Villena Vega Koumis (she/her) has been recognized throughout her career as an outstanding customer service agent, especially in the hospitality industry. She is a survivor of childhood sexual assault and a second-generation Pacific Islander with deep connections to her Palauan cultural values that enrich her life.

Villena connected with advocacy when she began working at VALOR over 20 years ago and has been a strong advocate for survivors since. As VALOR’s Project Associate, she is responsible for providing technical assistance to rape crisis centers and offering support to staff with projects funded by state and federal grants.