Hello

I earned my Master of Criminal Justice degree from the State University of New York at Albany, while working in a variety of related positions.  I then served as a state legislative analyst in both New York and New Jersey, including 10 years in the Law and Public Safety section of the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services.  I have also worked as a policy analyst for the New York State Division of Parole and as a contract and grant specialist for the Vermont Department for Children and Families, where I doubled as the co-chair for the Family Services Division’s racial equity workgroup.  I am currently employed as the policy director for the Vermont Department of Corrections, where I am helping to implement a Department-wide trauma-informed approach.

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In my spare time, I volunteer in a variety of capacities.  I am a member of her local school’s community-based diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, which works towards ensuring a safe environment for all students and families.  In addition, I've served as an adaptive sports instructor for the past 20+ years through Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a year-round program that offers holistic, sports and recreation opportunities to people with disabilities.  I am certified as a child specialist and an adaptive ski instructor through Professional Ski Instructors of America.

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I was raised in the United States by two immigrant parents, one from North Africa, the other from Western Europe, who merged the best of their vastly different cultures. After I married, I joyfully welcomed two Indigenous sons from South America, each with their own personalities, stories, gifts, and traumatic histories.  My personal and professional experiences led me to a clear recognition of trauma and its effects throughout our society.

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Committed to researching and addressing this phenomenon as a specialty, and driven to share this information with the general public, I founded Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership, to help individuals and organizations implement trauma-informed practices.

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Recognizing that the physical spaces in which we spend time can impact our perceptions, stress levels, and ability to regulate our emotional responses and behaviors, I joined with Janet E. Roche, MDS CAPS, and J. Davis Harte, PhD, WELL AP in co-founding the Trauma-informed Design Society.  The Trauma-informed Design Society is a transdisciplinary team with a focus on turning research into practice, and back into research. Located across the United States, the Society merges the co-founders’ extensive experience in human services and interior design with an understanding of trauma science, to help organizations implement a trauma-informed approach in their services and create stress-reducing physical spaces.