WVCADV Inspiration Luncheon Awards

Nicole Roehm began her advocacy career in 2017 at the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center, where she supported survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking, coordinated multidisciplinary response efforts, and led prevention and community education initiatives.

Throughout her career, Nicole has been passionate about empowering survivors, strengthening partnerships, and supporting fellow advocates. Her dedication to creating safer communities earned her EPEC’s first peer-nominated Staff Empowerment Award. She later served as Lead Advocate and Director of Outreach Services, supervising advocacy staff and leading training, outreach, and community engagement efforts. She also served as an adjunct professor, teaching sexual abuse identification.

Nicole joined WVCADV as an Advocacy Director in 2026. Her work here focuses on the intersection of domestic violence, housing, and economic justice. She also serves as Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator, supporting multidisciplinary collaboration and community efforts to prevent and respond to human trafficking.

Shelly Mooreland has served as a Victim Advocate and STOP Coordinator with the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC) in Preston County for the past 20 years. Throughout her career, Shelly has been a steadfast advocate for survivors, dedicating her time and expertise to supporting victims and helping them find safety, healing, and justice.

Outside of her professional role, Shelly has been happily married for 36 years and is the proud mother of two children, a daughter and a son. She cherishes her growing family, which includes a future son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and the exciting anticipation of welcoming her first grandchild. She also enjoys the companionship of her two beloved dogs.

Known for her compassion and commitment to helping others, Shelly has made a lasting impact on countless lives in her community. When she is not working, she enjoys painting and playing bingo, hobbies that reflect her creative spirit and love of connecting with others.

Cortland Nesley is the manager of West Virginia University’s Traumatic Brain Injury Services Program at the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

He is a certified brain injury specialist and is currently on the board for the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators.

Cortland has also worked as a neurodiversity and accessibility consultant, working for organizations such as The Civilians, South Coast Repertory, and Lincoln Center. He holds a BFA from Boston University and a master’s in public health from West Virginia University.

Anne Thomas graduated from The College of West Virginia in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Ms. Thomas has worked in the Division of Corrections & Rehabilitation (DCR) for over 26 years. She began her career with DCR in 1999 at Mount Olive Correctional Complex (MOCC) as an Office Assistant II.

While at MOCC Ms. Thomas held the following positions : Office Assistant II, Correctional Counselor I & II, Correctional Program Specialist, Correctional Case Manager, and Unit Manager until December 2006. She served as Associate Warden of Programs at Lakin Correctional Center from January 2007 to October 2008. Ms. Thomas accepted the position of Central Office Director of Classification in November 2008 and held this position until being appointed as Warden at Parkersburg Correctional Center on September 1, 2012.

She was then appointed as Warden at Lakin Correctional Center on July 23, 2016. On July 22, 2017, she became Acting Chief of Staff at the Division of Corrections Central Office. On July 1, 2018, Ms. Thomas was appointed as the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Community Corrections for the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.