Abigayle Harris has spent most of her career in the realm of Adult Learning and Professional Development for corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses. As an Instructional Designer, she recognizes the unique opportunities and the lasting impact a training experience has on the learner.
She takes pride in curating learner-focused trainings where the experience is rooted in accessible, diverse, inclusive, and innovative principles. People learn differently and in order to achieve a project’s goals and intentional outcomes, a training must incorporate a web of various learning styles. Abigayle has built a substantial number of training courses and curricula ranging from ILT, VILT, E-learning, character animation, to live action videos resulting in successful information retention.
Since joining APPA, she has worked alongside various Subject Matter Experts in the Community Corrections Field to build relevant and impactful trainings, to members of APPA as well as training institute attendees. Each day she is reminded of the importance this work has on communities and its transformative power to evoke positive change in the world.

Joshua Nelsen is a devoted husband and father to two daughters, with a background that includes roles at Oracle Korea and the Korean National Diplomat Academy. He played a pivotal role in establishing an undergraduate program in Song-Do, South Korea, in collaboration with The State University of New York, Stony Brook.
As the Professional Development Manager at the American Probation and Parole Association, Joshua has led initiatives in business strategy, content creation, and innovating experiences for members, focusing on achieving short and long-term goals. With a demonstrated history in educational initiatives, he mentors interdisciplinary teams and brings a disruptive mindset to foster avant-garde solutions.
Joshua is well-versed in ed-tech, utilizing imaginative approaches in areas such as E-learning, needs analysis, learner assessment, curriculum mapping, and creative writing. His communication skills extend from engaging the C-suite to connecting with boots-on-the-ground positions on various phygital key performance indicators. With over 15 years of experience, Joshua Nelsen is a valuable presence in the education field.

Gene Cotter is the Probation Administrator with the Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation. He has worked in community corrections for more than 35 years as a probation officer, chief probation officer and in the administrative office as an assistant and deputy administrator where he oversaw human resources, public information, performance management, research and data and interstate compact. He holds a master’s degree in Critical and Creative Thinking with an emphasis on Organizational Science and Leadership from the University of Nebraska Omaha and is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice for the University of Nebraska System. Gene is a long-time member of the National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE) and the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) and is a graduate of the APPA Leadership Institute and has also served on the APPA Board of Directors for several years as a Regional Representative.

Carmen Gomez, PhD is a Criminal Justice professional with over 27 years of experience in the Judicial system. She serves as Deputy Commissioner for Pretrial Services for the Massachusetts Probation Service. She holds a PhD in Philosophy concentrating in Law, Policy, and Society. She has served as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities and as a consultant to local, state, and federal entities, providing expertise in the areas of leadership capacity, DEI, sex crimes, and serial killings. Dr. Gomez serves as an APPA Leadership Institute Coordinator and is the recipient of the 2024 Probation and Parole Association Carmen Rodriquez Member of the Year Award. Dr. Gomez also serves on the National Association of Probation Board of Directors. She has devoted most of her life to public service, civil rights, wellness, leadership, and community engagement. She is a professional disrupter and change agent.

Andrea K. Neumann is the Chief U.S. Probation Officer for the District of Oregon. She has worked in the Federal Judiciary for over 17 years and has experience in multiple disciplines – to include pretrial, presentence, and post-conviction. She has served on multiple national and local committees promoting the use and implementation of evidenced-based practices in the U. S. Probation and Pretrial system. Specifically, enhancing officer and supervisors skills through coaching and mentoring. Andrea earned an undergraduate degree from St. Ambrose University and a Master’s Degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Charles R. Robinson is an experienced leader in state and federal community corrections, currently serving as Deputy Chief of the Probation and Pretrial Services Office at the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. With over 25 years of experience, Charles has become a national voice in translating research into meaningful policy and practice for community supervision agencies.
A frequent speaker and trainer, Charles specializes in helping organizations evolve—structurally, culturally, and behaviorally—to meet the demands of modern justice systems. His work focuses on building high-performing, learning-driven organizations that use data and strategy to improve outcomes. He has led national initiatives that have reshaped training, leadership development, and implementation strategies across the federal probation and pretrial system.
In this session, Charles brings a blend of practical leadership experience, knowledge of organizational change, and a passion for empowering justice professionals. Expect an interactive and forward-thinking conversation that challenges assumptions and sparks innovation.

Dr. Alexandra Walker is the Director of Community Relations and Strategy for the Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation (ACJI). With more than 25 years of experience in the field of reentry and behavioral health, she offers a diverse background in evidence-based practices, training, program development, implementation science, and treatment modalities. As a practitioner in the field, Alex worked on a myriad of federal, state, and local justice initiatives and research projects and most recently was the Vice Chair of the Colorado Parole Board. Alex brings a wealth of experience in both community based and institutional corrections and is well versed in the development, implementation, and measurement of implementation related and decision making tools. and is committed to helping organizations reach fidelity to their highest impact practices and programs. At ACJI, Alex’s super power is dreaming big! She provides tools, strategies, research and evaluation supports for implementation efforts at the state and local level, coaches leaders on implementation and staff engagement efforts, and develops practices and resources for specialized populations with organizations across the country.

Travis Johnson is a grants program analyst with the American Probation and Parole Association. His work focuses on juvenile probation alongside the Annie E. Casey Foundation. He has worked for the American Probation and Parole Association for 8 years. Travis, over his tenure at APPA, has conducted surveys to the field on workforce issues, drug-testing, and fines and fees. His work also involves conducting workload studies for supervision agencies. Travis attended the University of Kentucky, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He then continued his education at Eastern Kentucky University, where he obtained his master’s degree in safety, Security, and Emergency Management. His love for the justice system drove him to work for APPA.

Opal West is a senior associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. As part of the Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Strategy Group, her work focuses on youth probation, the disposition most often imposed on young people who enter our nation’s juvenile justice system. West is helping to transform youth probation nationally into a focused intervention that promotes personal growth and long-term success for youth who pose significant risks for serious offending. She also guides juvenile justice agencies to treat families as partners. West began her career as a juvenile probation and parole officer in Louisiana. Working for state government there, she led efforts to improve conditions of confinement in detention centers across the state. She also led statewide expansion efforts for the JDAI® approach to building a better and more equitable youth justice system. She was appointed to serve on a task force to develop standards of care for state-run secure facilities and local detention centers. West is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Greg Brown, MCJ, CFE, DHL Program Manager, National Criminal Justice Training Center Fox Valley Technical College Greg Brown brings over 32 years of experience in the corrections field, with a career spanning leadership, innovation, and frontline service. He is the former Chief Probation Officer for Colorado’s 20th Judicial District, where he oversaw adult and juvenile supervision and spearheaded several specialized initiatives. Greg’s background includes the supervision, treatment, and management of high-risk clients, including individuals involved in domestic violence and sex crimes. He has played a pivotal role in developing and implementing cutting-edge programs such as enhanced domestic violence treatment tracks, gender-responsive supervision teams focused on women’s issues, and community-based best practices for managing complex and high-risk offender populations. A passionate advocate for holistic and culturally informed approaches, Greg has helped establish problem-solving courts, restorative justice initiatives, and standards and policies that support client accountability and successful reintegration. For more than 20 years, he has worked closely with tribal probation and reentry professionals, delivering training and technical assistance to support culturally respectful and effective supervision practices across Indian Country. Currently, Greg serves as a Program Manager with the National Criminal Justice Training Center at Fox Valley Technical College, where he continues to lead national efforts in professional development, systems improvement, and tribal justice engagement.

Mark Dyea is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a Disabled Veteran. Mark is the Tribal Grants Manager for the American Probation and Parole Association where he collaborates with Tribes to secure training and technical assistance in program planning, implementation, and enhancement. Mark has 20 years of Community Supervision and Treatment Court experience. During this time, he worked for the Pueblo of Laguna’s Probation & Parole Services for over ten years as a Probation Officer, Wellness Court Coordinator, Program Manager, co-founded the Pueblo’s Community Wellness Court program and served as its Co-Coordinator for seven years. Mark has also worked as a Case Manager for the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Specialty Courts and Coordinator for the Pueblo of San Felipe Healing to Wellness Court. Mark served as a Sr. Consultant for the NADCP Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Planning Initiative and as faculty for TLPI. As a consultant Mark has worked with numerous jurisdictions across the country to develop and enhance Community Supervision programs and Treatment Courts. Over the course of his career Mark as collaborated with multiple jurisdictions, including State, Federal, and Tribal entities, to improve community supervision outcomes and intergovernmental relationships.

Shalimar Oliver is the Animal Crimes Manager for Humane World for Animals, where she oversees egregious cruelty cases including puppy mill investigations, large-scale neglect and animal fighting. Shalimar was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, where she worked at the Sydney RSPCA and an Australian wildlife park. Shalimar spent much of her career as an enforcement officer in San Diego where she responded to manmade and natural disasters, served as the field training officer, and a trainer with the local academy. Shalimar is a member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators and a trainer for the Law Enforcement Training Center, through which she teaches enforcement professionals from across the country about animal crimes.

Dr. Alyssa Benedict is a psychologist and public health practitioner with a subspecialty in the neurophysiology and ecology of trauma and resilience. The Executive Director of CORE Associates, she has 20+ years supporting system and agency level healing, growth, and transformation by promoting evidence-based and innovative approaches, amplifying lived experience, and promoting inclusive and intersectional frameworks. Benedict has worked across the U.S. to promote gender responsive, culturally attuned and trauma-informed care. She encourages international learning and engagement and has explored human service systems and individual and social trauma and resilience in the US, Canada, Germany, South Africa and Thailand. Alyssa has served as an architect and core faculty for various national initiatives, and has authored and co-authored impactful publications, models, and staff training curricula, including NIC’s Supervision Agency Gender-Responsive Evaluation (SAGE), and the widely implemented trauma-informed staff communication model Creating Regulation and Resilience (CR/2™).

Sandra Brown is the Director of Training at the Women’s Justice Institute, a national trainer and consultant with CORE Associates, a Guest Theater Director at Millikin University, a doctoral student, and a poet and activist. She also served 22 years as an incarcerated survivor in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Despite challenges to accessing higher education in prison, Brown became the first incarcerated woman in Illinois to earn an academic master’s degree and the first to be accepted into an academic doctoral program. Brown’s experience underscores her work as a student, educator, researcher, activist, and creative writer. Brown's publications include a collection of works featured in “Critical Storytelling from Behind Invisible Bars: Undergraduates and Inmates Write Their Way Out.” Her self-published poetry memoir, “Odyssey in Progress,” was published in 2022. In December of 2022, Brown’s empowerment journey was featured in The Chicago Tribune. Illinois Humanities also features some of Brown’s work in its workbook, “Envisioning Justice RE: ACTION.” She is a two-time recipient of the Davis-Putter Scholarship, which provides grants to students actively working for peace and justice, and the Marilyn Buck Award.