Meet the Team
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Executive Director
Brenda Maddox
MSN/ED, SANE-A
Brenda Maddox has been a driving force behind the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center. As founding Program Director, she built and launched the Center’s clinical program, establishing a strong foundation of trauma-informed care, and later transitioned to Executive Director, leading its strategic growth and community partnerships over the past seven years. With a background in nursing, education, and healthcare administration, Brenda has guided the Center’s expansion and strengthened its role as a vital resource in West Alabama. Over the next year and a half, she will thoughtfully transition leadership to Melissa Hanks as she begins to slow down and spend more time with family.
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Associate Executive Director
Melissa Hanks
MSN, RN, SANE-A
Melissa recently assumed the role of Associate Executive Director while continuing to serve as Program Director at the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center. A nurse by training, she brings 12 years of experience, including time on a medical-surgical unit and 5.5 years in the Emergency Department.
Melissa joined the SAFE Center in the summer of 2019—just nine months after it opened—starting as an on-call Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Since then, she has steadily advanced within the organization.
Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, twin boys, and their friendly Great Dane.​
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Sexual Assault Therapist & Advocate Coordinator
Shannon Swatloski
LICSW, CTP
Shannon earned her Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State University in 2005 and has been working in the field ever since. She joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in 2022 as a full-time therapist. In 2024, she became a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and plans to continue offering individual and group therapy at TSC for the foreseeable future.
Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her many pets, unintentionally killing houseplants, and relaxing with friends.
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Outreach & Education Coordinator
Sara Morace
BSW
Sara graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with her Bachelor’s in Social Work in 2025. She is currently continuing her academic journey as a graduate student studying social work with a concentration in mental health and substance use. Passionate about supporting survivors of sexual assault, she hopes to continue this work long term and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she serves. Outside of work and school, Sara enjoys unwinding with yoga, binge-watching her favorite TV shows, and diving into anything crafty she can get her hands on.
Clinical Coordinator
Angela Trimm
RN, SANE-A
Angela has been a nurse since 1991. She has an Associates Degree in Nursing and a BS in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on forensic. She was trained as a forensic nurse in 2021 at The Tuscaloosa SAFE Center and later obtained her certification as a SANE-A. In 2024 she left the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center and later became the Clinical Coordinator at the Crisis Center in Birmingham. This year she was Given the opportunity to return back to the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center as the Clinical Coordinator and was so happy to return. She hopes to finish her MSN in Nursing Education specializing in Forensics. She is a strong believer in holistic patient care.
Full Time clinical SANE
Samantha Giambalvo
MSN, RN, SANE-A
Samantha Giambalvo began her nursing career in 2007, with experience ranging from oncology and hospice to pediatric emergencies—essentially, if it’s high-intensity, she’s been there. Today, she serves as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, blending clinical expertise with deep compassion and advocacy.
She’s also a mom of seven (yes, seven) and married to her longtime partner-in-chaos, Josh—making her a seasoned pro in multitasking, crisis management, and snack distribution. After living all over the country, Samantha has happily settled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she continues the hard, meaningful work of showing up for people when they need it most.
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Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)
At the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, our SANE's are specially-trained, registered nurses who work with sexual assault patients to begin the healing process from the moment they step into the center.
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Aisha Guy
MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, SANE
Alexus Edwards
MSN, RN, CCRN, SANE-A
Amber Strickland
BSN, RN, SANE
Darby Wheat
RN, SANE
Aisha joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in May 2026 as a part-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner(SANE). Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family.
Alexus Edwards began her nursing career in a trauma-surgical ICU and started working part-time as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in October 2022. At home, Alexus lives with her two cats, Frank and Tootsie, who keep her on her toes—and motivated to keep the food bowls full.​​
Amber began her nursing career working in the emergency department and joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in May 2024 as a part-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her family.
Darby Wheat began her nursing career in the Surgical ICU and started working part-time as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in August 2022. She enjoys traveling and spending time with friends. Darby lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with her cat, Kitty, and her dog, Moose.
Dee Cole
BSN, RNC-OB, SANE
Dee Cole began her nursing career in obstetrics in 1990 and has worked across a range of specialties, including labor and delivery, high-risk antepartum, postpartum, gynecology, and hospice care. She joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center as a part-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in January 2023. Dee is married and has two adult daughters.
Emma Baldwin
BSN, RN, CCM, SANE
Emma is a graduate student in public health and currently works as a clinical liaison in healthcare. She joined the SAFE Center in 2023 and took a brief hiatus after the birth of her fifth child. Her areas of focus include environmental health, trauma-informed care, and the intersection of policy and population well-being. With a background in nursing, Emma brings both professional expertise and a strong personal commitment to advocacy and equity.
Jayne Graben Turner
DNP, RN, CRNP, SANE
Dr. Graben Turner received her BSN from The University of Alabama in 2009 and her MSN in 2013 as a family nurse practitioner. She completed her DNP in May of 2024. She began her nursing career as a RN in an intensive care unit at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. Her journey as a nurse practitioner began as a student at UAB in the Fall of 2011 all while continuing to grow as an ICU RN. Dr. Graben Turner has worked as a nurse practitioner in Tuscaloosa since 2014.
Kristyn Schneider
Advocates
​Dallas Lampkins
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Elizabeth Weiss
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Grace Shaughnessy
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​Hallie Chojnacki​
Jaycee Esters
Lee Burnett
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Lucy Rumbley
Mae Hudson​​
Meagan Copeland
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Malaina Munson
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Paisley Wilson
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Riley McGrath
Reese Fitzhugh
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​Sara Morace
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Sophia DiSimone
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Teagan Freeman
Board of Directors
Andy Hamlin
Brandi Lester
Byron Thetford
Chad Tindol
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Terri Tompkins
(President)
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Ray Hayes
(Past President)
Carl Jamison
(Vice President)
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Jonathan Koh
(Secretary/Treasurer)
Dawn Alexander​
James Dodds
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Julie Aldridge
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Karen Jones​
Karen Thompson-Jackson
Nikki Calloway
Rodney Clark
Steven Hood
Tammy Farmer
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