Our Staff
Taryn Henning
[she, her]
Director
taryn.henning@uky.edu
About:
"Coming from a background in youth and young adult development, anti-sexual violence, and community engagement, I am very excited to be able to serve the UK community in my role as VIP’s Director. It is incredibly important to me that my work be carried out through an intersectional lens and with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and I work to bring all of that into my professional and personal lives. When not working, I enjoy reading young adult fiction, cooking (and eating), and traveling. Please feel free to stop by the office to say hello!"
Words that inspire:
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” - Lilla Watson
Lenzi Dodgen
[she, her]
Survivor Advocate
lenzi.dodgen@uky.edu
About:
“I was originally born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved to Lexington, KY at 5 years old to set roots with my family. I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Social Work. I have spent several years practicing in the community with at-risk children, families, and individuals, by providing support and advocacy. I have a sincere passion for working with vulnerable populations to combat gender-based violence and empowering individuals to become the best version of themselves. I feel the VIP Center is the perfect fit for my strengths and practices to push the social paradigm towards equity and social justice. In my free time, I enjoy my family, my dog, and volunteering in the community in different capacities.”
Rebecca Mattingly
[she, her]
Survivor Advocate
becca.mattingly@uky.edu
About:
I am excited to be at VIP because I love listening to and encouraging people – as an advocate I get to do that for my job! I feel honored to be able to walk alongside someone as they navigate and overcome challenges. Plus - survivors are some of my favorite people because they are resilient, insightful, and almost always hilarious in some way (humor is a great coping skill). I come from community non-profit work where I developed group programming for survivors of sexual violence. I am excited to join the UK community and hope to continue to develop and strengthen the VIP's collaborations with other campus partners.
Words that inspire:
“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher
Sonja McGuire
[she, her]
Staff Support Associate
sonja.mcguire@uky.edu
About:
I have worked in administrative positions for more than 25 years. I became interested in advocacy and community engagement after attending at several On the Table public conversation sessions. I learned some data regarding the intersection of survivors by organizations whose services are centered around supporting survivors. I volunteered with Ampersand for a short time which exposed me to the language of advocates and supporters. I am eagerly looking forward to learning more about shifting the culture. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, book clubs, house tours and spending time with my family and friends.
Words that inspire:
"Challenging power structures from the inside, working the cracks within the system, however, requires learning to speak multiples language of power convincingly." Dr. Patricia Hill Collins