Sonia Corrales is the Deputy CEO for the Houston Area Women’s Center.
Sonia Corrales serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC), one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and other forms of interpersonal violence. With more than 34 years of experience in the anti-violence movement and 27 years in executive leadership, she is recognized as a leading voice in advancing survivor-centered services, systems reform, and social justice.
Throughout her career, Sonia has worked at the intersection of victim advocacy, public policy, criminal justice, housing stability, economic mobility, and community health. Her work focuses on addressing the root causes and consequences of violence, recognizing that exploitation and trafficking are often driven by systemic inequities, poverty, discrimination, housing instability, and barriers to opportunity.
Sonia currently serves as Presiding Officer of the Harris County Sexual Assault Response Team and holds leadership and advisory roles with numerous local, state, and national initiatives focused on victim services, public safety, forensic science, public policy, and justice system improvement. She has helped lead multidisciplinary efforts that strengthen coordinated community responses to violence, improve outcomes for survivors, and increase accountability across systems.
A respected subject matter expert, Sonia has contributed to statewide and national conversations on sexual violence, domestic violence, trafficking, forensic evidence, victim rights, and trauma-informed practices. She is frequently called upon to advise policymakers, criminal justice leaders, healthcare professionals, and community organizations on strategies that promote safety, equity, and access to services for survivors.
Sonia is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso and an alumna of Leadership Houston, the American Leadership Forum, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders Program, the Center for Houston’s Future, and Latinos for Education. Her leadership has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault Advocate of the Year Award, Houston Business Journal Women Who Mean Business, NFL Texans Campeón de la Comunidad, Comcast Hispanic Hero, Influential Latina, and Texas Executive Women Women on the Move.
As a lifelong advocate, Sonia remains committed to building communities where all people can live free from violence, exploitation, and oppression and have the opportunity to thrive.
