The Student Fellows Hailing from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across the United States, the 2024 Victim Advocacy Corps Student Fellows represent a variety of identities and bring their unique experiences and perspectives to the field of victim advocacy.
Aaniiih Nakoda College - Fort Belknap, MT
Janeese Brisbo (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Montana, mostly near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Despite facing hardships and being the average, rebellious teen, getting older, having children, and losing her older sister, Darcy, to cancer in 2020 has helped her to realize her desire to live a healthy lifestyle, not let her past experiences define her, and always help those who need it. Janeese recently received her associate’s degree in Human Services, which has broadened her horizons and encouraged her to pursue helping professions. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and wants to attain further knowledge on how she can best help others through her work.
Savannah Buckman Spottedbird (she/her/hers) is a Nakoda Native American from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana. She currently serves as a fourth-year technician on an ecological native grassland restoration research project, working with Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s Seeds of Success, Oregon State University, and the Fort Belknap community. Savannah is also a second-year student at Aaniiih Nakoda Community College and really enjoys helping the environment—whether it’s people or the ecosystem. As a first-generation student, Savannah is proud to share that her college experience has improved her grades and work ethic, as she has recently been honored with a Dean’s List Award. In her free time, she likes to read, bead for her traditional regalia, and learn more ways to better herself.
Shaina Rae Barrows (she/her/hers) is a 27-year-old single mother raising her wildflower of a daughter— Hayley Quinn—in Harlem, MT near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. She has associate’s degrees in Human Services and Chemical Dependency Counseling, as well as a one-year Behavioral Health Technician Certificate. Shaina is a natural helper at heart and is currently employed as a Differential Response Case Manager at the Aaniiih Nakoda Family Healing Center (ANFHC). In her work with ANFHC, she helps families who struggle with different forms of poverty, addiction, and abuse. Her career goals will always include advocacy for families and children, and she strives to be a safe place for children of her community. When she is not working, Shaina’s favorite hobbies include being outside with family and being in nature.
Coahoma Community College - Clarksdale, MS
Ian Bolden (he/him/his) is a 19-year-old alumnus of Greenville High School attending Coahoma Community College. Following graduation in May 2024, he plans to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at The University of Mississippi. Ian is very involved in his campus and community, having served as a member of the Mayor Youth Council of Greenville High School and participated in the Annual Christmas Toy Drive - Greenville and Easter Egg Hunt. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa at Coahoma Community College and was also a saxophonist for the Greenville Solid Gold Marching Band as well as the Marching Maroon Typhoon. Ian also has ties to the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church and tries to help when possible. He has always been passionate about the things he does and tries to be at his very best. In the future, he aims to pursue his dream and ambition of becoming a District Attorney.
KeiJuan Neese (he/him/his) is a 19-year-old student at Coahoma Community College (CCC) majoring in Early Childhood Education. He has always had a love for music and helping others. KeiJuan chose to attend CCC on a Band Scholarship and is currently a member of the CCC Marching Maroon Typhoon in which he plays second euphonium. His love of helping others has also led him to participate in Tigers IVO, an organization that spreads awareness to and of victims of interpersonal violence. As a gay, Black man in America, advocating for others is nothing new to him and he is glad that NOVA is giving him a chance to help others.
Saniyah Turner (she/her/hers) graduated from North Panola High School with high honors. Currently, she is an excelling sophomore at Coahoma Community College (CCC) majoring in Criminal Justice. While at CCC, she has earned three scholarship awards for her exemplary academic performance and leadership skills. Saniyah is also a member of Tigers IVO, which is an interpersonal violence group on campus that is educated and trained on physical, sexual, and/or mental violence to help others. Outside of her educational achievements, she enjoys baking delicious treats, doing makeup, and handling her family’s food truck. More than anything, she enjoys using her multiple skills and talents to help others when they need it most.
Gallaudet University - Washington, D.C.
Priscilla Berrios (she/her/hers) is a rising senior at Gallaudet University majoring in Social Work. During her time at Gallaudet, she has accumulated many enriching experiences as well as knowledge that has allowed her to be skilled in forming meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Collaboration, active listening, and problem solving are some characteristics that make up her values and beliefs. Priscilla believes in the importance of providing resources to those who lack accessibility, awareness, or capacity to access resources that would improve their quality of life.
Kayden Williams (he/him/his) is a Deaf individual of Black and Indigenous heritage who has navigated various intersections of identity to carve his path. From his early days as a camper, he discovered his passion for mentoring and guiding others. Whether on the court as a basketball player, or in the woods as a camp counselor, Kayden embraces roles that allow him to foster growth and confidence in those around me. With experience as a 1-on-1 aide, he honed his ability to connect with individuals on a personal level, understanding and supporting their specific needs. Through it all, Kayden’s commitment to uplifting and empowering others remains steadfast, driving him to continue making a positive impact in his community and beyond.
Regis University - Denver, CO
Grace Chungu (she/her/hers) is a dedicated researcher and advocate with a passion for social justice. Currently pursuing a Masters in Sustainable Development Practice at Regis University, Grace brings a strong academic background to her work. She has recently served as a Violence Prevention Educator at Regis, where she worked diligently to raise awareness and promote healthy relationships within the campus community. In addition to her studies and advocacy work, Grace holds an MBA and is the proud founder of a research company specializing in various fields. With a keen interest in research, she thrives on exploring complex issues, gathering data, and uncovering insights that drive positive change. Outside of her professional pursuits, Grace finds joy and creative expression in cooking, writing, and painting. She also enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Krishna Lund-Brown (they/them/theirs & he/him/his) is a graduate student at Regis University. As an individual in the Queer and POC communities, their collective identities have placed them in unique positions to garner attention and, more importantly, their voice amongst various populations. These platforms allow them to continue educating others and ushering productive conversations that highlight communities that may otherwise be neglected and misunderstood. Krishna is always learning and aspires to not only better inform themselves but others as well in the hopes of uplifting as many folks as possible. To them, elevating social standing and mitigating social divisions while respecting everyone’s lived experiences, guides their efforts to nurture safe spaces for both underrepresented communities and their future advocates.
Rowyn Raze (they/them/theirs), from Portland, Oregon, is a fourth-year nursing student at Regis University. They have a background in crisis line services, volunteer organizing, and mutual aid, and have worked predominantly with youth, sexual assault survivors, houseless neighbors, and people experiencing period poverty. Upon graduation, they plan to pursue SANE or hospice nursing. Rowyn is currently a nurse-extern in a blood cancer unit and is beginning to partner with the Harm Reduction Action Center (HRAC) in Denver, Colorado. When they are not working in a hospital or in their community, they are polishing their debut book and practicing yoga.
University of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
Sophie Anderson Haynie (she/her/hers) is a junior at the University of New Mexico (UNM) pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English & Philosophy. Though she was born in Wisconsin, she considers Albuquerque to be her home. Sophie’s philosophy is to ‘meet people where they are at’ by practicing radical compassion and empathy in every interaction. She has always been passionate about volunteering and has spent much of the last three years working with Street Safe, a local nonprofit organization that serves women experiencing homelessness and sex-trafficking. Sophie has her specialist certification and training in Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention with the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Harm Reduction Coalition. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, writing, listening to Otis Redding, and going out into the rain without an umbrella.
Thanh Nguyen (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate student studying Psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM) with minors in Management and Sociology. She works as the Social Media Manager for Planned Parenthood Generation Action at UNM and also works as a childcare professional at Children’s Choice, fostering early childhood development. During Thanh’s time at the University of Massachusetts - Boston, Thanh worked for the 3-Point Foundation, a non-profit organization, as an assistant teacher and counselor for school-aged youth. When Thanh is not working, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and cat, as well as being active and partaking in arts and crafts. As a first-generation student from Vietnam, she aspires to pursue a career as a licensed counseling professional and hopes to instill and contribute a positive impact through all of her projects.
Sicilee Silversmith (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate from the University of New Mexico (UNM) with a B.A. in Psychology and Family & Child Studies minor. She will be returning to UNM for graduate school to pursue a Master of Counseling. Originally from Arizona, Sicilee is a Native American from the Navajo Tribe. Her career goal is to provide mental health services to Indigenous communities, with the ultimate intention of making her way back home to work with her own community members. Sicilee currently volunteers with the Native Health Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides community-based health services to the Indigenous people of New Mexico. In her free time, she likes to binge-watch shows, read, listen to music, and garden.
Felicia Tuchman (she/her/hers) is a PhD student in clinical psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Working under Dr. Katie Witkiewitz, she conducts addiction treatment research; specifically, Felicia leverages advanced quantitative methods to study harm reduction approaches to substance use disorder treatment and the dynamic roles of environmental context in recovery. In 2022, Felicia graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in data science. In 2024, she completed an M.S. in clinical psychology at UNM. In her free time, Felicia enjoys running, hip-hop dance, and supporting survivors and victims of interpersonal violence.
The University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso, TX
Aldo Jafet Perez Flores (he/him/his) is an emerging leader in the field of education who is committed to amplifying the voices of the unheard, advocating for compassionate policies, and cultivating a culture of empowerment and resilience in the human approach. Currently, he works within the Window for Orientation and Education Office (VOE) at the Mexican Consulate in El Paso, advocates for LGBTQ+ organizations in his city works at El Paso Community College, and works as a substitute teacher in local school districts this variety of roles, he received experience and gained valuable insights into the realities of victim advocacy and community outreach, having witnessed the profound impact of violence on individuals and communities. Aldo sees the Victim Advocacy Corps fellowship as an opportunity to raise awareness, empower victims, and promote preventative measures by collaborating with peers and diverse stakeholders, as well as applying academic, theoretical concepts to real-world contexts.
Brianda Vasquez (she/her/hers) is a single mother of two boys, currently finishing her degrees in Psychology and Sociology at The University of Texas at El Paso. Currently, she is doing research as an undergraduate assistance in domestic violence and alcoholism, sexual assault perpetration, difficulties in emotion regulation and hostile masculinity, and trauma-informed care. In the future, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Brianda believes that her research interests will benefit greatly as a result of her being a part of the Victim Advocacy Corps, an opportunity that will allow her to gather the tools that will one day improve others’ mental health and quality of life.