UCASA's staff is made up of world-class leaders, visionaries, community champions, educators, and trainers. We’re an organization that works a variety of initiatives: educational and training programs, public policy and legislative advocacy, and sexual violence prevention program. Our team is well-equipped to do it, too: each of us brings a unique background and skills to the organization, and as a result, UCASA has won local and national acclaim for our commitment to combating sexual violence in all of its forms. Our staff is dedicated to fighting for justice and brings a world-class skill set to our organization.
Liliana Olvera-Arbon (she/her) - Executive Director
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 6 (Yo hablo español)
Liliana Olvera-Arbon joined UCASA over a year ago, with over 10 years of experience working in social services. She demonstrated profound leadership while working at a Los Angeles-based rape crisis center and later as a Program Coordinator at the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Her vision is to center and uplift the voices of communities marginalized by society and bring a deep commitment toward social equity and collective liberation. She is dedicated to educating people of their rights and opportunities and envisions a world free of gender-based violence. In her spare time, Liliana enjoys taking walks to the park with her husband and their sweet doggy Daisy!
Andi Tremonte (they/them) - Program Development Director
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 2
Andi Tremonte has a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies and a Masters of Criminal Justice from Weber State University. Currently, they are the Assistant Director for UCASA and support sexual assault programs, domestic violence service providers, and government organizations in Utah, offering support services for underserved clients as well as training and technical assistance. Andi’s career has focused on working with LGBTQIA+ victims of crime from youth to adulthood. Their professional life has included facilitating trans support groups, and cultural competency training for a number of organizations throughout Utah, including Starbucks Coffee Company, victim service providers, universities, and various community members.
In Andi’s free time, they enjoy building dioramas, Legend of Korra, scary video games like: The Last of Us 2, Resident Evil, Dead By Daylight (Jill Valentine and Ada Wong main and you bet they are both P100), their cats (Bolin and Toriko), and the mountains. They may or may not have extensive knowledge of all things sasquatch and fear the creature when they hike.
Natalie S. Mataya (She/Her) - Operations Director
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 705
Natalie is highly motivated, hard-working, and fully invested in UCASA's vision. She is someone with an extensive background in serving others. With her many years of accounting experience and through her work in several non-profits across the state of Utah, Natalie brings invaluable skills to the UCASA team. As a strong believer in networking relationships and partnerships, Natalie strives to connect stakeholders together to help those who are served by and who work with UCASA.
Outside of work, Natalie is a mother of two children, a second-class baker, a weekend boater, and a devoted community member who volunteers as a reading/math coach at the local elementary school.
Bethany Crisp (she/her) - Systems Director
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 709 (Yo hablo español)
Bethany Crisp studied Political Science at Brigham Young University. While at BYU, Bethany spent her time getting involved in Utah politics at the local, state, and federal level interning and working for elected officials. She worked as Communications Director for a Utah non-profit, Girls Lobby, encouraging Utah girls to learn how to lobby their state legislature. Bethany has formerly worked for political campaigns and for The Refuge Utah, serving victims of sexual assault. She volunteers in the community with the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program and as a victim advocate for The Refuge Utah. She is passionate about local politics and community outreach among the Latino population in Utah. She enjoys hiking in her free time!
Charlee Barker (She/Her) - Systems Coordinator
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 700
Meet Charlee, a dedicated individual with a profound passion for both business management and social advocacy. Currently pursuing studies in Business Management, she aims to equip herself with the knowledge and skills needed to effect positive change in society. Charlee's journey as an advocate for ending sexual assault began during a transformative year and a half of volunteering in Massachusetts, where she witnessed firsthand the far-reaching impact of this pervasive issue, not only in Massachusetts but across the entire United States. This experience deeply moved her, and she is now committed to dedicating her efforts to combatting sexual assault and creating safer communities.
Aliyah Negrete (She/Her) - Program Assistant
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 708
Aliyah Negrete is a passionate advocate for social justice and equity. She has a strong desire to support others and make a positive impact on communities. Aliyah received an associates degree in Social Work from Salt Lake Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Social Work with a minor in Business at the University of Utah. She looks forward to her path with a dedication to empathy, compassion, and continued learning to the mission of UCASA and the broader cause of anti-violence.
Jorge Barraza (He/him) - Program Manager
Jorge Barraza is passionate about fighting against inequality and violence. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and has over 10 years of experience working with non-profits that address racial and economic issues, reproductive rights, as well as domestic and sexual violence. Jorge is an advocate for primary prevention of all forms of violence, with an emphasis on domestic and sexual violence. As a Program Manager with UCASA, he provides training and technical assistance to service providers, businesses, schools, churches, and any organizations interested in creating communities free of sexual violence.
Apart from his work, Jorge loves to play his many guitars, spending time with family, and sharing his love for his city of Ogden, Utah. Jorge is driven by his belief that we can end sexual violence when every one of us understands and plays their role in creating a more just and healthy Utah.
Lisa Paniagua-Villalobos (She/Her) - Program Specialist
Lisa Paniagua-Villalobos is the Program Specialist at UCASA with two years experience helping sexual assault survivors. Specializing in community health, Lisa uses that experience to help improve and facilitate UCASA’s 40-Hour Sexual Assault Advocacy Training.
By focusing on community health and survivor and patient advocacy, Lisa has been able to put her bachelor’s in Health and Kinesiology to good use. Over the years, her strengths at various non-profits have garnered some recognition. Lisa may spend her days at UCASA, but it’s advocating for the end of sexual violence that gets them up in the morning.
When they’re not at UCASA, Lisa is an avid outdoors person and loves spending time in nature.
Esmeralda Gregorio (she/her) - Outreach Program Manager
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 702 (Yo hablo español)
Esmeralda Martha Gregorio has a bachelor’s degree in Family Science from Utah Valley University. And a previous degree in Psychology in Mexico. Esmeralda has a lot of experience working with people and connecting with the community. She has given service at other non- profit organization as student in UVU and got the opportunity to work for governmental institutions in Mexico that give her a bigger love for advocacy.
Outside from UCASA, Esmeralda is a happy mother of four little kids, she loves to dance (specially folklore dance), spend time with her family and read books. Esmeralda has followed the mission and vision of UCASA and is really committed to be part of the team in this organization.
Kayla Wilson (she/her) - Outreach Specialist
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 701
Kayla Wilson is currently the Outreach Specialist at The Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Through the various organizations she has worked with, she’s been able to see the detrimental effects that sexual assault has on communities. Additionally, she has seen the impact that education and awareness has on individuals and how it fuels positive change. Kayla believes that people do better when they have the necessary information and resources. Because of this, she’s worked to incorporate sexual assault education and training into all of her positions. Increasing awareness and decreasing silence is something she is the most passionate about.
Kayla studied at Western Washington University and graduated with a bachelors in psychology. She has spent much of her professional life working with youth and as and advocate for domestic and sexual violence survivors. Most recently, she has taught trauma informed yoga while working with youth involved in the justice system and created trainings for staff working with those who have experienced sexual assault. Her work with youth experiencing homelessness has focused on consent and sexual assault programs, while her experience with youth in treatment centers and group homes has emphasized gender based violence.
In her free time, Kayla loves all things outdoors and being active. She especially loves hiking, climbing, doing yoga, and snowboarding.
Susan Chasson MSN, JD, SANE-A (she/her) - SANE Program Manager
Susan Chasson is the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Manager for the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She has helped hospitals and communities create programs for providing health care and forensic evidence collection to victims of sexual violence in Utah for more than 25 years. She practices as a family nurse practitioner at the Merrill Gappmayer Family Medicine Clinic in Provo. Susan is actively involved in the expansion of Wasatch Forensic Nurses to Utah County where they will be providing sexual assault medical forensic examinations starting May 1st of 2017. She is President-elect of the International Association of Forensic Nurses and a member of the Advisory Council of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Trish Crump (she/her) - SANE Educator
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 704
Covers Tooele, Summit, Wasatch, Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Box Elder and Cache Counties. Her role as an educator is to support the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner teams caring for adolescent/adult patients reporting acute sexual assault. This support includes training, supporting team collaboration with multidisciplinary teams including advocacy, hospital leadership, law enforcement, court prep/support, Utah Bureau of Forensic Services, Utah Toxicology Lab, and Utah Victims of Crime Organization.
Trish received her Associates of Nursing Degree in 2004, and is currently working on BSN & Master of Nursing, Forensics. She is certified as an Adolescent/Adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE-A). She was the recipient of the SAAM Award (Sexual Assault Awareness) in 2016.
She has been a forensic nurse for 9 years. Trish began working for Wasatch Forensic Nurses as an Adolescent/Adult Forensic Nurse in 2014. She is part of the leadership team and her responsibilities include: Resource nurse, Law enforcement liaison, Court liaison and Education coordinator. She has specialized training in strangulation & interpersonal violence, touch DNA, and evidence collection. She enjoys the opportunity to share her knowledge with members of the multidisciplinary team serving victims of sexual assault.
Shawna Bryant (she/her) - SANE Educator
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 703
Shawna Bryant is a full-time SANE Educator for Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault Coalition. She has been a Forensic Nurse since 2020, working as the Director of Forensic Nurses for Safe Harbor Crisis Center. She has helped with the expansion of Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence Forensic Nursing Services for Davis County, Utah. Shawna was the recipient of the SAAM award in 2022. Shawna has her Bachelor's in Nursing and has been a nurse since 2017.
In Shawna's free time, she loves to be on the ocean, or rather, in the ocean scuba diving and working on becoming a Master Diver. She loves to travel and is always looking for new and exciting experiences.
Nubia Pena, JD (she/her) - Advocacy & Prevention Training Specialist
(801) 746-0404 Ext. 3 (Yo hablo español)
Ms. Nubia Peña received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in May 2016. She was selected as one of 25 law students in the nation to be recognized and highlighted for her social justice activism in the National Jurist, a leading news source in legal education. Ms. Peña has actively sought to bring awareness to issues of violence and systemic oppression through her personal and professional endeavors. She has close to a decade of experience assisting survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and victims of violent crimes as a Law Enforcement Victim Advocate.
Since 2007, Ms. Peña has been the Training and Prevention Education Specialist at the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA) where she developed training on Teen Dating Violence, Latino Youth Empowerment, Assisting and Empowering Immigrant Survivors, and Understanding Rape and Sexual Assault. Her most recent endeavors include bringing awareness across the U.S. to the intersections of violence prevention and the School-to-Prison Pipeline, a national epidemic that targets our most vulnerable youth with disproportionate school discipline practices that streamline them into juvenile detention centers. Also, Ms. Peña is the Program Coordinator for the Racially Just Utah Coalition where their mission is to positively and proactively ensure racial equality in Utah through policy reform, accountability, and education.
Ms. Peña received a Bachelor’s in Sociology with a Criminology emphasis and graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from the University of Utah in 2006.