Our Executive Director

Panayiota Bertzikis enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 2005 and served at Coast Guard Station Burlington, VT and Coast Guard Boston. While on Active Duty she was repulsed in the way that sexual assault survivors were treated in the United States Coast Guard and founded the Military Rape Crisis Center from her barrack room to offer support and assistance to her fellow shipmates/survivors.

Panayiota has worked extensively on issues pertaining to women veterans including serving as the Coordinator for Women Veterans for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She worked on women issues on four continents. She also worked under contract for a foreign military improving their sexual assault program.

Panayiota graduated summa cum laude in 2009 with a degree in Sociology and Women Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice.  She hold a certification in rape counseling from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

Panayiota awards include:

Peter Vogel Gold Leadership Award (twice)
Peter Vogel Silver Leadership Award
Massachusetts 2010 Unsung Heroine

more on Panayiota

Panayiota can be reached at panayiota@stopmilitaryrape.org