Speaker Profiles

Bryan Muehlberger founded The GracieStrong Foundation (www.graciestrong.org) in honor and memory of his daughter, Gracie Anne Muehlberger, who was tragically killed at the young age of 15 in the November 14, 2019 Saugus High School mass shooting. The Foundation’s mission is to empower youth to find their voice and purpose, aiming to prevent violence by building confidence and fostering positive change. Bryan’s advocacy for youth empowerment reflects his commitment to preventing future tragedies. He also serves on the advisory board for the Violence Prevention Project Research Center, where he contributes his knowledge, passion, and experience to inform our research initiatives.

Nicole Hockley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence through educational programs and advocacy. After losing her son Dylan in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, Nicole became a leading voice in the fight against gun violence. She has spearheaded the development of initiatives like the Know The Signs programs, which focus on early intervention and community education. Under her leadership, these programs have expanded significantly, aiming to prevent violence before it occurs. Nicole’s work integrates community-based strategies and public advocacy, and she serves on the advisory board for the Violence Prevention Project Research Center, contributing her expertise to advance the Center’s mission.

David Riedman founded and directs the K-12 School Shooting Database, which provides comprehensive tracking and analysis of school shooting incidents. His database offers critical insights into patterns and trends of gun violence in educational settings, supporting the development of targeted prevention strategies. David’s work emphasizes the need for accurate data to inform effective violence prevention measures and contributes to a deeper understanding of school violence. He is also an assistant professor at Idaho State University. As a data scientist, he collaborates with Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley on research initiatives and serves on the advisory board for the Violence Prevention Project Research Center (VPPRC), where he helps guide strategic efforts.

Rudy Perez is the President of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and serves as the Assistant Chief of Police for the Golden Valley Police Department. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Rudy has a career spanning over two decades, including 23 years with the Los Angeles School Police Department. He has been instrumental in developing and implementing comprehensive safety protocols and training programs for school resource officers. His work focuses on enhancing school safety through effective law enforcement strategies and community collaboration. In addition to his leadership at NASRO, Rudy is actively involved with the California Coalition of Law Enforcement, representing thousands of police officers across the state, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council, where he plays a significant role in shaping national school safety initiatives.

David Pyrooz is a Professor of Sociology and Interim Director of the Prevention Science Program at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in community violence, gangs, and criminal justice policy. His research offers critical insights into gang dynamics and broader community violence, contributing to a deeper understanding of these issues. David’s extensive academic work and publications support evidence-based approaches to violence prevention and intervention. His expertise is instrumental in shaping discussions on effective strategies to address violence through sociological research.

Rob Doar serves as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, where his work focuses on public safety and firearms policy. With over 15 years of experience as a citizen activist and lobbyist, Doar has been involved in legislative efforts concerning gun rights and public safety at the Minnesota Capitol. He has contributed to the development of policies that address the intersection of Second Amendment rights and public safety concerns, offering testimony and strategic guidance on these issues. His work frequently involves collaboration with other organizations on matters of public safety and participation in public safety policy discussions. Doar's academic background includes Mitchell-Hamline School of Law, a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bemidji State University, A.S. in Law Enforcement, and a certificate in Public Safety Leadership from Century College.

Megan Walsh is a Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and the Director of the Gun Violence Prevention Law Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School. Her role underscores the intersection of law and public safety in addressing gun violence through strategic legal advocacy. She supervises Clinic students in litigation to advance gun violence prevention through the court system and in defending Minnesota gun laws against constitutional challenges. She also writes and teaches on the Second Amendment, with a focus on the intersection of domestic violence and gun violence.

Stefan Gingerich is a Senior Epidemiologist with the Injury and Violence Prevention Section at the Minnesota Department of Health. He serves as co-principal investigator on the Minnesota Violent Death Reporting System, where he analyzes the epidemiology of suicide, homicide, and firearm violence. Stefan’s work is crucial for understanding and addressing violent deaths through comprehensive data analysis. Prior to his current role, he worked as a public health microbiologist at the University Hygienic Laboratory in Iowa and as a senior research analyst for StayWell, where he focused on best practices in employee health management. His extensive experience in public health research and data analysis informs violence prevention strategies and public safety policies.

Angela Davis is the host of MPR News with Angela Davis, a weekday talk show that engages listeners in discussions about critical issues such as racial disparities, economic challenges, education, and mental health. With over 25 years of experience in television reporting and anchoring, she joined MPR News in 2018, following a distinguished career at WCCO-TV and KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities, as well as CNN in Atlanta and various local stations across the country. Angela’s award-winning work includes five regional Emmy awards and a Gracie Award for her contributions to public media. A graduate of the University of Maryland, she is also dedicated to mentoring young journalists and actively participates in community events throughout Minnesota.

Justin Terrell is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, where he is dedicated to transforming the criminal legal system through leadership development, racial equity, and systemic change. His work includes advocating for impactful policies such as the Ban the Box initiative, which improves reentry opportunities and addresses recidivism. As a longtime advocate, Justin focuses on bringing diverse groups together, identifying shared values, and building pathways for change. His commitment to violence prevention is reflected in his efforts to develop comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of violence and promote equitable justice practices.

Lisa Geller, MPH, is the Senior Advisor for Implementation at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and Co-Lead of the National ERPO Resource Center. Her work focuses on advancing evidence-based gun violence prevention policies, including extreme risk protection orders and domestic violence protective orders. As Co-Lead, Lisa provides training and technical assistance to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, clinicians, and community organizations involved in the ERPO process. She also serves as a mayoral appointee on the District of Columbia's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Lisa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Injury and Violence Prevention from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.