Grief Educator Genna Reeves Named a Distinguished Influential Woman for 2026

August 4, 2026

ALBUQUERQUE — Edgewood resident Genna Reeves, Ph.D., founder of Invictus by Genna: Grief and Loss Services, has been recognized as a Distinguished Influential Woman for 2026 by the national media and recognition platform Influential Women.

The award honors Reeves for her leadership and community impact across New Mexico as a grief educator, peer support provider, and funeral celebrant.

Through Invictus by Genna, Reeves provides individual and group support, funeral celebrancy, legacy projects, and educational presentations designed to make grief support accessible and responsive to lived experience.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because grief support is often quiet, relational work,” Reeves said. “It is built through listening, showing up consistently, and helping people find language and orientation when the world no longer feels familiar.”

Reeves brings more than 15 years of experience as a higher education researcher and educator to her grief work. She holds degrees from New Mexico State University, Colorado State University, Portland State University, and Oregon State University, including a doctorate focused on historic and cultural dress. Her academic research examined how textiles and clothing preserve memory and support acts of memorialization.

In addition to her private practice, Reeves serves as Chair of the Grief Networking Alliance of New Mexico. Her background includes training as a Certified Grief Educator through David Kessler, an INELDA-trained end-of-life doula, and a Certified Provider through Claire Bidwell Smith’s grief-support training.

Her career in grief support began in 2001, facilitating suicide-loss support groups in response to youth suicides in Northern New Mexico. She later served as president of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention and Awareness organization in Los Alamos.

As part of the recognition, Reeves will be featured in an upcoming issue of Influential Women magazine alongside cover figure Suze Orman. Her article, “Grief Doesn’t Mean You’re Broken,” was also recently published by the platform.

Reeves is currently developing a new community-centered grief-support organization serving Albuquerque, the East Mountains, and surrounding New Mexico communities. Members of the public can follow progress and provide input at invictusbygenna.com.

About Genna Reeves, Ph.D.

Genna Reeves, Ph.D., is a grief educator, peer support provider, funeral celebrant, and Chair of the Grief Networking Alliance of New Mexico. Through Invictus by Genna, she offers individual and group grief support, memorial planning, legacy projects, and community education programs.