Meet the Team

Valery (she/her) provides direction and support to the Title IX team. She works closely with University leadership and partners to ensure that Title IX and related laws are implemented at the UW in alignment with our Title IX values: survivor choice, community responsibility, equity, and a commitment to move beyond compliance to prevention and inclusion. Before joining the office in 2017, Valery worked in student affairs and campus life as a higher education consultant with a focus on strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and change management. Valery holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in College and University Administration from Michigan State University. Valery enjoys hiking the local trails, kayaking the lakes and the Sound, and planning adventures with friends and family.

Kiana (she/her) coordinates the development and implementation of Title IX educational programs. These evidence-based programs are designed to address and prevent sex- and gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination among faculty, staff, and students. She is committed to creating approaches that engage individuals as agents of change, giving communities practical strategies to build healthy academic cultures, and examining structures that can perpetuate harm. Her two decades in the anti-violence movement have centered around intersectional and trauma-informed responses to gender-based violence, youth violence, and workplace violence. She holds a certificate in Psychological Trauma from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Beyond the workplace, you can find Kiana backpacking, swimming in cold mountain lakes, and traveling the world with her two young children.

Nik (he/him) joined the team in February 2023. In addition to providing leadership to the case management team, Nik coordinates the responses to a broad range of Title IX issues as they arise, develops and assists in implementing the University’s Title IX policy, and advises and consults with members of the UW community regarding Title IX policy and protocols. Before Nik’s career in education, he practiced child welfare, criminal, and employment law for fifteen years in California. Nik earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida and his law degree from San Francisco Law School. Nik is a member of the California Bar. When not working, Nik enjoys playing various sports and practicing on his guitar.

Brittany (she/her) responds to reports of sex discrimination and sex- and gender-based harassment by connecting with impacted individuals to offer support and explore resolution options. She also consults with secondarily impacted people and communities on how best to support all individuals involved. Brittany prioritizes choice and agency and incorporates person-centered and trauma-informed practices into her response work. She brings additional expertise in risk assessment, crisis management, and navigating campus and community systems. Her past roles include confidential campus advocate, social work case manager, mental health therapist, mental health court evaluator, and sexual assault counselor. Brittany holds a master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Medaille College in Buffalo, NY.  Outside of work, she enjoys solving puzzles, trying new restaurants with her partner, and giving endless adoration to her two cats, Burt and Ernie.

Disha (she/her) works closely with campus partners to coordinate the UW’s response when community members are impacted by sex-and gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination. She greatly values the opportunity to facilitate access to supportive resources and to clarify the administrative processes relating to Title IX matters in ways that empower all parties to make informed choices in alignment with their beliefs and identities. Disha earned her master’s in College Student Development from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2018. She also holds a bachelor’s in Psychology with minors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy. Disha and her spouse, Megan, have two rescue dogs—Maggie and Simba—born in different countries several years apart but look like twins!

Laura (she/her) facilitates the intake and initial response process, manages support and resource coordination, and actively contributes to prevention and education initiatives to promote gender and sex equity at the UW. Dedicated to supporting UW community members during challenging times, Laura focuses on cultivating relationships across the University, constructing equitable systems, and developing trauma-informed policies. She has skills in crisis management, de-escalation, and case management from her time as a Violence Prevention and Response Specialist at UW SafeCampus. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the UW Evans School. Beyond her professional life, Laura finds joy in her two cats, Benny and Penny, and loves paddleboarding and reading the New Yorker.

Catherine (she/her) translates complex data into actionable insights and policy recommendations for Title IX initiatives. She designs, builds, and implements data management systems to support the Title IX team, including case management, training & education, and collaboration with CRS partners. Catherine also leads the policy review process, relying on data-driven insights and stakeholder collaboration. Catherine has a background in strategy development, research, and policy development. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the UW Evans School. Outside work, you can catch Catherine taking her dogs to the beach, attending as many concerts as her budget allows, or exploring a new brewery/restaurant/coffee shop.

Kao’s (she/her) work to support the Title IX team’s daily operations includes monitoring incoming inquiries and notifications, ensuring that documents and tracking systems have updated information, and scheduling numerous meetings. Before joining the office in March 2023, she served as a support staff for the UW Environmental Health & Safety Department. Kao is inspired by her Title IX colleagues who work collaboratively and thoughtfully to ensure UW community members have the guidance they need to navigate Title IX-related harms. When away from her computer, Kao appreciates finding happenstances in nature on walks with Bennett the dog—sometimes, the encounter leads to an art project.