ACADEMY FACULTY & STAFF
Dr. Debra L. Stanley
Executive Director
Anne Marie Milun
Program Manager
alitecky@ubalt.edu
Cherie Peay
Program Coordinator
Nicole Feldhaus
Technician
nfeldhauslitecky@ubalt.edu
Linda Dionne
Program Coordinator
ldionne@ubalt.edu
Debbie Bradley
Certification Coordinator
bradleyd@harfordsheriff.org
Faculty:
David Thomas
Dr. Heather L. Pfeifer
hpfeifer@ubalt.edu
Dr. Gabriela Wasileski
gwasileski@ubalt.edu
Dr. Melvin de la Cruz
mdelacruz@ubalt.edu
Contact Us
410.837.5055
2025 Roper Victim Assistance Academy Sessions
Winter In-Person (February 24-28)
Summer Virtual (June 2-6)
Questions: contact Anne Milun at alitecky@ubalt.edu or 410.837.5055
The Roper Academy is modeled on the National Victim Assistance Academy, the nation’s premier training and education program for professionals who assist victims of crime.
The mission of RVAAM is to provide a broad spectrum of basic advocacy training that will standardize the training of crime victim service providers in Maryland, thereby expand and enhance the level of professionalism within the victim services field. As such, the Academy strives to increase participants’ knowledge of national, state, and local resources, and to provide an opportunity to network with other victim service providers.
In addition to its bi-annual foundational training, the Roper Academy also offers the VSTEP Program (circa 2016) providing advanced "virtual" training throughout the year to victim service professionals and ancillary providers.
In 2025, the Academy reaches its 22nd year and its 28th & 29th training sessions.
VSTEP surpasses 20,000 in the number trained by the program.
“If someone listens, or stretches out a hand,
or whispers a kind word of encouragement,
or attempts to understand a lonely person,
extraordinary things begin to happen.”
–Loretta Girzartis
Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland (RVAAM)
CELEBRATING 22 YEARS!