Meet our speakers

Nadine M Finigan-Carr, Ph.D., is a prevention research scientist focused on the application of behavioral and social science perspectives to research on contemporary health problems, especially those that disproportionately affect people of color. She is an internationally recognized expert on minor human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and community violence. In 2023, she was named the inaugural Executive Director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Center for Violence Prevention. The center’s mission is to build resilient and equitable communities for all through the prevention and intervention of all forms of violence and trauma.

Suleman Masood, an internationally recognized subject matter expert on labor trafficking and male victimization, has been dedicated to his advocacy work since 2013. His experience has positioned him to work with local, state, and federal government agencies and non-profit organizations, creating culturally responsive services for underserved populations. Mr. Masood has led collaborations with victim service providers and task forces to build trust among survivors and the surrounding community while holding perpetrators accountable. His work emphasizes building partnerships with survivors and ensuring that strategies and implementation influence a survivor-informed approach. Mr. Masood previously served as the Council Chair for the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, a Presidentially appointed position. Through his leadership, the Advisory Council provided recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF).

Mr. Masood’s partnerships with service providers and first responders include serving as a senior program manager on behalf of the Office for Victims of Crime. In 2017, Mr. Masood was credited with coining the phrase “survivor-informed,” adopted and published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The term “survivor-informed” is now integrated throughout the anti-trafficking field. In 2021, Mr. Masood wrote, produced, and narrated a one-of-a-kind visual PSA on labor trafficking with the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Mr. Masood now serves as an Associate Attorney with Slater Slater Schulman, where he represents survivors of child sexual abuse perpetrated by institutions entrusted with their care, including schools, churches, hospitals, and juvenile detention centers. Mr. Masood lives by the mantra, “success is the best revenge.”

Amy graduated with a BSN from Stevenson University in 2014 and is currently pursuing a MSN with a focus in forensic nursing. She has practiced as an emergency department nurse in the Baltimore area for 12 years where she has previously held leadership positions at Saint Agnes Hospital, Sinai Hospital, as well as Grace Medical Center. She became a Forensic Nurse Examiner Adult/Adolescent at Mercy in 2018 and transitioned into this role full time in July of 2025. She holds a certification in emergency nursing (CEN), is trauma certified (TCRN), interpersonal violence strangulation evaluation-certified (IVSE-C) and holds an FNE-A license in Maryland. She is chair of the Human Trafficking Committee and co-chair of the Education Committee at Mercy. Amy is passionate about providing excellent care to the unique population of forensic patients and enjoys disseminating her knowledge of strangulation and human trafficking to area hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, and other service providers. Amy believes that an interdisciplinary approach to the care of these patients is essential in improving patient outcomes.

Mandy has been loving and serving the women of Baltimore for over 23 years, and that love has only grown deeper with time. What began as a small community Christmas event for women blossomed into a weekly life group, then expanded into the creation of a life development center, and has now grown into a thriving social enterprise. Each step of this journey has been guided by a deep passion and a clear call to equip women for life, not just to meet immediate needs, but to walk alongside women as they discover their own strength, purpose, and potential. Because of this commitment, countless lives have been transformed, families have been strengthened, and entire communities have begun to change for the better. Mandy brings a unique and varied background to her work. She has experience in the nursing field, where she learned the value of compassionate, hands-on care, as well as in the world of interior design, where she developed an eye for creating spaces that feel like home. Yet most of her wisdom and insight has come not from formal training, but from years of being present in the community: listening, learning, and working alongside the women she serves with her feet firmly on the ground. As a social entrepreneur, Mandy launched Hon’s Honey out of a deep desire to create meaningful employment for women and help them build sustainable, independent lives. Through this venture, women are given not only income, but dignity, purpose, and hope for the future.

Mary Beth began her career in refugee resettlement, with a focus on community engagement and strategic partnerships. For several years, she worked closely in the welcoming of newcomers to the United States, filling roles in interpreter services coordination, ESOL instruction, academic credential evaluation, and mental health service access for asylum seekers and survivors of torture. Through this work, she developed a deep understanding of the challenges newcomers face and a lasting commitment to walking alongside them. She spent five years at Global Refuge, the national refugee resettlement headquarters, focusing on monitoring and evaluation, as well as training and technical assistance for unaccompanied children and refugee employment programs. This work naturally drew her into the anti-trafficking and domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy field, where she joined Futures Without Violence. There, she focused on training and technical assistance with workforce development entities and employers, helping to create safer working environments where survivors could obtain and retain meaningful employment. Throughout her career, Mary Beth has been committed to infusing her work with joy, creativity, curiosity, and empathy. She is passionate about creating spaces where people feel genuinely safe and welcome to bring their ideas and lived experience to the table, believing that real change happens when people feel seen and valued. Mary Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities and Bible and a master’s degree in counseling. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, hiking, scouring Etsy for 1960s Vogue dress patterns, sipping coffee with friends, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and their tribe of cats.

Gabriela Asuad serves as Community Engagement and Training Manager at TurnAround, Inc., where she leads prevention education and community outreach initiatives focused on domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, and child abuse. Originally from Colombia, she earned her degree in Social Communications and has more than eight years of experience serving high-risk and underserved populations, with a strong focus on immigrant and Hispanic communities. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, she is committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to build safer, healthier communities.

Gabriela is passionate about building meaningful partnerships and creating engaging, trauma-informed learning experiences that inspire action. In recognition of her leadership and dedication to advancing the safety and well-being of women and girls, she was also recently honored with the Raise Your Voice Award by the Baltimore County Commission for Women. She is proud to represent her Latina heritage and remains committed to amplifying the voices of survivors and strengthening community connections.

Angeles Evans holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Morgan State University. She is a facilitator and trainer with 15+ years of experience in prevention education, specializing in the subject matters of sexual and intimate partner violence, child abuse, and intersectionality. In her current role, her department provides prevention education services to 4,000+ community members on a yearly average. She has also led agency initiatives, including the development of TurnAround’s School Response Toolkit, launching a youth-based Bystander Intervention Train-the-Trainer program, and alongside her team –– continues to expand survivor and community engagement through annual awareness programs like the Purple Poetry Book and Denim Day.

Ashwini Jaisingh, Esq. is a Senior Immigration Attorney at the University of Maryland SAFE Center where she represents trafficking survivors in their immigration cases and works on labor rights policy issues. Her work includes training various audiences in Maryland on identification of labor trafficking survivors. She brings over a decade of working on immigrants’ and workers’ rights issues including labor trafficking, domestic worker rights, and wage theft. She earned her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and her B.A. from Georgetown University. She is fluent in Spanish. 

Rachel Worley is the Extended Services Program Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she oversees a portfolio of programs supporting survivors of human trafficking, victims of crime and humanitarian immigrants. With over a decade of international and domestic experience, Rachel has led initiatives for both minors and adults. She specializes in program design, strategic planning, and the integration of trauma-informed, survivor-centered approaches into service delivery.
Rachel holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, with a specialty in anti-trafficking and a certificate in humanitarian assistance. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing the rights and recovery of trafficking survivors through direct services, community collaboration, and systems-level change.

Celine Mworia is the Anti-Trafficking Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Silver Spring, Maryland. She specializes in human trafficking identification, response, and prevention, with a focus on high-risk populations, survivor-centered service delivery, and cross-sector collaboration. Her expertise is informed by frontline case management, program coordination, and community engagement, and she regularly delivers training and technical assistance to multidisciplinary audiences on best practices for identifying and responding to human trafficking.

Celine holds a Master’s degree in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights from American University in Washington, D.C., with a concentration in victim advocacy and the prevention of child and forced marriage. She is a Certified Human Trafficking Prevention Consultant through the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights and a Certified Victim Advocate through the Maryland Victim Assistance Academy. Celine is also a certified application assistant for the Safe at Home, Maryland Address Confidentiality Program. Drawing on both direct service and systems-level experience, Celine provides practical, evidence-informed training that strengthens professional capacity, enhances multidisciplinary collaboration, and improves outcomes for survivors of human trafficking.

Shamere McKenzie is a distinguished international anti-trafficking strategist, systems leader, and consultant to the United Nations and various U.S. government agencies, with more than 15 years of cross-sector impact. A passionate activist and internationally recognized speaker, she leverages her lived experience with sex trafficking to transform adversity into advocacy, driving systemic change and advancing policies that promote justice, protection, and meaningful survivor inclusion on both national and global stages.

As the CEO of Sun Gate Foundation, an anti-trafficking organization, Shamere passionately channels her commitment to education and policy into providing survivors of human trafficking with essential educational opportunities. Her influential role extends to the Maryland State Human Trafficking Task Force, where she co-chairs the Victim Services Committee, leading cross-sector collaboration to improve services for survivors.

Beyond her impact in the United States, Shamere responded to a call from the Ministry of Justice in her birthplace, Jamaica, and holds the distinguished title of the first appointed Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassador for Jamaica since 2018.

Drawing on her experiences as a former Program Director, Shamere authored a groundbreaking anti-trafficking program and oversaw an emergency residential program for adult survivors. She is a sought-after resource, having trained various professionals, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, prosecutors, judges, faith leaders, hotel and airline staff, in identifying and responding to human trafficking victims, both in the U.S. and globally.

Her compelling narrative and leadership have been featured in several books, documentaries, and media outlets, serving as an impactful educational tool. Her most recent documentary, “False Promises,” released in 2018 on the island of Aruba, specifically addresses sex trafficking awareness among Caribbean youth.

Shamere holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago and actively serves on various boards, advisory groups, and speakers bureaus. She has garnered numerous awards in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the anti-trafficking movement.

A faith-driven leader, Shamere draws strength from her unwavering belief in Jesus Christ. Refusing to be labeled a victim or survivor, she proudly identifies as a liberator— one who has broken free from the chains of her past, determined to pave the way for others who have endured enslavement. Her voice, vision, and leadership continue to shape a global movement toward justice, dignity, and systemic transformation.

Amelia Rubenstein, MSW, LCSW-C is Director of Programs and Operations at the Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Maryland Baltimore where she leads programs to advance the health and safety of Marylanders through violence prevention. As a clinical social worker, researcher, and nonprofit leader, Ms. Rubenstein has worked with survivors of sex and labor trafficking for over a decade to build systemic responses to exploitation. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Ms. Rubenstein is dedicated to assisting youth-serving agencies and organizations to address the issue of human trafficking, particularly among system-involved youth. She has frequently served as an expert witness for cases involving human trafficking, sexual assault, and victimization. Ms. Rubenstein previously co-founded the Anti-Trafficking Program at TurnAround, Inc. which provided wrap-around services to survivors of human trafficking. 

Rachel Sye is the Chief Operating Officer at TurnAround Inc., a non-profit that provides advocacy and support to survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Initially Rachel served as the Program Coordinator then became Director of the Anti-Trafficking Program at TurnAround Inc. that worked exclusively with human trafficking survivors. She has been an active member of various committees and task forces in the State of Maryland that advocates for system change and for service provision for survivors, including the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, Coordinated Action Against Sex Trafficking, and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office Human Trafficking Collaborative. She served 8 years as co-chair for the Victim Services subcommittee under the City’s Mayor’s Office and was a co-chair for a local Collaborative called Safe Future’s Maryland in Baltimore City to name a few.

Rachel has conducted countless human trafficking trainings for community member, professionals, and organizations, and is a regular panelist for public awareness events in Baltimore City. She has been interviewed on the subject of human trafficking by local TV stations and has received recognition for her work from the Baltimore Mayor’s Office in 2019, has been featured in Baltimore Magazine’s 1st Installment of their Game Changers Series in 2020. Recently, Rachel has been a part of creating TurnAround’s Monarch program that received its license in 2024 by the State and is Maryland’s first exclusive residential program for child survivors of human trafficking. 

Thomas Stack is currently the Anti-Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault Response Manager for the City of Baltimore, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement where he oversees anti-human trafficking efforts and Sexual Assault response in the City of Baltimore.  Mr. Stack also started and is the Co-Chair of the Baltimore City Human Trafficking Collaborative. Previously Mr. Stack worked at the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention from May of 2015 to October 2017 where he over saw the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention’s efforts to combat human trafficking in the State of Maryland as the Human Trafficking Policy Analyst.  Mr. Stack was appointed by Governor Hogan to be a member of the Safe Harbor Workgroup to study Safe Harbor policy for Child Sex Trafficking Victims.  He also conducted Law Enforcement trainings though out the State, and developed human trafficking policy for the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.  

  Thomas Stack retired from the Montgomery County Police Department’s Vice and Intelligence Unit on September 1, 2014.  Retired Detective Stack has more than 26 years of law enforcement experience including 14 years in the Vice and Intelligence Unit.  He has investigated and assisted in more than 450 Prostitution/Human Trafficking cases to include Asian Massage parlors, Latino Brothels, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking cases, Labor Trafficking cases, Internet prostitution cases, and “John” sting cases.  He has conducted numerous undercover stings.  Ret. Detective Stack was a Task Force Officer with the FBI, Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force where he was one of the lead investigators on the United States vs Jeremy Naughton human trafficking case.  This two and a half year investigations involved a violent pimp who was charged with numerous counts of human trafficking and other Federal charges, and had eleven victims of human trafficking.  Ret. Detective Stack has testified in front of the Maryland House of Delegates, Judiciary Committee and the Maryland Senate, Judicial Proceedings Committee on prostitution and Human Trafficking.  Detective Stack has been recognized as an expert in prostitution and human trafficking investigations by the Circuit Court and District Court of Maryland.