, PARNALL & ADAMS LAW

David Adams is the co-founder of Parnall & Adams Law, LLC, where he focuses on civil rights, wrongful death investigations, and matters related to Indigenous law. His work includes advocating for justice in overlooked cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP).

He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the DOJ, where he prosecuted major criminal cases and acted as Tribal Liaison to the 22 Pueblos and Nations across NM.

David serves on the boards of NMCSAP, the NM Indian Bar Association, and the StrongHearts Native Helpline. He has delivered hundreds of training to organizations nationwide, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed approaches in the response to violent crime.

Through The Eyes of Jane Doe: We Can Do Better

PROGRAM ASSOCIATE & WELLNESS PRACTITIONER

Hieu Pham is a Program Associate at the National Association of Asians & Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence. She was formerly a Co-Director of Programs and Community Outreach at Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity, where she administered the Campus Advocacy Program and launched Yoni Chats, a support group for API sexual assault victims focused on healthy sexuality and healing through the arts and culturally-rooted practices. Hieu is a former journalist who worked as a government reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She immigrated to the United States as a child and refugee from Vietnam and is passionate about issues such as Asian American identity, community health, and the immigrant diaspora experience.

Shifting From Crisis to Healing

ATTORNEY ADVISOR, AEQUITAS

Jonathan H. Kurland is an Attorney Advisor with AEquitas. Prior to that, Jonathan worked in the District Attorney’s Office of Berks County, Pennsylvania where became Chief Deputy District Attorney and supervised, advised, and prosecuted matters involving intimate partner violence and homicides, sexual violence, child abuse, and grand jury investigations. He helped develop collaboration between prosecutors, law enforcement, victim advocacy, medical professional, and other community stakeholders particularly through serving as the office lead for a variety of victim-focused multidisciplinary investigative teams. Jonathan served in the appellate unit and was assigned as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for Berks County, where he was a liaison to multiple agencies to facilitate federal adoption of prosecutions involving complex criminal enterprises and violent career criminals. He also taught courses in the Criminal Justice Department at Alvernia University. Jonathan remains based in Berks County where he lives with his wife and son and spends his spare time running or feeling guilty for skipping running.

Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault & Working with Child Witnesses in IPV/DV cases

SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, APIGBV

Jose Juan Lara Jr., DHS, has dedicated over 20 years as an advocate, educator, and expert in victim services, legal advocacy, and survivor-centered,

trauma-informed services. As the Systems and Advocacy Senior Program Manager at the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (API-GBV), providing national training and technical assistance in interpretation and translation planning.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lara has worked to support survivors and enhance the capacity of victim service professionals to provide adaptable, survivor-centered support. He has contributed to developing training curricula, leading initiatives, and collaborating with government agencies, legal professionals, and service providers to improve responses to survivors. Dr. Lara holds a Doctorate in Human Services specializing in Leadership and Organizational Management from Capella University and advanced degrees in Public Safety, Sociology, Psychology, and Social Work.

Interpretation and Translation Planning

LICENSED NURSE & PROMATORA

Katalina Olivia Gurulé is a Native of Northern New Mexico, raised in Rio Lucio and Albuquerque. She is a Promatora Traditional, Herbalist, and Energy Worker with nearly 20 years of experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse, including work as a Hospice Nurse. Her passion for plant medicine began in childhood and deepened through teachings from various family members and respected healers, including Medicine Woman Bernadette Torres and Curanderas Rita Navarette and Toñita Gonzales. Other significant teachers include Promatora Traditional Sylvia Ledesma, Arlo Starr, DOM, Monica Lucero, DOM and Reiki Master Paula Terrero. She co-founded Abuela’s Medicina to preserve ancestral healing and offer access to traditional medicine. Katalina blends Western and Traditional Medicine in her healing approach, offering herbal consultations, workshops, and energy healing. She’s a proud mother of a two-year-old boy.

Keeping Yourself Clean with Spiritual Hygiene

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

Katie Dewar, PT, DPT, PRPC was born and raised in South Florida and graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida. She spent her final clinical rotation working with the Pelvic Health team at the University’s renowned research hospital. There, she had the privilege of being exposed to a wide variety of abdominopelvic conditions, treatments, research, and mentorship. She believes in an integrative and holistic approach to healing and is so excited to have found a practice of like-minded colleagues in NM! Katie has speciality certifications in Pelvic Rehabilitation as well as Pelvic Sexuality Counseling. Outside the clinic, she loves painting, hiking, cooking, listening to music, gardening, and exploring new places and ideas.

Trauma Informed Care and Rehabilitation from a Pelvic Health Perspective

MSN, FNP-BC, SANE-A

Kimberly Hansen has been a registered nurse for 33 years and a nurse practitioner and SANE for 23 years. Most days she’s working as a nurse practitioner at FHL Pediatrics, which she co-owns. She is the clinical coordinator and SANE-A for the Roswell Refuge SANE Program, and performs all the pediatric SANE exams for Chaves and Eddy county. Kim is the acting medical director for ARISE in Portales/Clovis and Affirming Heart SANE in Carlsbad. Kim is also a core instructor at the district training for SANE nurses. She has done trainings at other conferences and throughout her community. Kim has also authored several articles for about sexual assault awareness.

Kim has 3 grown children (one of which followed her into the nursing profession), 7 grandchildren and 17 nieces and nephews. She spends her off hours watching her family play football and soccer and at dance recitals. If you can’t find her there, she probably snuck off and has her head stuck in a book.

SANE Case Review

DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Krysta Montez is a New Mexico native born and raised in Las Cruces. She began her career in 2014 at New Mexico State University where she worked to address multiple Public Health issues impacting Southern New Mexico’s rural communities. Krysta is passionate about providing education around public health issues, in particular sexual violence. This passion connected her to La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services of Southern New Mexico in 2016 where she began working as a victim advocate and prevention educator. She is now the Director of Prevention Programs at La Piñon for their prevention education department where she continues her work to prevent and end sexual violence in Southern New Mexico.

Cultivating Community: Engage with Purpose

PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS

Dr. Strickler DO, FAAP is a professor of pediatrics at the UNM School of Medicine. She serves as the Section Chief for Child Safety and Well-being, and as the medical director for the Child Abuse Response Team which provides medical evaluations of children who are alleged victim of abuse or neglect. She serves clinically at Para los Ninos, a program that provides medical evaluation of children who are alleged victims of sexual abuse.

Dr. Strickler frequently serves as an expert witness, serves on the Child Abuse and Neglect Panel for the NM Child Fatality Review, and participates in multiple county Multidisciplinary Review teams. Dr. Strickler is active in educating training and practicing healthcare providers, and serves as the associate director for Child Abuse Pediatrics fellowship, director of medical student, pediatric resident and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship rotations in child maltreatment.

There’s More Than A Hymen! Overview of Physical Injuries for Pediatric SANEs

PSYTHETHERAPIST

Lisa Donelan is a mom of four and the proud owner of a Great Dane. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University and is a Doctoral Candidate at Liberty University. In her work with the local police department, Lisa discovered a passion for supporting law enforcement’s mental health. ​As a therapist for the local domestic violence agency, she participated in Ruby Jo’s Polyvagal Theory (PVT) training sessions and witnessed the positive effects of the PVT approach on survivors. Since 2017, Lisa has served as a teaching assistant, aiding other practitioners in expanding their abilities. She currently operates her private practice, Aspen Mountain Therapy, employing Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy to assist trauma survivors. Additionally, she is a clinical and crisis management expert for domestic violence survivors, serves as the head chaplain for the local police department, and is a national trainer for the COPS peer support program.

The Myth of Diagnosis in the Treatment of Sexual Assault

CAC DIRECTOR, LA PINON

Lisa Jaquez is the Director of La Pinon's Children's Advocacy Center and a Child Forensic Interviewer, having conducted over 1200 forensic interviews on children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults when there is a suspicion of abuse or maltreatment. She oversees a staff of forensic interviewers and family advocates and coordinates the Dona Ana County Multidisciplinary Team. As a native New Mexican and graduate from New Mexico State University with a degree in Social Work, Lisa has worked with children and families for many years believing in the value of support services for a stronger community.

CAC's- More Than Just the FI

DETECTIVE

Mr. Munro is currently a Detective in the Criminal Investigation Division at the Hobbs Police Department, and has investigated over 1,500 sex crimes and approximately 250 Sexual Exploitation of Children cases. Prior to Mr. Munro’s position with the Hobbs Police Department, he earned by MA in Counseling and worked for 10 years as a licensed therapist, performing individual and group treatment with individuals convicted of sexual offenses and/or Sexual Exploitation cases. Mr. Munro has an active Task Force Member of the NM Internet Crimes Against Children since 2012, and Lead Trainer at CTI Services NM. Mr. Munro has testified as an expert witness in the areas of Sexual Assault Investigation and Trauma of Victims.

How an Effective MDT can Positively Impact the Victim

DIRECTOR AND WELLNESS PRACTITIONER

Nina Jusuf has been working on domestic violence and sexual assault issues since 1992, starting as a hotline volunteer before becoming a shelter-based advocate and later as the Executive Director of the San Francisco Women Against Rape for five years. She is one of the founders of NAPIESV and has led numerous trainings and technical assistance on sexual assault and domestic violence issues in general and Asian and Pacific Islanders - specific trauma-informed services. In addition, Nina had been providing training on organizational sustainability. Nina believes in collective wellness beyond self-care and has led/facilitated trainings on wellness using feminist approach, cultural wisdom, and trauma informed framework for survivors

Shifting From Crisis to Healing

SEX TRAFFICKING COORDINATOR

Patrick Gallegos has been working in the violence prevention and advocacy field for over 4 years, with a specialty in Missing and murdered Indigenous Persons and trafficking in tribal communities. They are passionate about deconstructing colonial systems of power through education, awareness, and direct action. Patrick believes white supremacy is upheld through neo-colonialism and capitalism, and building lateral structures of community power is essential to uprooting racist systems of oppression.

Patrick was born and raised in Albuquerque and has strong ties to their community in the city. Patrick hopes they can build a better life for their relatives and community members in NM as they work to undo centuries of exploitation in whatever small ways they can.

How Building Tribal Sovereignty Can Support Native American Survivors of Trafficking

CHILD ABUSE PEDIATRICIAN

Dr. Ornelas is a board certified child abuse pediatrician. For the last 10 years she has been working at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance, AZ. She was recruited to start the Family Advocacy Center which provides emergency and scheduled medical evaluations for child sexual abuse and sexual assault. She's worked in this field for over 35 years most recently on the Navajo reservation but also in LA, San Francisco Bay Area and Albuquerque.

Trauma Informed Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Medical Evaluations on the Navajo Nation

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SAFE & INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS

Shiwali is a nationally recognized Title IX expert and leads advocacy addressing gender-based harassment in schools. Her work also focuses on strengthening civil rights protections for LGBTQI+ students, advocating against school censorship, and addressing other gender equity issues in education. Previously, she was at the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), where she worked on civil rights policy and legal guidance interpreting Title IX’s anti-discrimination protections.

Shiwali serves as the Co-Chair of the Leadership Conference’s Education Task Force, and on the Board of Callisto. Shiwali graduated from Boston University and American University Washington College of Law, where she is an adjunct law professor.

Title IX Today: What to know about survivors' legal rights in education

FAMILY ADVOCATE

Stephanie Perkins is a Family Advocate of the Family Advocacy Center at the Tse Hootsooi Medical Center. She has dedicated 7 years to working with children and adults affected by sexual assault. Her passion is to provide her Dine (Navajo) relatives support and understanding as they navigate through their trauma and abuse. Recently, she was a recipient of the Heart of Gold Award from the Victim Witness Services.

She is a member of the Dine (Navajo) Nation, originally from Nakaibito (Mexican Springs) NM but residing in Fort Defiance, AZ. Stephanie is of the Bitter Water clan born for the Sleeping Rock people. Her maternal grandfather is of the Salt Clan and her paternal grandfather is of the Black Sheep people. Stephanie is a mother to 3 wonderful children and a grandmother and Nali to her 2 beautiful grandchildren.

Trauma Informed Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Medical Evaluations on the Navajo Nation

CO DIRECTOR OF AFFIRMING HEART VICTIM SERVICES

Zelma Lopez has been a forensic interviewer since 2008, co-founding the Cavern City Child Advocacy Center in 2014 with then Eddy County Sheriff, Scott London. As Executive Director of Affirming Heart Victim Services, she continues to expand forensic and victim support services in S Eddy and
Lea Counties, always seeking innovative programs to fill service gaps and strengthen partnerships. Her passion lies in empowering survivors and ensuring victims receive the justice and support they deserve.

CAC's- More Than Just the FI