Leadership

Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, a proud Chicana, is the Executive Director of the Rape Recovery Center. Raised and living on Salt Lake City’s Westside, she acknowledges the spaces she occupies have always been indigenous lands. With a rich background spanning over two decades, Sonya has integrated trauma and justice-informed principles into her career.  Her expertise encompasses nonprofit leadership, trauma informed practice, advocacy, equity and inclusion strategies, and community development. 

As a therapist, Sonya practices from a somatic and feminist-multicultural approach integrating the wisdom of traditional medicine and honoring the impact of trauma on the body. She acknowledges clients as experts and honors their role as author of their own healing narrative. 

Sonya, formerly an Assistant Clinical Professor, holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Utah and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds certificates from Northwestern Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management and Georgetown’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership. 

An active community member, she passionately serves on various boards and commissions, including the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. In recognition of her outstanding leadership, Sonya was honored with the Utah Nonprofit Association's 2022 Outstanding Nonprofit Leader Award. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to fostering sustainable and equitable programs while believing in the collective healing power of communities. 

Gary Scheller has been a veracious and passionate justice and victim/survivor advocate for more than 30 years. His frank and outspoken nature has been highly beneficial in shaping victim centered justice and service policies, and laws in Utah and Nationally. Gary has been especially passionate in the fight to stop sexual violence, hold offenders accountable and ensuring that the rights and needs of survivors and victims are system and societal priorities. He is excited and proud to be a part of the Rape Recovery Center team. 

As Development Director at the Rape Recovery Center, I leverage 15 years of expertise in fundraising, program development, and communication to amplify our mission. With a commitment to transparency and creating safe spaces, I drive impactful initiatives, securing vital resources and fostering community partnerships that support survivors of sexual violence and move us closer to ending violence in our state.

As Operations Manager, Anthony oversees the organization's day-to-day operations, including management of the office, human resources, finances, and audits, as well as analysis and improvement of organizational processes to improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.

Sana is a seasoned digital marketer with a diverse background spanning nonprofit, construction, essential oils, and clinical trials industries, encompassing both B2B and B2C realms, supplemented by internships in nonprofit and sports sectors. She brings a wealth of multifaceted expertise to drive impactful strategies and campaigns. With a proven track record in social media management and digital advertising, Sana has developed a comprehensive skill set in brand development, marketing strategy, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Their expertise is grounded in data analysis, allowing them to drive impactful marketing campaigns and foster significant growth across multiple social media platforms. Sana is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business, building on an academic foundation in Business Administration and Spanish from Trinity University. Their dedication to professional growth is further demonstrated by active involvement in the Trinity University Alumni Association Board.

Moana has over ten years of leadership experience in social settings and the nonprofit sector. Her profound dedication and commitment to promoting the well-being of survivors is demonstrated by her support for their healing process, advocacy for justice, and upholding of their dignity.

As the Data and Grants Coordinator at the Rape Recovery Center, Alissa brings a strong commitment to social justice principles and a passion for enhancing community-based services. With a background in journalism, political campaign fundraising, and software project/product management, she joins our team with an eclectic skillset specializing in detail-oriented data management, reporting, and cross-functional project coordination.

Alissa’s diverse skill set makes her a valuable asset to the Rape Recovery Center and its mission to support survivors and advocate for social justice.

She holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Utah.