Beyond Skin Deep: The Impacts of Domestic Violence

About Our Presenters

Bios are provided by the participating speakers below:

Katrina Brownlee
Young Ladies of Our Future, Inc.
Founder/Director

Katrina grew up in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, New York and she herself was an at-risk youth. She became a mother at the early age of fourteen. When she was twenty-two years old she was shot 10 times in a violent domestic relationship that left her paralyzed. Several surgeries later she had to relearn to walk. After this traumatic experience her challenges did not end, she and her children became homeless. Katrina worked to overcome the obstacles of her troubled past and she triumphed. She attended the College of New Rochelle. Upon completion, and after surviving an attempted murder on her life by her then fiancé that worked in law enforcement, She made the heroic decision to join the New York City Police Department (NYPD). She started out as a traffic agent and worked diligently to be promoted to police officer and from there she quickly climbed the ranks.

Katrina made detective third grade, detective second grade, and then detective first grade, which is the highest ranking detective in the NYPD. While a detective, Katrina used all the skills she developed over the years to work undercover for five years. She later spent years as an investigator. Following her work in investigations, she worked in the Department of Community Affairs. Katrina subsequently received the opportunity to work security detail for Mayor Bill de Blasio. During this time, she received a 5.0 evaluation, which is the highest evaluation that a police officer can receive in the NYPD. She received many accolades for her outstanding performance and accomplishments.

Katrina has been mentoring since 2012. She has helped many at-risk young ladies during this time. She deemed it time to take her work one step further and started Young Ladies of Our Future 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to fulfill her calling as a mentor and life coach. The organization’s mission, “through healing the wounds of interpersonal violence, building self-esteem, and promoting health and wellness, these young ladies can achieve their goals and live successful lives.” She is also working to grow the Katrina Cooke Brownlee charity. She recently wrote her memoir, “And Then Came The Blues.”

Michelle K. Welch
Senior Assistant Attorney General
Virginia Attorney General’s Office
Director of the Animal Law Unit

Michelle Welch is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and the Director of the Animal Law Unit at the Attorney General’s Office.  She is charged with taking all animal law questions in Virginia.  She is called on by agencies all over the Commonwealth to act as a special prosecutor in animal cruelty and animal fighting cases.  She frequently gives advice to local law enforcement authorities and prosecutors all over Virginia, across the nation and internationally.  She also trains prosecutors, animal control and law enforcement officers on the state of Virginia animal law.  She is a board member of the Virginia Animal Fighting Taskforce.  Ms. Welch serves as a special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia to aid in animal fighting and animal crime prosecutions.

She is a senior faculty member for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA).  She is the Chair of the Animal Law Curriculum Advisory Committee for the APA.  She serves as adjunct faculty for Animal Law at the University of Richmond Law School and William & Mary Law School.  She has testified before a Congressional Caucus examining the enforcement of animal laws and the cooperation between state and federal partners. She has trained other countries on animal crime, including Greece, the United Kingdom, and Spain and she has advised on animal criminal cases in Columbia and Belgium. 

She has received many honors for her work on behalf of animals.  In 2022, she received the Ellen Glasgow Award for Humane Service from the Richmond SPCA for her work on behalf of abused animals.  In 2020, she received the Humane Law Enforcement Award from HSUS for the seizure of zoo animals from a neglectful zoo (one of the first times in twenty years that law enforcement has intervened on behalf of zoo animals).  In 2019, HSUS gave her and her Unit the Humane Law Enforcement Award for bringing to justice wildlife trafficker, resulting in the closing of 5 fox pens.  In 2018, the Norfolk SPCA honored her with The Thomas M. Ammons III Animal Welfare Award.  In 2014, she was named Prosecutor of the Year by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.   In 2013, she was named one of the Top 10 Animal Defenders in the Nation by Animal Legal Defense Fund.  She was presented with the Albert Schweitzer Medal for her work on behalf of the animals in 2012 by the Animal Welfare Institute.

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Caitlyn Scaggs, M.S.
Executive Manager of New Hope Girls

Caitlyn is Executive Manager of New Hope Girls, an organization based in the Dominican Republic that fights trafficking, abuse and exploitation of young girls and women. Based in Southwest Virginia, her role includes strategic communication, organizational development, and social entrepreneurship components. Additionally, Scaggs is a published author and local media contributor.  

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Bob Kaiser
Assistant Attorney General in Wisconsin

Bob is a 44-year veteran prosecutor, presently an Assistant Attorney General in Wisconsin.

Bob has handled all types of felony and domestic violence cases as both a trial and appellate lawyer and has lectured on all aspects of prosecution and investigation of crimes with particular focus on stalking and body-less homicides.  Bob was instrumental in the major revisions of Wisconsin’s Stalking law in 2000, 2003 and 2017.

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Emil Morris

Emil (he or she pronouns) works at the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley. Specializing in education and outreach, Emil also serves on the WRCNRV’s Inclusion Council, which is a multi-disciplinary group that works for parity in victim service provision to LGBTQ+ victim/survivors of partner and sexual violence. He graduated from Radford University in 2014 and volunteers with Floyd PFLAG.  

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Laura Beth Weaver

Laura Beth Weaver grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, the daughter of generations of strong Mennonite women who taught the value of serving others, of working for peace, and of believing in our larger common good. At Emory & Henry College, she earned a B.A. in Public Policy & Community Service and a M.A. in Community & Organizational Leadership. Since moving in 2011 to the New River Valley, she has worked in various capacities at the Women’s Resource Center and has been the Executive Director since November 2019. Over the years, Laura Beth has served in various volunteer and board appointments on the local, regional, and state level, always with an eye toward social justice and especially the rights and safety of women and children.