2024 Conference Faculty

David Adams
David was co-founder of Emerge; the nation’s first abuser intervention program. David is an international expert on domestic violence, abusers, abuser interventions and collaborations, risk assessment, effects of abuse on adult and child victims, having been a trainer in 48 states and 26 nations. He has published numerous journal articles, book chapters and three books, including Why Do They Kill? Men Who Murder Their Intimate Partners.

Devin Dean
Devin Deane, LMSW, is the Program Manager of Therapeutic Services at the RISE, a community-based initiative addressing the intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV) and gun violence in New York City. In this role, he oversees the crisis support for both people experiencing harm (PEH) and people causing harm (PCH), individualized case management services, and group interventions for PCH. He has experience working as a forensic social worker providing holistic criminal defense, as well as supporting anti-violence work through NYC. Devin is passionate about development of responses to intra-communal violence in ways that are non-carceral, trauma-informed, and community-centered.

Chad Double
Lieutenant, Farmington Hills Police Department

Chad is a 21-year veteran member of the Farmington Hills Police Department. Farmington Hills is a diverse metropolitan Detroit community of over 80,000 residents in Oakland County, Michigan. The Farmington Hills Police Department is considered one of Michigan’s finest full-service law enforcement agencies. It is recognized for its long line of state, national, and professional group awards it has garnered for outstanding delivery of police services.

Chad was assigned to the Investigative Division in 2008. As a Detective, he specialized in domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and computer crimes. Chad is currently a member of the Farmington Hills Coordinating Community Response Team, a multi-disciplinary group dedicated to identifying high-risk domestic violence cases and creating a coordinated community response, including prevention and community education. In 2018, Chad was promoted to Patrol Sergeant, and in 2019 was assigned to the Investigative Division as a Sergeant. In 2023, Chad was promoted to Patrol Lieutenant.

In addition to his work in Farmington Hills, Chad is the lead instructor at the Oakland Police Academy and Washtenaw Police Academy for Report Writing. Chad also serves as a steering committee member of the Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence, a multi-sector community response task force to develop systems-wide prevention, response, and education on domestic violence. Chad is a Co-Chair for the Farmington Hills Coordinating Community Response Team for Domestic Violence and a trainer for MCOLES (Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards in Domestic Violence. Chad was also the keynote speaker at the Strangulation: Changing Practices Conference in September 2015.

Chad is a 2019 Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Staff and Command graduate. Chad has two Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Chad is currently in the Criminal Justice/Criminology Graduate Program at Eastern Michigan University.

Storm Ervin, MPP
Storm is a technical assistance manager in the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute and an emerging expert in the domestic violence and gun violence fields. She has a decade of experience that includes direct service, research, and technical assistance (TA) provision. She has extensive experience leading national, local, and multisite research, evaluations, and TA projects. Storm is a co-lead of the NIJ-funded Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Research and Evaluation Training and Technical Assistance Center. Storm also leads a national study of abusive partner/ batterer intervention programs and a process and outcome evaluation of a trauma-informed abusive partner intervention program. She also has experience leading research and TA efforts that aim to address sexual violence in prisons. Storm frequently speaks to audiences and conducts workshops around the country on topics related to her areas of expertise and how they intersect with racial injustice. The common thread through her work is exploring solutions to violence and victimization for marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Shelby Y. Frink
Ms. Frink is the Interim Executive Director at The Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County, a comprehensive domestic violence agency located in Dundalk, Maryland.

Ms. Frink has been working within the Abuse Intervention Program at Family Crisis Center and attending MAIC for several years. From starting as a program assistant within the New Behaviors program to moving into her current position as Program Services director, encompassing Advocacy and Counseling services, she has continued to learn, adapt, and soak up as much knowledge as possible about AIP and domestic violence services. Ms. Frink is passionate about the work she does and providing the best services to the clientele that she works with.

Ms. Frink grew up in Baltimore City. She earned her B.S in Criminal Justice from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ. She received her M.S. in Criminal Justice and Trauma informed certification from the University of Baltimore. She is a former member of Court Appointed Advocated (CASA) and Big Brother Big Sister.

Ms. Frink is a current member of the Maryland Abuse Intervention Collaborative; she is the current chair of the DVRP/ Abuse Intervention Program Subcommittee for the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and co-chair of the community services committee for the Maryland Domestic Violence Fatality Review State Implementation Team.

Dorthy Stucky Halley, LMSW
Dorthy is an international trainer, is co-founder of Halley Counseling Services, P.A., and co-director of the Family Peace Initiative Program, a trauma-focused battering intervention program. She is the past director of the Victim Services Division of the Kansas Office of the Attorney General (2007-2020). Her development of an evidence-informed motivation typology for those who batter has opened the door to a new understanding for judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, advocates, battering intervention providers, and others in the domestic violence field. She led the state efforts to develop standards and certify battering intervention programs throughout Kansas. She has served as an expert witness in domestic violence cases for the past 33 years.

Dorthy has served victims in various capacities since 1986. She was the Executive Director of Safehouse, Inc. for over a decade, and previously served as a Crime Victim Compensation Board member. She was the Practicum Director and Assistant Professor at Pittsburg State University in the Social Work Program from 1997 to 2007. She is the past president of the Kansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (KNASW), the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV), and the Kansas Organization for Victim Assistance (KOVA). She also serves as a consultant for the Kansas Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board (KDVFRB).

Dorthy received the Outstanding Victim Advocate of the Year Award by KCSDV (1996). She was the first recipient of the Dorthy Halley Lifetime Service Award by the Office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt (2020). This award is reserved as a special recognition for a dedicated professional who creates significant positive impact in the lives of crime victims throughout their career. In that same year, she also received the Exemplary Service to Children and Families Award by the Governor’s Conference on Child Abuse. In 2022 she became the recipient of the Kansas Children’s Service League’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Children Award.

Along with her husband, Steve, she has authored curricula for working with those who batter, justice-involved women, and justice-involved youth. They have also authored The River of Cruelty, and Halley’s Alley: Commentaries on marriage, family, healthy relationships, parenting, loss, grief, trauma, and domestic violence. She has provided international and domestic presentations to more than 30,000 advocates, criminal justice professionals, and others. She serves as a delegate and presenter to the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women for the International Public Policy Institute (IPPI), and currently serves on the IPPI Board of Directors. In addition to her work, Dorthy loves water skiing, traveling, and spending time with family.

Shon Hart
Shon Hart stands as a beacon of guidance and inspiration in the realm of fatherhood and family empowerment. As the esteemed Executive Director of InvolvedDad and Family Matters Supervised Visitation and Exchange Center, Shon embodies the essence of commitment, both as a devoted husband to his life partner Leah for over 20 years and as a loving father to three remarkable children. His life’s work is a testament to his unwavering dedication to fostering strong family bonds and nurturing responsible, engaged fathers.

With over a decade of experience in managing and spearheading fatherhood initiatives, Shon has emerged as a premier keynote speaker and a recognized authority on fatherhood. His expertise and insight have been instrumental in shaping policies and programs aimed at reinforcing the role of fathers in the family unit. He actively serves on various boards, each committed to making a significant impact in their communities through empowerment and support.

At the helm of InvolvedDad, Shon plays a pivotal role in educating and training practitioners, government agencies, and researchers. His guidance ensures that fathers across the spectrum are equipped to contribute positively to the well-being and healthy development of their children. His approach is both compassionate and pragmatic, acknowledging the challenges fathers face while providing them with the tools and knowledge to overcome these hurdles.

Shon’s literary contributions are equally impactful. A 5-time published author, his latest work, “Broken Boys Become Broken Men,” delves into the intricate dynamics of male development and the critical role fathers play in this journey. His writings not only offer profound insights but also serve as a source of motivation and encouragement for fathers striving to make a difference in their children’s lives.

In essence, Shon Hart is more than just a leader; he is a catalyst for change. His dedication to transforming fatherhood and enhancing family relationships continues to inspire and empower individuals and communities alike, fostering a world where fathers are celebrated, supported, and fully engaged in the heart of their families.

Jon Haupt
Jon Haupt is a retired Lieutenant from the Farmington Hills Police Department, where he dedicated 27 years of service in various roles, including patrol officer, field training officer, detective, fire investigator, detective, detective sergeant, and administrative lieutenant. With 15 years of investigative experience specializing in domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, Jon has been a passionate advocate for raising awareness on these critical social issues. He has contributed to several multidisciplinary committees, task forces, and councils, earning numerous honors for his efforts in combating domestic and sexual violence.

Following his retirement from law enforcement, Jon served as the Assistant Director of Operations for Washtenaw Community College’s Public Service Training. In this role, he oversaw the expansion and coordination of law enforcement in-service training throughout Southeastern Michigan, while also assisting in the daily operations of the college’s police and corrections academies.

Currently, Jon channels his 30+ years of law enforcement experience into educating the next generation. He teaches criminal justice and law enforcement at the Livonia Public Schools Career Technical Center, inspiring high school students to explore careers in public safety. In addition, he serves as an adjunct assistant professor at Madonna University and instructs law enforcement officers across Michigan as an instructor for the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, specializing in domestic violence response procedures.

Chris Huffine, Psy.D.
Mr. Huffine, a licensed psychologist, has worked with abusive men for over 30 years. He is the Executive Director of Allies in Change in Portland, Oregon. During his career he has worked with thousands of abusive men and hundreds of female and male victims of abuse. He is considered to be a national expert on working with abusive partners and has provided trainings around the country, including a semi-annual 27-hour training on the Allies in Change curriculum.

He recently published a book for abusive partners called “Becoming Allies . . . With Your Partner, Yourself, and Others: Addressing the Abuse and Control in Your Relationships”.

He is a member of the advisory group to the Oregon state attorney general to monitor standards for batterer intervention programs and of the Oregon Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. Allies in Change is a 501c3 non-profit based in Portland, OR. It offers nearly thirty weekly groups for abusive partners, including specialized ones for voluntary attendees, women, and one multigender group for LGBTQ+ abusive partners. Of particular note, Allies in Change works with more voluntary abusive partners than any other agency in the country.

Gene A. Johnson, Jr.
Gene is an associate Director of the Center for Court Innovation Gender and Family Justice Team and facilitates, develops curriculums, and provide technical assistance for battering intervention programs for men and young men. Gene has worked with several intervention programs in New York City Mr. Johnson also co-chairs HEARTS (Healing. Equity. Accountability. Restoration. Transformation. Safety) formerly New York’s Coalition of Working With Abusive Partner (CoWAP), a New York based member organization of representatives of institutions concerned with precenting and ending abusive behavior in intimate relationships. Mr.  Johnson has facilitated and designed various processes to promote dialogues about masculinity and its role in society.

Gene has also developed and facilitated conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative justice trainings and models in various New York City public schools. He is also a mediator, conflict resolution consultant, New York State certified basic mediation trainer, New York State certified ombudsman, facilitator and a parliamentarian (Robert Rules of Order) experienced with divorce, custody and visitation, child support, family, restorative justice, transformative mediation and victim offender mediation. He also was on a committee that created a mediation domestic violence screening tool used in New York State family court.

Alyce LaViolette
Ms. LaViolette began working at the WomenShelter in Long Beach, CA as a shelter advocate in 1978. In 1979 she founded Alternatives to Violence, one of the first programs in the country to work with men who abuse their intimate partner. In 1984, she took her programs into private practice and expanded her focus.

She currently continues to counsel while training teams and speaking to groups locally, nationally, and internationally. She has a trauma-focused practice with survivors and perpetrators of adult violence as well as childhood and adolescent abuse, couples in conflict, separated and divorced couples who need to learn to parent together, and individuals struggling with life transitions.

Ms. LaViolette speaks on a variety of topics to business and social groups, keynote conferences, and fundraising luncheons. Currently she is on the Speakers Bureau for the United States Department of State. She also consults with clients and attorneys, providing expert testimony as an expert witness in criminal, family law, civil and federal cases. She has been developing and providing training for groups such as the United States Department of State, probation departments, Departments of Children and Families, police departments, non-profit agencies, government bureaus, school districts, universities, and businesses.

She is the proud co-author of the best-selling book, Why Battered Women Stay: It Could Happen to Anyone.

Amanda McCormick
Amanda McCormick has worked in the field of gender‐based violence since the late 1980’s. Initially, in the UK, she worked as a shelter worker for North Derbyshire Women’s Aid and then for the Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline, Manchester as an interagency coordinator with responsibility for establishing a men’s non‐violence program and an accompanying service for survivors. From here she moved to work in the U.S. over a fifteen‐year period with Praxis International, established by the late Dr. Ellen Pence, to develop IPV training and curricula and conduct Community Safety Audits. The safety audit process involved extensive data analysis of case files, policy documents, observations, and interviews in communities across the country.

She has been involved in recent years with the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Duluth, MN in facilitating groups for men who batter; evaluating how facilitators (in a range of communities) implement the Duluth Curriculum; and updating the facilitator training. To this challenge, she has brought many aspects of her personal experience as a survivor, a member of the GLBTQI+ community, a person raised on a militarized border with a colonial history, and a long professional career in the field of gender‐based violence.

Colleen Monaghan
Has served over 3,400 survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in legal and healthcare settings. Founding member of and former consultant for local coordinated community response teams that focus on relationship building with community partners and other nonprofits to eliminate domestic violence. Currently providing individual therapy in the Graham Health Center at Oakland University.

Leslie Morgan Steiner
Leslie is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir Crazy Love; the critically acclaimed anthology Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families; The Baby Chase: How Surrogacy is Transforming the American Family; and her latest memoir, The Naked Truth, which explores female sexuality, self-esteem and dating after 50. She holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Wharton business school. Her TEDTalks about domestic violence and the ethics of global surrogacy have been viewed by over ten million people. She is a member of the National Advisory Council for the Conference on Crimes Against Women. Visit her at www.lesliebooks.com

Penelope Morrison, Ph.D.
Dr. Morrison holds a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to arriving at Penn State New Kensington, she served as a co-investigator and senior research associate at Magee-Women’s Research Institute where she developed interdisciplinary collaborations with investigators at RAND, Veterans Affairs Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion and the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Morrison has also served as a qualitative methodological expert on projects related to veteran’s health, PTSD, informed consent, maternal to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ youth and substance use, telemedicine, and patient-provider substance use communication.

Dr. Morrison’s own research interests are focused on addressing health disparities for underserved populations of women and children. Her most recent research utilizes traditional ethnographic methods to investigate what intervention practices work best for promoting long term behavioral change among men who perpetrate violence against women, and how to best stem the epidemic of intimate partner violence in the United States.

Publications: https://newkensington.psu.edu/person/penelope-morrison

Judge Marla Parker
Judge Marla Parker is a judge of the 47^th District Court of Farmington and Farmington Hills.  Elected in 1992, she is the longest serving judge in the history of the 47^th District Court and is currently the longest serving judge in Oakland County.

Judge Parker is an active participant in the Farmington Hills Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response Team.  In 2020, she received the Domestic Violence Prevention Award from the Oakland County Coordinating Council.  An early advocate of the therapeutic court concept, Judge Parker was honored with the Drug Court Hero Award from the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals in 2014.  Judge Parker has been appointed as a mentor to new judges and has made numerous presentations to new and experienced lawyers and judges.

Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Parker served as a magistrate for the court and maintained a private law practice.  She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School.

Saloni Sethi
Saloni Sethi (they/she) is the Acting Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), where they bring over two decades of experience across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors to a critical leadership role focused on improving the lives of survivors at the city level. She leads the office’s work to ensure that diverse groups of gender violence survivors have meaningful access to support both within and outside of carceral systems and is focused on centering racial equity and multiple pathways to healing in program and policy development. Saloni’s work is deeply informed by their own lived experiences, and they are passionate about anti-violence and anti-poverty work that addresses intersecting issues of power, privilege, and oppression through collective, collaborative, and intentional efforts to undo harm and ensure justice for the most vulnerable in our communities. Prior to her current role, Saloni worked as the First Deputy Commissioner at ENDGBV, the Deputy Executive Director at the Office of Crime Victim Supports at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and as the Deputy Director of Economic Empowerment Programs at Sanctuary for Families. They received an MSW from the Silver School of Social work at New York University and a BA in Economics and BS in Mathematics from the University of Chicago.

Melissa Silver

Melissa Silver is a leader, advocate, organizer, and trainer. Her passion lies in engaging with systems partners and advocates to create sustained institutionalized change to reflect the needs of survivors and the communities they serve. This drive has led Melissa to work on college campuses, in domestic violence and sexual assault community organizations, in state-wide coalitions, and in other community organizations as a peer advocate, crisis and support line specialist, first response/court advocate, coordinated community response team founder and co-chair, advocacy program director, board member, and trainer and coach on how to meaningful address intimate partner violence and how to best utilize coordinated community response models.

Melissa strives to create spaces for authentic collaboration and communication in communities where partners can be honest about their challenges and experiences with intimate partner violence cases to develop sustainable survivor-centered solutions.

Regardless of role or title, Melissa is a tenacious advocate who believes that collectively we can create communities where survivors and their children can feel safety, support, and belonging.

Debby Tucker
Deborah D. Tucker, MPA, President, NCDSV Board of Directors E-mail Debby at dtucker@ncdsv.org. Debby served as Executive Director of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV), a position she held from the organization’s beginning in 1998, until February 2015. After accepting the position of Domestic Violence Specialist at Child Protective Services, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, NCDSV’s Board of Directors elected her to the Board and the office of President.

Debby has been dedicated to ending violence against women since becoming a volunteer with the first rape crisis center in Texas in 1974. She was Assistant Director of the Austin Rape Crisis Center, then co-founded and served as Executive Director of the Austin Center for Battered Women from 1977 until 1982. (In 1997, ARCC and ACBW combined into SafePlace.)

In 1982, Debby became the first Executive Director of the Texas Council on Family Violence, a position she held until 1996. She assisted communities in Texas to establish shelters, other services for battered women and initiate battering intervention programs. She represented battered women and member agencies to the Texas Legislature. In this role, she promoted laws and policies to improve the criminal justice and health and human service systems’ responses to domestic violence. Under her leadership, the Texas Council grew to be one of the largest coalitions in the country with over 50 staff providing training and technical assistance, public education and advocacy. In February 1996, the Texas Council opened the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE and 1-800-787-3224 TTY), a 24/7 service for the U.S. and territories.

In August 1996, Debby joined Sarah M. Buel, JD, in opening Tucker, Buel and Associates, a consulting firm offering customized consultation and training to end violence against women. In May 1998, Sarah and Debby co-founded the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence to sponsor conferences and provide customized training and consultation nationwide. The National Center received funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate on the development of curriculum and trainings with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement. The National Center has an award-winning website, initially funded by Altria, that provides direct access to information for local, state and national professionals and volunteers.

The National Center collaborated with the Avon Foundation for Women to produce educational materials for the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Campaign and works with many individuals and organizations to address violence in the military community. The National Center consults with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on DELTA (Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancements and Leadership Through Alliances), a program involving 14 state coalitions to advance the prevention of domestic violence. NCDSV consulted from 2007-2011 with the CDC Foundation on the Robert Wood Johnson-funded DELTA PREP program preparing 19 additional state coalitions to initiate in DELTA and initiate evidence-based prevention strategies in their states.

Debby has extensive experience on the national level. She served as Co-Chair of the U.S. Department of Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence from 2000-2003. She served as founding Chair of the National Network to End Domestic Violence during its leadership in the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, the Board of Advisors for WomensLaw.org. She co-chairs the National Alliance to End Domestic Abuse with Toby Myers, NCDSV’s Vice President, and they serve on the National Leadership Council of Jewish Women International.

In Texas, she served as Treasurer for Texans Against Gun Violence and she chairs the Master of Public Administration Advisory Committee for Texas State University. In 2012, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration presented Debby with the Alfred M. Zuck Public Courage Award. In April 2014, the College of Liberal Arts at Texas State University presented her with a Distinguished Alumna Award (video). In May 2014, Debby was inducted (video) into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. See photo.

Doris Buffet awarded Debby with The Sunshine Lady Award in 2008. She received the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Standing in the Light of Justice Award in 2005 and the Marshall’s and Futures Without Violence’s Domestic Violence Peace Prize in recognition of her national leadership. She has also been honored by the National Association of Social Workers. In July 2003, along with Fernando Laguarda, Debby was recognized on the NASDAQ sign in Times Square by Lifetime TV. She received the YWCA’s Outstanding Achievement Award and the Texas Council on Family Violence established the Deborah D. Tucker Staff Achievement Award, of which she was the first recipient. In addition, the National District Attorneys Association honored her with their Stephen L. Von Riesen Lecturer of Merit Award.

Laurie Wagerman
Laurie M. Wagerman, MS is the Program Manager for the New Behaviors Program at The Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County, which is a comprehensive domestic violence agency in Dundalk, Maryland.

Mrs. Wagerman is an experienced professional with a diverse background in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. She has been working within the New Behaviors Program for a little over a year, during which time she has been able gain more knowledge about best practices and AIP as a victim service. She is an individual who works to support individuals and families experiencing intimate partner violence. Laurie has served as  a family crisis advocate and provided social-emotional learning services for children and families, through yoga. She is adept at fostering a strong sense of community and advocating for much needed resources for families to survive and thrive. Laurie is skilled at creating and maintaining welcoming, empathic, and inclusive environments for a variety of stakeholders by respecting and honoring diversity. She possess an unwavering commitment to engage with community partners, administration, professionals and especially families to effectively enhance collaborative relationships.

Megan Widman
Megan Widman is the Director of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Oakland University, where she also serves as a full-time faculty member. With over 15 years of experience in direct practice, Megan has worked extensively with survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Her expertise spans educational interventions, systemic change initiatives, and innovative prevention strategies aimed at ending domestic and sexual violence. Megan plays a pivotal role in training law enforcement across Michigan on effective responses to domestic violence and sexual assault through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.

As a former Co-Chair of the Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence and Co-Founder of the Farmington Hills High-Risk Response Team, Megan is passionate about addressing larger societal challenges like violence, poverty, and racism. Recently appointed to the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board by Governor Whitmer, Megan continues to lead efforts that drive policy change and community action.

Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and a master’s degree in Social Work from Wayne State University, where she specialized in Community Practice and Social Action.

Oliver Williams, Ph.D.
Dr. Williams is a Professor of School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul, MN. From June 1994 to September 2017 he was the Executive Director of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC). He has also served as the Director of the Safe Return Initiative that addresses the issues of prisoner reentry and domestic violence from 2003-2016 and the Director of the African American Domestic Peace Project (AADPP) that works with community leaders in 10 cities across the United States to address domestic violence from 2010 to 2021.

He has worked in the field of domestic violence for more than forty years. Dr. Williams is a clinical practitioner; working in mental health, family therapy, substance abuse, child welfare, delinquency, and sexual assault programs. He has worked in battered women’s shelters, developed curricula for batterers’ intervention programs and facilitated counseling groups in these programs. He has provided training across the United States and abroad on research and service-delivery surrounding partner abuse.

Dr. Williams has been appointed to several national advisory committees and task forces from the Center for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Office on Women’s Health, and the U.S. Department of Education. He has been a board member of various domestic violence and human service organization, including the early days of the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1999-2000 and the National Family Justice Center Alliance Advisory Board, 2006 to 2016. In 2000, he was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Domestic Violence by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and U.S. Attorney General. In 2010 he hosted a roundtable on youth and violence for the U.S. Attorney General and participated in a roundtable with the U.S. Attorney General on issues related to fatherhood and participated in a Whitehouse Roundtable on Fatherhood and Domestic Violence. He has conducted training for the U.S. Military Family Advocacy programs in the U.S. and abroad. He has presented on numerous Family Violence, Research, and Practice organizations in the United States, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, and Germany. In 2015 Dr. Williams was invited to speak at the United Nations about domestic violence among Africans in the United States and in Africa. His research and publications in scholarly journals, books, reports and videos have centered on creating service delivery strategies to reduce violent behavior and support victims of abuse. He has consulted with the NFL, MLB, and NBA on issues related to domestic violence.

Dr. Williams has received many awards, among them include an award from the American Psychological Association; an International “Telly Award” for his documentary work; the National “Shelia Wellstone Institute Award” The Alliance for Hope from the International Family Justice Center related to his National work on Domestic Violence; and a Distinguish Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work. Dr. Williams received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Michigan State University; a Masters in Social Work from Western Michigan University; a Masters in Public Health and a Ph.D. in Social Work both from the University of Pittsburgh.

Karen Wyman
Karen Wyman is the Prevention and Intervention Director. In her role, she supports statewide prevention and intervention approaches that move individuals and communities toward greater safety and collective liberation. Karen has over 20 years of social change and service roles in Maine, New Mexico, and Ohio.

Zuzana Žilková
Zuzana (Zuzka) is a PhD researcher at Durham University (UK) Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse where she studies the relational aspects of men’s change away from abuse. Alongside being involved in VAWG since 2005, she worked at the intersection of tech and research for Microsoft and with Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline. She holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania focusing on pro-social behavior change.