CELEBRATING 22 YEARS!
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. 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
Creating Ties That Bind
The purpose of the RAAA is to provide a vehicle by which Alumni may assist in the attainment of the goals set forth by the Academy. As such the goals of the Alumni Association are:
- To build a network for victim service providers.
- To establish a mentoring program for Association members, to include victim service providers new to the field as well as seasoned providers.
- To assist with identification of training needs at both the basic and advanced levels.
- To expand and enhance the level of professionalism within the victim services field.
- To establish non-profit status for the Association
As such, the Alumni Association has created a set of committees designed to support these goals. A description of each committee is listed in the left-hand column. RAAA welcomes the active involvement of its members and as such is always looking for more Alums to serve on these committees so they can share their talents and knowledge with their fellow peers.
Members-at-Large:
J. Sean Delehant
Sharon DiMaggio
Audra Hill
Alexandra Laughlin-Beard
Fatima Lewis
Denise Marcell Camp
Michelle Lee
Terrie Lewis
LeCresha Washington
Rebecca Wise
2025
BOARD MEETINGS
ALL ALUMNI WELCOME!
NEXT MEETING: TBA
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
AGENDA ITEMS:
~
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
(Required: advanced notice to committee members or Anne at alitecky@ubalt.edu)
TBA
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
dates and times are set by committee chairs in advance
LOCATION: virtual (unless otherwise stated)
MEETING LINK & PASSWORD: Alums, check your email!
Questions, please contact: Naomi Taffet, at naomitaffet@stonesoupcounseling.com
RAAA MEMBERS
On behalf of the Roper Academy Alumni Association,
we proudly introduce our current Board Members...
Officers:
Co-Chair - Jessica Foster
Co-Chair - Robin Washington
Treasurer - Shardal Rose
Secretary- Naomi Taffet
Good news! Due to spring break, we are extending the due date for submitting your RAAA officer and members-at-large Board nominations to MARCH 28, 2025. See the timeline below. We look forward to hearing from you! ~ The Roper Team
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2025-2027
NOMINATIONS DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025
Roper Academy Alumni Association (RAAA) is accepting nominations for officers and board members until March 21, 2025. We are seeking qualified and interested alumni to serve in leadership, governance, and partnership roles that reflect our mission statement and support our goals.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Roper Academy Alumni Association (RAAA) is to promote the highest standard of professionalism in victim services and to support alumni of the Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland (RVAAM).
GOALS
1. Inclusive of all graduates of the RVAAM foundational 40-hour training.
2. Support, improve, and replicate promising practices in victims’ rights and services
3. Provide an opportunity to network with one another
4. Mentor new victim service providers.
5. Educate and provide public awareness of RVAAM, victims’ rights, and services
6. Increase participants’ knowledge of national, state, and local resources
ELECTED POSITIONS OPEN TO CALL-FOR-NOMINATIONS
Two Co-Chairpersons (One (1) co-chair to serve two-year term and One (1) co-chair to serve a one-year term)
In addition to overall responsibility for Board activities, the Co-Chairs shall:
schedule and create the agenda for Board meetings.
email updates for website to RVAAM Program Manager
preside over all Board meetings; and
Serve as liaisons with the RVAAM Program Manager
In the absence of the secretary, one of the co-Chairs shall assume secretarial duties, including writing the minutes.
One Secretary (One-year term)
1. Announce meetings
2. distribute agendas;
3. record and distribute minutes;
4. The Secretary is a voting member of the Board.
Six Board Members (Three (3) will serve two-year terms and Three (3) will serve one-year terms)
1. Will serve as representatives to each committee.
2. Will participate in regular RAAA meetings
3. Report updates on their Committee to the entire Board
4. Are voting members of the Board
REQUIREMENTS
Co-chairs, secretary, and board members must complete the Roper Academy.
Co-chairs, secretary, and board members previously completed at least Level I of the Maryland Victim Assistance Certification Program.
All Board Members will be required to sign a Statement of Confidentiality.
HOW TO NOMINATE
On a separate piece of paper, submit your Officer and/or Board member nomination, which includes:
a brief bio (resumes are not appropriate);
State the position and terms intrested (one term or two terms) in serving;
statement of motivation to serve as an Officer or Board member;
include in your statement a brief response to the following questions:
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
Describe the specific qualities and capabilities that will make you the best candidate for this role.
Describe your previous involvement with RAAA.You are welcome to express interest in more than one position. Self-nomination is encouraged and demonstrates your willingness to engage as a leader. If you would like to support the nomination of another alum, please encourage them to apply and feel free to submit a letter of recommendation separately. We hope to have representatives from across the various years of Academy graduates.
Attach your nomination to an email and submit it to the Roper program manager at alitecky@ubalt.edu
Timeline:
· 3/12: Announce Call for Nominations
· 3/28: Nominations DUE
· 3/29-4/4: Alums Vote
· 4/7: Announce 2025-2027 officers and board members
RAAA BOARD COMMITTEES
Please contact the chair for information.
The following committee meetings will be held following Board meetings on Zoom (1:30 PM- 2:00 PM):
Mentoring Committee: The mission is to develop best practices for one-on-one and group mentoring and support; establish qualifications for and define roles of mentors; maintain professionalism and confidentiality; maintain Victim Service Professionals directory.
Chair: Sean Delehant
Members: Sharon DiMaggio, Jessica Foster
The following committees will coordinate meetings through the committee chair:
Operations & Training Committee: The mission is to support and assist Academy staff with organizing training, activities, and events.
Chair: Rebecca Wise
Members: Denise Marcell, Camp, Sharon DiMaggio, Naomi Taffet, Robin Washington
Outreach & Special Events: The mission is to develop a marketing plan and tools to reach a spectrum of service for agencies/venues to promote well attended future Academies; assist with the development of the quarterly alumni newsletter, advance social media presence, and update the alumni website.
Chair: Shardal Rose
Members: Denise Marcell Camp, Sharon DiMaggio, Audra Hill; Fatima Lewis, Hilda Lloyd, Robin Washington, Rebecca Wise
Resource & Legislative Committee: The mission is to recommend resources for consideration on RAAA’s webpage and validate credibility, monitor local and national progress toward standardization of training for Victim Service Professionals, monitor, report, and participate in legislative efforts in Victim Services.
Chair: open
Members: Denise Marcell Camp, LaCresha Washington
Mentions from Board Members:
Meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of the Month
Board Meetings: 1:00pm-1:30pm, OPEN TO ALL ALUMNI
Committee meetings: 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm (only if scheduled in advance by committee chairs after notifying committee members and Anne Milun)
Officer meetings as needed and scheduled by:
co-chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, & Parliamentarian)
RAAA 2025 MEETING CALENDAR
January 8th– Board Meeting February 12th – Alumni Meeting March 12th – Board Meeting April 9th – Alumni Meeting May 14th – Board Meeting June 11th – Alumni Meeting July 8th - OFF August - OFF September 10th - Board Meet October 8th – Alumni Meeting November 12th – Board Meeting December - OFF
SPECIAL DATES
Welcome event on Sunday, Feb. 23rd (6 PM - 8 PM) at Bon Secour Retreat & Conference Center
Feb 24-28: 2025 Winter Session Roper Academy, alumni activity during the week/evening, in-person at Bon Secour Retreat & Conference Center (contact Naomi Taffet)
Friday, Feb 28 (Time TBA) Roper Academy 2025 Graduation Ceremony at Bon Secour Retreat & Conference Center
2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. April 6-12.
2025 Summer Session Roper Academy (virtual) June 2-6.
Oct - December: Adopt-A-Family
COMMEMORATIVE CALENDAR AWARENESS MONTHS
January – Mentoring, Human Trafficking, Stalking, Identity Theft
February – Teen Dating Violence and Prevention
March – Consumer Protection, Youth Violence Prevention
April – Child Abuse Prevention, Sexual Assault Awareness, Crime Victims’ Rights
May – Correctional Officers and Police Week, Missing Children Awareness
June – World Elder Abuse Awareness
September –Campus Safety, Suicide Prevention, Murder Victims Remembrance
October - Bullying Prevention, Crime Prevention, Cybersecurity, Domestic Violence
November – Survivors of Suicide Loss