Maria Busch is the Anti-Trafficking Program Assistant at the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services and works alongside the State Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and the Anti-Trafficking Program Specialist to assist in coordinating the Governor’s Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force initiatives. Prior to her role at the Department of Public Safety, Maria studied at The Ohio State University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Affairs.
Read MoreSophia Papadimos is the Anti-Trafficking Program Specialist at the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services. She has an educational background in political science and human trafficking, as well as experience with the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. Sophia previously worked on regulatory issues for the Lt. Governor.
Read MoreLaurel Neufeld Weaver, MSW LISW-S is a licensed independent social worker and has recently returned from living and working in Guatemala City. Laurel directs Creating Hope Counseling, in Bluffton Ohio, and provides individual and group therapeutic services to trauma survivors. She has experience identifying and serving human trafficking survivors.
Read MoreSarah Bessell is a Legal Fellow at The Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Center, where she conducts research on accountability for human trafficking victims. Bessell, an attorney, is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School. She holds a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University. She is the co-author of Diplomatic Immunity and the Abuse of Domestic Workers: Criminal and Civil Remedies in the United States.
Read MoreJamils Richard is a survivor of child trafficking, researcher and motivational speaker who’s using his story to protect present-day-children from a childhood of slavery. He abandoned his dream career in medicine after accidentally reading stories of child slaves which reflected his life story and co-founded GLOWA that also support fellow survivors.
Read MoreJaffer Latief Najar is working with Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai-India as a Lead Research Associate. Presently, he leads a National Research project on human trafficking in India being supported by the United Nations, and the Government of India under the aegis of National Human Rights Commission of India.
Read MoreKimberly Hogan, MA is a Research Project Director at the Arizona State University Office of Sex Trafficking Research. Kimberly is a Master’s of Social Work student, and a 2016 semifinalist for the Point Foundation National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund.
Read MoreDr. Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, MSW, PhD is an Assoc. Professor in the Arizona State University School of Social Work and the Director of the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research. She is on a number of local, state and national expert task forces and councils, and is on the editorial board of three journals.
Read MoreKristen Bracy, MA is the Associate Director of Research Implementation for the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research at Arizona State University. Kristen has a Master of Arts in Social Justice and Human Rights, and is currently a Masters of Social Work student.
Read MoreLambia Karitsiotis has over 12 years of experience working in community corrections and working with a traumatized population, as well as 10 years experience with community policing initiatives. Lambia is also on the Founders Advisory Board for the Global Resource Epicenter Against Trafficking.
Read MoreRomney Pierog is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator and a Registered Nurse at Kingston General Hospital, with over 18 years of clinical experience.
Read MoreConnie Rose holds a M.S. in Adult Education, Training and Development from Barry University, is the Director of Training and Survivor Leadership for Selah Freedom. She has over 25 years experience as a speaker, media contributor, coach and educator. Her personal journey of transformation includes years of childhood sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and domestic violence.
Read MoreDavid Nalls CDCA, RC, CPI is a the lead case manager and New Concepts and a member of the Ohio Citizens Advocacy group and sat on the board to create peer support in the state of Ohio. He is pursuing his BSW at Spring Arbor and is in long term recovery.
Read MoreDr. Rochelle L. Dalla is a Professor in the Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research centers on women trafficked into the commercial sex industry in non-Western countries. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Human Trafficking.
Read MoreJacob Spellis, LSW and CDCA earned his Masters in Social Work at the University of Michigan. After obtaining his GED from the Lucas County Correctional Treatment Facility he had a vision to revamp and reform the criminal justice system. He currently works at New Concepts. Jacob is in long-term recovery.
Read MoreDr. Wesley Bullock is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toledo. His research, teaching, and training interests focus on evidence-based practices for serious mental illness, and service-learning research that emphasizes person-centered, recovery-focused treatments for underserved populations.
Read MoreHeidi Haenisch, MA, is a Doctoral Student in clinical psychology at the University of Toledo. Her research and clinical interests focus on the recovery of severe mental illness in forensic populations, with an emphasis on mindfulness-based treatments.
Read MoreCarol Coder, Art Therapist, provides services to interrupt crisis patterns, illuminate strengths and support empowerment for individuals dealing with depression, severe trauma, complicated grief, and addictive disorders.
Read MoreDiana is a speaker, attorney and author who is committed to helping those in need, specifically young women and youth. Diana’s unique background has helped her to assist in leading diversity efforts within two large corporations and become VP, General Counsel and COO of the Toledo Fair Housing Center.
Read MoreAravindhan Natarajan, Assistant Professor in the Social Work program at the University of Toledo, is interested in the application of the Arts in social work practice and research.
Read More