NSVRC is supported by a diverse and distinguished national Advisory Council committed to ending sexual violence. Council members represent a diverse range of disciplines, perspectives, and organizations to broaden the scope and strengthen the quality of our national work. Members serve a three-year term during which time they participate in quarterly conference calls, attend annual meetings, sit on committees, and provide consultation as needed. Respect Together (formerly the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape) received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expand their work nationally through NSVRC. NSVRC is governed by Respect Together’s Board of Directors.
To nominate yourself or someone else (with their permission) for the NSVRC Advisory Council please contact us.
Current Members
 |
Yolanda Edrington Yolanda Edrington became the Chief Executive Officer of Respect Together in December 2023. Prior to this, Ms. Edrington served as the Chief Operating Officer of Respect Together’s national division, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), for six years. Ms. Edrington brings over two decades of professional experience in leadership, human services, and health promotion to the national movement to prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. As a leader, Ms. Edrington seeks to foster a trauma-informed organizational culture, striving to build trust, promote respect, and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. She is a bridge-builder who is proud to have supported Respect Together’s mission through expanding partnerships, increasing funding, and working alongside Fortune 500 companies like Uber, Lyft, and the NFL. |
 |
Stephanie A. Dunson, MPH Stephanie Dunson recently joined the Prevention, Practice, and Translation Branch as a Public Health Advisor. She previously served in the Population Health Workforce Branch (PHWB) of the CSELS Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development as the Presidential Management Fellows program lead. Ms. Dunson has also served in various Public Health Analyst positions in CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) Learning Office, working with the 12 Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC) and in the Division of State and Local Readiness (DSLR), where she worked with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement. Ms. Dunson has held various PHA positions within the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion center as well as in the former Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID). |
|
Jessica Grzywacz Jessica Grzywacz is a public health consultant at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. After getting a Master’s Degree in Public Health Education and Health Promotion, she directed an HIV counseling and testing program and chaired a community-based AIDS Council at a local health department before moving to the state health department. For the past twenty years, she has been Michigan’s Sexual Assault Prevention Specialist and also director of the state’s RPE Program. Jessica has extensive experience with national, state, and local partners that are committed to ending sexual violence. She counts primary prevention as a passion. |
|
 |
Nancy Hoffman, MA, LPC, CSW Nancy Hoffman, MA, LPC, CSW, is the State Coordinator for the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (FRIS) . Prior to that, as the first Executive Director of HOPE, Inc . she helped open a shelter and rape crisis center serving five counties in West Virginia. She has served on several national committees and working groups on sexual violence for such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the International Association of Chiefs of Police , and End Violence Against Women International . She has presented at the International Conference to End Violence Against Women and several National Sexual Assault Response Team Conferences. |
 |
Julie Lindahl, PhD Dr. Lindahl completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology degree with a specialization in Forensic Psychology. Dr. Lindahl has been working in the human service field with the military to include Marine Corps, Navy, and Army. Prior to federal employment, Dr. Lindahl worked in the private sector as a Program Manager for Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Developmental Disability Services and as a Property Manager. Dr. Lindahl’s work with victims and offenders extends almost 15 years across non-profit, profit, educational, and military sectors. Her specialties include victimology, offender behavior, crisis intervention and training, and advocacy services and supports such as victim advocacy, legal services and processes, and liaising with law enforcement. |
 |
Jennifer Markowitz, ND, RN, WHNP-BC, SANE-A, DF-IAFN A forensic nurse examiner since 1995, Dr. Markowitz regularly serves as faculty, and as an expert consultant for the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. She has consulted for a variety of agencies and institutions, including Peace Corps, Michigan State University, the US Army Medical Command and the National Institute of Justice. Past national activities include working with the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to develop a national protocol and training standards for Sexual Assault Medical-Forensic Examinations; with the U.S. Department of Defense to revise the military’s Sexual Assault Evidence Collection kit and corresponding documentation forms; and as an Advisory Board member for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. She is the author of multiple publications, including a book, several book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. In 2012 Dr. Markowitz served as President of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. She is a sitting member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces. |
 |
Sarah McMahon, MSW, PhD Sarah McMahon is an Assistant Professor at the Rutgers University School of Social Work and also serves as the Associate Director for the School’s Center on Violence Against Women and Children . Her research focuses on violence against women and children, prevention and social change, and instrument development. Dr. McMahon has extensive experience in designing and implementing studies with college students to measure their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to sexual violence, with a focus on bystander intervention. Prior to her position at the School of Social Work, Dr. McMahon worked in a clinical setting, providing crisis intervention and counseling to survivors of interpersonal violence and delivering prevention education to the community. |
 |
Nicola Overton Nicola Overton possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, as well as a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development & Leadership from Shippensburg University. Her work experience for the past 11 years centers around child welfare and social services, where she works with providers to create programs and services that serve children and families. Mrs. Overton also has previous experience working with youth in an alternative education setting. Currently, Mrs. Overton is studying for various certifications in Human Resources as well as Diversity and Inclusion in order to expand upon her education and knowledge in those fields. Mrs. Overton is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., as well as the Harrisburg Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, where she holds leadership positions, and works for the advancement and betterment of not only women and girls of color, but all people in need, helping to push various advocacy programs within the local community. |
 |
Kelly Parsley, MA Parsley has been a victim advocate for 20 years and speaks nationally on violence prevention. She currently chairs the Health Sciences Department at Carroll College and serves on St. Peter's Hospital Board of Directors and the Lewis and Clark County Board of Health. In 2006, she wrote the field guide that Montana law enforcement use to respond to sexual assaults, and in 2008, she completed the field guide law enforcement use to respond to domestic violence. In 2011, she was named Outstanding Prevention Professional of the Year by the national organization Everfi, and she was given the Visionary Voice Award in 2015. She was also chosen to serve on the White House Think Tank to End Violence on Campuses. |
|
Corrine Sanchez, PhD Dr. Corrine Sanchez of San Ildefonso Pueblo is Executive Director of Tewa Women United. She completed her doctorate at Arizona State University in Justice Studies. Corrine is trained in sexual assault intervention and prevention. She has worked in the sexual violence field for 20 years and helped refine Tewa Women United’s awareness and healing intervention, “Trauma Rocks”. Dr. Sanchez has been part of the co-creation process of building Indigenous Knowledge through the contribution of TWU’s Research Methodology and Theory of Opide, a braiding of practice to action. Dr. Sanchez was one of sixteen visionary leaders across the country selected as the first cohort of the Move to End Violence. Dr. Sanchez is dedicated to family and community healing, youth development, and ending violence against women, girls and Mother Earth through her service with Tewa Women United. |
|
|
Karen Webb After Hurricane Katrina, Karen had a strong desire to leave the private sector and begin to contribute to the public sector. She soon landed the position of Louisiana’s Rape Prevention and Education Coordinator. Karen is passionate about ending sexual violence. She is also passionate about health equity and serves on two Health Equity Action Teams. She believes we will end sexual violence one day, and then we will be able to address another issue that prevents people from living their best life. |
|
 |
Brandi Woods-Littlejohn Brandi Woods-Littlejohn is the Program Manager for Violence Prevention and directs the Oklahoma Rape Prevention and Education program at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. She provides direction and guidance to local-level prevention practitioners, ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, and resources to conduct effective prevention programs. Prior to turning her career to primary prevention, she helped establish and served as the Project Director for the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board for 13 years. She has served on boards and committees across Oklahoma concerned with ending and intervening in violence against women and is an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City in the Crime Victim and Survivor Services division. |