I GOT YOU S.IS.

Dr. Lavinia B. Masters

Survivor. Advocate. Author. Speaker. Changemaker.

Dr. Lavinia B. Masters is a powerhouse speaker, internationally recognized advocate, and the namesake of HB 8 – The Lavinia Masters Act, a landmark Texas law enacted to address the rape kit backlog and strengthen the justice system’s response to sexual violence. She holds the historic distinction of being the first Black woman in Texas and the first living Black woman in the United States toto have a law named in her honor.

After surviving a violent sexual assault at the age of 13 and later discovering that her rape kit went untested for over two decades, Dr. Masters turned her personal trauma into a powerful platform for change. Her testimony has helped shift public policy, ignite national conversations, and inspire healing in countless survivors. Beyond her legislative advocacy, Dr. Masters has played a crucial role in educating courts and legislators in both the United States and Africa on the financial and legal requirements necessary to combat violence against women. 

Dr. Masters has trained and spoken before law enforcement agencies, the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, military installations, prosecutors, universities, and survivor networks across the country. She brings a trauma-informed lens to her work, challenging institutions to respond with urgency, empathy, and accountability.

A dynamic and deeply engaging speaker, Dr. Masters, has appeared on national platforms such as CNN Live, NBC Nightly News, The Nancy Grace show, Anderson Cooper 360, and Russia Today, and has been featured in documentaries that chronicle the failures and reforms of the criminal justice system.

She is the founder of Hope S.A.V.E.S., Lavinia B. Masters Consulting, and the visionary behind Celebrate the Release and The B.A.D. C.H.I.C. Experience empowering events created to help survivors of sexual trauma and women facing adversity reclaim their voices and rewrite their narratives.

Notable Honors:

• Texas Women’s Hall of Fame      Inductee
• Presidential Lifetime      Achievement Award
• George W. Bush Daily Point of      Light Award 
• Texas “Real Life Hero” Trailblazer      Award
• · OVC National Crimes Victim “Special Courage” Award  

Dr. Masters speaks with authority, authenticity, and unwavering compassion. Her voice not only represents survival—but transformation, hope, and the fierce pursuit of justice.