Stacy Vaughan, DSW, CMSW

As the Director of Programs and Impact at the Center for Violence Prevention Research, Dr. Stacy Vaughan operated as part of a researcher-practitioner team with the Center's Director, Dr. Melissa Bright, and helped launch Connect to Protect Kids, becoming our first Executive Director. She is also the founder/owner of Strategic Social Impact, and has provided consultation, training, content development, and strategic solutions to a variety of national organizations such as the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation, kNot Today, and Stop It Now! Stacy is a prevention expert with more than 25 years in the field, and has developed adult- and child-focused curricula and resources, managed a variety of projects related to child protection, helped organizations and communities establish prevention initiatives, and frequently provides professional trainings and presentations on abuse and exploitation prevention issues.

Her expertise in child victimization and prevention, her commitment to safeguarding at-risk populations and to social justice and equity, and a strong, expansive network allows her to support others in their efforts, foster collaboration and partnerships for growth, and maximize social impact in prevention and child safety. From 2011-2023, Stacy was the Vice President of Programs at the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, a national nonprofit, where she was the primary author of multiple comprehensive, evidence-based, trauma-informed programs still in use today. She also helped hundreds of schools, child advocacy centers, and other organizations around the country establish and expand community prevention initiatives.

In addition to her prevention expertise, Stacy has a strong background as a nonprofit executive.. Over the course of her career, Stacy has provided governance and operational leadership for organizations through all phases of growth. In this capacity, Stacy is leading Connect to Protect Kids as we turn an idea into an innovative, national nonprofit revisioning the prevention of sexual, peer, and online violence against children by building connected, protective communities.

Stacy earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Alabama and two Master’s degrees from East Carolina University (in Social Work and Academic Psychology). She has received several awards for her work to protect children and stays current in the field as a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. She has also served on the Community Advisory Board of the First Coast Child Protection Team, as a proposal reviewer for the National Children’s Alliance, and as Secretary of the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation where she co-authored the revision of the National Plan to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in 2021.