Jane Stapleton, Co-Founder and President
Jane Stapelton, M.A., is a change-maker and thought leader with a 40-year career as an activist, advocate, policy advisor, administrator, curriculum developer, evaluator, and researcher focused on creating safe, respectful environments. A first-generation college graduate, she draws on her working-class roots and collective action experience to advance resilience and justice for all. Jane prioritizes her own well-being through daily meditation, hiking with her dog and friends, fiber arts, clean eating, and travel.
Jane is trained as a social science researcher and through her lived professional experience, she has integrated her academic training with public health practice and advocacy to address systematic barriers by leveraging protective factors that support safety and respect in academic, workplace, community and military settings. She is the co-author of Bringing in the Bystander®, a scientifically evaluated and proven effective, prevention program for workplaces, colleges and universities and high schools and she has also co-developed the Know Your Power® Bystander Intervention Social Marketing Campaign. Additionally, she has co-authored Soteria Solutions’ Strategic Resistance (TM) and Workplace Bystander Intervention curriculums and serves as the lead for Soteria Solutions’ sexual assault and harassment climate survey with the National Science Foundation United States Antarctic Program community.
Jane is internationally recognized for her work to develop and implement bystander intervention prevention strategies and strategic resistance interventions, as well as the research that supports her evidence-based work, in education institutions, workplaces, and the U.S. Military. She has an expertise in developing climate and culture assessment tools and prevention strategies for remote and isolated workplaces. She is known globally as an innovative leader in the sexual and interpersonal violence and harassment prevention field. Her solutions-focused approach creates an inclusive environment where everyone has a role to play in creating safe and respectful environments. Jane has testified in front of the US Senate and Congressional Committees on best practices and what we know works in prevention. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, National Public Radio, and Huffington Post.
Sharyn J. Potter, Ph.D., MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the Co-founder and Executive Director of Research at the Prevention Innovations Research Center: Ending Sexual and Relationship Violence and Stalking at the University of New Hampshire. With Jane Stapleton, Dr. Potter co-founded Soteria Solutions. Dr. Potter is a global leader on the social scientific development and evaluation of bystander intervention strategies. Dr. Potter’s work focuses on engaging community members to work collaboratively to reduce sexual and relationship violence, stalking and harassment in high schools, colleges and universities, the United States Military and other workplaces. She has been a leader in the development, dissemination, and evaluation and of theory- and research-based bystander intervention prevention strategies including the uSafeUS® campus sexual violence prevention and response app that is currently being administered and evaluated in 25 schools in four states. She is the Principal Investigator on her second National Science Foundation grant to develop and evaluate the efficacy of uSafeHSTM, a school safety app for high school students. In addition to developing the Know Your Power® Bystander Social Marketing Campaign, she has also led the development of two bystander video games that model pro-social bystander behaviors, MindlfockTM and ShipHappensTM with National Institute of Justice funding. Dr. Potter and her colleagues adapted both the Bringing in the Bystander® In-Person Prevention Program and the Know Your Power® Bystander Social Marketing Campaign for two US Army Posts in Europe (USAREUR). These two pilot studies represent a very small pool of studies specifically focused on sexual violence prevention in the US Military. Dr. Potter has also served as a prevention subject matter expert for the US Office of the Secretary of the Navy. She also led a study for the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault to examine sexual misconduct policy delivery methods. In addition, Dr. Potter is a national expert on designing and administering sexual violence prevalence studies. Dr. Potter’s work has been groundbreaking in her effort to partner with organizations as they strategize and implement cultural change that impacts all organizational levels. Her work has been cited in international and national news media including The Guardian, The New York Times, National Public Radio, Vox, Teen Vogue and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Casey Laplante, Vice President of Operations
Casey Laplante, B.S., brings a cross-sector background in nonprofit management, higher education, federal service, and private industry. She may or may not have an internal running to-do list that never truly shuts off that is fueled by a love of travel, fostering animals through the local SPCA, life with two active daughters, and a past life as a cake decorating business owner. Prior to joining Soteria Solutions, she held leadership and project manager roles at the University of New Hampshire, where she managed complex initiatives, cultivated a portfolio donors as a gift officer, and supported a multi-unit campaign strategy. Her earlier experience in project and data management at organizations such as Bottomline Technologies, Analytics Environmental Laboratory, and the National Archives and Records Administration at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum informs her systems-oriented and detail-driven approach. Across these roles, Casey has developed a strong foundation in aligning people, processes, and data to support mission-driven work.
Casey’s areas of expertise include organizational operations, financial oversight, contract management, and internal systems development, as well as client engagement and project coordination. She is particularly skilled at creating efficient processes, managing complex workflows, and translating strategic priorities into actionable plans. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Hampshire, where she graduated magna cum laude, and has additional academic experience in international economics from Universidad Nebrija in Madrid, Spain. Colleagues often rely on her for operational problem-solving, strategic planning, and ensuring that teams have the structure and resources needed to succeed.
At Soteria Solutions, Casey brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset grounded in both strategy and execution. She contributes a strong operational lens to the organization’s work, ensuring that internal systems, staffing, and resources are aligned with Soteria Solutions’ mission to prevent violence through education and culture change. Her experience across sectors shapes her ability to navigate complex environments, build strong partnerships, and support a growing organization while maintaining a focus on sustainability and impact.
In her current role as Vice President of Operations, Casey oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations, including budgeting, financial management, contracts, HR, technology, Board inviatives, and team coordination. She serves as a primary point of contact for clients, leading sales, proposal development, and project resourcing across college, high school, and workplace programs. She also acts as a liaison to the Board of Directors and plays a key role in advancing organizational strategy, with a current focus on strengthening operational infrastructure, supporting new partnerships, and ensuring successful delivery of all our program initiatives.
Jennifer Scrafford, Grant Administrator
Jennifer manages grant applications and funds allocation for Soteria Solutions. Her responsibilities include applying for grants and appropriating grant funds. Jennifer has worked at Soteria Solutions since its inception in 2018. Past roles include VP of Operations.
Jennifer holds a law degree from American University, Washington College of Law as well as a dual English / Political Science degree from SUNY Geneseo.
Prior to joining UNH and Soteria Solutions, she worked for the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service in Washington, DC.
Caroline Leyva, Director of Curriculum Development
Caroline Levya, MPA, specializes in adapting prevention strategies to meet the needs of Soteria Solutions' diverse clients. She is currently working to do this with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She also serves as a Practitioner Fellow for Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC). Caroline received her BA in Women’s Studies at the University of New Hampshire and her MPA at the University of Hawai`i Manoa. While living in Hawai`i, Caroline founded and was the Executive Director of a not-for-profit for queer youth and young adults, synthesizing prevention, leadership and social justice using a youth-led model. She also served as the State of Hawai`i Federal Fellow, 2006-2009, for SAMHSAs Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Caroline has been working for 15 years to develop and evaluate evidence-based sexual and relationship violence and stalking prevention strategies. She is the co-author of the Bringing in the Bystander® high school, college and workplace curricula. She is a lead trainer and teaches practitioners to both facilitate BITB and train others to teach in their organization. Caroline is the lead evaluator for New Hampshire’s Rape Prevention and Education Program (RPE) and for an evaluation of Dartmouth College’s four-year Sexual Violence Prevention Program.
Meera Seshadri, Health Communication & Prevention Strategist
Meera Seshadri, MSPH, (she/her) is a storyteller and a strategist. She explores the role of identity, power, and environment in the ways communities experience both harm and healing. Through trauma-informed organizational advocacy, she works to transform the norms and systems that govern the ways we live, work, and play. At Soteria Solutions, Meera works in coalition with academic, government, corporate, and community stakeholders to develop social and behavior change curriculum rooted in equity-centered design and public health theories of change. She began as a Lead Trainer for Bringing in the Bystander® (BITB) College, and has since been instrumental in co-authoring and developing workplace curriculum and training for organizations such as the National Academy of Science, Engineering, & Medicine (NASEM),The National Marine Fisheries Service, the New York State Department of Health, the U.S. Army, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Meera also works to advance Soteria Solutions’ health communication initiatives and strategy focused on building and sustaining relationships, environments, and systems free from the threat and experience of violence.
Prior to joining Soteria Solutions, Meera spent more than fifteen years working internationally in higher education institutions, non-profits, and community-based organizations creating anti-violence prevention programming, training, and curriculum that centers gender justice, sexual and reproductive autonomy, and intersectionality. Meera received her B.A in International Development and Global Public Health from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and her Masters of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Health Communication and Adolescent Health and Development from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is fascinated by the fight and fire in young people and the resolve and resilience of ancestral wisdom, believing strongly in the power of multi-generational solutions.
Meera’s activism extends to her artistry. Her choreography aesthetic is stirring and original, inspired by the poetry of the human heart and evocative of the stories that anchor, transform and move us. Her international career as a dancer and choreographer have taken her from the Bay Area’s Mona Khan Company to Chennai-based record label Earthsync, La Academia de Nicaragüense de la Danza in Managua, Nicaragua, Berklee College of Music’s Indian Ensemble, and the World of Dance stages. She just celebrated her 10-year anniversary with Boston Bollywood.
LB Klein, Director of Evaluation and Implementation
LB Klein, PhD, MSW, MPA (they/she) is Director of Evaluation and Implementation at Soteria Solutions, where they lead efforts to strengthen the effectiveness, usability, and impact of gender-based violence prevention and response initiatives. Their work advances research-informed practice through evaluation, strategic planning, and implementation support, with particular emphasis on using data, evidence, and ongoing feedback to drive continuous improvement and sustainable change.
Dr. Klein brings over 20 years of experience as a survivor advocate, prevention educator, program director, evaluator, trainer, and researcher across higher education, nonprofit, and health systems. They specialize in program evaluation, mixed methods research, trauma- and violence-informed approaches, and translating complex evidence into actionable tools, training, and policy guidance. In addition to their role at Soteria Solutions, Dr. Klein serves as an Assistant Professor in the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work and Core Faculty Member of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Klein's research focuses on bridging research and practice in gender-based violence prevention and response, with particular attention to LGBTQIA2S+ communities and other marginalized survivors.
At Soteria Solutions, Dr. Klein is known for a translational and equity-focused approach that connects rigorous research with the realities of practice settings. They emphasize collaboration with practitioners, responsiveness to evolving context, and the development of tools and strategies that are practical, adaptable, and grounded in the experiences of those most impacted by violence.
Dr. Klein's current work includes collaboration with the Office on Violence Against Women Campus Grant Program through the Strategic Planning and Assessment (SPA) Team, as well as advancing bystander intervention initiatives and related training and technical assistance. Across projects, Dr. Klein oversees evaluation strategy, contributes to program development and implementation, and supports partners in aligning evidence-based programs with real-world contexts.
Patrick Sullivan, Research Assistant
Patrick is a research assistant on various ongoing projects for Soteria Solutions. One of Patrick's responsibilities includes developing Grantee Assessment Reports for colleges and universities receiving OWA grants. Prior to joining Soteria Solutions, Patrick served as a research assistant with Prevention Innovations Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Patrick holds a Master of Education from Gordon College and a Master of Arts in Justice Studies from the University of New Hampshire. Patrick's past research has centered on police recruitment, and he recently presented at the 2019 Law and Society Conference in Washington, DC.
Adia Daniels, OVW Campus Program Manager
Adia Daniels, M.Ed., (she/her) is the OVW Campus Program Manager at Soteria Solutions. In her free time, Adia plans community wellness events, is a proud boy mom, and negotiates with her three dogs. With more than 21 years of experience addressing interpersonal violence across higher education and nonprofit sectors, she brings a deep commitment to survivor-centered, trauma-informed practice.
Throughout her career, Adia has led prevention initiatives, developed curriculum and policy, facilitated trainings, and supported institutional response efforts. She excels at translating complex federal grant requirements and systems-level concepts into practical, actionable strategies that campuses can implement with confidence.
At Soteria, Adia brings a systems-informed and people-centered approach grounded in collaboration and accountability. In addition to her work in higher education and advocacy, she is a wellness business owner and draws on mindfulness and human connection in how she shows up in her work.
In her current role, Adia partners with campuses and national collaborators to support strategic planning, assessment, and technical assistance for Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Campus Program grantees.
Lee Helmken Cherry, OVW Campus Training and TA Project Director | Curriculum Developer & Director of Trainer Development
Lee Helmken Cherry, MPH, CHES, (she/her) has spent more than 16 years working in sexual violence prevention, health promotion and Equity & Title IX roles within higher education institutions, as well as working for a CDC-funded injury and violence prevention research center. Lee has experience providing leadership in the planning, implementation and evaluation of sexual violence prevention and health promotion strategies, including peer education programs, developing workshops and communication campaigns, and bringing together multi-disciplinary stakeholders toward a common vision. Lee has also served as an intake specialist for campus community members reporting and seeking support related to harassment, discrimination and sexual and relationship violence. Lee’s work is informed by public health frameworks and guided by equity-focused practice.
Lee began at what would become Soteria Solutions as a Bringing in the Bystander® (BITB) Lead Trainer in 2017 and continues to serve as a Lead Trainer for BITB College and Military. In summer 2023, Lee joined Soteria as a staff member and now supports the team in multiple capacities. As the OVW Campus Training and Technical Assistance Project Director, she provides project management and serves as the lead point of contact for Soteria's Office on Violence Against Women Campus Grant Program Technical Assistance Provider team and deliverables, focused on Strategic Planning and Assessment for campus grantees. As Director of Trainer Development, Lee provides support and development for Bringing in the Bystander® (BITB) College Lead Trainers, and supports Train-the-Trainer clients and logistics. Lee also manages the BITB license holder listserv hosted on Substack. Finally, as Curriculum Developer, Lee provides program development, assessment, and training support for various Soteria Solutions contracts and grants.
Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in Health & Society from the University of Rochester, a Master of Public Health degree in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She is passionate about supporting professionals in the field and her colleagues, having co-founded the Campus Advocacy and Prevention Professionals Association (CAPPA), where she served as the Membership Committee Co-chair for five years. She has also served in various elected and appointed leadership positions within the American College Health Association. Lee has contributed to multiple publications related to campus sexual violence prevention and has been recognized for her efforts with various campus awards.
Lee lives in Boston, MA with her family, and has recently started channeling her craft passion from childhood into a hobby of creating embroidery projects for family and friends.
