Staff

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Katie Eichele, Director, M.S.

Katie Eichele (she/her) is responsible for strategic planning and day-to-day operations of The Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education, development of policy and protocols relating to sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harassment, partnering with faculty, staff and students in the development of outreach and educational initiatives, development of innovative programs to enhance the safety and well-being of students, and the overall coordination of services with other campus and community organizations.

Additionally, she provides direct services to clients, addresses parent concerns, provides consultations for the greater university campus and surrounding community, supervises the TAC staff, and oversees Aurora's fiscal accountability.

Katie has worked at the University of Minnesota, TC since 2004. Her background/experience stems from communications, teaching, student conduct, safety and security, policy development, student development, social justice, and crisis management.

Email: [email protected]

Direct line: (612) 626-9977

Chloe Vraney, Associate Director, M.P.P.

Chloe (she/her) is responsible for Aurora's departmental assessment of services offered, marketing efforts, and the coordination of Aurora's annual 40 hour certification training. She also supervises the prevention education program within Aurora and represents the office across campus on several campus-wide committees.

Chloe serves on the Hennepin County SMARTeam and MNCASA's Policy Advisory Committee. She is trained as a Title IX hearing decision maker, STARRSA facilitator, Motivational Interviewer, and is bilingual in Spanish. 

Chloe began working at Aurora in 2017 in direct services and legal advocacy. Her previous work experience was with individuals and families experiencing domestic and sexual violence in Uruguay, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Her background focuses on recognizing different barriers to accessing these resources and promoting inclusion, equity, and diversity.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (612) 626-6404

Bronte Stewart-New, Legal Advocacy Coordinator

Bronte (she/they) is responsible for coordinating the advocacy services provided to clients at Aurora. In addition to providing support in a crisis, she advocates for clients as they choose any of the various options available including academic and legal support. Bronte regularly meets one to one with clients and responds to phone calls on the 24 hour helpline. Additionally, she co-facilitates Aurora's support groups and provides supervision for student staff and volunteers. 

Bronte possesses a depth of knowledge and experience in relation to Aurora, beginning as a volunteer then as a student staff member and now proudly serves as a full-time advocate.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (612) 624-0630

Elaine Vue, Legal Advocacy Diversity Coordinator

Elaine (she/her) is responsible for providing direct service and outreach to clients at Aurora with a focus on providing awareness and victim services to underserved/marginalized communities on campus. This includes providing outreach, building relationships, and creating innovative direct service solutions in order to promote inclusion, equity, and diversity. She also co-facilitates cultural and identity-specific support groups and provides supervision for student staff and volunteers.

Elaine is bilingual in Hmong and English and has a background working with individuals and families experiencing violence. Her previous work includes crisis support, legal advocacy regarding protective orders, and collaborating on support initiatives geared towards immigrant/refugee communities.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (612) 626-0507

Kirsten Mouton, Legal Advocacy Coordinator

Kirsten (they/them) is responsible for providing client advocacy & support services, resources, and referrals. Before joining Aurora full time, they served for five years with Aurora as a volunteer in both violence prevention and direct service capacities as well as in a student staff role. Kirsten earned a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Biology, Society, & the Environment from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Their educational background is in the neurobiology of trauma, psychology of gender, and structural inequities in the healthcare industry.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (612) 626-1829

Alexa Paleka, Prevention Program Coordinator, M.Ed.

Alexa (she/her) is responsible for the planning and implementation of the prevention education curriculum offered by Aurora to students, staff and faculty at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg University. Topics for training and workshops include respect, bystander intervention, consent, healthy relationships, stalking, sexual harassment and more.

Alexa's previous work experience includes compliance, residence life, and advising. Her background is in communication, higher education administration, and sexual violence prevention and response. 

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (612) 624-9602

Men’s Engagement Coordinator, VACANT

The Men's Engagement Coordinator is responsible for co-coordinating educational workshops and training offered by Aurora to students, staff and faculty at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg University. Topics for training include consent, healthy relationships, sexual violence at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, and more.

Additionally, this role furthers Aurora's efforts to engage more male-identified survivors and broaden the range of community members who connect with Aurora, support survivors and advocate for violence prevention.

Direct Line: (612) 626-9122

Ashley Harrington, Volunteer Coordinator

Ashley (she/her) is responsible for volunteer recruitment, with an emphasis on diversity, along with the supervision of over 80 active volunteers including selection, ongoing training, and semesterly reviews. Other responsibilities include oversite of Aurora’s outreach including event tabling, as well as the planning and execution of the annual Recognition Celebration expressing gratitude for the work of volunteers and partners.  

Ashley's previous work experience was providing legal advocacy, court advocacy, and crisis support to individuals experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking for the city of Minneapolis. Ashley previously volunteered at The Aurora Center and served as a student staff member, and is now overjoyed to be back at Aurora as a full-time staff member.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (612) 626-3398