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. The Military Rape Crisis Center is now the largest organization in the nation offering direct services to survivors of military sexual trauma.

Panayiota has worked extensively on issues pertaining to women veterans including serving as the Coordinator for Women Veterans for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since leaving the Coast Guard Panayiota traveled throughout five continents, to over 20 countries and around the United States speaking about her rape and working with local organizations on issues pertaining to violence against women.

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. She is currently working throughout the U.S with survivors of Military Sexual Assault.

more on Panayiota

Panayiota can be reached at panayiota@stopmilitaryrape.org or 802-578-4769