Who we are

Direct Service Staff

Bethanie Lee, MSW - Confidential Survivor Advocate

Bethanie Lee (they/them/she/her) works to bring social justice and community empowerment into all aspects of their work. With experience working with interdisciplinary teams on collaborative, evidence-based projects and practices, they aim to continuously bring historically excluded and marginalized perspectives to the table. Bethanie has worked with diverse populations, including unstably housed individuals, individuals with chemical dependency, and individuals experiencing interpersonal violence. Bethanie is especially passionate about activism and advocacy centered around QTBIPOC (queer and trans Black, Indigenous and people of color) folks who have experienced gender-based violence. Bethanie completed a BA in Psychology at Willamette University and completed their MSW at University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining UWB, Bethanie was employed with UW Medicine, as an Emergency Department Social Worker at Harborview Medical Center. In their free time, Bethanie enjoys crafting, board games, and spending time with family and their three-legged cat, Rufio.

Karina Tamayo - LifeWire Prevention Educator

Karina Tamayo (she/her/hers) does prevention education work on the UW Bothell campus through a partnership with LifeWire, a community-based domestic violence agency. "My name is Karina, my pronouns are she/her/hers and I'm so excited to start this new role as a preventionist with Lifewire as the UW Bothell Youth advocate. I'm looking forward to expand my prevention work with the university and working with the HEROs. In my spare time, I love to knit, while sipping some tea, with my cats cuddled on me."

Advocacy Interns

Michelle Stockton 

Michelle Stockton (she/her/hers) is a second year MSW student at UW with a BA from UT Austin and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. Michelle has a passion for trauma-informed advocacy surrounding gender-based violence and strives to bring a social justice lens to every aspect of her work. Prior to attending UW, Michelle worked at a nonprofit that provides affordable legal services to survivors of gender-based violence who are simultaneously experiencing poverty. Her long-term goal is to empathetically promote healing through fostering a sense of autonomy and community among trauma survivors in a therapeutic setting. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys crocheting, kickboxing, and spending time with her partner and three dogs, Ellie, Olive, and Pickles.

 

 

 

Bryant Mascarenas

Bryant Mascareñas (he/him/his) is a second year MSW EDP student at UW, and has a BA in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. Prior to coming to UWB, Bryant has experience in providing mental health support at the Sequoyah Adolescent Treatment Center, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and currently with Harborview Medical Center, where he has held a position working for inpatient psychiatric services for the past three years. Bryant is passionate about accompanying individuals through their healing journey, and is always learning, and growing towards being a more effective advocate for those going through moments of deep complexity and pain. Bryant is excited about helping his Bothell/Woodinville community as a future LICSW, and prays for guidance in being able to help those who seek it.

Administrative Staff

Valerie "Val" Tovar - Director of Prevention, Health, and Wellness

Valerie “Val” Tovar (she/her) brings a lens of intersectionality, trauma informed care practices, and self-care to her work. She is a proud Chicana/Latina and 1st generation college graduate originally from the Los Angeles area. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology and a Master of the Arts in Forensic Psychology. After living in Washington DC for 8 years, she relocated to the Seattle area last year. Valerie brings a decade of experience working in prevention, advocacy and wellness. On the east coast, she worked for American University and Georgetown University where she incorporated wellness and health practices into prevention work for students and staff, centering BIPOC and 1st gen students. Prior to joining UWB, she oversaw Bellevue College’s OVW Campus Grant. When Val is not working, you can find her taking a nap, snuggling with her two cats, Nox and Cleo, or playing Mario Kart with her partner.

Melissa Tumas - OVW Grant Director

Melissa Tumas (she/her) started her career as a peer educator and in community-based organizations doing HIV testing/counseling and outreach. She received her MPH from Oregon State University. She’s spent most of her career in higher education as a survivor advocate and prevention educator at UW Seattle and the University of Michigan. She brings the lens of anti-oppression and trauma-informed practices to her work while centering students’ voices. She takes a collective leadership approach and thrives when partnering with diverse communities across campus to dismantle the root causes of sex- and gender-based violence. In recent years, she’s added documentary filmmaker and videographer to her skill set and believes in the power of storytelling for social change. She enjoys hiking, travel, food, watching movies and time with family and friends.