NEWS RELEASE
Genna Reeves, Ph.D., founder of Invictus by Genna: Grief and Loss Services, has been
recognized by the national media, editorial, and recognition platform Influential Women
as a Distinguished Influential Woman for 2026.
The recognition highlights Reeves’ work in grief education, peer grief support, funeral celebrancy, and end-of-life care.
Through Invictus by Genna, Reeves provides individual and group grief support, educational programs, funeral celebrancy, legacy projects, and community presentations designed to make grief education more understandable, accessible, and responsive to lived experience. Her work is grounded in the belief that grief is not evidence that a person is broken, but a natural response to losing someone or something that mattered deeply.
“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. I am grateful to every person, family, participant, and community partner who has trusted me to be part of that process.”
Reeves brings more than 15 years of experience as an educator and researcher in higher education to her work in grief support. She is a Certified Grief Educator through David Kessler, a Certified Provider through Claire Bidwell Smith’s grief-support training, an INELDA-trained end-of-life doula, and a peer grief support provider. She also serves as Chair of the Grief Networking Alliance of New Mexico, where she helps strengthen collaboration among professionals and organizations serving grieving individuals throughout the state.
Her work includes support for sudden and traumatic loss, suicide loss, caregiving and anticipatory grief, and the death of a spouse, partner, parent, or child, as well as education about the complex ways grief affects identity, the brain and body, relationships, memory, and daily life. She has also developed grief education programs and support-group curricula that bring together current research, reflective practice, storytelling, and peer connection.
Reeves’ career in grief support began in 2001, when she began facilitating suicide-loss Northern New Mexico, including some of her good friends. She also served as president of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention and Awareness organization under the leadership of Tom Steward in Los Alamos in the early 2000s.
Reeves’ recognition includes a verified professional profile and recognition materials, including an upcoming magazine feature in an issue featuring Suze Orman on the cover. Her article, “Grief Doesn’t Mean You’re Broken,” was also recently published through the Influential Women platform.
The recognition comes as Reeves continues expanding her independent work and developing new opportunities for grief support, education, community programming, and professional collaboration throughout Albuquerque, the East Mountains, and communities across New Mexico.
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 its progress and provide input at invictusbygenna.com. She is also available for community presentations and classes, curriculum-based support groups, and other grief-support and educational programs.
Reeves is a 2002 graduate of Los Alamos High School and the daughter of Margaret and Frank Reeves of White Rock.
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: Grief and Loss Services, she provides grief support, memorial and legacy services, and community education. Reeves holds degrees from New Mexico State University, Colorado State University, Portland State University, and Oregon State University, where she earned her doctorate. Her academic background in historic and cultural dress included research on memory, meaning, and memorialization through clothing and textiles.