About the center
Photo to come The finished waiting room, shot wide from the check-in desk, with the seal on the wall and every chair in frame
Our mission
We are Iowa’s experts in delivering coordinated, comprehensive, and compassionate care to survivors of sexual assault through clinical care, client support, and education.
Why, how, and now
The why
Where you lived in Iowa used to decide whether you could reach a nurse trained to care for you after an assault. This center exists to change that.
The how: a center of excellence
A hub in Des Moines sets the standard, trains the nurses, and supports local sites across Iowa, so expert care is close to home.
The now: bring it to your county
Some counties are ready to stop sending survivors hours away. If yours is, we will walk you through what a local site takes.
Our leadership and board
Shannon Knudsen
Executive Director and Founder, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P
She serves as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator for both the Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and the Iowa State University/Story County SART, overseeing coordinated forensic care across eleven exam sites and leading policy development, quality assurance, and SANE education.
Board of directors
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Mike Halverson
Chair. Criminalist Supervisor, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation
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Annie von Gillern
Vice Chair. Clinical and forensic social worker and attorney
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Alice Wisner
Secretary and Treasurer
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Maria Alonzo
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate
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Jeri Babb
Hospital Director of Emergency Services, Registered Nurse (Retired), MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center
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Jason Egge
Vice President, BTC Financial Services, Bankers Trust
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Matt Nuetzman
Senior HR & Business Solutions Consultant, Paychex
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Michael Ferjak
Public Safety and Law Enforcement Professional
The letters that built it
Health systems, law enforcement, advocates, and community organizations wrote in support of this center before it opened.
- Ankeny Police Department
- Central Iowa Trauma Recovery Center
- Hancock County Sheriff
- Lighthouse Foundation
- Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team
- Polk County Board of Supervisors
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office
- Spencer Hospital
- Urbandale Police Department
- West Des Moines Police Department
- Winterset Police Department
Tap a name to read the letter.
