Meet the Team
Behind The NATRC
Our Staff and Steering Committee bring a diversity of experience and expertise to furthering the mission of the NATRC. We share a commitment to removing barriers to care for all people impacted by violence and systemic inequities.
NATRC Staff
Alicia Boccellari, Ph.D.
Founder, National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers
Alicia Boccellari, Ph.D.
Alicia Boccellari, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco, (UCSF) and the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG). She is also the Executive Director of the National Alliance of TRCs. Dr. Boccellari has spent her career creating, implementing, and overseeing new programs designed at removing barriers to care for underserved populations. She is one of the Founders of the UCSF Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) model of care. Dr. Boccellari has been working with local and State governments across the U.S. to transform victim’s services using the TRC model as a vehicle of change. She also oversees technical assistance to new TRCs to insure fidelity to the model. Dr. Boccellari has conducted longitudinal research and randomized clinical trials on a variety of topics including HIV-associated dementia, homelessness, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Boccellari’s primary clinical and research focus is designed at investigating innovative clinical interventions in the public sector, to see if these interventions can reduce barriers to care and improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for underserved communities. An overarching goal of this work is to not only contribute to evidence-based clinical practices, but to potentially influence public policy and to improve healthcare services for underserved populations, and those impacted by violence and systemic inequities.
Gena Castro Rodriguez, Psy.D.
Executive Director, National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers
Gena Castro Rodriguez, Psy.D.
Gena Castro Rodriguez is a licensed marriage and family therapist (#49717CA), Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, and the UCSF Executive Director of the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers. She was formerly Chief of the Victim Services Division for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for seven years and Director of the Survivor Policy, Training and Resource Center at the Prosecutors Alliance California for two years. She has extensive expertise and training in trauma, victims of crime, the juvenile and criminal justice system, and community mental health. Dr. Castro Rodriguez has held leadership roles in non-profit and government services for thirty years and has developed many successful programs, policies, and legislation to increase access and engagement in mental health and trauma recovery services nationally and internationally.
Dr. Castro Rodriguez received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Sacramento State University, a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco, and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute for Integral Studies. Dr. Castro Rodriguez completed her doctoral internship at the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group Clinic in San Francisco, California. Her research interests include the areas of interpersonal trauma and violence, the cycle of violence, delinquency and criminal behavior, victimology, gender responsive strategies and secondary trauma.
Stacey Wiggall, LCSW
Director, TRC Technical Assistance Program
Stacey Wiggall
Stacey Wiggall is the Director of the TRC Technical Assistance Program for the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers. She is a co-author of the UCSF Trauma Recovery Center Manual: A Model for Removing Barriers to Care and Transforming Services for Survivors of Violent Crime. Stacey works with funders and new programs to successfully implement the TRC model, incorporating a comprehensive approach to mental health and wellness that recognizes the systemic inequities that perpetuate cycles of violence. She is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of California, holds a Master of Social Work from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish from Lake Forest College.
Gabriella Lewis, ACSW
TRC Technical Assistance Program Specialist
Gabriella Lewis
Kathy Vang-Liu, MBA
Manager of Operations, TRC Technical Assistance Program
Kathy Vang-Liu
Kathy Vang-Liu is the Manager for Technical Assistance Program and the Operations Manager at the Trauma Recovery Center. Mrs. Vang-Liu holds a master’s in business administration and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside. Her areas of interest are advocating for the mental health services in underserved communities and to support new and assisting Trauma Recovery Centers who serve them. She strongly advocates and has a passion for social justice issues such as diversity in the workplace, equity for BIPOC, and inclusion to welcome all.
NATRC Steering Committee
Alyson Simmons
Alyson Simmons
Ms. Simmons is the Founder and Executive Director of the Central Iowa Trauma Recovery Center and the CEO of A. Simmons Consulting, LLC. Ms. Simmons has over twenty years’ experience in health care and contract administration, specializing in policy development, systems change, crisis management, fund development, cultural responsiveness training and implementation, and sustainability. She has advised and provided technical assistance to numerous private companies and government agencies including the Iowa Department of Human Services, Public Health, Corrections, Transportation, Commerce, Human Rights, and the IA Office of the Attorney General – Crime Victim Assistance Division. Ms. Simmons is also a past member of the Governor’s Health and Human Services Appropriations Team and Iowa’s Sexual Violence Prevention Committee. Throughout her career, Ms. Simmons worked independently and as a lead member of a grant writing team to secure over $55,000,000 to advance health care and social services for medically underserved Iowans. As Executive Director, Ms. Simmons oversees the organization’s administrative and strategic priorities. With compassionate accountability, she leads a dedicated team of mental health and trauma informed professionals to implement Iowa’s first trauma recovery center. Ms. Simmons is a state certified victim counselor and nationally credentialed survivor advocate specializing in program management and sexual assault services. She is deeply committed to elevating the standard of care for all survivors.
Bita Ghafoori, Ph.D.
Bita Ghafoori
Dr. Bita Ghafoori is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) and the Founder and Director of the CSULB-based Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center (LBTRC). Her research and clinical work focuses on mental-health equity, mental-health services, and dissemination of evidence-based trauma treatments to culturally diverse groups. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, one book, and was the lead author on a policy paper on “Global Perspectives on The Trauma of Hate Based Violence” which was commissioned by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr. Ghafoori has given presentations to multiple groups internationally on her research and clinical work.
Brenda Glass, MSSA, LISW-S
Brenda Glass
Brenda Glass, MSSA, LISW-S, is the founder and executive director of the Brenda Glass Trauma Center. Ms. Glass leads the Trauma Center staff in the delivery of all services.Ms. Glass specializes in trauma, cultural inclusivity, and innovative recovery practices for healing and thriving after trauma from violent crimes. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she graduated from Ursuline College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and obtained her Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School of Social Administration where her focus of study was Adult Mental Health. Ms. Glass is an advocate for all those who need a voice. She speaks out for justice through her membership with the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. She is a member of the Cuyahoga County Regional HIV Ryan White Planning Council and is co-chair on the Membership, Retention, and Marketing sub-committee. Ms. Glass also is a member of the steering committee for the National Association of Trauma Recovery Centers which joins providers across the United States to develop standard practices to address the complex nature of trauma among people of color.
Dawn Lochbaum
Dawn Lochbaum
Dawn has worked for OSF Healthcare System in leadership since 2006. She has been involved in many Quality and Safety committees and has helped to create a safer environment for patients as well as staff. She has helped to create many policies and procedures that are currently still in use within OSF Healthcare System and has been helpful in assisting other hospitals create a psychiatry consult service within their own hospitals.
Since April of 2018, Dawn has been the Manager for two multi-disciplinary teams of Master Level Therapists, Case Managers, RNs, Psychiatrists and Support Staff. Responsible for managing OSF Strive, a grant funded Trauma Recovery Center. Responsible for application, planning, design, development and implementation on new grant funded department and responsible for managing a 24 hour-7 day a week department that serves the Emergency Department and Inpatient Medical Units within a level one trauma center. Proficient in change management, coordinating and collaborating with the community and experience in both budgeting as well as statistical analysis.
Dawn is currently a steering committee member for the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers.
Prior to her work at OSF Healthcare System, Dawn worked at Children’s Home Association of Illinois in multiple different positions, the most recent within the Foster Care Program. Dawn also taught multiple semesters at Illinois Central College in the Psychology department.
Diana Cortina-Rodriguez, LMFT, RPT
Diana Cortina-Rodriguez
Diana Cortina-Rodriguez is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Play Therapist, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences with a Minor in Psychology from Florida State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mercer University.
With over 12 years of experience in the mental health profession, Diana specializes in trauma-informed therapy and is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). She is also an approved consultant by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) and holds a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification.
Diana brings a unique dimension to her therapeutic approach by incorporating animal-assisted therapy interventions with her dog, Louis. Her profound passion for helping people is channeled through the transformative power of therapy. Viewing therapy as a platform for growth and change, Diana’s overarching goal is to empower her clients and guide them toward their desired path of development.
Since May 2021, Diana has been at the helm of managing the Grady TRC and eagerly anticipates the opportunity to share her expertise with the NATRC Steering Committee.
Dulande Louis, PhD, LMSW, SIFI
Dulande Louis
Dulande Louis is an Afro-Caribbean licensed social work practitioner, adjunct professor at Adelphi University and Touro College in New York, and the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island’s Trauma Recovery Center—JCCGCI’s TRC Founding Director. Dr. Louis was the former Education Manager at VNS Health for four years and the Associate Director of Global Trauma Research for ten years. Dr. Louis has extensive training in Trauma and Post-Traumatic Growth, Healthcare, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), Health Equity, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Dr. Louis has held numerous leadership positions in the not-for-profit space for over fifteen years and has developed, implemented, and evaluated programs designed to increase service access for individuals at the margins of society in the United States and Haiti.
Dr. Louis earned her Bachelor’s degree in Community Health and Human Services from Saint Joseph’s College and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Social Work from Adelphi University. Dr. Louis’ primary research interests and scholarship are illiteracy and limited educational attainment among women in developing nations. Dr. Louis’ dissertation focused on the lived experiences of Haitian women with illiteracy and low educational attainment—a passion derived from her experience being raised by an illiterate mother and maternal grandmother. Dr. Louis won the NASW-NSY Outstanding Doctoral Student Award in 2022. Dr. Louis is a servant leader, critical thinker, problem solver, an agile and empathetic clinician, a proud mother, and an incredible cook.
Iris Cruet-Rubio, LMFT
Iris Cruet-Rubio
Kim Miiller, Ph.D.
Kim Miiller
Kim Miiller, PsyD is the Director of Trauma Recovery & Resilience for Advocate Aurora Health in Illinois. Dr. Miller is currently the Director over two Trauma Recovery Centers in the Chicagoland area, serving eight counties. In addition to her work with the Trauma Recovery Centers, she is leading an initiative that is focused on changing the culture in the hospitals and ambulatory care for Advocate Aurora Health by providing evidence based trainings to 30% or more of the team members and physicians. Dr. Miiller has experience in clinical research, project management, inpatient and outpatient clinical work as well as over ten years in management. She found her passion when being given the opportunity to start one of the first two Trauma Recovery Centers in Illinois and is dedicated to helping survivors of trauma by continuing to promote the work of the Trauma Recovery Center model.
Stephen Massey, MS
Stephen Massey
Stephen Massey is currently the Chief Operations Officer of the Citilookout Trauma Recovery Center where he has been entrusted to develop the program design for the crime victim’s advocacy program. 8 years ago, he developed the program design for “Journey to Freedom” a Domestic Violence Intervention program at has served those in Clark and surrounding counties for many years. Stephen Massey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in mental health counseling. He has a professional coaching graduate degree. Some of the areas of specialty include addiction’s coaching, client advocacy, and trauma recovery. Mr. Massey has worked in the social service sector in Springfield since the 1990s; throughout this period, developing many skills and an extensive network of support. Throughout this period, he has been doing coaching, counseling, advocacy, facilitating and human service work. Also, he has experience working among the community’s many nonprofit and social service agencies; he is grateful for the amazing relationships with many church leaders here in Springfield.
His goal is to serve his community with the skills developed over the years through Awakenings, LLC; at this time, he is running as a nonprofit through the Nehemiah Foundation.