Staff Directory

Melanie obtained her Master's in Social Work from the University of South Carolina and received her Bachelor’s in Sociology from Lander University in Greenwood, SC.  Melanie currently serves as the Chair of the Lexington Sexual Assault Response Team and is STSM’s representative for the newly acquired federal grant from the Office for the Violence Against Women. This grant, Abuse in Later Life, is a program that partners with different agencies in Lexington County to bring training to different service providers, law enforcement, solicitors and judges on elder abuse over the next 36 months.

Melanie has had prior experience volunteering with victims of sexual and domestic violence and has always felt passionate about helping those who have been victims of crime. Melanie feels blessed to have an opportunity to help others in their healing process through advocacy, group support and individual counseling. Melanie enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and dog Duke.

Kayce joined the staff of STSM in January 2012 as Prevention Education Coordinator and was promoted to the position of Community Education Director in January 2013. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina - Aiken with a BA in Biology and received a Master in Social Work and a Master in Public Health from USC in 2012. Prior to STSM, Kayce taught high school science in Aiken and worked as a graduate assistant in the Sexual Health Office at USC. Kayce has a strong passion for primary prevention focusing on sexual violence and sexual health, specifically among adolescents and young adults. She is honored to be a part of STSM and provide education to eliminate sexual violence in our community.

Amy joined STSM in May 2012 as the Advocate Counselor. She grew up in Lexington, SC, and received her B.S. in Social Work from Brigham Young University in Utah. After a few years in Charlottesville, VA, working at The Wellness Recovery Center with adults experiencing mental health crises, Amy returned to the Midlands and earned her Master’s in Social Work at USC. She then spent three years at The Nurturing Center in Columbia, doing individual, group, and play therapy and case management. Amy also has experience working in the social work fields of domestic violence, foster care, and early intervention services for families at risk for child abuse or neglect. She is honored to be part of an organization committed to empowering and healing survivors on an individual and community level. Amy enjoys spending time with her two cats and her daughter, who loves the color purple, dancing, and telling jokes. 

Alexis volunteered for STSM’s Speaker’s Bureau for three years before becoming Prevention Education Coordinator in March 2013. Before joining the staff at STSM, Alexis worked as a writer and curriculum developer for the Center for Child and Family Studies at USC. In May 2012, she received her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a Certificate in Women’s in Gender Studies at USC, where she also taught as an adjunct instructor. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer/editor, a grantwriter for a national non-profit based in New Orleans, an associate/intern at a campus ministry at USC, and an English teacher in a South Korean high school. Alexis has spent much of her free time raising awareness about sexual violence in our communities, and so she is excited about working full-time to educate people of all ages about this issue.

Kyra received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of South Carolina where she was also a student athlete competing as an equestrian.  She later received her Master’s in Community Counseling from Webster University.  Kyra joined STSM in 2009 as an intern and later becoming a victim advocate as well as group facilitator. Following graduation in 2010, she began working as a counselor for Palmetto Health Baptist Adolescent Recovery Center.  However, her heart led her back to STSM and is proud to now call herself a staff member!  She is thrilled to join the efforts here at STSM to help survivors heal and put an end to sexual violence in the community. 

Sarah served as a volunteer advocate for STSM for more than six years before becoming Volunteer Services Coordinator in June 2012. She was the STSM Volunteer of the Year in 2010 and received the Community Impact Award from the United Way of the Midlands in 2012. Originally from Ohio, Sarah recently completed Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health at the University of South Carolina, where she also earned a Bachelor’s in Philosophy and International Studies. Prior to joining STSM, Sarah worked in research and evaluation for the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and spent a combined five years as the Volunteer Coordinator at two local nonprofit organizations. Sarah is particularly interested in working with teens and developing creative ways to educate and empower volunteers. More than anything, she is excited to be part of a fantastic organization that has been close to her heart for many years.

Zoë joined STSM in 2009 as a volunteer advocate and became full time in 2010 as the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator. In this position, Zoe ensures high quality crisis intervention to primary as well as secondary survivors of sexual assault and abuse and acts as the legal advocate as well. She is active in the community and is a member of the Richland County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and the President of the Lexington County SART. 

Zoë is an avid horseback rider and in her free time volunteers at the therapeutic horseback riding stable, Dream Riders. Zoë graduated Cum Laude from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2009 with a BA in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree at USC. She has traveled a fair amount in the U.S. and abroad and has learned to recognize what binds us together as human beings in all of our diversity. Zoë and her husband have two English Bull dogs (Monty and Milton) and a cat named Noki--all of whom provide hours of endless entertainmenti! Zoë is extremely dedicated to helping others in need and finds working at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands to be a tremendously rewarding experience.

Elizabeth joined STSM in March 2012 to fill the new position of Development Coordinator. A Columbia native, she recently moved back here after a decade in Washington, DC. She worked for six years as a journalist, writing for The Moscow Times in Russia and The Associated Press in Washington. She later worked for the Hillary Clinton campaign and as a researcher at the Democratic National Committee. Elizabeth has traveled to Haiti on behalf of Columbia’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to collaborate with local partners on school and water projects in the Central Plateau region. She is a graduate of Smith College and studied at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where she focused on Russia and former Soviet states. Elizabeth is glad to be back in her hometown and working for an organization that is making the Midlands a better place to live.

Sarah Collins became involved with STSM as a volunteer advocate in 2011 and joined the staff in 2013 to fill the newly created position of Community Advocate and Prevention Specialist. She will be based in Sumter County, the agency’s newest service area. Sarah’s passion is serving at-risk and exploited peoples. She has experience volunteering with at-risk youth through a local crisis pregnancy center, where she helped lead educational programs in the community. After earning her BS in Psychology from Columbia International University in 2012, Sarah spent four months in Ethiopia teaching English and helping improve the lives of former street children. A Sumter native, she feels blessed to have the opportunity to represent STSM and expand agency services in her home community. In her free time, Sarah enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and watching musicals.

Tammy joined STSM in June 2012 as Office Manager. She has an extensive background in administration and financial reporting, bringing 20 years of experience and skills to ensure a smooth, efficient, and productive office environment. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Tammy moved her family to South Carolina in 2000 to escape the endless winters and experience Southern hospitality firsthand. She is very excited to be a part of this wonderful agency and the cause that it serves.