Meet our Team

Joyce Yedlosky

Co-Executive Director

Joyce Yedlosky is one of two Executive Directors at the Coalition, where she’s been a guiding force since 1999. With more than three decades of experience in advocacy, social work, and systems change, Joyce has devoted her career to advancing survivor-centered responses to domestic violence across the state.

Before joining the Coalition, Joyce worked in a variety of human services roles, including mental health, home health, and foster care social work. She also served as a direct service advocate in a shelter-based nonprofit, gaining firsthand insight into the urgent needs and challenges faced by survivors and front-line advocates. These early experiences shaped her commitment to building more coordinated, trauma-informed systems of support.

At WVCADV, Joyce has been instrumental in leading statewide systems advocacy, helping to strengthen collaboration among West Virginia’s 14 licensed domestic violence programs and improve policy and funding structures that impact survivors. She regularly provides training and meeting facilitation at both state and national conferences, and she plays a key role in shaping the Coalition’s public policy and collaborative planning efforts.

Known for her steady leadership, sharp insight, and deep empathy, Joyce is a passionate advocate for justice and survivor empowerment. Her work is rooted in the belief that lasting change happens through collective effort—and she’s proud to be part of a strong statewide network dedicated to that mission.

When she’s not working, Joyce enjoys gardening, keeping chickens, and a touch of nostalgia. Her favorite superhero is the ever-humble and lovable Underdog, a genuinely fitting choice for someone who’s spent her entire career lifting others up.

Tonia Thomas

Co-Executive Director

Tonia Thomas is one of two Executive Directors at the Coalition, where she has been a driving force behind the state’s coordinated response to domestic violence since 2004. With a focus on building and sustaining a strong, connected network of domestic violence programs, Tonia has dedicated her career to ensuring that survivors and advocates across West Virginia have the tools, support, and systems they need to thrive.

Throughout her tenure at the Coalition, Tonia has played a central role in advancing the organization’s mission through training, education, and capacity-building. Her work includes raising public awareness about the dynamics and impact of intimate partner violence; providing technical assistance to West Virginia’s licensed domestic violence programs; supporting professional development for advocates and allied professionals; and cultivating leadership within the statewide network. She is deeply committed to both prevention and response, and works to ensure that survivor voices remain at the center of every conversation.

Tonia earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Marshall University, and she brings a strong academic foundation to her practical, people-centered approach to advocacy. Her leadership is marked by empathy, clarity, and an unwavering belief in the power of collective action to create safer, more just communities.

A lifelong resident of West Virginia, Tonia currently lives in eastern Kanawha County and remains deeply connected to the people and places she serves. Outside of her professional work, she’s known for her warm sense of humor and personal style—and proudly notes that she hasn’t had her natural hair color since she was 17.

Raymie White

Legal Services Director

Samuel “Raymie” White serves as the Legal Services Director at the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where he provides direct legal support to survivors and offers guidance to domestic violence advocates across the state. In this role, he helps ensure that survivors have access to informed, compassionate, and survivor-centered legal advocacy.

Raymie earned his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2008. He also holds a Master of Arts (2002) and a Bachelor of Arts (2000).

Raymie began his legal career in criminal law in Nicholas County, WV, serving for nine years, serving for 5 years as an Assistant Public Defender. Later he served as Assistant Prosecutor and then Prosecutor. During that time, he earned recognition for his leadership on domestic violence response teams and his work prosecuting child abuse cases—experiences that deepened his understanding of the justice system’s role in protecting survivors of domestic violence.

Raymie also joined Legal Aid of West Virginia’s CEDLaw Project in Beckley, where he provided civil legal services to underserved communities across the southeastern part of the state. His work there focused on empowering individuals and nonprofits through legal education, representation, and systemic advocacy.

Today, Raymie draws on his deep knowledge of law to advance the Coalition’s mission of survivor-centered justice. He is deeply committed to ensuring that all survivors are met with skilled, respectful, and empowering legal support throughout their journey.

Lissa Lucas

Communications & Dev. Director

Lissa Lucas brings insight and experience to her work as Communications and Development Director for the Coalition. A graduate of Marietta College—where she earned her degree summa cum laude and joined the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa society—she went on to pursue her master’s degree at West Virginia University.

Over the past two decades, Lissa has worn many hats, including published author, project manager, brand developer, content creator, media strategist, and campaign leader. Her time teaching in Chengdu, China, inspired a passion for cross-cultural connection and lifelong learning that now serves her well as she presents trainings for victim advocates. She has led communications for local, statewide, and federal political campaigns—earning national media coverage from outlets like The New York Times, BBC, and The Washington Post, and crafting messages that resonate with people. But it’s her work in advocacy and coalition-building that inspires her most.

Today, she channels her experiences into advancing a mission close to her heart: protecting families from abuse. As a survivor herself, the work is more than professional—it’s personal. She has a particular drive to help people recognize and understand non-physical forms of abuse, such as financial abuse, isolation, and psychological abuse.

Lissa lives with her husband and two cats on a beautiful ridgetop in rural West Virginia. Her hobbies include renovating vintage RVs, crocheting, cooking, gardening, canning, brewing beer, playing the dulcimer, and running/playing in several Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.

Helen Marcum

Finance Director

Helen has been a vital member of the Coalition since 1997. With over 25 years of service, she is one of the Coalition’s most relied-upon staff members for providing technical assistance to the state’s 14 licensed domestic violence programs, supporting them in areas such as financial management, compliance, grant reporting, and more.

Helen holds an MBA from West Virginia University and a BBA in Accounting from Marshall University. She’s also a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Her academic background and professional expertise make her a cornerstone of the Coalition’s infrastructure, ensuring sound fiscal management across a wide range of initiatives and programs.

Originally accepting a part-time position with WVCADV, Helen quickly became an indispensable part of the core team. Over the years, she has helped guide the Coalition through changes in funding structures, policy requirements, and program development—always approaching her work with exactitude, adaptability, good humor, and a clear commitment to the mission.

In her day-to-day role, Helen leads not only the internal financial operations of WVCADV, but also provides ongoing technical support to licensed programs to build sustainable, accountable systems that keep survivor safety and program integrity at the center.

Helen continues to find energy and excitement in the evolving nature of the Coalition’s work, and she takes pride in being part of an organization that drives meaningful change.

When she’s not working, Helen loves to unwind with puzzles and games. Whether it’s spending hours putting together a jigsaw puzzle or diving into word games on her computer, she enjoys the challenge, strategy, and satisfaction of solving problems.

Ripley Varela

Training & Events Director

Amparo Ripley Charlie Varela serves as a vital member of WVCADV, bringing over five years of experience in survivor-centered advocacy.

Ripley began their career as an educator in the Hampshire County school system, where they taught for four years and honed their skills in communication, facilitation, and responsive education—foundational tools they now apply in systems advocacy and movement-building spaces.

They hold a Bachelor of Arts in English from West Virginia State University, with additional studies in sociology and history—disciplines that inform their approach to advocacy.

Before joining the Coalition, Ripley served as Programs Coordinator at WV FREE, where they led educational initiatives, created inclusive training content, and worked to expand access to reproductive healthcare and information across the state.

A passionate and collaborative trainer, Ripley has developed and facilitated numerous workshops and presentations on topics ranging from reducing barriers to support, to exploring the unique and often-overlooked forms of abuse that some survivors face. In fact, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were invited by a national network to lead a session on how to design and deliver effective virtual trainings—a testament to their adaptability and leadership in times of crisis.

In 2022, Ripley’s work was recognized with a Purple Ribbon Award, which honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to ending domestic violence. They are particularly driven to amplify voices and close service gaps, creating meaningful change by meeting survivors where they are and building responsive, informed solutions.

Outside of work, Ripley is a creative spirit who finds joy in film, comics, literature, video games, and all things paranormal. They also love storytelling and camaraderie through Dungeons & Dragons, where their imagination and empathy are always on display around the game table.

Kimberly Tyler-Stirling

Advocacy Director

Kimberly Tyler-Stirling, an Advocacy Director for the Coalition, is a proud native of West Virginia who returned to her home state in 1997 after completing her education at West Virginia University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her unconventional career path is driven by her studies in Art and her passion for the anti-violence movement.

As a young artist, she explored themes of family, relationships, communication, and violence in her art. In 1996, she presented a paper titled “Dreaming is Grueling Work” to the Southern Graphics Art Council at the WVU Creative Arts Center, which detailed her art and upbringing in Richwood, West Virginia. That experience would become the driving force for her decision to return home and dedicate her life to the anti-violence movement and the families who live in West Virginia.

Kimberly entered the field of domestic violence advocacy in 1997, where she worked as a volunteer advocate for one of the fourteen-member programs. Her passion for providing direct survivor-driven services is evident in her work. Kimberly has comprehensive knowledge of the intersections between health, behavioral health, and domestic violence. She finds inspiration in working with survivors and is motivated by research around incarcerated survivors, survivors in recovery, and survivors with cognitive disabilities and mental illness.

For more than twenty years, Kimberly has worked tirelessly to build partnerships with allied agencies and stakeholders in the criminal justice system to ensure a victim-centered response in cases of domestic violence. Her dedication and hard work in this field have earned her recognition from her peers.

In 2016, the STOP team, for which she was an advocate and leader, received recognition from the US Attorney’s Office for their successful prosecution of domestic violence-related crimes. In 2017, Judge James Rowe named her Nicholas County’s Champion for Children. And in 2019, she was honored with the Diane Reese Advocacy Award, a significant achievement in her career.

Then, upon her departure from AWAY in 2022, she received the Incite Hope Award for her outstanding contributions. She is a leader in her community, a skilled forensic interviewer, and an expert mediator.

In her spare time, Kimberly enjoys exploring her artistic side through photography and filmmaking. She is also an avid birdwatcher and snow skier. Kimberly is the proud mother of Elias Stirling, a highly skilled auto body technician, passionate fly fisherman, and aspiring stream conservationist.

Nnenna Minimah

Advocacy Director

Nnenna Minimah brings nearly two decades of experience in survivor-centered advocacy, community health organizing, and nonprofit leadership. A West Virginia native, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from West Virginia University and has devoted her career to strengthening systems that support individuals and families impacted by violence.

Nnenna began her work through grassroots community health outreach and engagement and went on to serve in multiple leadership roles within West Virginia’s anti-violence network. Her experience includes serving as Prevention Education Coordinator and Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator at the Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), as well as supporting statewide initiatives as a Project Coordinator with the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

She later served as Executive Director of RDVIC before expanding her leadership to Southeast Louisiana, where she was Executive Director of Southeast Advocates for Family Empowerment. In addition to this work, Nnenna contributed to national systems-change efforts as Consultant Faculty on a Futures Without Violence project, supporting organizational capacity-building and sustainable, survivor-centered practices.

After welcoming her daughter in 2022, Nnenna returned to nonprofit work in 2024 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with The Healing House, followed by her role as a Family Support Specialist with Healthy Families Mountain State. She rejoined WVCADV in November 2025, bringing a renewed commitment to advancing trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses and strengthening cross-sector collaboration statewide.

Nnenna has provided training for domestic violence advocates, Legal Aid attorneys, CPS and APS staff, youth-serving organizations, and agencies supporting older adults and people with disabilities. She has also worked nationally as a contracted trainer with the Women of Color Network and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Her strengths include statewide training development, multidisciplinary collaboration, and strategic grant coordination, with a particular focus on practices that enhance accountability while honoring survivor autonomy. Outside of work, Nnenna enjoys time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and a good adventure or science-fiction film.

Jessica Bender

Advocacy Director

Jessica Bender serves as an Advocacy Director at the Coalition, where she focuses on supporting survivor-centered systems change, strengthening community partnerships, and expanding prevention and outreach initiatives across the state.

A psychology graduate of Concord University in southern West Virginia, Jessica began her career in advocacy in 2016 at the Family Refuge Center (FRC)—a dual domestic and sexual violence service organization—where she served as Community Coordinator. Over the years, she advanced into leadership roles, including Director of Community Education and Co-Interim Director, gaining extensive experience in education, direct services, organizational development, and public engagement.

Jessica joined WVCADV in 2021 as the Training and Event Coordinator, where she helped design and deliver professional development opportunities for advocates and allied professionals statewide. She later served as the Outreach and Prevention Coordinator, a role in which she led community-based violence prevention strategies and expanded public awareness efforts. Her promotion to Advocacy Director reflects her deep commitment to survivor-centered work and her ability to lead collaborative, forward-thinking initiatives.

In addition to her role at the Coalition, Jessica co-chairs multiple committees and workgroups, where she helps guide statewide conversations on prevention, community advocacy, and more.

A proud West Virginian, Jessica enjoys exploring the beauty of her home state with family and friends. In her spare time, she loves to travel, discover hidden gems across West Virginia, and spend the evening with a good scary movie.

Nicole Roehm

Advocacy Director

Nicole Roehm serves as an Advocacy Director at WVCADV, bringing more than a decade of experience in human services and a deep commitment to supporting survivors and strengthening communities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Modern English Language from Shepherd University.

She entered the advocacy movement 2017 at the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC), a dual domestic violence and rape crisis center. During her time there, she served as a Rural Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Victim Advocate, Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Coordinator, and prevention educator. Her passion for serving survivors, collaborating with community partners, and supporting fellow advocates earned her EPEC’s first peer-nominated Staff Empowerment Award, recognizing an individual who creates and fosters an environment free from violence.

She later advanced to her team’s Lead Advocate and then Director of Outreach Services, where she supervised the agency’s outreach victim advocacy team and led training, outreach, and community engagement initiatives. In addition to her work at EPEC, Nicole participated in a pilot Victim Services track at Blue Ridge Technical College, serving as an adjunct professor and teaching Sexual Abuse Identification.

Nicole joined the WVCADV team in 2026 as an Advocacy Director. Her work focuses on the intersection of domestic violence, housing, and economic justice.

When she’s not working, Nicole enjoys exploring West Virginia’s trails, playing disc golf, reading, watching hockey and films, making and listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends (both fur and human). As a proud resident of the Eastern Panhandle, she values the opportunity to serve the communities she calls home.