Pronouns: she / her / hers

Title: Director of Community Initiatives

Email: jala@dvpnindy.org

Why I believe DVPN’s work is essential to our community:

“People don’t know what they don’t know and that’s why education is crucial. The work we do helps individuals understand what it truly means to practice safety in relationships. Through trainings, we challenge long held biases and misconceptions about DV survivors. Our advocacy empowers people to speak out and support those who need a safe space to report and receive help. We make it a priority to center communities that are often overlooked in conversations about domestic violence, ensuring that everyone has access to support and resources. By starting with youth education and building upward, we’re laying the foundation to shift the culture that leads to and continues domestic violence.”

Favorite form of self care: Reading a good book

Pronouns: she / her / hers

Title: Program and Development Manager

Email: annie@dvpnindy.org

Why I believe DVPN’s work is essential to our community:

“I’m passionate about supporting direct service providers so they can offer survivors the best possible care. We also seek to advocate for excellent resources, protections, and legal processes for survivors. Building a better world for survivors of abuse means a better world for all of us.”

Favorite form of self care: Spending time in nature

Pronouns: she / her / hers

Title: Advocacy and Education Coordinator

Email: gabriel@dvpnindy.org

Why I believe DVPN’s work is essential to our community:

“I believe the work we do at DVPN is essential to our community because it allows us to build meaningful, lasting relationships that have the power to create real change and moves us closer to embracing nonviolence as a way of life.”

Favorite form of self care: Rest. Rest offers restoration, clarity, and the endurance needed for the important journey ahead.

Pronouns: she / her / hers

Title: Advocacy and Education Manager

Email: olivia@dvpnindy.org

Why I believe DVPN’s work is essential in our community:

“The bulk of my position at DVPN is community facing, whether that is with direct service providers offering trainings and support, or out in the community offering trainings to different groups who are interested in learning more about DV prevention and education. With that being said, I have the privilege to see first hand the impact that gaining knowledge has on our community and also the ability to hear survivors share their story as it relates to the content I am sharing. I enjoy stepping into every training not with only the goal of educating others, but for myself to also learn more about the community we are supporting.”

Favorite form of self care: Doing one of the many crafting hobbies I cycle through!

Vice President: Sam Nichol, Retired

Get to know Sam and their work with DVPN soon. Photo and biography coming soon.

Treasurer: Sarah Slager, Katz, Sapper & Miller CPAs and Advisors

Get to know Sarah and their work with DVPN soon. Biography coming soon.

Secretary: Jessica Laley, Insight

Get to know Jessica and their work with DVPN soon. Biography coming soon.

Ranissa Dycus, American Senior Communities

Get to know Ranissa and their work with DVPN soon. Photo and biography coming soon.

Dr. Lauren Harden, Body Mechanics Indy

Get to know Dr. Lauren and their work with DVPN soon. Photo and biography coming soon.

Katelyn Cole, Kids Voice

Get to know Katelyn and their work with DVPN soon. Biography coming soon.

Le-Angela Thompson-Burgess, Simon Youth Foundation

Le-Angela Thompson-Burgess is the Chief Operating Officer of Simon Youth Foundation and a results-driven executive with leadership experience across nonprofit, aerospace, technology, and professional services organizations.

She specializes in organizational strategy, operational excellence, business transformation, talent development, and stakeholder engagement.

Throughout her career with Simon Youth Foundation, Rolls-Royce, and Xerox Corporation, she has led multimillion-dollar portfolios, enterprise-wide transformation initiatives, technology implementations, and high-performing teams that consistently exceeded operational and financial goals.

A Six Sigma Green Belt and dedicated servant leader, Le-Angela is committed to advancing mission-driven impact, fostering inclusive cultures, and developing opportunities that strengthen communities and empower future generations.

Her commitment to community impact has been demonstrated through longstanding leadership in corporate foundation, employee volunteer initiatives, and operational consulting.

Nichole Hutchinson, Goodwill Legacy Group-Nurse Family Partnership

Nichole Hutchinson is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician and is currently employed with Goodwill Legacy Group-Nurse Family Partnership. Nichole has a background in working with survivors of trauma and domestic violence and individuals who experienced the criminal justice system. Also a DV survivor herself, she shares her experiences as a member of our Advocates Network.

Nichole is passionate and empathetic about mental health because of her lived experience and the positive impact good mental health practices have on the way people think, feel and act in every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood. Nichole has a background in Workplace Wellness, Human Services, Benefits and Insurance. She is Perinatal Mental Health Certified and a certified Mind Body Medicine Practitioner.

In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, exploring new places, and reading.

Michelle D. Freeman, Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis

Michelle D. Freeman, LMFT, is the Chief Operating Officer of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, where she oversees youth programming and organizational operations to ensure girls have access to high-quality opportunities that help them grow strong, smart, and bold.

A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 25 years of experience, Michelle has worked across private practice, nonprofit family services, and community mental health settings, specializing in supporting children, youth, and families.

Michelle holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lincoln University. Passionate about equity and empowerment, Michelle is dedicated to helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed to reach their full potential.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with family, and relaxing with her two dogs and a good fiction novel.

Rev. Dr. Lynel Beatty, IU Health

Rev. Dr. Lynel Alice Brooks Beaty, D. Min., was born as the youngest of four children to the late Rev. Dr. Anthony and Alice Brooks. She was married to her college sweetheart for 34 years, until his passing in July of 2024. She has two young adult sons, Timothy Beaty, Jr. and Michael Clay-Anthony Beaty, and three beautiful granddaughters Laila, Nylah and Marlii.

Lynel is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and Certified Grief Coach who preaches, teaches, facilities, writes, and leads. One of her life’s missions is to provide safe and sacred spaces for those who are grieving and founded Alice’s Hope, LLC. to support others. She is the Director of the Congregational Care Network at Indiana University Health.

Lynel is the author of She Kept Living A Meditative Journal, and a contributing author to Shattered Pieces.

Dr. Beaty is a member of Light of the World Christian Church, in Indianapolis, IN, and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. where she serves as President for the Iota Zeta Chapter.
Dr. Beaty received her Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University, in Wilberforce, OH, and a Master of Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary, in Wilberforce, Ohio. She earned her Doctorate in Ministry with Distinction from Christian Theological Seminary in May of 2024.

Dr. Beaty’s personal experience with Domestic Violence started when her sister-in-law Allison Beaty was killed by her live-in boyfriend in Dayton, Ohio in July of 2008.

Lauren Wirt, Matchbook Marketing

Get to know Lauren and their work with DVPN soon. Photo and biography coming soon.

Susan Ferguson, DVPN Executive Director

Susan brings more than 25 years of leadership in domestic violence prevention and human services, including her work with Prevail and accessABILITY. Her commitment to collaboration, equity, and survivor-centered work aligns deeply with DVPN’s mission.