Introducing the 2026 Practitioner Insights Speakers

This summer, SHECP is welcoming four practitioners who work to address varying causes and consequences of poverty, in widely differing roles, as part of the 2026 Practitioner Insights event series. These events are open to interns participating in poverty-related internships through SHECP Member Schools.

The Practitioner Insights series provides an opportunity for summer interns and all members of the SHECP community to hear from innovative and dynamic leaders doing anti-poverty work. In addition to sharing how their agencies are trying innovative solutions to address poverty in their community, speakers are invited to reflect on their career path, how they have found ways to maintain hope in the face of potential burnout, and provide advice to the current interns who are just beginning their own professional journeys.

This series of Practitioner Insights will open with Sam Wilmoth, Senior Manager of Consulting for RAINN. Throughout his career, Sam has worked directly with survivors of sexual violence, whether that is in a psychiatric intensive care unit, a Title IX hotline, or in a formal resolution process. Sam also pursues ways to aid survivors on a larger scale. Together with professionals around the state, he has been an integral part of policy development in West Virginia involving survivor access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). He has also engaged in policy writing and review regarding child safety, Title IX, and sexual misconduct prevention for a variety of institutions. Sam is passionate about crafting educational and policy interventions to help survivors of violence, and he has continued that work at his current position with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

Sam earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from West Virginia University and a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Washington and Lee University in 2007. He serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for his local rape crisis center.

The next practitioner insights guest is Ryan Wolfe, a lawyer, a previous public defender (Los Angeles and Missouri), and co-founder of ZLS.app. Ryan served as a public defender for over 11 years in Los Angeles and St. Louis. He has handled dozens of jury trials and juvenile adjudications. In 2016, he was recognized by his colleagues as Misdemeanor Attorney of the Year. During his tenure in Los Angeles, Ryan played a key role in advancing technology within the office, including serving on the steering committee responsible for implementing the agency’s case management system. He was also selected to be a trainer for newly hired public defenders in Los Angeles County. He is continuing his advocacy for indigent clients through contract appointments in St. Louis.

Ryan earned his law degree from USC, where he received multiple honors, including the Public Interest Law Foundation Student of the Year and the Mason C. Brown Award for trial advocacy and commitment to public service. Before law school, Ryan began his professional journey in technology, first leading a seven-person development team at a small business, then moving on to implement enterprise-level systems at one of the largest mutual fund companies in the world.

He also served as the chair of the board of directors at St. Joseph Center, a leading Los Angeles-based social service agency with a $50 million annual budget and over 300 staff, focused on empowering the homeless and working poor.

Following Wolfe will be a session with LaToya Scott, Residential Director at Tharros Place, Home for Survivors of Human Trafficking. LaToya is a dynamic and purpose-driven leader with more than 15 years of experience in human and social services, dedicated to empowering vulnerable populations through advocacy, education, and compassionate care. As a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), she has built a career centered on improving outcomes for youth, families, and underserved communities through trauma-informed and person-centered practices.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice from Armstrong Atlantic State University and her Master of Social Work from Savannah State University. Throughout her career, LaToya has successfully led shelter operations, strengthened organizational policies and procedures, supported accreditation initiatives, and developed impactful staff training programs focused on safety, emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and quality care.

LaToya’s extensive work with nonprofit youth residential organizations has fueled her passion for serving abused and neglected youth, including those with developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and complex trauma histories. She is guided by the belief that healing from trauma is a journey with no expiration date.

Beyond her professional work, LaToya is deeply committed to leadership and service in her community. She serves as Praise & Worship Leader at Empowerment City Church and is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She is also a graduate of the Step-Up Savannah Neighborhood Leadership Academy and the United Way of the Coastal Empire BIPOC Nonprofit Leadership Symposium. Known for her energy, resilience, and heart for service, LaToya brings excellence to every space she enters while balancing her love for family, music, community engagement, and supporting her son in his extracurricular activities.

To close out the summer, SHECP will be joined by Greta Nelson, Dental Coordinator for WV Health Right. Greta began working for WV Health Right in ​2017 as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), serving primarily on the mobile dental unit since its inception. She obtained her Dental Hygiene degree from West Virginia University of Technology. Along with her degree, she holds a public health permit, and she’s also the Chair of the WV Oral Health Coalition. She has been the lead dental hygienist in the WV Health Right mobile dental clinic and has represented them at various events and conferences over the years. She was recently promoted to Dental Clinic Coordinator for WV Health Right in July of 2023, where she will oversee both the on-site and mobile dental clinic programs.

For more information on any of SHECP's virtual events, email us at info@shepherdconsortium.org.