Meet the Team

Laura Bennett is currently the Title IX Coordinator/Managing Director of Title IX Compliance where she oversees the university’s prevention and response to sexual misconduct. She has worked at colleges and universities across the U.S. for over 25 years in residential life, student conduct, threat assessment, and Title IX. She has worked at a variety of institutional types, including Colorado College, the University of California at Berkeley, and Harper College. She is also a frequent consultant, speaker, presenter, and author on Title IX compliance, sexual violence, investigative techniques, trauma-informed care, threat assessment and management, student conduct, and campus safety. Laura earned her master’s degree in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University, her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Kansas, and is currently working on completing her PhD in Criminal Justice.

Laura is a Past President of the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) and is a member of the Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP). Laura has advocated for effective Title IX compliance and response to sexual violence through dialogues with the Office on Violence Against Women, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, White House Advisors on Violence Against Women, the American Bar Association, U.S. Senators’ and Representatives’ staff, Counsel to the Vice President of the United States, members of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, and others.

Shannel Zambrana serves as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator & Senior Title IX Investigator at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work from Florida International University (FIU) and brings over a decade of experience in advocacy, trauma-informed care, and intervention services.

Prior to her current role, Shannel worked at the Nancy J. Cotterman Center as a forensic interviewer, providing specialized, trauma-informed support to vulnerable children and adults who experienced abuse, neglect, or trafficking. Her responsibilities included conducting sensitive interviews in a safe environment to assist investigations and connect individuals with critical resources and services.

Her background also includes working with juvenile offenders through a diversion program serving youth with a wide range of needs and experiences from first-time arrests to more serious delinquency histories and behavioral health challenges. In that role, she provided therapeutic and supportive services addressing the behavioral and emotional needs of youth and their families, while implementing restorative justice practices, managing case services, and coordinating youth development programs, all aimed at reducing risk factors and promoting long-term well-being. Throughout her career, Shannel has remained deeply committed to prevention and education, firmly believing that prevention is key to creating safe and equitable communities.

Samantha Giordano serves as the Title IX Case Manager & Sexual Violence Prevention Educator. She holds a bachelor's in criminal justice and a master's in communication from Lynn University. As the Title IX Case Manager and Sexual Violence Prevention Educator at NSU, Samantha focuses on advocating for the prevention and awareness of sexual misconduct. She actively conducts outreach within NSU’s community to ensure that students and faculty are well-informed about the resources and support available through Title IX. She also manages cases related to academic modifications for pregnant and parenting students and oversees the Title IX Ambassador Program, where students implement programs, workshops, and trainings aimed at raising awareness and preventing sexual misconduct and intimate partner violence.

Prior to her current role, Samantha worked in the Office of Admission at Lynn University, where she supervised a team of over 100 student ambassadors, managing their recruitment, hiring, and training. In this role, she developed a mentorship program, created internship opportunities for lead ambassadors, and provided work experiences for students from around the world. She also gained experience in higher education practices, including recruitment through counselor meetings, travel, and presenting on admissions processes and campus visit programs. Her background additionally includes scheduling, management, and event planning for campus visit operations. Her passion lies in raising awareness and facilitating difficult conversations in educational settings to help students understand and navigate issues surrounding sexual misconduct.