My name is Keri Potts, the President and Founder of A Fight Back Woman, Inc. I am an award-winning communications professional with 20 years of experience working for multinational companies within sports and entertainment, women’s economic policy, and more recently, in the non-profit sector. I attended Syracuse University on a full academic and athletic scholarship (volleyball) and earned my B.S. (journalism) and M.S. (public relations) from the Newhouse School of Public Communications.
In November 2008, I survived an assault and attempted rape by an Italian citizen in Rome, Italy. My story was published in the December 2010 issue of Marie Claire, followed by an interview with USA Today. Both articles outlined my assault and how I pressed charges internationally (my attacker pled guilty). It was a tough two years of my life trying to understand the Italian justice system and criminal court. It is the hardest I have ever fought for myself, and in some ways, continue to fight. I vowed to ‘be the change’.
I launched afightbackwoman.com in November 2010 to chronicle my assault, the criminal case, and my recovery, to remove the fear of overseas prosecution of sexual assault. In October 2012, I became a state certified rape crisis counselor/victims advocate for the State of Connecticut and a speaker for the Rape, Assault, Incest National Network (RAINN) Speakers Bureau.
I have spoken around the country on a variety of topics in and around sexual violence, healthy relationships and female empowerment, relying on my professional skill and my personal passion to educate others, change perceptions in a positive way and engender understanding.
Additional roles and certifications:
- In April 2013, I was an invited member of the NCAA Violence Prevention Think Tank in Washington, D.C. Along with a college administrators, advocates and legal experts, we sought to determine a course of action for the NCAA to address sexual and interpersonal violence.
- In October of 2014, I became a volunteer rape crisis counselor in Atlanta serving at Grady Memorial Hospital through February 2017.
- In March 2017, I joined Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center as a volunteer victims advocate and continue to take on approximately 40 hours per month.
- In March 2017, I received my Stewards of Children training via GSAC and The National Association of Social Workers (Approval #88645831 9-2184).
- In October of 2017, I joined the board of Pathways to Safety International – the only US-based organization to provide comprehensive services to Americans sexually assaulted or abused abroad. In April 2019, I was named President of the Pathways Board.
- In April 2018, I received 12 additional continuing education credits via attending the 2018 End Violence Against Women International Conference.
- In November 2019, I spoke as a guest of the UNFPA and Special Olympics at ICPD 25 in Nairobi, Kenya, to push for gender equality by 2030.
- In October 2020, I joined the Board of Network for Victim Recovery of D.C.
I hope you’ve come here looking for information and assistance in the areas of sexual and interpersonal violence in whatever way it has affected you, your business or your organization. I am ready to help you.
A Fight Back Woman 
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