Meet the Team

In addition to her role as the CEO of PurpleOne, Lori Palisin also serves as the executive director of Safe Journey, a domestic and dating violence services program, in Erie County, Pa. She believes that educating all members of our communities is crucial to ending domestic violence. After a remarkable 25-year career championing the needs of victims and survivors of domestic violence, Lori has spearheaded the development of PurpleOne, the national training and awareness campaign that unites communities against domestic violence. During her career she has attended more than 80 domestic violence-related workshops, conferences, and trainings. Lori is a member of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and co-founder and current member of the Erie County Rural Domestic Violence Task Force. She holds a bachelor’s in Business, Liberal Arts and Science with a minor in Psychology from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

Dr. Melanie D. Hetzel-Riggin received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and a licensed clinical psychologist. Her current research focuses on the effectiveness of bystander intervention to reduce sexual violence and peer mistreatment, as well as the relationship among interpersonal trauma, coping style, and mental health outcomes. Her teaching interests include abnormal psychology; clinical psychology; trauma and resiliency; career counseling; crisis intervention; ethics; and research methods. Dr. Hetzel-Riggin established and currently conducts trainee evaluations, needs assessments and program evaluations for both Safe Journey and the PurpleOne Program.

Amanda Cox serves as the Safe Places Director. Amanda is an experienced social worker who believes in the power of connecting clients with the right community supports. Before taking a position as a medical advocate at Safe Journey six years ago, she was a Blended Case Manager and Supports Coordinator in Erie County for 15 years. After a career empowering individuals with mental health and intellectual disability diagnoses to live their best lives, Amanda continues that work with victims of domestic violence. She uses her writing and presenting skills to further the goals of PurpleOne. Amanda currently serves as a school director for the Corry Area School District and is a member of the Erie County Rural Domestic Violence Task Force. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Allegheny College.