AWARDS & HONORS

2025 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Norfolk State University

2025 PRESIDENT EMERITA

National Organization of Forensic Social Work

(now Forensic Social Work Alliance)

2024 ALUMNI STARS AWARD

Virginia Commonwealth University

2023 DONALD R. FRIDLEY MEMORIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE in TRAINING and MENTORING

Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma

2023 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL IN ACADEMIA

Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy

2020 THE HONORABLE SOL GOTHARD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

National Organization of Forensic Social Work

(now Forensic Social Work Alliance)

2019 PRESIDENT EMERITA

National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan

(now National Plan to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan)

2019 CSWE LEADERSHIP SCHOLAR

Council of Social Work Education

2018 OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

(now Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children)

2016 PRESIDENT EMERITA

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

(now Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children)

2015 CHILD WELFARE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

Family and Children's Trust Fund of Virginia

(formerly Governor's Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect)

2014 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD for SOCIAL WORK

Champions for Children

(formerly Prevent Child Abuse Hampton Roads)

2013 EXCELLENCE IN CHILD ADVOCACY

Children's Rights Commissioner for the President of the Russian Federation

2012 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

National Association of Social Workers - Virginia Chapter

2011 SERVICE AWARD for EDITORSHIP - JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK

National Organization of Forensic Social Work

(now Forensic Social Work Alliance)

2011 OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD IN MENTAL HEALTH

National Children's Advocacy Center

1993 - 1995 GRADUATE STUDIES FELLOWSHIPS

Virginia Commonwealth University

EDUCATION

2013 MASTER OF JURISPRUDENCE

Loyola University,   Chicago, IL

• Children's Law and Policy Concentration

2003 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOCIAL WORK

Virginia Commonwealth University,   Richmond, VA

• Clinical Research and Social Policy Concentration
• Dissertation: Nonoffending Mothers Parenting Their Sexually Abused Children

1987 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
Norfolk State University,   Norfolk, VA

• Clinical Practice Concentration

1985 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Old Dominion University,   Norfolk, VA

• Psychology Major
• Women's Studies Certificate

Postgraduate Education

2019 MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Graduate School of Education, Harvard Institutes of Higher Education

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

2014 CERTIFICATE in INTERDISCIPLINARY LEADERSHIP

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals,   Phoenix, AZ

CREDENTIALS

1991 LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Social Work #0904-001680

TRAINING, CONSULTATION, & EXPERT WITNESS EXPERIENCE

VAUGHAN-EDEN COLLABORATIVE (evolved from Vaughan-Eden Counseling Services, Child and Family Resources, & Collaborative Divorce Solutions)

• Provide national and international training, consultation, and systems-level guidance to child welfare agencies, courts, healthcare systems, universities, and multidisciplinary teams
• Specialize in child maltreatment, trauma-informed practice, and forensic social work
• Serves as a board director for multiple local and national child welfare organizations
• Serves as an editorial board member and peer reviewer for national, peer-refereed journals
• Evaluated and/or consulted on more than 3,000 child abuse and neglect cases
• Qualified more than 700 times as an expert witness
• Provided expert witness testimony in more than 22 Virginia jurisdictions, 10 other states, and three branches of the U.S. military courts, and has consulted on or been deposed in cases in nine additional states
• Majority of referrals originated from Social Services agencies and the Courts
• Provided clinical mental health and forensic services to children, adolescents, and families impacted by abuse, neglect, trauma-related disorders, and foster care or adoption-related concerns
• Served as a child specialist and coach for divorcing families utilizing an interdisciplinary collaborative practice model