For Immediate Release:
September 15, 2025
For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230
(Montgomery, Ala) – The Alabama Engage Together Project (ETP) has selected 12 Research Fellows from six universities across the state to join its groundbreaking, multi-year effort to end and prevent human trafficking in Alabama.
ETP is a two-phase, three-year transformational community assessment initiative spearheaded by Attorney General Steve Marshall. The project is designed to identify community strengths and gaps, mobilize multi-sector collaboration, and equip local leaders with actionable strategies to better prevent exploitation and care for survivors.
As part of this work, the ETP Research Fellows will contribute to research, analysis, and community engagement efforts focused on human trafficking and related exploitation.
The following students were selected from a competitive pool of applicants for this prestigious fellowship:
- Will Ross, Auburn University
- Abrianna Arnett, Auburn University
- Jennifer Ludwick, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Andra Jeann Hullinger, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Amy “Grace” Faulk, Faulkner University
- Don Heald, Faulkner University
- Cheyenne Henegar, Huntingdon College
- Tori Tipton, Samford University
- Ryan Taylor, Samford University
- Charlotte Wilson, University of Alabama
- Manpreet Kaur, University of Alabama
- Macy Cates, University of Alabama
Attorney General Steve Marshall praised the Fellows and the project’s mission.
“Human trafficking is one of the most urgent public safety and human rights challenges of our time. Alabama must confront it with both compassion and determination. The students selected as Research Fellows will play a critical role in building the knowledge and partnerships needed to protect the vulnerable, hold traffickers accountable, and strengthen communities across our state,” Attorney General Marshall said.
Katie Beth McCarthy, Coordinator for the Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance, added: “It is an honor to be part of this initiative, and these students represent some of the best and brightest in our state. The Engage Together Project will leave a lasting impact on Alabama’s fight against human trafficking.”
For more information about the Engage Together Project and its partners, visit: https://engagetogether.com/project/alabama/.y Jessica Ventiere and her staff, for their valuable assistance in defending the reckless manslaughter conviction.
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