leadership team


THI SYNAVONE - executive Director

Thi Synavone has worked in the domestic and sexual violence field for over 20 years. Thi brings to Standpoint extensive knowledge and experience around providing advocacy to survivors, management of special programs, coordination of events to promote awareness about DV and SV, and facilitation of trainings on varying topics as it relates to DV and SV survivors, in particular topics focusing on victimization of immigrant and refugee populations. Thi graduated from the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s (CALCASA) Leadership Education and Advancement for Professionals (LEAP) in 2015 and has continued to train nationally about Leadership Development for Women of Color. Thi is a graduate from Augsburg College with a dual major in Political Science and Communications and also has a Master’s in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Metropolitan State University. Before transitioning to Executive Director in 2023, Thi was Standpoint’s Director of Organizational & Staff Development.

rana S. Alexander, Esq. - Director of finance

Rana Alexander has worked in the domestic and sexual violence field since 1997. Ms. Alexander joined Standpoint, formerly known as Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP), in 2005. Ms. Alexander served as the Executive Director from
2016-2023. In 2023, Rana transitioned to the Director of Finance for the organization. As an attorney for the statewide organization, she provides legal advice and consultation to domestic and sexual violence victims, advocates and attorneys on legal issues that affect domestic and sexual violence victims. Ms. Alexander also provides training and outreach to attorneys involving issues of domestic and sexual violence and the law. Ms. Alexander is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, and received, with distinction, her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies from Iowa State University.  

Ann m., ESQ. - staff Attorney / SUPERVISING ATTORNEY

Ann joined Standpoint in March 2020. She is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law and has focused her legal work on housing law (landlord/tenant law). Ann has experience in providing legal services to underrepresented individuals, providing advocacy to victims of sexual violence, and training and supporting volunteer attorneys doing housing work. As a housing attorney for Standpoint, Ann provides legal advice and consultation on legal issues affecting victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Raelene Caswell - Housing Advocate / Supervising Advocate

Raelene (she/her) began her work as an advocate in 2009. She has focused on housing stabilization, crisis intervention, shelter work, hospital-based advocacy, program development, and volunteer management. She is passionate about promoting the wellness and resiliency of advocates in the field.

 

staff

ana maria studer – advocacy support program manager

Ana Maria joined Standpoint in October of 2022. She has worked in the domestic violence field since 2006, providing advocacy to victims/survivors from various demographic groups. She has extensive experience in shelter, legal, and community outreach advocacy. Ana Maria was also the Manager of Community Services for a domestic violence organization, overseeing the Criminal Justice, Housing, On-Scene, and Prevention and Education programs. Prior to moving to the United States in 1991, Ana Maria worked as a Family doctor in Venezuela. She has a medical doctor degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela, and did her specialization in Family Medicine. 

Elli Vega – Underserved Populations Support Advocate

Elli (she/her) joined Standpoint in March 2023. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hamline University with a dual major in Women’s Studies and Legal Studies, and a Psychology minor. She also earned her paralegal certificate in 2020. She has experience providing criminal and civil legal advocacy to victims of violence, as well as sexual violence crisis advocacy. Elli has a passion for improving equitable access to resources and advocacy.

MADELINE NELSON – LEGAL ADVOCATE

Madeline (she/her) joined Standpoint’s team in October of 2022. She comes from St. Louis County where she began her work in the field of domestic violence in 2016. Her primary experience is in providing civil and criminal legal advocacy to victim-survivors from within both a shelter and resource center setting. In her prior role, Madeline served on a team within a police department assisting in the facilitation of a coordinated community response to DV related crimes. She is affiliated through board and committee service with nonprofits in northern Minnesota whose missions involve reproductive justice, gender affirming healthcare, and expanding access to affordable housing. Madeline has a Master’s in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and received her bachelor’s in Communications with a minor in Women’s Studies.


LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) TEAM

Michelina Lucia – LAV Project AttorneY

Michelina (she/her) joined the Standpoint team in February 2023. Michelina graduated from law school at the University of Minnesota Law School where she served as the Lead Outside Articles Editor for the Journal of Law and Inequality and where she represented parents as a Certified Student Attorney through the Indian Child Welfare Act Law Center. Michelina has helped domestic and sexual violence survivors in the private, public, and nonprofit contexts since 2015. Directly after graduation, Michelina clerked for Judges Thomas M. Fitzpatrick and Jennifer L. Stanfield in Anoka County. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies with a minor in Psychology from Hamline University. As a staff attorney, Michelina provides trauma-informed advice and representation to sexual violence survivors and their advocates on matters involving non-intimate partner sexual violence including but not limited to: Title IX, employment, family, housing, immigration, and others. 

raschon simmons – LAV Legal Advocate

Raschon (she/her) has worked in Domestic and Sexual violence advocacy since 2016. Raschon’s work has included crisis intervention, outreach, and legal advocacy. Raschon was previously an advocate inside of a police department where she helped to build protocols and strengthen relationships. During her time as an advocate within a police department Raschon was part of the domestic abuse response team in Minneapolis where she provided on scene advocacy to survivors. Raschon received her Bachelors in Human Services with a minor in Psychology from Mount Marty College.

sam irvin – LAV LEGAL ADVOCATE

Sam (she/her) joined Standpoint in June 2023 and has been working in domestic violence since 2021. Sam has focused on civil and criminal legal advocacy and crisis intervention for victim-survivors. In her previous role, Sam was embedded in various police departments across Hennepin County and was active on committees working for criminal/civil justice system change. Sam also was previously involved in a program which provided pro bono legal representation for protection orders, providing communication between advocates and attorneys. Sam graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Political Science.


Housing Team

Ann m., ESQ. - staff Attorney / SUPERVISING ATTORNEY

Ann joined Standpoint in March 2020. She is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law and has focused her legal work on housing law (landlord/tenant law). Ann has experience in providing legal services to underrepresented individuals, providing advocacy to victims of sexual violence, and training and supporting volunteer attorneys doing housing work. As a housing attorney for Standpoint, Ann provides legal advice and consultation on legal issues affecting victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Raelene Caswell - Housing Advocate / Supervising advocate

Raelene (she/her) began her work as an advocate in 2009. She has focused on housing stabilization, crisis intervention, shelter work, hospital-based advocacy, program development, and volunteer management. She is passionate about promoting the wellness and resiliency of advocates in the field.