Academy News

Dr. Lujain Alhajji, MD

Psychiatry, THRIVE Clinic
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Lujain Alhajji completed her Psychiatry Residency as well as her Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry fellowship at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Alhajji currently serves as an Assistant Professor, working mainly in the Division of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is the psychiatry attending at the University of Miami’s THRIVE (Trafficking Healthcare Resources and Intra-Disciplinary Victim Services and Education) collaborative care clinic for survivors of human trafficking. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is highly involved in clinical education, working closely with medical students, psychiatry residents, and CL fellows.

Imelda Medina, MD, MPH

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
President, Familias Unidas International, Inc.
Miami, Florida

Imelda Mercedes Medina, MD MPH graduated from Ponce School of Medicine, PR, USA (MD Degree) and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences (MPH Degree). She was born to serve and practices Health Promotion and Disease Prevention with a focus on Person and People Centered Care at the local and global level. Dr. Medina is a proud member of Rotary Club of Miami Airport, Founder and Chair of the Rotarian Public Health Fellowship, and her 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is called Familias Unidas International, Inc. In addition, Dr. Medina provides assistance with health education and self-care through the Public Health Academy she started, donating 2/3 of her earnings for charitable causes.

Dr. Stephen N. Symes, MD, FACP

Primary Care Clinician, THRIVE Clinic
University of Miami Miller School Of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Stephen Symes, M.D., FACP is a Internal Medicine Specialist in Miami, Florida, and has over 31 years of experience in the medical field. He completed his medical education at Howard University in 1989, and Internal Medicine residency at Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1992. Dr. Symes joined the faculty in 1997 as Associate Director, and then Program Director for Internal Medicine, until 2015. With his main clinical activities in HIV and AIDS, he developed a pathway to train future physician leaders in global and domestic health program administration and advocacy. With medical students at Miller, and JMH Internal Medicine residents, Dr. Symes started the Human Rights clinic at San Juan Bosco for asylum seekers who are victims of torture and abuse. The clinic has seen over 200 patients. Dr. Symes also serves as primary care clinician in T.H.R.I.V.E. a UM-JMH clinic for victims of Human Trafficking here in South Florida. Dr. Symes’ background as a medical educator, and work with disadvantaged populations, allows him to mentor young scholars toward health equity and advocacy in medical care and public health.

Prof. Panagiota V. Caralis, MD, JD, FACP

Medical Director, THRIVE Clinic
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Panagiota Caralis is a triple graduate of the University of Miami, receiving her BS, MD and JD degrees.  She is a Professor of Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami and serves as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Medical Director of the Women Veterans’ Health Program at the Miami VA.  She has taught courses at both the medical and law school in ethics and health law and has published research which spans both disciplines.  Currently, she directs a Medical Legal clinic serving veterans and a Health Law Pathway Program, which integrates the legal education for medical students throughout their medical school careers.  She is a part of the T.H.R.I.V.E. clinic which is an interdisciplinary clinic at JMH/UM which provides medical care for survivors of Human Trafficking.  She and Dr. JoNell Potter received the Innovators Award for their efforts from the State Attorney’s Office for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and she serves on the State Attorney’s Council addressing Human Trafficking.

Sambra Zaoui, LCSW, CCTP, Certified EMDR

Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
Center for Human Rights & Social Justice: Lead Faculty Human Trafficking Initiative
Barry University

For the past twenty years Sambra Zaoui has practiced and studied the relationship childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has on adult intimate interpersonal functioning; and for the last ten years, its direct relationship to domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).  In fall 2016, The Lighthouse Effect: A therapeutic conversation about childhood sexual abuse and its relationship to commercial sexual exploitation/sex trafficking was published in Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia of Trends and Controversies in the Justice System, and in summer 2018, Mrs. Zaoui completed a chapter: Humanizing Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation through a Trauma Informed Person-In-Environment Lens for Social Work Practitioners in the Gender, Sexuality and Peace Education: Issues and Perspectives in Higher Education. 

As an active licensed clinical social worker, certified clinical trauma professional, and an EMDR therapist, she actively engages individuals and couples with complex sexual trauma histories in her private practice. She further served as an advisory board member to The Life of Freedom Center (an anti-trafficking organization that serves adult women), as well as an educational consultant, community trainer, and crisis phone and community outreach specialist to women affected by commercial sexual exploitation and domestic sex trafficking. In broadening her anti-trafficking efforts, for a season, she also served as an advisory board member to Ark of Freedom Alliance (an anti-trafficking non-profit organization that serves males and the LGBTQ community). Mrs. Zaoui is often invited to present locally and nationally on the aforementioned population from a trauma informed care and trauma intervention stance, as such, Mrs. Zaoui was asked to join the Florida Human Trafficking Clinical Treatment & Intervention sub-group charged to identify research based best practices for DMST, CSEC and adults.

In her most recent accomplishment, Mrs. Zaoui successfully piloted the first Advanced Clinical Trauma Informed Human Trafficking Certification Program designed to equip practitioners working with survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation at Barry University, where for the past ten years she has served as a faculty member in the School of Social Work. Currently, she is working on a phenomenological research study which focuses on the resilience of both female and male survivors who use their lived experiences (survivor leaders/thrivers) to serve, mentor, counsel and/or guide other survivors on their restorative healing journey.

Liza E. Smoker, Esq.

Managing Director
The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy
St. Thomas University School of Law

Liza E. Smoker, Esq., is Managing Director of The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy.  She graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Multinational Business and Real Estate, where she returned to receive her law degree.  She was formally educated on human trafficking at St. Thomas University School of Law’s LL.M./J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, and served as LL.M. Editor-in-Chief of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review.

Prior to joining the Academy, Ms. Smoker spent ten years in the private practice of law where she became the first woman partner in her firm’s 90-year history.  She served as president of the Broward County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, which was recognized as Affiliate of the Year by the Florida Bar YLD largely due to her leadership.

Ms. Smoker also served in the public sector.  She worked in the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida, prosecuted crimes as a CLI in the Leon County State Attorney’s Office, and served as a White House Legal Intern in the Office of the Counsel to the President of the United States.

In 2017, Ms. Smoker spearheaded more than twenty events focused on the harmful effects of pornography and its link to commercial sexual exploitation as one of the prevalent forms of human trafficking.  She led a grassroots campaign in support of Florida House Resolution 157 on the issue that passed in 2018 with bipartisan support.

Ms. Smoker is a Women’s History Month Honoree of the Broward County Commission on the Status of Women, recipient of the Paul May Professionalism in Practice Award from the Broward County Bar Association, an AV Preeminent rated attorney for the highest level of legal ability and ethical standards, and a national semi-finalist and regional champion in trial advocacy competitions by the American Bar Association.

In 2019, Ms. Smoker was one of 60 Scholars chosen nationwide as a Presidential Leadership Scholar (PLS). The PLS Program is a partnership among the Presidential Centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson, and designed for mid-career leaders from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to helping solve society’s greatest challenges.

Kanathy N. Haney, PhD, CHES, CPH

Professor Health Sciences and Education
PBSC Human Trafficking Coalition Chair
Palm Beach State College

Dr. Kanathy Haney is a health sciences professor and chair of the human trafficking coalition at Palm Beach State College and guest lecturer at the University of Florida. Dr. Haney is working to spread awareness and prevention of human trafficking from a public health social work perspective. She believes that by better understanding the nature of trauma she can create evidence-based community interventions and harm reduction strategies. Dr. Haney advocates for a multi-disciplinary approach to reduce mental health and substance use issues among human trafficking victims and survivors by implementing an effective trauma-informed and survivor-centered continuum of care. She also places importance on the ability of professionals in the field to identify those affected by human trafficking, associated risk factors and intersections. Dr. Haney is a member of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches and the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force. Her goal is to advocate the public health issue of human trafficking around the globe to reduce health disparities and enhance social justice. Dr. Haney received her doctorate in public health at the University of Florida in which she focused her dissertation on sex trafficking in the United States. She received a masters of science in health education and promotion as well as her bachelors of social work degree with a child welfare certificate from Florida Atlantic University.

Prof. Michael S. Vastine

Professor of Law & Director, Immigration Clinic
St. Thomas University School of Law

Ignacio J. Vázquez Jr.

Chief of the Special Prosecutions Section
U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDFL

Ignacio J. Vázquez Jr. is an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Vázquez received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Florida State University. He received a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the St. Thomas University Law Review’s Managing Editor. Mr. Vázquez continued his legal education, completing a Master of Laws in Ocean and Coastal Law from the University of Miami. While serving as a prosecutor, he has participated in various continuing education programs, including completion of a Graduate Certificate in Death Investigation from the University of Florida.

Before joining the United States Attorney’s office, Mr. Vázquez practiced law as a civil and criminal litigator. After completing his Juris Doctor, Ignacio was employed as an associate attorney with Blank and Cooper, P.A., where he specialized in catastrophic injury and wrongful death maritime litigation. During his service as an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Vázquez held positions in the County Court, Juvenile, and Felony Divisions, until his last assignment with the Gang Prosecution Unit. During his final post in the Gang Prosecution Unit, he served as a cross designated Special Assistant United States Attorney, where he participated in the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative coordinating State and Federal firearm and gang-related prosecutions.

Mr. Vázquez has served as an AUSA since January of 2013 and has rotated through the Appellate Division, Major Crimes Section, before starting his tenure in the Special Prosecutions Section in April of 2014. In 2019, he was promoted to serve as the Special Prosecutions Section’s Deputy Chief. In February 2020, Mr. Vázquez was assigned to serve as the Special Prosecutions Section’s Chief and the District’s Violent Crime Coordinator. He has prosecuted several criminal groups engaged in racketeering, homicides, robberies, human trafficking and smuggling, along with the fraud and money laundering offenses used to keep these schemes afloat. Mr. Vázquez’s has received a commendation from the City of Miami, the United States Office’s Timothy Evans Award, the Miami-Dade County Chiefs of Police Federal Prosecutor of the year, and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance as Assistant United States Attorney.

Mr. Vázquez is admitted to practice law before State of Florida Courts and United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He is also a member of the Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, Florida League of Prosecutors, the International Homicide Investigators Association, and the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime. He has previously served as an instructor for the Miami-Dade Public Safety Institute in the fields of organized crime, gangs, and conspiracy investigations.

Johanna Oliver Rousseaux, Esq.

Of Counsel, Jones Day
President, Americans for Immigrant Justice
Presidential Leadership Scholar
 
Ms. Johanna Rousseaux advises clients on the resolution of complex disputes before U.S., foreign, and international tribunals. With almost 30 years of experience working in Latin America and Europe, Ms. Rousseaux understands the cultural contexts of disputes and brings a unique perspective to resolving them. She works closely with in-house and foreign counsel, witnesses, and experts to develop a cohesive strategy capable of straddling widely different legal systems. Ms. Rousseaux has extensive experience with state, federal, and appellate litigation, cross-border discovery, trial before foreign tribunals, private and treaty-based arbitration, mediation, and consultation with government agencies.

Ms. Rousseaux represents one of the world’s largest energy companies and saw the company through an historic case involving a foreign government, its state oil company, individual plaintiffs, and the international coalition of lawyers and activists who supported them.

Ms. Rousseaux also is a dedicated pro bono lawyer, repeatedly winning recognition from the nonprofit agencies she collaborates with. She helped establish the Firm’s Laredo Project, serving as one of the lead lawyers “on the ground” on the Texas border providing representation to asylum seekers in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.

Before joining Jones Day, Ms. Rousseaux headed the conflict resolution and prevention program at the Arias Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace laureate and president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias. Working closely with Dr. Arias taught Ms. Rousseaux the power of leadership through service. In addition to her pro bono work, Ms. Rousseaux sits on the board of directors of Americans for Immigrant Justice, the public policy committee of United Way, and the executive council of United Way’s Women United.

Myriam Mézadieu

Chief Operating Officer
Catholic Legal Services
Archdiocese of Miami, Inc.

Ms. Myriam Mézadieu began her career with the Catholic Emergency Legal Aid for Haitians in Miami, a branch from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.  She not only took over the daily operation of CELAH, she acted as community liaison with local partners and the USCIS, formerly known as INS.  On June 1, 1994 she co-founded the G.W.L. Legal Project, which subsequently was restructured as Catholic Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami, Inc., (CLS) when CLINIC-Miami merged with G.W.L. Legal Project.  She currently serves as the chief operating officer of Catholic Legal Services.  Supervising a seasoned team of immigration professionals, Ms. Mézadieu is committed to serving the under-privileged immigrant community of South Florida, as well as religious workers from all over the world. Volunteering for Catholic and social causes is a mission close to her heart, actively volunteering in several Catholic parishes in Haiti and United States and community centers.  She holds a BA in Business Law with a minor in Communications and Management and a master’s degree in International Affairs.

Thear Suzuki

Americas Advisory Talent Leader, Ernst & Young
Presidential Leadership Scholar

Ms. Thear Suzuki’s personal purpose is to inspire courageous in others so they can lead more impactful lives.  As EY’s Americas Advisory Talent Leader, Ms. Suzuki aims to create an inclusive culture for 21,000 professionals to grow their careers and build a better working world as part of $7B consulting business.  Previous roles have included Advisory Mananging Partner for the Southwest Region and client service roles focused on large and complex technology programs. Thear is passionate about building leadership and philanthropic capacity in others to improve lives.  At EY, she  serves on the Americas Advisory Women’s Leadership Steering Committee, the Americas Inclusiveness Advisory Council, and Executive Sponsor of leadership development programs that build strong, innovative, and courageous leaders for the 21st century.

In the community, Ms. Suzuki is active through board service.  With the Texas Women’s Foundation, Thear serves as co-chair of the Economic Leadership Council and a proud founding member of the Orchid Giving Circle.  Ms. Suzuki also serves on the SMU Lyle Engineering School Executive Board, the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum Board, the Boy Scouts of America Board, Circle Ten Council, the National Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship Board, and she co-chairs the 2020 Women on Boards – National Conversation on Board Diversity – Dallas initiative.

Ms. Suzuki is a 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar and has received several recognitions, including Women Leaders in Consulting Future Leader Award, NAAAP 100 Award, WING’s Mentors & Allies Award, Each Moment Matters Award, and the Nomi Network Abolitionist Award.  Ms. Suzuki has been included in several publications including a book called “Powering Up! How America’s Women Achievers Become Leaders”, the Everest Project research study called Women Redefining Corporate America, Understanding and Engaging High Net Worth Donors of Color, and EY Journeys that Inspire.

Ms. Suzuki earned her BS in Electrical Engineering with Biomedical Engineering Specialization from SMU. She lives in Plano, Texas with her husband Eric and their four sons.

Mary Anne Silvestri

Co-founder, ESTHER Ministry
St. Joseph Parish
Long Beach, CA

Mary Anne Silvestri is the co-founder of ESTHER ministry of St. Joseph Parish, Long Beach, California – a parish group that strives to understand the issues, causes, and consequences of human trafficking in today’s world and educate our parish and community about this modern slavery. As a ministry, ESTHER takes parts in efforts that promote education, awareness, prevention, justice and healing for the tragedy of trafficking.

Mary Anne Silvestri is originally from Detroit, has been married for 40 years and has two children who went through Faith Formation at St. Joseph.  After retiring as an attorney, Mary Anne became a Master Catechist involved in Confirmation and Adult Faith Formation. ESTHER Ministry evolved from a small group in Adult Faith Formation six years ago and now has over 30 members.   St. Joseph is about 25 miles south of Los Angeles, has about 1500 families in the parish, a K-8 elementary school and several very active Ministries.  Its Pastor, Msgr. Kevin Kostenik, recently came to St. Joseph from the Los Angeles Cathedral.

Shima Rostami, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Gateway Human Trafficking
Professor, Department of Sociology
University of Missouri
St. Louis, MO

Shima Rostami is a faculty at the University of Missouri in St. Louis (UMSL) in the Department of Sociology and has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Her doctoral study focused on ‘developing moral education to combat human trafficking’ by creating a Positive Youth Development (PYD) environment with an emphasis on Character Education (CE). Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Gateway Human Trafficking (GHT).

Ms. Rostami is a human rights activist who is involved in the prevention of human trafficking in the Greater St. Louis metroplex, the state of Missouri, the U.S., as well as international communities. She studied Child Protection from violence, exploitation, and neglect at Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. Under Ms. Rostami’s leadership, GHT put together the first teacher training event in St. Charles County, MO, to educate teachers about human trafficking and protect our children.

Besides her academic training, Ms. Rostami has experience working in several agencies affiliated with the Humanities and Humanitarian efforts including the American Red Cross of the Greater St. Louis Area where they received the International Services Award for their outstanding International Humanitarian Law (IHL) project known as Raid Cross. Additionally, she has been chosen as a Peer Reviewer to the Office of Justice Program (OJP) Department of Justice (DOJ) about human trafficking.  Ms. Rostami is also a member of the U.S. Attorney’s Human Trafficking and Hate Crime Task Forces.

Lisa Lungren, M.A.

National Education and Outreach Coordinator
Immigration and Anti-Trafficking
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Washington, D.C.

Lisa Lungren, M.A., National Education and Outreach Coordinator, Immigration and Anti-Trafficking brings a decade of experience leading and coordinating grassroots outreach, coalition-building in multi-lingual settings, and developing educational resources for varied audiences. Ms. Lungren previously oversaw the development and implementation of multi- and cross sector initiatives in Mexico, Colombia, and Panama to combat illicit activity and promote the rule of law (a culture of lawfulness). The project, which involved faith-based leaders as well as stakeholders from civil society and law enforcement, was recognized by the U.S. Department of State, the World Bank, and the United Nations as an effective crime and corruption prevention strategy.

Susan Patterson

Author & Advocate
SoCal Faith Coalitions Against Human Trafficking
Irvine, CA

Susan Patterson is a national leader in the fight against human trafficking and author of the book “How You Can Fight Human Trafficking, Over 100 Ways to Make a Difference” which has been acclaimed by anti-human trafficking advocates nationwide to be one of the best resources out there because it is practical.   Her book has also been highlighted by the Anti-Trafficking Program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as an excellent tool for Catholic and other faith communities that want to respond to the call of Pope Francis to take on the fight against human trafficking.   Her website, ThroughGodsGrace.com has speaker presentations on a variety of subjects.  Her main focus is working with faith communities to facilitate their efforts to take action in what God has called them to do.  She speaks to thousands every year about the dynamics behind Human Trafficking in such a way that the path becomes clear as to where one can use one’s gifts and talents to join the fight.   Her latest endeavor, SoCal Faith Coalitions Against Human Trafficking, engages over 200 leaders from faith communities a year, to look at what they can do next in the fight against human trafficking.

Jordan Bruxvoort

Founder & Director, The Naomi Project
Sioux Falls, SD

Jordan Bruxvoort is the founder and director of the Naomi Project – a Sioux Falls workers’ and immigrant’s rights organization that leads workers’ rights trainings throughout the community on important topics such as wage and hour, workers’ compensation, and labor trafficking. The Naomi Project accompanies workers whose rights have been denied and develops worker-leaders who can stand up for themselves and others in the workplace.

Naomi Project receives its inspiration from the example of Naomi who helped her immigrant daughter-in-law Ruth understand what her rights were as an immigrant and a worker, how she could exercise those rights, and establish herself in her new land.

Mr. Bruxvoort previously served as the director of the Micah Center, a coalition of churches to advance justice in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   During Mr. Bruxvoort’s time at the Micah Center, the organization spearheaded a campaign which passed a responsible contracting policy with the city of Grand Rapids in 2012 and started a workers’ center in 2014