Audace has over a decade of experience working with victims of crime. She began her career in 2004 as a disability advocate at Barrier Free Living, a non-profit organization providing support for domestic violence victims with disabilities. Audace then worked at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s (DA’s) Office where she served as the Teen Services Coordinator in the Victim Services Unit, advocating for survivors under the age of 24. After six years at the DA’s Office, she moved on to Day One, an intervention program where she trained adult professionals on the intersection of teen dating violence and domestic minor sex trafficking. She is currently a Technology Safety Specialist with Safety Net at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) where she focuses specifically on the intersection between domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and technology.

Teresa has over 20 years of providing direct service to both offenders and victims of crime. Teresa is currently the Chief Advocacy Officer at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center where she advocates for system change to create trauma-informed climates, provides local and national support, consultation, and training, and is a key player in development, strategic planning, service delivery and management across multiple sites. Prior to returning to Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Teresa was the Victim Witness Coordinator for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office where she created the Victim Witness Unit. In addition to her current role, Teresa is the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator and Board President for Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. She also serves as a member of the Gender Bias Advisory Board for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Karla is an Advocacy and Resources Director for National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). She supports the provision of technical assistance to the nation on a wide range of sexual violence prevention and intervention topics. She has been an advocate in the in the movement to end sexual violence for over twenty years. Ms. Vierthaler previously worked for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, where she developed resources and provided training on the impact of sexual violence in various communities, including adults in later life, people with disabilities, and others.

Dr. Brumage is Assistant Dean for Public Health Practice and Service in the WVU School of Public Health and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine in the WVU School of Medicine. He is formerly the Executive Director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and Health Officer for Kanawha County and Putnam County, West Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry (cum Laude) from West Virginia University (WVU) in 1982 and graduated from the WVU School of Medicine in 1986. He received his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington in 2003. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Brumage retired as a Colonel from the United States Army in 2015 after 25 years of service as an internal medicine physician and later as a public health physician. He deployed twice to the Balkans and from 2004-2005 to Tikrit, Iraq with the First Infantry Division as the Division Surgeon, the equivalent of chief medical officer. He holds three Legion of Merit medals and a Bronze Star, among other awards, from his service.

Sgt. Craigo is a 17 year veteran of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Craigo works as the Violence Against Women Investigator for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department in which he works in a collaborative effort with other agencies to enforce and investigate violence against women crimes to include domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Sgt. Craigo is the co-chair of the Putnam County Domestic Violence STOP Team. He is also a co-facilitator for the Putnam County Day Report Center (BIPPS) program. Sgt. Craigo is a certified law enforcement instructor on domestic violence, victim services, and strangulation investigations. In 2015, Sgt. Craigo was awarded the Purple Ribbon Award by the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence for his participation in multi-discipline training of over 1,000 people in one year on crimes against women. Sgt. Craigo has been recognized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of West Virginia in 2015 and 2017 for Distinguished Service and Excellency in victim advocacy and service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Aaron earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic and Investigative Sciences from West Virginia University in 2012, and has worked as a forensic analyst in the Evidence Processing Section of the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory since. Currently, he serves as the Sexual Assault Kit Administrator for the WVSP lab, represents the laboratory on the SANE Advisory Board, and provides oversight for the SAECK System used to track sexual assault kits throughout West Virginia.

Margaret Denny, MSN, RN is currently the Director of Nursing at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, West Virginia. Driven by her passion for sexual assault survivors, Margaret holds a part time position at FRIS as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Project Coordinator. She is trained in both adult and pediatric sexual assault forensic collection. Margaret is a member of the Training Committee, a sub-committee of the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Commission, and a member of the WV SANE Advisory Board. Margaret was a former board member for the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center and served as a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team for Monongalia County for over six years. Margaret received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Waynesburg University and returned 25 years later for a master’s degree in Nursing Administration.

Gail has been an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney since 2003 for Ohio County, West Virginia, working as the designated domestic violence assistant. In this capacity Gail has been a VAWA grant funded prosecutor and member of the Ohio County STOP team. Prior to 2003 Gail was formerly employed as an Assistant Prosecutor in Ohio County (1993-94) and practiced law under Rule 10 as a Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Monongalia County during his third year of law school (1991-92). In his current position Gail has prosecuted crimes running the gamut from misdemeanor bond violations, domestic violence, child pornography and sexual assaults to first degree murder. He has served as trial counsel in over 100 jury trials. Since 2010, Gail has been a member of a statewide training team instructing police, prosecutors and victim advocates across the State of West Virginia in various practices and procedures related to the investigation and prosecution of crimes of violence against family members, women and children.

Melissa is originally from Nashville, TN. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2002 from Trevecca Nazarene University and her Master of Science degree in Forensic Science with an emphasis in DNA Analysis in 2010 from Marshall University. She began her career with the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory in May 2004 as an analyst in the Drug Identification Section. In October 2005, she transferred to the Biochemistry Section of the laboratory. She is currently the Section Supervisor of the Biochemistry Section and also serve as the back-up CODIS State Administrator. She is responsible for the day to day technical and administrative operations of the DNA section, including supervision of other analysts working in the section and grant management. She is an active member of the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists (SAFS) organization, an assessor for ASCLD/LAB-International as well as an auditor for the Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) for Forensic DNA testing laboratories.

Christina has served as the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Victim Services Coordinator with WV FRIS for almost two years. She has over 20 years of experience in social work/behavioral health, with over 15 years as a clinical therapist in psychiatric settings including outpatient, inpatient, residential, substance abuse treatment, and private practice. She has served as a Program Manager in both outpatient and inpatient facilities, an inpatient Director of Therapy and Social Services, and previously served as a Mental Hygiene Examiner. Christina completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at Fairmont State, and her Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration degrees at WVU. She has been a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) since 2006. Christina is a Level II-trained EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist, has received specialized trauma-specific training, and has completed significant continuing education on trauma, the body, and the brain. She has provided numerous training sessions on trauma and a variety of behavioral/mental health issues, as well as training on topics related to SAKI and Victim Notification throughout the state.

Misty is a Forensic DNA Analyst and the DNA Laboratory Coordinator at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center in Huntington, WV. She has analyzed approximately 500 forensic DNA cases, which have included homicides, sexual assaults and property crimes as well as approximately 9000 convicted offender samples. She has been instrumental in coordinating MUFSC’s sexual assault projects with the Los Angeles Sheriffs’ Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the Detroit Police Department and most recently the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative testing in the state of WV. Misty began a sexual assault initiative at the MUFSC in January 2001 by becoming a member of the WV Sexual Assault Nurse (SANE) Examiner Advisory Board. As a result of this involvement, the MUFSC began hosting Adult and Pediatric SANE trainings to nurses in WV and the US in 2005. As a part of the sexual assault initiative, Misty coordinated the first Sexual Assault Response Team Training in Huntington, WV in 2003.

David has worked at the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory for nearly 25 years. He is currently the supervisor of Evidence Processing and examines sexual assault evidence collection kits for biological material suitable for DNA analysis. He served with the U.S. Air Force National Guard, 130th Security Forces Squadron, from 1997-2005. During his tenure at the state’s only crime lab, he has worked on an estimated 3000 plus sexual assault case investigations and has collaborated with his colleagues and the West Virginia Foundation for Rape and Information Services to update sex crime kit components and documentation to help increase the likelihood that the best possible evidence will be collected.

Gabrielle is an assistant prosecutor in Monongalia County specializing in violence against women. From 2008 to 2015, Gabrielle volunteered as a crisis counselor and/or pro-bono attorney for the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center in Morgantown, WV. Gabrielle has provided numerous state and local domestic violence trainings across West Virginia. Gabrielle earned a BS in Journalism and Electronic Media from West Virginia University in 2010 and a JD from West Virginia University College of Law in 2013. She currently resides with her husband, three cats, five chickens, and a dog in Grafton, WV.

Adrianne graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Adrianne worked for HOPE, Inc., a dual domestic and sexual violence agency for 8 years where she provided direct services to hundreds of victims, facilitated the Harrison County Sexual Assault Response Team, and worked on systems changes through various projects. She also coordinated a network of volunteers to provide advocacy during forensic medical exams and helped train new advocates from across the state. Adrianne served on the Board of Directors for the Harrison County Child Advocacy Center for 4 years before becoming employed there as a Forensic Interviewer for 8 months. Adrianne was the 2016 Visionary Voice Award Winner for the state of West Virginia. Beginning in August 2018, Adrianne began working with West Virginia FRIS as a Victim Services Coordinator.

Brandy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from West Virginia University in 2009 and her Master of Science degree in Family Nurse Practitioner from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2015. She is currently employed by Community Care of West Virginia in Clarksburg as a primary care provider as well as United Hospital Center as a sexual assault nurse examiner. She has been a member of the Harrison County Sexual Assault Response Team and Harrison County Multidisciplinary Investigative Team. Brandy has a strong passion in caring for both the adult and child victims of sexual assault and has devoted a substantial portion of her career to sexual abuse victims.

In November 2018, Ryan A. Saunders began his career at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Prior to his employment with the Department of Justice, he was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for nearly five years—one year of which he was a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. As a Special Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Saunders prosecuted narcotics traffickers and felons in possession of firearms.

Sam is a Title IX Education Specialist at West Virginia University. Focused primarily on service coordination and secondary prevention, Sam provides training on Title IX issues to faculty, staff, and students at WVU. Prior to joining WVU, Sam was the SART (sexual assault response team) Project Coordinator at the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services. In that capacity, Sam traveled throughout the state, delivering trainings designed to enhance services for survivors of sexual assault and stalking. In 2015, Sam authored a training entitled, “Trauma and the Brain: How the Effects of Trauma Turn Investigations Upside Down.” Since its launch in the summer of 2015, hundreds of West Virginian professionals have taken the course, learning about the ways in which trauma shapes survivor behavior and recall of traumatic memories. Sam also has substantial experience engaging in preventive programming, having delivered presentations to thousands of students at West Virginia University, including bystander intervention programming.

Joyce is one of two Team Coordinators with the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Joyce has 30 years of advocacy experience that includes institutional and community mental health, foster care social work, foster parent, and domestic violence advocacy. Her domestic violence advocacy has included direct service provision in a shelter based domestic violence program, court advocacy and shelter management. In 1999 she transitioned into system advocacy with the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence where she coordinated statewide, multidisciplinary development of policy, training, practice and systemic intervention on families experiencing domestic violence. Joyce has provided numerous state and national trainings with partners including the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, the WV Supreme Court Improvement Project, WVU College of Law, National Summit on the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Victimization, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the WV Sheriff’s Association, and the Office on Violence Against Women. Joyce earned a BS in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and lives in Fairmont WV.