Media Room

Timeka Walker

Executive Director

Master of Social Work, University of Houston | Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Houston| Non-Profit Leadership Alliance | Executive Leadership Certification at Rice University | FBI Citizens Academy

A licensed social worker, Timeka Walker is an innovative leader with over 18 years in nonprofit management and leadership. Timeka is dedicated to serving the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society to bring dignity and love to each individual. Before joining the fight against human trafficking, Timeka served HIV positive homeless men and women and those suffering from mental illness through the AIDS Foundation Houston. During her decade-long tenure Timeka served as the Program Director, Senior Director of Programs, and finally as the Chief Operating Officer. Additionally, Timeka worked with at-risk youth at Neighborhood Centers for six years.

Joining UAHT in 2015, Timeka passionately leads the organization in its efforts to offer trauma-informed programming and serving as a unifying force for the entire anti-human trafficking movement. Under her leadership the organization has grown from two team members to over 20 members and serves over 25,000 individuals each year.

Timeka received her Licensed Master of Social Worker from the University of Houston and holds an Executive Leadership Certification from Rice University.

Elaine Andino

Director of Donor and External Partnerships

Master of Public Policy, George Mason University | Bachelor of Arts in English, Baylor University

For 15 years, Elaine’s passion for ending human trafficking has fueled her work. From research and legislative work in Washington DC, to working with survivors in South Korea, to hosting an anti-trafficking conference in Virginia, to running fundraising and communication efforts in Houston, her zeal for ending exploitation continuously deepens. Elaine loves partnering with donors and coalition members who are dedicated to creating systemic change in Houston.

Jenna Cooper

Director of Programs

Master of Social Work, University of Houston

As a transplant from New York, Jenna first learned of human trafficking while studying Social Work at the University of Houston. During her time there, Jenna worked directly with trafficking survivors, which inspired her to make this her life’s work. She realized that many people know of human trafficking, yet the issue remains a prevalent injustice in the Houston community. Jenna strives to implement, develop, and enhance programs that educate every part of the community to prevent and combat trafficking while supporting survivors.

Briana Acosta

Outreach Specialist

Bachelor of Science in Global Health and Cultural Anthropology, Duke University

Driven by her passion for helping diverse populations achieve health in contexts of marginalization, Briana has worked extensively on complex health issues such as domestic/sexual violence, alcohol use disorders, and HIV/AIDS. Her field experiences related to this work have spanned from the U.S. to Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and even Kenya. Upon returning to her hometown of Houston, Briana felt called to use her diverse experiences to serve her own community as UAHT’s Outreach Specialist. In this role, Briana empowers the most vulnerable members of the greater Houston community with knowledge about human trafficking and facilitates their access to resources and services in the area to meet their needs. Through her outreach, Briana hopes to help disadvantaged populations prevent and “treat” the pressing public health problem of human trafficking by providing them with the education and tools to do so.