Meet the EmPOWER Center Team
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Rima Shah,
EmPOWER Center Director
Rima (she, her, hers), has worked for the last 20 years on sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and sexual health in the U.S. and India, in both university and non-profit settings. She started at the Claremont Colleges as the inaugural director of the EmPOWER Center in late 2015. Prior to coming to The Claremont Colleges, Rima spent three years at DePaul University in Chicago where she served as their first full-time staff member addressing interpersonal violence. She served as a confidential survivor advocate as well as implemented year-round programming on violence prevention and survivor support. Prior to that, Rima worked as a capacity building consultant for Family Health International in New Delhi, as a research associate for the World Institute on Disability in Oakland, and as a program development consultant and national trainer at the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center in San Francisco. She also develops sports-based empowerment programs for girls in Indian orphanages on a voluntary basis.
Rima holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters in Sociology from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She speaks English, Hindi, and Gujarati. Rima is also the Assistant Coach of the Claremont Nighthawks, a track club for kids.
Self-care: Biking, walking, reading, teaching Bollywood dance at the local elementary schools, and time with her ten year old son.
To contact Rima, email her at RShahEmPOWER@claremont.edu or call her at (909) 607-2689
Macy Puckett,
EmPOWER Center Student Intern
Macy (she, her, hers) is a first-year student at Scripps College studying Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Government. She is very passionate about global gender equity and sexual violence prevention, as well as human trafficking prevention and reproductive healthcare accessibility. In high school, Macy revised and developed grade-specific consent education workshops, developed consent education curriculum for her local middle school, and focused on survivor support. In college, Macy is excited to focus on meaningful preventative work and explore accountability and restorative pathways for survivors. Macy is also a news writer for the Student Life Newspaper. She is honored to learn and contribute in any way she can to a safe, inclusive, and supportive community that focuses on uplifting survivors and preventing gender-based violence.
Self-care: baking, movie nights, running, calling her sisters, watching TV, bracelet making, finding new food places.
To contact Macy, email her at mpuckett7525@scrippscollege.edu
Sally Gaskell,
EmPOWER Center Student Intern
Sally (she, her, hers) is a second-year student at Scripps College studying Psychology and Law. She is deeply passionate about advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence, with a particular focus on creating trauma-informed support systems, developing comprehensive consent education, and exploring restorative justice practices. At Scripps, she serves as an advocate with Scripps Advocates, where she works directly to support survivors, raise awareness, and foster a campus culture grounded in accountability, prevention and care. She is eager to continue building survivor-centered programs, engaging in restorative practices, and collaborate with her peers to prevent gender-based violence. Sally is also a member of the CMS Scripps Athletes Leadership Board where she advocates for the needs of Scripps athletes and their representation within CMS Athletics. She is excited to learn about and continue fostering a safe, supportive, and empowering environment where survivors feel heard and valued.
Self-care: long walks, grabbing meals with friends, watching Law & Order, playing basketball with her intramural team, and spending time outside.
To contact Sally, email her at sgaskell2233@scrippscollege.edu