Our Team

Susan Prout is the Co-Founder of I Have The Right To and the mother of Chessy Prout, author of I Have The Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope. Since the moment Chessy bravely disclosed her assault at 15 years old, Susan has been an unwavering advocate for survivors and a fierce champion for change.

Determined to create a future where no survivor has to endure what her daughter and family faced in the aftermath of Chessy’s assault at St. Paul’s School, Susan has dedicated herself to raising awareness, holding institutions accountable, and equipping students with the tools to foster safe, respectful communities. She travels nationwide, speaking with students, parents, and educators to amplify survivor voices and inspire action.

A thought leader in the fight against sexual violence, Susan works tirelessly to develop survivor-centered educational programs that empower young people to advocate for themselves and stand up for others. She collaborates with survivors, experts, and legal advocates to push for systemic change—including a justice system that treats sexual assault victims with dignity, understands the neurobiology of trauma, and upholds their rights as crime victims.

Through her work, Susan continues to turn pain into purpose, relentlessly pursuing a world where every student can learn, grow, and thrive—free from the fear of sexual violence.

Katie M. Shipp is the Executive Director of I Have The Right To and a dedicated advocate for survivors of sexual assault. As an attorney, she spent over a decade representing survivors of sexual abuse, victims of online exploitation, and college students navigating Title IX disciplinary proceedings. Through this work, she witnessed firsthand the critical need for education—empowering young people to use their voices, recognize red flags, and stand up for others.

As a mother of two young children, Katie believes it’s never too early to have age-appropriate conversations about consent, body boundaries, and healthy relationships. She is equally passionate about equipping parents, caretakers, and educators with the tools to reinforce these crucial discussions. By fostering open, honest dialogue with both youth and adults, Katie is committed to building safer, more respectful communities where everyone plays a role in preventing sexual violence.

Katie partners with K-12 schools and universities nationwide, ensuring students and adults alike are prepared to foster safe environments and support survivors. Committed to amplifying survivor voices, she collaborates with experts to develop meaningful programs that raise awareness, provide resources, and drive lasting change in the fight against sexual violence.

JeVon is a servant leader and the fundraising manager for I Have The Right To. He is a former school administrator and has lead Operations Departments across sectors. JeVon studied History, Race, and Gender at Allegheny College, has worked with sexual assault survivors of all ages, and advocates for compassionate action against social injustices.

Karen is a Facilitator and Program Development Coordinator with I Have The Right To. She has her Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology and is a Certified School Counselor and Consent Educator.

As the mother of a survivor of teen sexual assault, Karen has first-hand knowledge of the impact the teen dating violence epidemic has on teens, families and schools. Karen has spent the past several years presenting sexual assault prevention and healthy teen relationship programs to schools, community groups, and advocates. Karen believes that teen sexual assault statistics can be reduced through education and awareness.

Michele Sambiase is a passionate educator, equity advocate, and leading voice in consent education. With 17 years of classroom experience in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, she has devoted her career to creating inclusive communities where all individuals are seen, heard, and valued.

As a pioneer of Loudoun County’s first student equity committee, Michele has led student leaders in advocating for equity, inclusivity, and consent education. Her work includes teacher training programs, student-led assemblies, affinity group collaborations, and introducing consent education to local elementary schools. These initiatives have been recognized as exemplary models across the county.

Michele’s educational journey has been deeply enriched by her global experiences. She has studied diverse cultures, traveled the world, and taught visually impaired students in Kenya. With an M.Ed. and a degree in Anthropology, Michele’s academic background also includes studies in psychology, Africana studies, and Latin American and East Asian cultures, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of human experience.

A trusted mentor and advocate for systemic change, Michele’s commitment to building authentic relationships and amplifying student voices has made her a leader in fostering inclusive spaces. As a facilitator and curriculum developer with I Have The Right To, she continues her mission to empower individuals through education on respect, consent, and inclusivity.

Melanie Barton is a survivor of Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault but above all else is a survivor more than her story with passion to bring light into the darkness through her experiences. Melanie has worked for over 10 years in the Victim Services Field as a trained advocate, forensic interviewer, and subject matter expert and has been sought as a dynamic nationally recognized speaker across the Country at many large trainings and events. 

Melanie was awarded the One with Courage Award in 2020 by the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance and the Honor of Dedication and Devotion to Children Plaque from the Children’s Listening Place Child Advocacy Center in West Virginia in 2022. 

Melanie has her certificate of Forensic Interviewing from CornerHouse and is trained on The Project FIND Adapted Training – Forensic Interviewing Individuals Who Do Not Speak from Modell Consulting Group LLC. 

Melanie Shares her story and advocacy to inspire others and to bring Hope. As a woman with Strong Faith, and a passionate/compassionate voice, she is honored to work with survivors in all capacities, and has a strong passion to educate, and shine light on difficult topics and empower those she is able to through sharing her story and experiences both personally and professionally. 

Josephine A. Lauren, MTS (she/they) is an internationally recognized, queer, disabled author, activist, and anti-incest liberation agent. They have been published in outlets like Ms. Magazine, Yes!, America, Spirituality & Health, and Elite Daily. As the founder of Incest AWARE, Jo. serves an alliance of individuals and organizations seeking to improve methods of incest prevention, intervention, recovery, and justice. Say hello to Jo. on their website or subscribe to their Substack at josephineanne.com.

Corinne joined I Have the Right To to help educate about Title IX rights from a survivor perspective. Corinne’s interest in activism developed at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied cultural anthropology and studio arts. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, Corinne underwent a Title IX case, an experience that greatly influences her passions and drive to this day. In Pittsburgh, Corinne works as the Volunteer Coordinator & Organizer at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, working to promote access to reproductive freedom in the region. She has previous experience coordinating youth programs at the YMCA and as a Resident Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, both of which inform her delivery of complex advocacy topics to younger audiences. In the future, Corinne hopes to further her artistic career as a painter and attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s of Social Work (MSW).

Yvette Mitchell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with almost 20 years of experience within the mental health field. She is the owner of a psychotherapy private practice in the DC metro area, where she provides mental health support to adolescents, adults, and parents who are having difficulty managing issues such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, and work/life stress. Yvette is also an experienced trainer and has a passion for providing support and psychoeducation to young people and parents, specifically as it relates to challenging societal norms and dismantling harmful attitudes surrounding sexual assault. She is committed to working with allies and advocates to create a culture of consent, awareness, respect, and accountability in our communities.

Finley Muratova joined I Have The Right To, desiring to turn their trauma into action. They’re a 24-year-old living in New York with their spouse and 1-year-old puppy. Finley went into facilitating as the result of sexual violence they survived. They realized a large portion of it happened due to the lack of consent and body safety education their peers and they themselves received. 

Finley dedicates their professional life to preventing abuse through the delivery of comprehensive sex. ed. to all school-aged groups. They specialize in teaching consent, boundaries, healthy relationship skills, and LGBTQ+ safety.

Michael has led academic departments and designed programs and curricula in philosophy and ethics throughout his thirty-year career in independent secondary boarding schools and institutions of higher learning.

Committed to the values of civil discourse and critical inquiry, Michael is an expert at rendering complex ideas accessible through a pedagogy rooted in and yet transcendent of disciplinary boundaries to foster growth and deepen students’ collective capacity to imagine and implement change.

Sonja leverages her decades’ long career living, learning, teaching, coaching, and advocating from within secondary and post-secondary residential academic communities and institutions to enlarge and complexify critical conversations, consult, design, and implement curricula in literature, language, and ethics germane to I Have The Right To’s vision of a future where every student receives an education free from sexual assault.

She is a creative thinker and passionate discussion facilitator who positions herself an equal partner in the work toward helping adolescents locate healing and meaning in life.

Neha Patel is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a passion to help others find peace and fulfillment in their lives. She owns a psychotherapy private practice in northern VA and provides mental health treatment to adolescents, adults, and parents.

Neha specifically specializes in working with individuals who have experienced/survived trauma, are diagnosed with PTSD, and struggle with depression post traumatic stress. She is also a registered yoga teacher, she has a passion for helping individuals heal their relationship to their body and help them build mind-body connection.

Neha’s practice is built on the foundation of working with the population through a holistic, multicultural, and a trauma-informed lens. She is committed to work with the population that I Have The Right To reaches to provide psychoeducation around trauma, how it affects the mind/body, and discuss the importance of consent and respect through the lens of mental health.

Alecia Wallingford serves as a facilitator for I Have the Right To, bringing over a decade of experience as an educator. She holds a Master’s in Education in Literacy and Culture, which has equipped her to effectively engage and support diverse student populations.

A dedicated mental health advocate, Alecia consistently centers the emotional well-being of her students in her work. A survivor herself, she was deeply moved by Chessy’s strength and advocacy—especially meaningful as the two attended school together in Tokyo, Japan.

Inspired by that connection and her own lived experiences, Alecia is passionate about creating safe, empowering spaces for young people. She plans to pursue a Master’s in Social Work in the coming years to deepen her impact.

Chessy is a subject matter expert and Co-Founder of I Have The Right To. Her memoir, I Have The Right To; A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice and Hope, documents institutional complicity in sexual assault and provides hope to survivors and parents. Chessy is a writer, filmmaker, advocate, and internationally recognized public speaker. She is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University.    

Lucy is an advisor to I Have The Right To. As a first-year Ph.D. student at the NYU Silver School of Social Work, Lucy’s research interests are driven by goals of addressing equity and access in reimagining responses to intimate partner violence beyond the criminal-legal system. Previously, Lucy facilitated restorative justice circles in Colorado through the Denver District Attorney’s Office, Boulder County Probation Department, and Boulder County Sheriff’s Department, and advocated for victim-survivors as a Victim-Centered Restorative Justice intern.

She is also working to create a restorative, community-based program for those directly impacted by intimate partner violence. Lucy received her MA in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Gender Based Violence from the University of Colorado Denver and her BA in Justice and Peace Studies with a Women and Gender Studies minor from Georgetown University.

Eric is Founder and CEO of Strax Networks, Inc., makers of StraxAR™ Enterprise. Eric became involved in advocating for and supporting survivors when someone close to him was affected by psychological abuse and physical violence at a religious boarding school. 

Elizabeth advises the I Have The Right To team on strategy, school engagement, and fundraising. She brings to the organization a three-decade-long career in nonprofit management and fundraising. Elizabeth is a strategic thinker, a respected thought leader, and leading voice globally on high-impact giving, especially among women.

Creative Original, Inc. is a web design and development team based in Asheville, NC. Founded and managed by digital marketing strategist and educator Sarah D. Benoit and supported by Dan Cropper, an extremely talented graphic design, videography, and web development expert. The Creative Original team has over 40 years of combined web design and digital marketing experience and has a passion for working with non-profit organizations and small businesses that are creating real positive impact in the world.