Renee Alves

Renee Alves (she/her/hers) is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in the Philippines from 2019-2020 in the Children, Youth, and Family sector. While in the Philippines, she worked at a shelter for impoverished youth, assisting the organization's social worker and developing musical, agricultural, and athletic programming for the residents. Renee was raised in Fresno, California, and holds a BA in Sociology and minors in Public Affairs and Civic Engagement from UCLA. After being evacuated from the Philippines due to the pandemic, Renee began working as the Communications and Development Manager at the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, a public policy research and advocacy nonprofit located in Charleston, WV. As a Coverdell Fellow in the MSW program and Interpersonal Practice pathway, Renee hopes to develop the clinical skillset and foundational knowledge necessary to provide person-centered, culturally appropriate therapeutic care to people who have survived extreme trauma. She aspires to eventually become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing therapy with people impacted by incarceration. In her free time, Renee enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, playing soccer and ultimate frisbee, and trying new ice cream spots.