The PCA’s work would not be possible without the dedication of our staff, interns, and volunteers. Get to know us a bit more:

STAFF

Director

Katherine Miller, MA, LPCC

Pronouns: she/her

Katherine is an award-winning activist and educator, with extensive experience in advocacy for survivors of interpersonal violence and human trafficking. In addition to serving as the Director for the PCA, Katherine also teaches undergraduate students at MSU Denver and the Community College Online System in both the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies and the Psychology departments, and teaches graduate courses for the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver. Katherine has utilized her Master’s degree in International Disaster Psychology and Trauma Mental Health and Bachelor’s degrees in Gender and Women’s Studies, Psychology, and History to provide crisis intervention and community response to trafficking survivors with the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, prevention education through the Blue Bench, trauma therapy at the Aurora Strong Resilience Center, psychoeducation and process groups with women in rural Southern India living with HIV, and resource coordination to students in crisis at the Institute for Women’s Studies and Services (now GITA). Katherine is committed to infusing intersectional feminism and praxis into advocacy work at the PCA, building campus coalitions to support survivors, and dismantling systems and cultural norms that perpetuate violence. Katherine is unapologetically in love with all things Star Wars, sharks and dinosaurs, Beyoncé, and reading (the goal is at least 52 books every year!). She will never say no to cheese and bread, and has not yet met a cupcake that she didn’t love.

Katherine can be reached at 303-315-7250 or katherine.miller@ucdenver.edu

ADVOCACY SERVICES PROGRAM

Harriet McTigue, MPP

Pronouns: she/her

Harriet is a Master of Public Policy with a focus in reproductive health care. She is interested in increasing access and funding of comprehensive sex education programs across the country through policy change. Harriet has a background in family and child policy and believes in affecting policy change through grassroots advocacy. Harriet found her passion for victim advocacy post-college through volunteer work and has been in the field ever since. Her expertise in Title IX stems from her role as an Advocacy Coordinator with the Michigan State University Sexual Assault Program. She is committed to expanding intersectional response services and helping others heal from trauma. Harriet is a classic soccer dog mommy. She and her partner take their angsty teen and persnickety senior pups on any outdoor venture they can. She spends the rest of her time cooking new recipes, turning her home into a greenhouse, and heavily watching reality shows with her best friend: TV.

Harriet can be reached at 303-315-7250 or harriet.mctigue@ucdenver.edu

Jenae McCall, MSW

Pronouns: They/Them or she/her

Jenae began their work in the interpersonal violence field at the PCA as a Violence Prevention Education Intern and moved into an advocacy internship a year later. Jenae has been a student in varying capacities of the Auraria Campus for seven years and is deeply passionate about the students of this campus. With a background in higher education and interpersonal violence advocacy, Jenae has come back to the PCA and is committed to providing comprehensive, accessible, and intersectional advocacy services to survivors of interpersonal violence from an anti-oppression and strengths-based framework. In her free time, Jenae can be found spending time with their partner, and cat, building Legos, reading, playing cozy video games, or enjoying live music at a local venue.

Jenae can be reached at 303-315-7250 or jenae.mccall@ucdenver.edu

Marissa moreno, mAFp

Pronouns: she/her

Marissa is a Master of Forensic Psychology and former graduate intern of the PCA. Previously, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in San Marcos Texas. Marissa is very passionate about supporting folks who have experienced trauma by providing support, validation and resources. While Marissa comes from a traditionally clinical background, she has found a love for advocacy through her time as an intern at the PCA and is ready to take on the full time position as a Survivor Advocate. In the future Marissa hopes to combine her interests of working with children, families, and survivors to work in a clinical setting as well as one like the PCA. When not in school or at the PCA Marissa can be found hiking, camping and exploring different parts of Colorado with her partner, or curling up on the couch with a big comfy blanket, a good book and her adorable cat Silver. 

Marissa can be reached at 303-315-7250 or marissa.moreno@ucdenver.edu

VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM

Racheal Reed-Maloney, MSW

Pronouns: She/her

Racheal began her career at the PCA as a Clinical Advocacy Intern in 2019. She stayed with the PCA as a helpline volunteer until being hired full-time in August 2022. Racheal combines her knowledge from her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies and Master’s degree in Social Work to create prevention education programming and curriculum for folks on Auraria campus. Before working full-time at the PCA, she worked with youth survivors of human trafficking, youth experiencing houselessness, and worked with survivors navigating the criminal, civil, and Title IX system. Racheal believes intersecting social justice with violence prevention helps folks understand the world around them and empowers them to work toward creating a world of safety and inclusion for everyone. When Racheal is not at the PCA, she enjoys bed-rotting with her partner, being a cat mom to her furry babies, learning new baking techniques, and comfort-watching horror & early 2000 Cartoon Network shows.

Racheal can be reached at 303-315-7250 or racheal.reed-maloney@ucdenver.edu

megan price

Pronouns: she/her

Megan began her work with the PCA as a Volunteer Helpline Advocate in 2024 and transitioned into a role as a Violence Prevention Education intern in 2025 before becoming a professional staff member in 2026. She has done community work in various capacities in the Denver area, including working as a Peer Support Specialist on Colorado’s Crisis Line and participating in mutual aid that centers the city’s unhoused population. Her approach to violence prevention education is informed by these experiences as well as her own lived experience as a survivor, psychiatrized teenager, and former sex worker.

Megan finds purpose, empowerment, and justice in doing work that provides individuals and communities with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to prevent and respond to IPV. She understands IPV to be a systemic issue that must be addressed through an intersectional, anti-oppressive framework. Megan believes that interpersonal and systemic violence are inextricably connected, and that the harm we cause one another will not be eliminated so long as we live under systems rooted in power and control that harm us all.

In her free time, Megan can be found reading (mostly feminist, dystopian, or thriller novels at the moment), exploring in nature, or yapping endlessly with her loved ones.

Megan can be reached at 303-315-7250 or Megan.price@ucdenver.edu

Cassandra Carmona-Wayman 

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Cassandra is a Violence Prevention Educator with the PCA and a community services professional passionate about gender-based violence prevention, reproductive justice, and student empowerment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from California State University – Fullerton, as well as an Associate of Arts in Humanities and an Associate of Arts in Social & Behavioral Science from Pasadena City College. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies with Arizona State University. Cassandra is also a certified Community Health Worker, working to build stronger connections among diverse community members and to provide vital resources for all. 

She brings extensive experience in outreach, facilitation, and youth programming from former roles with the California State Assembly, the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, CSUF, and various advocacy organizations. Cassandra enjoys creating engaging, intersectional, culturally competent, trauma-informed educational spaces that draw on her lived experiences and robust knowledge. She is excited to support students through prevention education, peer leadership, and community-based work.  

In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature, finding new food spots, listening to music, spoiling her pug Ellie, and watching comedy movies/tv shows that give the Office vibes.  

Cassandra can be reached at 303-315-7250 or Cassandra.carmona-wayman@ucdenver.edu

Student Prevention Educators

Derek McCurdy

Pronouns: He/Him

Beginning his time with the PCA in August, 2026, Derek is a Violence Prevention Educator intern. Through his experience studying sociology, psychology, and criminology at the University of Colorado Denver, along with his various certifications in related fields, such as his trauma-informed, Community Care Practitioner certification from the Alliance for Community Justice and Innovation, he maintains a holistic approach to violence prevention, acknowledging the importance of an individual’s unique experience and the influence of societal factors. He finds great value in serving his campus and creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for students, faculty, and staff to learn and grow together. 

Derek is currently the primary investigator of a study exploring the effects of adverse childhood experiences. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he hopes to obtain a master’s in social work and support adolescence navigating similar circumstances to those he has identified in his research. He brings an informed, empathetic perspective to the PCA through his own exposure to interpersonal violence as a child.

In his free time Derek enjoys creative writing, exercise, and hiking. He’s a big fan of music and loves small venues where the tables are crammed, the elbows are rubbing, and the microphones aren’t plugged in.

Thomas Humphrey     

Pronouns: He/Him

Thomas is a Violence Prevention Education Intern with the PCA and is working towards his BA in psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Beyond this he tries to help his community through volunteer work with the Crisis Text Line, Judi’s House, and Denver Health. 

He joined the PCA as he believes this program offers a great experience to connect with his campus community along with helping survivors of IPV while increasing his knowledge on the span of IPV and its effect on people.

In his free time, he enjoys going to festivals, reading, listening to music, playing video games, and learning a new cooking recipe.

RONI WISMER  

Pronouns: She/They

Roni is a student intern in the Violence Prevention Education Program at the PCA.  They are a senior at CU Denver with a major of Geography in Environment, Society, and Sustainability.  She also has three minors in Law Studies, Social Justice, and Honors, and Leadership.  Roni is looking to practice environmental and social justice law and finds the PCA’s mission is critical to their field.  They believe education is the most important step in changing the law and society to better support survivors. Roni is interested in the effects of intersectionality and victim blaming in an oppressive society.  They are also interested in how environmental justice can be better adjusted to include social justice.  Environmental justice is inherently connected to social justice, and this connection is what Roni explores in her education.

Roni enjoys skateboarding, crocheting, playing with her dog, reading, watching movies, and traveling when possible.  In their free time they can often be found in a quiet space getting work done or partaking in their favorite hobbies.

Cheyenne Yarbrough

Pronouns: She/Her

Cheyenne is a VPE Intern and a 3rd year student at CU Denver studying Psychology. She joined the PCA to educate herself further on IPV and IPV prevention as well as help educate her community further. She also plans to use the skills and knowledge she gains during her time here in her future career. She hopes to work in correctional psychology. 

 She is very passionate about self-care, mental wellness, and relaxation. When she is not working, she likes to spend her time at the nail salon, watching reality tv, and soaking up the sun in the pool. 

melanie Lopez Macareno

Pronouns: She/They

Melanie is a First-Gen, third year student at MSU Denver majoring in Anthropology, double minoring in Latin American Studies and Spanish, as well as pursuing a Spanish Translation Certificate. After a couple of growth years from the time of having graduated High School in 2021 to returning to college in 2024, one of their main goals besides good grades was to find and cultivate community. She has done just that by attending both on-campus and off-campus events every chance she gets. She studied abroad in southern Spain last summer '25 and attended an academic conference in Chicago that September as well as the Brown University's '2026 Yearning to Breathe Free' conference. Both being national convenings aimed at uplifting immigrant youth leaders and advocates! Post grad she would at some point like to pursue a master's and possibly a PhD too, who knows! As a PCA Violence Prevention Educator Intern, they hope to research, learn more about and provide thorough information surrounding interpersonal violence and related topics to the Auraria Campus Community.

Decoyia patton

Pronouns: She/Her

bio coming soon!

Cassidy jones

Pronouns: She/Her

Cassidy is a Violence Prevention Educator, working on the PCA’s social media. She's passionate about creating safe spaces where everyone is welcome, and teaching people about IPV prevention. She holds her Bachelor's of Science in Psychology from Florida State University, and is currently working on her Master of Social Work Degree. In the future, Cassidy hopes to be a therapist for children and adolescents. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time in nature, and tapping into her creative side with watercolor paints

Maddie Kitchen-lira

Pronouns: She/Her

Maddie is a social media and marketing violence prevention educator through the PCA and is a graduate student focused on research in the rise of digital extremism and intersectional work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology, with a minor in women’s studies from Colorado State University Pueblo. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in sociology at CU Denver, focusing her research on the rise of far-right extremism in the online sector of video games.  

 Maddie believes in the work of intersecting social justice with research and violence prevention that can discuss difficult topics of rising acts of extremism, while also showing how to empower people to battle against these rising acts of violence to create a safe and inclusive world for everyone. 

 When Maddie is not at the PCA or school, she likes to watch YouTube essays with her partner and their two cats, drive down to Pueblo to see her beagle, play video games, read, or sketch, and hang out with her friends when they are also not busy with the hum-and-drum of life as well. 

Advocacy InterN

VOLUNTEERS

The PCA also trains volunteers to serve on our 24/7 helpline. Because of these dedicated volunteers, we are able to serve the Auraria community 365 days a year, any time, day or night. We couldn’t do it without them, and are immensely grateful for their service!