Human Trafficking & Exploitation Symposium

Susan Madsen

Dr. Susan R. Madsen is the Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. She is also the Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project and is leading a statewide social change movement titled, A Bolder Way Forward. Professor Madsen and her team have written many Utah research and policy briefs and white papers, research snapshots, partnered reports, newspaper editorials, and other resources. They host many events each year to support the mission of their work. Susan is also a well-known global scholar, authoring or editing nine books and publishing hundreds of articles, chapters, and reports. Madsen’s research has been featured in the U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Parenting Magazine, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, and she is a regular contributor to Forbes. She is a well-known speaker in local, national, and international settings. For example, she has presented at the New York Times, Argentina Parliament Palace, House of Commons in England, Lithuania President’s Palace, Costa Rica Parliament, and NGO sessions at the United Nations. She serves on or advises many nonprofit, community, and education boards and committees, including the Utah Governor’s strategic initiatives, Envision Utah, South Davis Communities that Care, Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, Women’s Work Utah, and more. Dr. Madsen received a bachelor’s degree from BYU, a master’s from Portland State, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She and her husband Greg are the proud parents of four adult children and six grandchildren.

Kaytlin Beckett

Kaytlin Beckett is an Assistant Attorney General at the Utah Attorney General’s Office where she works as the lead human trafficking prosecutor in the SECURE Section. Prior to her work at the Utah Attorney General’s Office, she worked at Skordas, Caston, & Hyde handling criminal cases, victim advocacy matters, and complex litigation. Prior to law school, Kaytlin worked as a special education teacher for 4th-12th grade students. She holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science, Sociology, English, and Theatre; a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law.

In a past life, Kaytlin worked in theater, performed improv comedy in New York and around the country, and wrote in subpar jokes. Kaytlin also does Muay Thai in her spare time.

Noora Chingaliyeva

Noora is a Victim/Witness Coordinator with the Utah Attorney General's Office, specializing in supporting survivors of crime. Originally from Kazakhstan, Noora immigrated to the United States over 12 years ago and has found her true home in Utah. Noora's educational background reflects her commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in the lives of survivors.

Her journey in combating human trafficking began in 2014 when she joined an anti-trafficking initiative. Even while studying for her Master's degree, Noora continued her work as a case manager for the Trafficking in Person program at the Refugee and Immigrant Center Asian Association of Utah. Upon completing her Master's program in 2018, Noora embarked on a new chapter in her career, joining the Utah Attorney General's Office as a Victim/Witness Coordinator. In January 2019, she became a member of the Utah Trafficking in Person Task Force (UTIP).

Noora also serves as a member of the Internet Crime Against Children Task Force. In her role as a Victim/Witness Coordinator, Noora focuses on providing a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach to meeting the unique needs of each survivor of crime. She collaborates with governmental entities, non-profit organizations, social service-providing agencies, and community resources in Utah and throughout the US to ensure victims receive the support they deserve. Noora believes that her services are most valuable when she is viewed as a critical point of contact by service providers, law enforcement, and, most importantly, the victims themselves. By educating victims about their rights, guiding them through the complexities of the US criminal justice and human service systems, making appropriate referrals, and providing emotional support, Noora helps victims move towards self-sufficiency and focus on their recovery.

Detective Stewart

I am a certified Police Officer in the state of Utah and have been with the Weber County Sheriff’s for 9 years. My current assignment is Internet Crimes Against Children as a Detective in the Investigations Bureau. During my time at the Sheriff’s Office, I have been part of the Corrections Division and Enforcement Division in the Patrol Bureau. I am currently a member Weber County Homicide Task Force, the Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an affiliate with the Utah Attorney General’s Office and have been part of the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (VFAST) with the United States Marshal Service. I am FIT (Forensic Interview Technique) certified through the Utah CJC Program, allowing me to interview children who have been victims of crime. I also maintain a certification as a Cellebrite Certified Operator and Cellebrite Physical Analyst. With these certifications, I utilize Cellebrite technology to forensically image electronic devices and review the data obtained during the process. My primary responsibility at the Sheriff’s Office is to investigate all crimes involving children over the internet. During my time as a detective, I have also been part of the Major Crimes Unit and have served as an SVU detective investigating hands-on offenses against children.

Corporal Leon

With 15 years of dedicated law enforcement experience, I am currently certified as a law enforcement officer and hold the rank of Corporal with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, where I have been employed since 2016. I am currently assigned as a detective in Child Crimes within the Special Victims Unit (SVU), a member of the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Team (VFAST), as well as a member of the Weber County Homicide Task Force and the Weber County Cold Case Unit. I also have significant experience in investigating a variety of crimes, having previously served as a detective in the Major Crimes Unit. In addition to my investigative roles, I am certified in Forensic Interview Techniques (FIT) through the Utah Children's Justice Center (CJC) program. As a fluent Spanish speaker, I have an agreement with the CJC to provide all translations for Spanish-speaking child victims, ensuring that they receive accurate and sensitive communication during their interviews. Throughout my career, I have held several specialized assignments, including SWAT, K9, and serving as an instructor for our public order unit. Prior to joining Weber County, I served with the Salt Lake City Airport Police Department and the Layton City Police Department, where I gained a wide range of law enforcement skills and experience.

Anna Kosloski

Anna Kosloski (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Service and serves as the Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and a Presidential Teaching Scholar within the University of Colorado. Her research is focused on the intersections of gender, violence, and crime. In this capacity, she conducts research on sex trafficking, the commercial sex industry, and gender-based violence. Most recently, she has worked with an interdisciplinary team to examine the crime of luring a minor, the role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among those in the commercial sex industry, and familial and intergeneration sex trafficking. Dr. Kosloski’s scholarship has recently been recognized in Women & Criminal Justice, Child Abuse & Neglect, and the Journal of Criminal Justice. She is currently part of three research teams collaborating on federally funded research projects.

Sergeant McDade

Sergeant Molly McDade began her career with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in July of 1995. As the current Jail Human Trafficking Sergeant, she documents trends, tattoos and discusses relationships with suspected traffickers and victims of sex trafficking in addition to gathering, processing, analyzing and disseminating jail intelligence. She has partnered with IT to develop a robust Human Trafficking Specific intelligence and information sharing relational database.

Molly is on a number of committees & task forces in the State of Oregon. Molly was appointed through June 2025 to the Oregon Department of Justice Trafficking Intervention Advisory Committee and in 2022 sworn in as a Special Deputy on the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF).

By mentoring and managing college interns to assist in data entry of raw information Molly has enlisted over 24,000 Intern hours since 2015. She is the 2017 & 2022 recipient of the Outstanding Community Mentor Award for the Criminology Department at Portland State University, 2017 Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office – Citation for her leadership in identifying emerging trends in human trafficking, 2018 Portland Police Bureau Award Recipient for dedication to the PPB’s Sex Trafficking Unit and Unit Commendation, the 2018 Western States Information Network (WSIN) Agency of the Year Award, for Oregon Region 1 and the 2019 HERO Award for anti-trafficking nonprofit In Our Back Yard.

As a volunteer Molly is a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate for the Multnomah County DA's Office since 2012, board member for In Our Backyard (IOB) and a Royal Rosarian. She is the mother and Grandmother and a fifth generation Oregonian and has been cited in historical books based on the Oregon Trail. She is the keeper of five original letters from her Great, Great Grandmother who traveled as an independent woman to Oregon in 1852.

Miiko Anderson

Miiko Anderson is an Attorney Advisor at AEquitas, where she brings her expertise in trauma-informed responses to human trafficking and gender-based violence. She served as a Senior Prosecuting Attorney in Fresno County, California for 16 years before joining AEquitas. She is also a board-certified Criminal Specialist in the State of California. This certification is awarded by the State Bar of California to lawyers who have proven their exceptional expertise in criminal law through experience, education and examination.

As a mentor and consultant for fellow attorneys, Miiko has guided them in complex criminal cases and contributed to legal education through workshops and courses. In Fresno, she specialized in prosecuting gang violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Miiko has taken complex cases to jury trial and gained convictions and lengthy sentences on some of her jurisdiction's most violent offenders. Her expertise in the evidence code and resourcefulness allowed her to deliver a clear and vivid account of the facts to the jury during the trial, even in the absence of material witnesses or victims.

Miiko is an internationally recognized subject matter expert in human trafficking and gender-based violent crimes who has received specialized training from the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Homeland Security. She has also served as a Post-Certified Instructor, providing training to law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions.

In addition to her work at AEquitas, Miiko is an adjunct law professor, President of the Black Lawyers Association of Central California, and Vice President on the Board of Directors of Breaking the Chains, a nonprofit that provides resources to survivors of human trafficking. She has earned various awards for her dedication and efforts toward addressing important issues. One of her most significant achievements is receiving the prestigious Suzanne McDaniel Congressional Award from the Crime Survivor and Justice Caucus in April 2023.

Miiko attended law school as a single parent of two children, graduating in the top 15% of her class and receiving multiple academic awards. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, and traveling.

Rebecca Bender

Born with tenacity and an entrepreneurial spirit, Rebecca believes that we are all more than the bad things that have happened in our lives. After escaping her trafficker in 2007, Rebecca was determined to make a new life for herself and her young daughter. She worked hard, eventually opening her own business and earning a Master’s degree. While she was attending college online, Rebecca dreamed of launching a school for survivors of human trafficking - a place where anyone with lived experience could enroll and learn the skills and knowledge necessary to build a new life. In 2014, Elevate Academy was born and within ten years had served over 1600 students in 22 countries and over 600 U.S. cities across the nation. This innovative online school is thriving today and remains a place where survivors continue to connect, grow, and find tools to ignite their futures.

Rebecca is a CEO and a published author and award-winning activist who has earned a distinct reputation as a trailblazer in the field. Her specialized trainings have equipped well over 118,000 professionals including FBI, Homeland Security, undercover academies, local law enforcement, community leaders, medical professionals, and more. An award-winning thought leader, Rebecca was appointed by the U.S. Attorney General to the United States National Advisory Council and served as the advisor to Homeland Security’s National Human Trafficking Curriculum. She serves as an advisor to some of our nation’s largest nonprofits and government agencies. She assists as a subject matter expert for investigations and operations across the country, and is regularly called upon to testify as an expert witness in trial. Rebecca is a highly sought-after speaker, consultant, and nationally recognized authority who is passionate about seeing people transform their lives so they can change the world.

When she’s not traveling and leading her team, you’ll find her on the sidelines or in the audience cheering for her four daughters, listening to true-crime podcasts, or working on her next manuscript by the pool.

Sarah Chau

Sarah Chau is the Outreach and Education Coordinator with the Human Trafficking Support (HTS) Program at the Asian Association of Utah. Sarah oversees the operations of HTS’s weekly drop-in center and the programs statewide outreach. In addition, she organizes and leads HTS’s human trafficking education and awareness efforts by presenting on human trafficking, its prevalence in the state of Utah, and how to best support survivors. Sarah has been with the Asian Association of Utah since June of 2022 where she started off as a case manager primarily working with survivors of sex trafficking. In their free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with friends, reading books, and finding different ways to be creative

Anthony Paco

Anthony Paco Bernaola is the Program Coordinator and Survivor Leader for the Human Trafficking Support (HTS) Program at the Asian Association of Utah (AAU). In this role, he leads a team of case managers, offers support on grant compliance and program development. Anthony is committed to applying trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches to support survivors and to advancing anti-trafficking efforts, with a focus on labor trafficking survivors and often-overlooked male survivors.

In addition to his work at AAU, Anthony serves on the Survivor Advisory Board for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, is a Harriet Tubman Fellow by the Human Trafficking Legal Center (2024-2026), and a consultant for Framework by the IRC. Drawing on both personal experience and professional expertise, he consults on direct services to enhance survivor support systems. Anthony is passionate about creating sustainable solutions that empower survivors, improve service delivery, and promote long-term healing and self-sufficiency.

Debra Rush

Debra Rush is a powerhouse in the fight against human trafficking. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Breaking the Chains, a leading organization that provides life-changing housing and trauma recovery services to survivors and most recently has founded Kendra’s Cause, an organization inspired by the tragic murder of her own daughter, Kendra. With over 15 years of experience as an advocate, case manager, and alcohol and drug counselor, Debra is a recognized trailblazer in trauma-informed care. As a survivor herself, she brings unparalleled passion and insight to her work, making her a highly sought-after speaker and inspiring author.

Debra’s expertise doesn’t stop there—she’s a certified trainer for the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), where she helps law enforcement across the state understand the complexities of trauma. Armed with degrees in Human Services and Business, she’s currently pursuing her M.P.A. and holds the title of Certified Trauma Professional.

Her leadership and dedication have earned her prestigious awards like the California State Assembly Woman of the Year and the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. When she’s not transforming lives through Breaking the Chains and Kendra’s Cause, Debra is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother, and an active member of professional organizations like the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Council.

Debra’s journey is a testament to resilience and hope, inspiring everyone around her to believe in the power of change.