Faculty, Staff, & Affiliates

As a researcher at Florida State University since 1998, Karen has been the director of the FSU Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies (formerly the Institute for Family Violence Studies) since 2007. In 2011, she was named an FSU Distinguished University Scholar.

Oehme’s research and development team builds large-scale projects and specializes in interactive, web-based learning to promote research-based knowledge on crucial subjects. The team's research interests all intersect with themes of trauma and resilience. Thousands of professionals in child protection, law enforcement, human services and the court system have been learners in ITRS curricula on FSU Learn. Karen's team has been awarded multiple times by Florida TaxWatch for saving taxpayer funds with innovative projects. Additionally, The FSU Student Resilience Project created by ITRS was awarded the 2019 John L. Blackburn Award for Solutions to Campus Problems by the American Association of University Administrators. Oehme's scholarly work has been published in many journals, including the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender, Stanford Law and Policy Review, Innovative Higher Education, and the Journal of American College Health.

Oehme received her law degree from Florida State University in 1987. She was formerly a staff attorney at Legal Services of North Florida and the Guardian ad Litem Program of the Second Judicial Circuit. She is a member of the Florida Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.

Ann is the Program Director of Research Dissemination at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies, after joining FSU in 2015. Perko creates communications and engages with foundation, corporate, and governmental representatives to seek support for Institute projects. Perko works with the Institute team to develop large scale training and research projects., including the FSU Student Resilience Project, and Successful Co-Parenting after Divorce. Perko advocates for the Institute’s family safety policies, including collaborating on amicus briefs on legal and legislative support on family violence prevention research.

PPrior to joining FSU, Perko developed and promoted family violence prevention public policy through service on the Florida Attorney General’s Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, Florida Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Parent Coordination and the Florida’s Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence.

PPerko graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, with a J.D., with Honors in 1990, and from Duke University, with a B.S., in Biology in 1987. Perko represented the interests of low-income families and domestic violence survivors in legislative public policy advocacy before coming to FSU. Perko served as Executive Director of Florida’s Statewide Legal Domestic Violence Hotline and Senior Family Law Attorney at Florida Legal Services, and Senior Attorney at Legal Services of North Florida. She is a member of the Florida Bar and the Supreme Court Bar of the United States.

Lyndi is the Director of Professional Development for the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies. She graduated with a Master’s in Social Work and a certificate in Leadership and Executive Administration Development from FSU’s College of Social Work. She recently earned her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership & Policy. Her research interests include child welfare, trauma-informed care, resilience, and domestic violence.

Favorite hobby: Reading

Catia received her B.A. in Business Administration from Columbus State University. She spent 10 years in the private sector in Mexico helping expand a business nationally and internationally. Since then, Catia has been working for Florida State University starting in 2009, first in conferencing and later as the Program Director for Professional Development in the Center for Academic & Professional Development. She currently oversees the development and launching of online courses at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies.

Merina is a Training Specialist at the Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies. She earned her MSW from Florida State University's College of Social Work, where she also taught as an adjunct faculty member. Through her work, she has provided education to clients, students, and community members on substance misuse, trauma-informed care, and resilience. Her professional interests include preventing trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), addressing domestic violence and human trafficking, and advocating for neurodiversity.

Favorite fictional character: Princess Leia

Mae is the Program Manager at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies. She brings over 10 years of contract and grant experience -- in her time at FSU and the Florida Park Service, she has coordinated everything from multi-million dollar NIH research grants to rebuilding coral reefs off the Florida coast and most everything in-between.

Mae holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Florida State University. During her coursework at FSU and internship with the Bassell lab at Emory University, her research interests centered on the molecular mechanisms of Autism Spectrum Disorders and how this knowledge can be used to develop novel therapeutic approaches.

Favorite thing: Sunflowers

Erica is a Training Specialist for the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies. Brown graduated with an A.A. from North Florida Community College in 2012 and from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Criminology in 2015. Brown is continuing her education, seeking a Master's in Social Work. Before joining IFVS, Brown held titles such as Certified Family Assessment Worker, Substance Abuse Counselor, Behavioral Health Facilitator, Program Counselor, Enrichment Program Coordinator, and Client Care Specialist. Brown's professional interests include implementing trauma-informed care, preventing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), re-entry programming, and veterinary social work.

Favorite Podcast: Myths & Legends

Kelly is a three-time graduate of FSU and has worked as a Research Associate and FL Statewide Supervised Visitation Database Director for the Institute since its inception. Kelly specializes in teaching, training and research in domestic abuse, including elder abuse, teen dating abuse and domestic violence, as well as supervised visitation.

Cherish is a current MSW student at Florida State University. She earned her B.A from the University of Northern Colorado, where she majored in Sociology. She is an intern at Maternal and Perinatal Services, where she provides support to mothers and babies in the Tallahassee community. Cherish is passionate about Black women’s maternal health and researching racial disparities in health care.

Favorite book: The Help

Camila is a Graduate Assistant at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies, currently pursuing her MSW at Florida State University. Prior to that, she earned her Law BA from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in Argentina and her Psychology BA from Karoli Gaspar University in Hungary. Until 2019, she worked in the law field. Afterward, she dedicated her time to creating an online platform and blog where she could combine her passion for communication, education, and psychology. Her goal for the future is to work with minorities in education and family services. Favorite thing: Friendship

Kaitlynn is a Research Assistant at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies, currently pursuing her MSW at Florida State University. She also earned her bachelors degree from Florida State University in Political Science with a minor in Social Welfare. Kaitlynn also serves as a Graduate Assistant and Certified HIV counselor at the Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness. Upon graduation, Kaitlynn is interested in going abroad conducting research and working with clients to establish herself as an international social worker.

Favorite thing: Travel

Annie is an Information Assistant and Writer at the Institute for Family Violence Studies. She is currently a MSW and MPA student at Florida State University, where she previously received her bachelor's degree in Social Work. Her goal after graduation is to work in social work on a macro-level, and long-term she hopes to influence policy affecting children. Annie previously worked in the child welfare system and interned as a public policy apprentice.

Favorite hobby: Reading

Lauren is a Graduate Assistant at the Institute of Trauma and Resilience Studies. She is currently pursuing an MSW at FSU, where she previously obtained her BS in Psychology and Human Development & Family Sciences. She is passionate about working with children and has a variety of experiences in clinic, school, and home settings. Post-graduation, she hopes to continue providing mental health services to children and families, with a special interest in vulnerable populations and trauma-informed care

María Gualtieri is a research assistant at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies and is currently pursuing her MSW at Florida State University. She is also a graduate assistant for LIFT, FSU's Collegiate Recovery Program supporting students in recovery from substance misuse, eating disorders, and self-harm under CHAW (The Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness). She earned a Dual Bachelor's degree in Sociology and International Relations in 2019 also from Florida State.

Post-graduation, she hopes to continue providing mental health services to children and families, with a special interest in vulnerable populations and trauma-informed care

Favorite pastime: spending time in nature and making pottery

Anna is an Information Writer and Assistant at the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies. She is currently a BSW student at Florida State University and is hoping to pursue her Master’s of Social Work after graduation. Anna has served her community as a hotline crisis counselor for the Big Bend area and as a peer educator for students on campus. She is passionate about working with vulnerable and marginalized populations and is interested in exploring international social work in the future!

 

Favorite sea animal: beluga whale

Aiyanna is an Undergraduate Assistant at ITRS and a current BSW Student at Florida State University. She’s also an Ambassador for FSU’s College of Social Work, where she advocates for the program and connects with prospective students.

After earning her BSW, Aiyanna plans to pursue a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) with a focus on the criminal justice system, aiming to advocate for reform and provide trauma-informed support to justice-involved individuals.

Karey is an alumnus of Florida State University, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s in information architecture. As a Junior and Senior while attending FSU, Karey worked as a developer in the Information Lab (iLab). He has worked on numerous training applications for the College of Social Work since 2009. Karey is passionate about technology and continues to push the technological limits of our training and information systems.

Aakiem is a web developer who enjoys taking on new challenges. No task is too big for him to tackle. He is a team player who enjoys collaboration and taking on large responsibilities. Aakiem graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

Favorite sport: Muay Thai