Meet the Team

Libby Thorson, Assistant Director

Libby Thorson-Kahl is the Assistant Director at CARE. She received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration, both from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Throughout her career in higher education, she's been deeply committed to survivor-centered and trauma-informed support that helps survivors feel safe, seen, and empowered to continue their education. She has a background in violence prevention programming, advocacy, crisis management, Title IX administration, case management, and student support services. Libby enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, being in nature, and spending time with their yellow lab, Arya.

Strengths | connectedness, individualization, woo, communication, ideation

Tyleshia Brown, Survivor Advocate, Senior

Tyleshia is a survivor advocate at CARE. She has a bachelor's and master's degree from Washburn University where she has built a foundation rooted in education, leadership, and service. She is guided by the values of integrity, compassion, empathy, and growth. She believes in showing up with honesty, supporting others with care, and always staying open to development. She is passionate about being involved in community groups, where she sees collaboration as a way to spark innovation and build a sense of togetherness. She also values spending time with her loved ones, two dogs, baking something sweet or discovering new places. They are all inspirations to her life.

Strengths | deliberative, futuristic, responsibility, consistency, belief

Jessica Sayler, Survivor Advocate

Jessica Sayler is a Survivor Advocate at CARE. She has received her Bachelor of Arts in History here at K-State and is working towards her BA in Psychology. Her values include supporting others with empathy, showing love, and making others feel included. She believes that staying up to date on current events and maintaining an understanding of different lived experiences are both important parts of advocacy. In her free time, Jessica enjoys being around her partner, listening to music, and cooking.

Strengths | relator, intellection, developer, context, adaptability

Lily, Graduate Student

Lily is a graduate research assistant at CARE. She received her BS in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill and is currently getting her masters in Couples and Family Therapy at K-State. Lily values empathy, compassion, and curiosity. In her free time, she loves to travel and spend time with her friends and family.

Strengths | belief, discipline, strategic, achiever, connectedness

 

Melanie, Student Assistant

Melanie is a senior majoring in Social Work and minoring in Psychology. She plans to become a therapist and work with teens and adults with mental health challenges. Melanie joined the CARE office while working as a student assistant in Student Support and Accountability, because she is passionate about supporting her fellow students and is interested in learning more about advocacy, supporting awareness, and supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Melanie values empathy, compassion, inclusion, and honesty. She enjoys reading, going on little adventures, spending time outdoors,crafting, spending time with loved ones, and watching movies in her spare time. She was recently admitted into Washburn for graduate school and plans to get her Masters degree in Social Work.

Strengths: empathy, creativity, adaptability, consistency, and positivity

Audri, Student Assistant

Audri is a junior majoring in Agricultural Economics and Philosophy with a Pre-Law focus. She joined the CARE office because she's passionate about advocacy and has experience supporting domestic violence and sexual assault awareness through her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. Her goal is to make sure every student knows that CARE is here for them as a supportive space where they can get the resources and information they need to take care of themselves and others. She stays involved on campus through student government, serving as Director of Basic Needs, the Student Health Advisory Committee, and serving as the President of the Women in Agriculture club. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and continue to use her voice to advocate for others.

Strengths | woo, achiever, communication, intellection, adaptability

Sophia, Student Assistant

Sophia graduated from Lago Vista High School in Austin, Texas and is currently majoring in Social Work here at Kansas State University. She has a passion for helping others and hopes to spread awareness of The CARE Center and the support it offers to every student and employee. Sophia values hope, peace, respect, and kindness. She enjoys being a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, playing volleyball, and reading!

Strengths | empathy, adaptability, harmony, relator, and belief

 

Makenzie, Student Assistant

Makenzie is a graduate of Garden City High School and is currently pursuing a degree in athletic training with a focus on psychology. She has a strong interest in understanding how mental and physical health work together, especially in athletic and high-performance environments. Through her studies, she hopes to support athletes by helping them prevent injuries, recover effectively, and maintain overall well-being. In her free time, Makenzie enjoys playing volleyball, fishing, attending concerts, and spending time with friends and family.

Strengths | consistency, developer, positivity, harmony, achiever