Team Members

Research Lab Director

Dr. Laura A. Dean (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Millikin University. With over a decade of experience researching human trafficking, Dr. Dean is an internationally recognized expert on human trafficking giving talks around the world on this topic and consulting with BBC News and Dutch Radio. She began researching this issue as a Fulbright research fellow to Latvia where she conducted research and acquired practical knowledge on human trafficking at the Resource Centre for Women Marta, the leading women’s non-governmental organization and rehabilitation center for trafficking victims. In 2012-2013 she spent 15 months conducting fieldwork in Ukraine, Latvia, and Russia on human trafficking policy approaches in Eurasia. Dr. Dean was appointed to the Governor’s Office for Children and Families’ Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Task Force in Georgia from 2015-2017. Currently she serves as the co-chair of the research subcommittee on the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force and as a member of the advocacy and policy workgroup on the Illinois Task Force on Human Trafficking. She speaks Latvian, Russian, and is constantly trying to improve her Ukrainian.

Research Lab Assistants

Akeila McNeal Spring 2025

Akeila McNeal (she/her) is a fourth-year political science major with a minor in criminal justice from Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Millikin University in May 2025, Akeila plans to work at the juvenile delinquency detention center in Chicago and would like to attend law school in 2026. In addition to pursuing a law degree with the aim of becoming a judge, she also wants to start various programs for juveniles in detention centers. These programs will provide youth with knowledgeable life skills and employment opportunities so they may have better opportunities in life. Akeila wants to dedicate her life to helping and providing support to people in low-income communities. 

Maggie Schrage Summer 2024- Spring 2025

Maggie Schrage (she/her) is a third-year Political Science and Philosophy double major with a criminal justice minor from Breese, Illinois, a small town located in Southern Illinois. She intends to attend law school with an emphasis in Constitutional Law after completing her undergraduate degree at Millikin University. The objective of her law degree is to represent marginalized and underrepresented communities in which she plans to work as a public defender in low socioeconomic areas of the United States. Her true passions fall into US politics, and she wishes to one day be an elected official on the local, state, or federal levels of government. She is honored to be a part of the research team in the lab and hopefully one day will be able to apply the team’s research into progressive legislation for survivors of trafficking and work exploitation.

Diana Terneus Spring – Fall 2024

Diana Terneus (she/her) graduated from Millikin University in 2024 with a Human Services major and Psychology minor. She is originally from Macon, Illinois, and has been a resident in Decatur, Illinois for over 25 years. After graduating, she hopes to attend graduate school where she will earn a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Therapy, and eventually a Ph.D. in Psychology. Diana believes that, as a professional in human services, it is her duty to advocate for marginalized populations and those living in isolation. She looks forward to learning more about human trafficking and developing the skills it takes to spread awareness and educate community members who are in positions to assist trafficked individuals or report suspected offenses. She is interested in researching in the human trafficking lab, as data collected will help with government funding and policies to combat atrocities against populations vulnerable to trafficking. Diana was the seventh student to work in the Human Trafficking Research Lab and she works as a Counselor at Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center in Decatur, Illinois.

Aliyah Houston Spring 2024

Aliyah Houston (she/her) is a first-year political science student at Millikin University. Born in Chicago, raised in Decatur Illinois. After graduation she hopes to continue expanding her knowledge on the political system and make a difference in every way possible. Aliyah believes that human trafficking happens here, and you may look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know. She is honored to be apart of one of a research lab focuses on human trafficking, a rare initiative in the USA that’s making a significant impact in combating this global issue.

Rhys Deiter Fall 2022-Spring 2024

Rhys Deiter (he/him) graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science and a Philosophy Pre-Law minor from Millikin University in 2024. He is from New Palestine, a small rural town in central Indiana. After graduation he hopes to attend law school and pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer. Rhys feels that human trafficking is an issue that kind of flies under the radar and hopes through a collaborative effort within the Millikin Human Trafficking Lab they can draw more attention to the issue. Rhys was the fifth student to work in the Millikin Human Trafficking Research Lab. He is currently enrolled in a Juris Doctor program at the University of Northern Illinois.

Gabby Watson Spring 2021-Spring 2024

Gabby Watson (they/she) graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science and Philosophy Pre-Law from Millikin University in 2024. They are from Murphysboro, a small southern town in Southern Illinois. After graduation, they hope to pursue a job in the field of politics. They look forward to furthering their knowledge on human trafficking and bringing awareness to this issue. They anticipate that through hard work, they will be able to help find new ways to combat human trafficking in central Illinois. Gabby is the fifth student to work in the Millikin Human Trafficking Research Lab. They are currently enrolled in a Master's of Public Policy program at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy.

Jadon Cox Spring 2023-Spring 2024

Jadon Cox (he/him) graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science from Millikin University in 2024. He is from Mt. Zion Illinois, a small town on the outskirts of Decatur.  After graduation he hopes to attend law school and pursue a career as a copyright/IP lawyer.  Jadon believes that human trafficking work is often overlooked, simply due to the broad scope of the crimes. He hopes to be able to gain a deep understanding of the concept of human trafficking and to be able to contribute to a better understanding of the human trafficking violations in the state.  He believes that knowledge on human trafficking is crucial to prevent the maintaining of the status quo  In addition, he looks forward to contributing to impactful and important research in his local, hometown community. Jadon is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of  Illinois.

Kocha Changelia Fall 2022

Kocha Changelia (he/him) was a junior UGRAD exchange student in Political Science at Millikin University while pursuing his degree in International Relations at the International Black Sea University in Tbilisi, Georgia. Kocha is interested in peace and conflict studies, human rights, and political science. He has published on issues related to hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, and human rights in the EU and participated in exchange programs at Boston University and Würzburg University. He is also an activist and trainer who has coordinated and implemented projects in collaboration with international organizations UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, and USAID. Kocha was awarded the highest governmental diploma for his contribution to peace-building activities in the South Caucasus by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia. Kocha graduated in 2024 and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in political science at Central European University in Vienna, Austria.

Aimable Ngabo Summer 2021-Spring 2022

Aimable Ngabo (he/him) graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science from Millikin University in 2022. He is from Kigali, Rwanda a country located in East Africa. After the completion of his studies, he looks plans to work at a think tank or other humanitarian organization to advocate for human rights all over the world. He is honored to serve as the Human Trafficking Lab Research Assistant because this project will educate him more about issues related to human trafficking in Illinois. Aimable Ngabo is a Partner Representative at UpHealth, Inc in Portland, Oregon. 

Joselynn Ali Fall 2020-Spring 2021

Joselynn Ali (she/her), a South Holland Illinois native, graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science and a Philosophy Pre-Law minor from Millikin University in 2021. Joselynn plans to pursue a law degree after graduating from Millikin University. She looks forward to learning more about human trafficking as well as sharing her findings with her peers. Bringing awareness is the objective and Joselynn’s dedication will further the goal of spreading awareness to the cause. She was the fourth student to assist in Millikin’s Human Trafficking Research Lab. Joselynn is a Housing Advocate on the Prevention and Community Based Services Team at Housing Opportunities for Women in Chicago, Illinois.

Troy Burrows Fall 2019

Troy Burrows (he/him) was a junior political science major at Millikin University. He is from Bolingbrook Illinois, a suburb of Chicago and plays basketball at Millikin. He said he looks "forward to assisting in the efforts to bring awareness to human trafficking in the Central Illinois Area, as well as engaging in authentic dialogue about the problems that are at hand, and also finding solutions to combat trafficking." Troy was the third student to work in the Millikin Human Trafficking Research Lab and his research focuses on how human trafficking victims and perpetrators are portrayed in the media in Illinois.

Julisa Sierra Spring 2018- Spring 2019

Julisa Sierra (she/her) graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science from Millikin University in 2019. She is a bilingual and first generation college student from Chicago, Illinois. In 2107-2018 she was awarded the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Millikin to study the collaborative efforts of human trafficking task forces in the United States of America. Julisa was the first student to work in the Millikin Human Trafficking Research Lab and her work allows for future undergrads at Millikin to participate in human trafficking research. She is a Case Manager in Human Trafficking Services at the Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, Illinois.

Jasmin Coronel Spring 2019

Jasmin Coronel graduated with a bachelor's of arts in political science and Spanish from Millikin University in 2021. She is from Chicago, Illinois and hopes to pursue a degree in immigration law after graduation. Jasmin was the second student to work in the Millikin Human Trafficking Research Lab and she researched human trafficking themes on different migration blogs. Jasmin is a Senior COE Specialist at Uber in Chicago, Illinois.