Rhonelle Bruder

Bio

Rhonelle Bruder is a 2024 Teaching Fellow at Harvard University's Department of Sociology and a Ph.D. Candidate in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, possesses a diverse educational background. She holds a Master's in Health Informatics from the University of Victoria and an Honours Bachelor's in Health Services Administration from New York City College of Technology.

Her research focus, explored in her dissertation, delves into the experiences and healthcare interactions of formally sex-trafficked women. Beyond academia, Rhonelle is deeply committed to bridging the gap between academic knowledge and community needs. Her passion lies in developing innovative approaches to foster healing and health for those affected by trauma.

Drawing from her own life experiences, including overcoming youth homelessness, sexual exploitation, and trafficking, Rhonelle utilizes her firsthand knowledge to create survivor-centered and trauma-informed programming. She has provided training and technical assistance and shared her expertise with over 30,000 individuals, including professionals in healthcare, law enforcement, government agencies, and institutions such as Northeastern University, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the University of Toronto.

Before embarking on her doctoral studies, Rhonelle founded and served as the Executive Director of Project iRISE, a community-based anti-trafficking organization. Through this initiative, she provided crucial support to women affected by sex trafficking, offering services such as branding tattoo removal, vocational skills building, and mutual support. Rhonelle also plays an active role on the Board of Directors at HEAL Trafficking.

In addition to her research and advocacy efforts, Rhonelle is a sought-after consultant, bringing extensive expertise in program evaluation, public speaking, leadership development, curriculum design, and program planning to various contexts.