Executive Staff

• Claire Ponder Selib
  Executive Director

  Claire Ponder Selib has over 25 years’ experience providing direct advocacy services to victims of crime and managing victim assistance programs for civilian and military agencies. In April 2020, Claire was appointed by the NOVA Board of Directors to serve as NOVA’s new Executive Director. In this role, Claire leads the strategic vision for the organization; serves as the agency’s primary spokesperson; and manages all operations and staff. Since 2013, Claire has served on the NOVA staff in the following roles: Deputy Director; Director of Education; and Director of the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP). Prior to joining NOVA, Claire served for over five years as the Project Manager for the Army’s Victim Advocacy and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Contract; managing a staff of 164 Victim Advocates at 56 Army installations around the world. Claire has extensive experience developing policies, anti-violence campaigns, training curricula and facilitating national trainings for military and civilian audiences. She has managed state and national anti-violence programs at the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Additionally, Claire provided on-call advocacy, individual counseling, and psychoeducational groups to survivors of sexual assault/abuse and domestic violence while working at Prince George’s Hospital Center, Children’s National Medical Center and Women Empowered Against Violence. Claire holds a BA in English from Columbia University and a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania.

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• Deborah Adams
  Senior Director of Finance and Operational Services

  Deborah began her victim advocacy career at a local rape crisis program and soon after came to NOVA to work at the national level with the desire to advance the cause of fair treatment and comprehensive services for victims of crime.  NOVA’s mission was and is a good fit – 30+ years later.  Deborah has served in many capacities for NOVA that include grant management, event planning, crisis response, and project coordination.

  In recent years, she serves as NOVA financial officer, developing and overseeing NOVA’s budget, managing the day-to-day financial operations, monitoring internal controls, and assisting in strategic planning.  Deborah is a Credentialed Advocate with Advanced Standing with the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) and also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).  These days, Deborah boasts about her adorable new grandchild and has no shame admitting that her lovable two cats have nearly as many pictures on her phone.

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• Lindsy Gundrum
  Senior Director of Credentialing and Conference Planning

  Lindsy Gundrum is the Senior Director of Credentialing and Conference Planning. Since 2016, she has worked closely with DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), the Military Services, and the D-SAACP Review committee to successfully direct efforts to credential military sexual assault victim advocates through this congressionally-mandated program, and ensures appropriate continuing education efforts are implemented. Lindsy also serves as the program manager to ensure the contract deliverables are met.

  Prior to working at NOVA, Lindsy worked on the DoD Safe Helpline serving the DoD community affected by sexual assault worldwide at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Lindsy also worked with Service members and Veterans at the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) corresponding directly with members on legislative issues.  Lindsy has a broad background serving at-risk populations including the elderly, juveniles who have been adjudicated, people with mental illness, and sexual assault survivors.

  Lindsy holds a Bachelor’s degree in social work from George Mason University.

  Outside of NOVA, Lindsy spends time with her wife and 2 pups snuggling on the couch.

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• Roger Roberts
  Director of Crisis Response Services

  Roger Roberts, Director of Crisis Response Services and Training, is the primary trainer for the NOVA Crisis Response Team Training®. He also administers the National Credentialed Crisis Responder Program and coordinates NOVA’s National Response to Crisis.

  Roger is a graduate of the Wright State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.  Roger served as the emergency preparedness coordinator for the London City-Madison County Health District for 6 years before becoming the Director of Emergency Management for Madison County.

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• August Mann
  Credentialing Coordinator DSAACP

  August Mann is the DSAACP Coordinator for NOVA.  She ensures receipt, analysis and processing of D-SAACP applications with a turnaround goal of 120 days for certification dissemination and in preparation for quarterly review by the D-SAACP Certification Review Committee. She also, assist as needed, in scheduling, organizing and facilitating the quarterly meetings of the D-SAACP Certification Review Committee, documentation of decisions & justifications.

  In her past employment August is a Civilian Retiree from Department of Defense (DoD) at the Human Resource Center with 30 years of service working in the areas of Physical Disability, Wounded Warrior Soldiers, Exception Family Member Program, Remission of Cancellation of Indebtedness and ending in the position of Enlisted Background Screening (EBSS) for all Army members attempting to acquire a background clearance to operate in a sensitive duty position. Sensitive duty position as a Recruiter, Drill Sergeant, Equal Opportunity Advisor, Enlisted Aide to the General, Command Sergeant Major and Soldier of the Year.

  August has an Associate Degree in Human Resource from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). She also holds a certificate of achievement with NOVA for Basic and Advance Crisis Response Team Training.

  In her spare time August like to relax with friends and family and shop.

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• Mariel Branagan Jewell
  Training Manager

  Mariel Branagan Jewell is the Training Manager for NOVA. She currently assists in the coordination and delivery of NOVA’s victim assistance trainings and academies. She was previously the Deputy Program Manager of the D-SAACP Program where she helped direct efforts to credential over 12,000 military sexual assault victim advocates per year through this congressionally-mandated program. 

  Prior to coming to NOVA, Mariel was the programs manager for a reentry program for women with nonviolent offenses. It was there she learned that most of the women in the program had histories of trauma and had been victims of crime themselves. 

  Mariel received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University (Go Monarchs!) and her Master’s degree in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University. 

  Outside of work, she loves cooking and traveling. 

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• Sharon McCown
  Membership and Administrative Coordinator

  Sharon is responsible for the professional and efficient operation of the NOVA Main office and performs essential administrative functions for the office. As the Administrative Coordinator she also provides administrate support to NOVA programs, such as D-SAACP, NACP, NOVA’s Annual Training Event, and NVAA.

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• Danielle Kitchen
  NACP Coordinator

  Danielle Kitchen began her career in direct services nearly ten years ago as an intern working with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  As she continued with her social work degree, Danielle continued working for the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as the Assistant Program Coordinator for their Victim Assistance Program, specializing in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault cases.  She was promoted to the position of Program Coordinator and began serving on the County’s Sexual Assault Response Task force, while continuing to provide direct services within the court system as well as 24/7 hospital accompaniment for victims and survivors as needed.  Danielle also began her work with the County’s Child Advocacy MIDT, working alongside with prosecution and forensic interviewers to ensure victims voices were heard within the criminal justice system.  

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• Carolyn Eskin
  D-SAACP Credentialing Specialist

  Carolyn Eskin works on the Department of Defense’s Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) as the Credentialing Specialist. She works with the D-SAACP Team to ensure applications are received and processed efficiently for quarterly review by the D-SAACP Certification Review Committee, in order to successfully credential military sexual assault advocates through this congressionally-mandated program. Since coming to NOVA in 2019, Carolyn has successfully completed Crisis Response Training. 

  Prior to working at NOVA, Carolyn worked at the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a Project Assistant on the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program, credentialing Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) internationally and maintaining the DRE database. She provided conference planning and registration support for the IACP’s Drugs, Alcohol and Impaired Driving Conference. 

  Carolyn received her B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology and a Psychology minor from Millersville University, and her M.A. in Forensic Psychology from the George Washington University.

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• Priya Rednam Waldo
  Director of National Advocacy Leadership Center (NALC)

  Priya Rednam Waldo is the Director of NOVA’s National Advocacy Leadership Center (NALC). She formerly served as NOVA’s Director of the D-SAACP Program from 2014-2015. In her current role, she is responsible for coordinating NOVA’s semi-annual Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA); developing and and facilitating NOVA’s Sex Trafficking Advanced Victim Assistance Training; and expanding the NALC education and training offerings in conjunction with other NOVA Premier Member Benefits and professional development opportunities.

  Priya is a military combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer conducting public health missions both in domestic and international environments from 2006-2011. While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006-2008, Priya led the provision of comprehensive outpatient and trauma healthcare for the largest theater internment facility in Iraq, ensuring that all patients were treated with dignity and respect. Since honorable discharge from the military, she has worked in a variety of social service, public health and advocacy organizations to include as a Child Abuse Prevention Specialist with the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, as Executive Director of Read to a Child Detroit (Program Launch) and as the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Social Worker at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Priya also trained within the George Washington University Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Care Unit and the Forever Families Foster Care Program. 

  Priya holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Master of Social Work degree from Wayne State University. She is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with the State of Michigan since 2016.

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• Callie Stewart
  Director or Strategic Engagement and Partnerships

  Callie Stewart is the Director of Strategic Engagement and Partnerships at NOVA, dedicated to strengthening vulnerable communities through the use of quality educational content, partnership collaboration and effective outreach. Callie has project design and management experience in the nonprofit sector, including: creating and providing training to an international audience of victim assistance professionals, managing psychosocial support for special-interest groups, developing membership services, and creating strategic marketing plans. Callie is a Licensed Master Social Worker with clinical experience in trauma-informed therapy for children and families.

  Callie is trained in human subject research and protection, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psycho-education, victim advocacy, and Suicide Risk Assessment and Safety Planning. She received her Masters of Science in Social Work from the Columbia School of Social Work and her B.A. from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

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• Angela Duhon
  Military Victim Services Program Manager

  Angela Duhon has been providing direct services to survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking for over 10 years, with extensive knowledge relating to victim rights, strangulation and LGBTQ+ Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Prior to joining NOVA in 2020, Angela was employed by a local LGBTQ+ agency in Virginia where she provided crisis counseling, and she was the agency’s subject matter expert on LGBTQ+ IPV. Angela worked to enhance victim services to better meet the needs of LGBTQ+ survivors. Angela served for over 7 years as a military domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocate at several military installations. Additionally, Angela has provided 24/7 on-call advocacy, crisis intervention, extensive safety planning, facilitated psychoeducational groups to survivors of domestic and dating violence and/or sexual assault, as well as facilitated presentations, trainings, and briefings to both military and civilian audiences throughout her career.

  Angela is a nationally credentialed advocate at the advanced level, has successfully completed the Crisis Response Training, and has completed the advanced level training through The Training Institute on Strangulation.

  Angela hold a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice with a Forensic Psychology concentration from Saint Leo University.

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• Kellie Portman
  Crisis Response Training Coordinator

  Kellie Portman is NOVA’s Crisis Response Training Coordinator. Previously, she was a Core Energy Life Coach and has over 20 years of experience working within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Kellie earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Services Leadership from Urbana University. In addition to her education, Kellie’s extensive training and knowledge has allowed her to coach and train hundreds of youth & families, school personnel and other professionals. Kellie is a certified NOVA Crisis Response Team® training instructor, a member of a local CRT response team and has been actively involved in local responses.

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• Shannon Collins
  Director of NOVA’s Campus Training & Technical Assistance Program

  Shannon Collins (she/hers) is the Director of NOVA’s Campus Training & Technical Assistance Program. Shannon is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience working to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) through advocacy, response, prevention, and education in college and university settings. Shannon specializes in the creation of trauma-informed victim advocacy programs within institutions of higher education, the development and maintenance of campus-based Coordinated Community Response Teams (CCRTs), and the development and maintenance of campus and community partnerships. At NOVA, she manages the training & technical assistance program for campus coordinated community response funded through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women Campus Program. In this role, she provides training, technical assistance, and coaching to institutions of higher education seeking to create a trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and sustainable programs to address DVSAS on campus. Shannon serves as adjunct faculty for several universities and teaches workshops and academic courses on the ethics of campus advocacy, evidence-based practice, feminist advocacy for social change, and gender-based violence over the lifespan. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, a Master of Social Work degree, and a Women’s Studies Certificate of Graduate Study from the University of South Carolina, as well as an Executive Certificate of Nonprofit Management from the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute.

• María Cristina Pacheco
  Assistant Director of NOVA’s Campus Training & Technical Assistance Program

  María Cristina Pacheco Alcalá (she/hers/ella/ellas) is the Assistant Director of NOVA’s Campus Training & Technical Assistance Program. María Cristina has over 18 years of experience working to end gender-based violence through prevention and education efforts in the non-profit sector and higher education settings. María Cristina specializes in curriculum development and training related to strengthening communities’ responses to address gender-based violence in collaborative, trauma informed, and culturally responsive approaches; she also has vast experience in grants management, including grant writing, reporting, strategic planning and budgeting.   

  At NOVA, she supports the training & technical assistance program for campus coordinated community response funded through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women Campus Program. In this role, she provides training, technical assistance, and coaching to institutions of higher education seeking to create a trauma-informed, culturally relevant, accessible, inclusive, and sustainable programs to address dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking on campus.

  María Cristina serves as adjunct faculty and is the founder and director of the Gender Equity Program at the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina. She has also served as board member for Proyecto Matria, Taller Salud and Coordinadora Paz para las Mujeres – Puerto Rico Dual Coalition on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and a Certificate on Grants Management Body of Knowledge Training from the National Grants Management Association. As a self entrepreneur she’s the owner of Cucina 135, a culinary laboratory to support and foster business start up and economic development around the food business industry in Puerto Rico. 

• Angela Willmore
  D-SAACP Credentialing Specialist

  Angela Willmore, Credentialing Specialist for the D-SAACP Program, works with the

  D-SAACP team to ensure the efficient processing of applications in order to successfully credential over 12,000 military sexual assault advocates per year through this congressionally-mandated program. 

  Prior to joining NOVA, Angela worked for more than 15 years in child welfare, specializing in international adoption.  She facilitated the placement of children from a number of countries, including South Korea, China, Russia, and Guatemala.  Angela guided families through each stage of the adoption process, from initial application through pre-adoption education & training, home study, dossier preparation, referral, travel, post-placement, and finalization.  

  Angela has also volunteered with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, both at a shelter and through a program for incarcerated women who were survivors of domestic violence.

  Angela holds a BS in Public Relations from Kent State University and a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of South Carolina.

• Ané Vecchione
  Marketing Manager