DR. CARRIE PETTUS is a visionary social work scholar and innovator dedicated to advancing social equity and justice within criminal legal and justice systems. She is the Founder and CEO of Wellbeing & Equity Innovations, a national equity-centered translational research nonprofit that collaborates with justice and community partners to improve outcomes through research-practitioner partnerships. Her work focuses on areas such as diversion and deflection, community violence, social support, trauma, behavioral health, and practices that improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Dr. Pettus has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, and her research has been featured in top-tier outlets such as USA Today, The Washington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. She is a sought-after speaker, having presented at over 150 national and international events and conferences. Throughout her career, Dr. Pettus has demonstrated a remarkable ability to secure millions of dollars in funding to support her impactful work that advances research and initiatives aimed at using science and data to promote wellbeing and social equity. Her dedication to data justice and addressing racial and other social inequities in research is evident in her leadership as the Chair of the Grand Challenges for Social Work.

Dr. Pettus holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work, an M.S.W. from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, and dual B.A. degrees in Social Welfare and Psychology from the University of Kansas. She has served as a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis and Florida State University, where she ran research labs and contributed to the advancement of social work education and research.

Dr. Pettus’s contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards, highlighting her role as a thought leader. Her work is not just academic; it is a beacon of hope and a catalyst for systemic change, inspiring others to join her in the pursuit of a more equitable and just society. Her research and dissemination efforts have significantly influenced policies and practices at local, state, and national levels, driving systemic change and improving the lives of individuals and families most impacted by criminal legal and justice systems across the United States.

PETTUS CV

RACHEL FULMER is the Director of Pretrial and Law Enforcement Projects. In this role, Ms. Fulmer leads efforts to assist law enforcement and prosecutors in adopting data driven strategies that can reduce the amount of citizen contact and processing into the criminal legal/justice system. At the forefront of Ms. Fulmer’s work is her passion for cross-agency collaboration, shaped by its integral function in her career.

 Ms. Fulmer began her career in victims’ services and crisis response engaging in collaborations with law enforcement across city, county, and university settings. It is through these various positions that Ms. Fulmer honed her understanding of the dynamic needs of both those that encounter the justice/legal system, and those that have initial contact as first responders.  Ms. Fulmer also draws heavily on her years in the private sector where managing public fire safety regulations meant a different type of cross-agency collaboration built on consensus between public and private sectors, often in high-pressure situations.

 At WEI, Ms. Fulmer leads project development, implementation, and evaluation for numerous programs that rely on researcher-practitioner partnerships. She is skilled at developing strong teams and achieving meaningful results as emphasized by her oversight of large multi-state projects, stakeholder relationships, and translating research into accessible findings.

 Ms. Fulmer holds a  M.A. in Criminology and an M.A. in Social Work from Florida State University and a B.A. in Women’s Gender and Sexuality studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.

JENNIFER JOSEPH is the Lead Strategist for Clinical Innovation and Impact at Wellbeing and Equity Innovations. She began her career working within mental health hospitals where she saw the intersection between mental health and criminal justice. Jennifer grew in her clinical and training skills as she became the Training Specialist for the Institute of Justice Research and Development at Florida State University. Jennifer was able to train staff on best practices within clinical research practices as well as training outside organizations on new initiatives within the Criminal Justice System.

Jennifer is passionate about her work because she believes that individuals are more than their criminal justice involvement and everyone deserves to live a life of well-being. Jennifer is trained in several different types of trauma informed theories and practices which is a powerful tool when working with justice involved individuals.

JOSEPH CV

JESSICA LE joins WEI as a Project Director after cultivating her skills in justice research at Justice System Partners and Florida State University’s Institute for Justice Research and Development (IJRD). Jessica began her career working in applied mental health research to explore different treatment paradigms for psychiatric, neurological, and substance disorders while overseeing the clinical care of patients receiving rTMS therapy. Her experience in applied mental health research provided her with a framework to successfully implement long-term complex projects, including research development, planning and implementation, data collection, and project management.

Jessica is driven by her belief that justice research should be rooted in listening to the voices of individuals and communities harmed by systematic oppression, disparities, and inequities.

LE CV

KATIE MORPHOMIOS is an Senior Data Specialist. Her responsibilities include data management for multi-site randomized control trials as well as direct collaboration with project principal investigators to design and implement electronic data collection via research software (REDCap). Katie previously worked in data management roles at Florida State University (IJRD) and the Florida Department of Corrections. She also has a ten-year background in state level criminal justice investigative and analytical work. Her proficiency in understanding the Criminal Justice field, as well as computer systems, has propelled her to the forefront of facilitating Criminal Justice research.

She is a native of Tallahassee, Florida, and she enjoys going to the local parks with her dogs.

MORPHOMIOS CV

TEISHA SANDERS is the Director of Equity and Cultural Advancement projects at Wellbeing and Equity Innovations (WEI). She began her career working within criminal court systems, conducting pretrial risk assessments in local jail settings and providing case management services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system. She was fueled by this work to further build upon and advance evidence-driven solutions that more effectively contribute to the success of justice-involved communities. Teisha is skilled in leading research development, design, and data collection efforts, and has extensive experience leading and managing complex, multistate, multisite evidence-informed projects and collaborating with community partners and stakeholders. She draws on her background in social work in operationalizing the value and importance of human relationships as she supports and empowers various stakeholders through project implementation toward desired outcomes.

She has also collaborated across systems with local mental health authorities, behavioral health systems, and specialty courts to help identify the least restrictive environment for system-impacted individuals.

SANDERS CV

ANGELO STABLER is the Senior Projects Manager on Wellbeing Development at Wellbeing and Equity Innovations (WEI). He provides support for the delivery of in person and remote technical assistance and training to local and state jurisdictions seeking to implement data-driven criminal or juvenile justice policy and practice reforms. He has a demonstrated track record of working with,  supervising, and directing youth organizations.

He has been the recipient of the ​Kenneth R. Holder Award, Service to Mankind Award, Eastern District of Nebraska Service to Mankind Epsilon Sigma Sigma Award, Jerry Joyce Living Legacy Award, NWU Young Humanitarian Award, and Academic awards. He feels blessed with the opportunity to serve his community and make a difference in this world.

STABLER CV

SARAH TAMBURRI is the Trauma and Violence Interruption Projects Director with WEI. She currently leads two trauma-informed prosecution-led diversion programs and a randomized control trial evaluating a comprehensive trauma-informed reentry program for young men leaving prison. Sarah has previously managed research projects for Justice System Partners and the Institute for Justice Research and Development at Florida State University.

Sarah began her career working as a Mentoring Program Coordinator, where she received grant funding to implement and maintain a mentoring program for underserved youth in South Florida. She then spent five years with the Florida Department of Corrections in various capacities. Sarah ended her career as a Program Coordinator, where she oversaw the implementation of interventions delivered to individuals serving life sentences and those who were transitioning out of restrictive housing settings.

While working in corrections, Sarah saw firsthand the intersection between trauma and the criminal legal system- which motivates her work. Sarah has a passion for bringing research to the field through education and the implementation of best practices. Her interests include trauma-informed practices, violence and suicide prevention, and destigmatizing mental health.

Sarah is a proud Army Veteran. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida.

TAMBURRI CV

SAMERA BISHOP has a diverse background in social work, beginning her career with in-home behavioral interventions servicing children and their families. She transitioned to an Intensive In-Community Therapist role, further expanding her expertise. Samera then pivoted to community mental health, working with various populations, including individuals with substance use disorders. A passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and recovery, Samera is pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work at Capella University. She holds a Master’s degree in social work with a concentration in Trauma-Informed Practices from Temple University and a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Rutgers University.

KYLA THOMPSON