Soulful Presence Staff

Marcie Davis is the Founder and Executive Director of Soulful Presence. Marcie has over twenty years of experience working in local, state, federal, and tribal program design, management, research and evaluation, specializing in criminal justice, public health, education, and other human service issues. She has broad based experience designing programs and conducting innovative research and evaluation studies for a diverse spectrum of clients in both the public and private sector. Marcie is a writer, public speaker, and an advocate. She is the co-author of the award winning Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook and the host of Working Like Dogs on www.petliferadio.com. She holds a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree of Management in Organizational Leadership. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her tireless advocacy on behalf of individuals who can not advocate for themselves. Marcie is accompanied by her service dog, Whistle.

Katie Bridgewater has extensive experience in researching and planning public health related projects and events with both government and non-profit organizations. She served as Executive Director of the Family Strengths Network and as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the University of California at Santa Barbara. She has extensive experience developing training programs that serve individuals with disabilities. Katie earned a bachelor of arts degree from Eastern Washington University.

Jessica Jensen joined Soulful Presence in early 2008. She holds a B.B.A. in Marketing and Accounting Management from the University of New Mexico and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Sociology at New Mexico State University. Her intellectual interests include: economic globalization, world development, social movements, fair trade, and sustainability. In her free time she enjoys traveling and skiing. Ms. Jensen is certified to teach English as foreign language (TEFL) and has two years of experience teaching English in Prague. Ms. Jensen is a member of the Society for Community Research and Action, American Evaluation Association, and the Pacific Sociological Society.

Jenny Sanborn has 15 years of experience working in sustainable community development in Latin America and the U.S. She has worked and traveled extensively throughout Mexico and Central America. As the International Program Director for Coffee Kids, Ms. Sanborn implemented participant-driven projects, facilitated international exchanges, and developed collaborative working relationships with local women’s organizations. She also provides bilingual violence prevention and personal safety trainings to at-risk populations as an instructor for IMPACT Personal Safety. Ms. Sanborn has been engaged in public speaking, teaching, group facilitation, and professional trainings for more than ten years. Ms. Sanborn holds a Master’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College. She has also completed a TESOL certificate and the SIT Graduate Institute.

Scott Modell, Ph.D. is a Professor and Director of the Autism Center for Excellence at California State University, Sacramento. He is an expert in disability etiology, characteristics, interview techniques, and abuse. He has over 100 refereed published articles and abstracts presented at state, national and international conferences on disability related issues. Dr. Modell’s current research focus is on autism and dependent adults and their interactions with the criminal justice system. He has been an invited speaker for a number of conferences for law enforcement throughout the country. He currently consults with multiple law enforcement agencies regarding dependent adult abuse and as an expert witness. Dr. Modell has taught for the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA), National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission and the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). He has received national recognition for his work in the area of interview techniques for individuals with developmental disabilities. Dr. Modell is also a Core Advisory Team Member on Training Grants to Stop Abuse and Sexual Assault of Older Individuals or Individuals with Disabilities for the CDAA and is a member of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Think Tank: Abuse of Victims with Disabilities. In addition to his scholarship, Dr. Modell is widely recognized at the local, state, and national level for the provision of community-based services for individuals with disabilities. Through his community-based programs and public school consulting, Dr. Modell has worked with thousands of children and adults with disabilities. He is well recognized in his community and throughout the country for his expertise, passion, and quality programs.