SVAA Presenters

Becky Cool oversees a team of Supervisors, Victim Advocates, Interns, and Volunteers who provide 24/7 crisis intervention and advocacy services to victims of crime and trauma in Summit County. Becky holds a Master of Social Work from The University of Akron. Additionally, she is a licensed Social Worker (LSW) and holds the intermediate level as a credentialed advocate through the NACP. Throughout her career, Becky has held several roles in both direct services and administrative capacities in Summit and Cuyahoga Counties. Becky has dedicated her career to implementing the fundamentals of trauma-informed care not only in serving clients directly, but in program and policy development and execution, supervision, and leadership. 

Chelsea Robertson joined Victim Assistance Program (VAP) in October 2023 as Assistant Director of Services and was promoted to Director of Services in 2025. She brings with her experience and a commitment to supporting victims of crime. Chelsea's journey began at Kent State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2013. Her advocacy career began in 2014 as a Court Advocate Intern at Hope and Healing. Chelsea was then hired as a Court Advocate with Hope and Healing in 2016. She later progressed to the role of Senior Court Advocate at the Rape Crisis Center. Eventually, she assumed the position of Court Services Manager where she over saw Hope and Healing’s court advocacy programs in the Medina and Summit County court systems.

Chelsea's connection with VAP predates her current role, having previously served as a Barberton Victim Advocate, offering support to victims navigating the legal system.

In her current capacity at VAP, Chelsea assumes responsibility for overseeing the organization's satellite locations, including Barberton Municipal Court, Stow Municipal Court, and Summit County Domestic Relations Court. Through SVAA ,Chelsea provides training on crime victims' rights and related topics. Throughout her various roles, Chelsea has provided support to many victims, guiding them through the court process and educating victims on their rights. Chelsea's passion and commitment lie in making a positive difference in the lives of victims and advocating for their rights and well-being.

Kim Laurene (she/her), PhD., is the Director of Grants & Organizational Giving at Victim Assistance Program. In this role she oversees a diverse portfolio of grants and foundations, managing all stages of the grant’s contractual lifecycle to achieve the organization’s initiatives, goals, and mission to serve victims of crime and trauma. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of positions in juvenile courts (Psychology Aide, Community Service Supervisor, Intake Officer). She has also worked at institutes of higher education, where she most recently oversaw several federal and state grants focused on well-being. She is a certified QPR and Mental Health First Aid instructor and has also created several mental health awareness trainings.​

Rev. Dr. Sandy Selby is Pastor of Furnace Street Mission and Consultant and Chaplain for Tough Work Outreach, which serves people in crisis and those who work with them. She served for twenty years as on-call chaplain at both Akron Children’s Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Akron General. Her doctoral research examined compassion fatigue and resilience in individuals who work with people in crisis. A graduate of Leadership Akron, Sandy received the Bernard Rosen Community Service Award from Victim Assistance Program, and the Women of Achievement Award from Women’s Network of Northeast Ohio. She is a member of the Summit County Social Services Advisory Board and serves on the Boards of Child Guidance and Family Solutions and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.