SHARON ANN O'BRIEN, Ph.D.
Director of Catholics For Family Peace
Catholic University of America – National Catholic School of Social Service
Consortium for Catholic Social Teaching
620 Michigan Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20064
Shahan Hall 206 D 301.651.8190 [email protected]
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Human Development. May 2003. University of Maryland, College of Education,
Department of Human Development, College Park, MD.
Dissertation: Relationship between women having witnessed father-to-mother violence
and experiencing current wife abuse.
Post-masters courses. 1982 - 1984, 1990. George Washington University.
Graduate courses in communication (action science), organizational behavior, research,
and program evaluation.
M.A. Adult Education. February 1981. George Washington University, School of
Education and Human Development, Washington, D.C. Intern Program Evaluator, Office
of Continuing Medical Education, GWU Medical Center.
B.S. Recreation Administration and Program Planning. 1975. University of Maryland,
College Park, Maryland. Includes a minor of 21 credits in Business Administration.
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RE: FAITH AND FAMILY PEACE
Catholic Focused:
1. 2006 - 2007. Just Faith program participant (30 session version).
2. 2007 - 2008. Just Faith Program Facilitator (30 session version)
3. 2008 - 2009. Just Faith Engaged Spirituality Facilitator (21 sessions)
4. 2005 - 2006. Leadership Institute. Applied Catholic Social Teaching. Archdiocese of
Washington,D.C. (9 month program)
5. 2013 – present. RCIA Team teacher.
Interfaith or Secular Focused:
1. 2013. Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland (40 hour domestic abuse
response training program). University of Baltimore.
2. 2004 – present. Webinars and workshops related to domestic abuse with special
focus on cultural competencies conferences.
3. 2006. Leadership Training: Religious Resources and Roadblocks to Ending Violence
Against Women. Faith Trust Institute. Phoenix, AZ. 3 day program.
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4. 2006. Changing Culture, Involving Men, Engaging Communities. MNADV/MCASA.
CEU’s 5.5 hours.
5. 2006. Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Spirituality. IFCADV. 5 hours CEU’s.
6. 2006 – present (intermittent). Jewish Women International’s National Alliance to End
Domestic Abuse. Series of 10 webinars a year presented by top professionals.
7. 2004. Trauma and Spiritual Healing. Elizabeth G. Vermilyea, M.A. Sidran Institute.
Arnold, MD. (2 day program)
8. 2004 & 2005. Abuser Intervention Program Conferences. Maryland.
9. 2004. Training the Trainer in Faith Communities: How to Create a Safe Place to
Address Domestic Abuse. IFCADV. 9 hour program.
10. 1996. Certified Focus Group Leader.
11. 1992. Certified Total Quality Management Instructor.
PUBLICATIONS, RESEARCH, MAJOR PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITING
1.
2006 – present. Editorial Board, Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma
based on serving as a reviewer from 2003 – 2006.
2.
2015. Reviewer. How to Help End Violence in Catholic Families: A Guide for
Clergy, Religious, and Laity. Author: Christauria Welland, Ph.D.
3.
2015. Primary co-author of on-line resource guide to address domestic abuse:
Women Healing the Wounds. National Council of Catholic Women (www.nccw.org).
4.
2014. Co-author. Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC). Two blogs
describing intersection of domestic violence and immigration issues .
https://cliniclegal.org/news/catholics-family-peace-vawa-mothers-day-office-violenceagainstwomen/remembering-mothers-and https://cliniclegal.org/news/catholics-family-peacevawainternational-womens-day-lent/ministry-victims-domestic-abuse
5. 2014. Primary co-author of on-line resource guide: Spiritual Response to Domestic
Abuse. Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (www.mnadv.org).
6. 2014. Sabri, B., Stockman, J.K., Campbell, J.C., O’Brien, Campbell, D., Callwood, G.,
Bertrand, D., Sutton, L., & Hart-Hyndman (2014). Factors associated with increased risk for
lethal violence in intimate partner relationships among ethnically diverse black women.
Violence and Victims, 29 (5), 719-741.
7. 2013. “Engaging the Interfaith Community in Domestic Violence Prevention and
Intervention.” International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and
Stalking. End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI). Baltimore, MD.
8. 2013. Reviewer. National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Religion and
Domestic Violence Information and Resources Manual. (100 page section)
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9. 2013. USCCB. Interviewed by Bethany Meola, Assistant Director, Secretariat of Laity,
Marriage, Family Life and Youth (LMFLY) for their “For Your Marriage” blog: Interview
With Three Catholics Working To End Domestic Violence.
http://www.foryourmarriage.org/interview-3-catholics-working-to-end-domestic-violence/
10. 2012. Sabri, B., O’Brien, S., Campbell, J., Stockman, J.K., & Callwood, G.B. (July
2012). Factors associated with increased risk for lethal violence in intimate partner
relationships among African-American and African Caribbean women. Poster
presentation at the International Family Violence and Child Victimization Conference,
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
11. 2013. Co-designed survey of Catholic Charities-USA affiliates response to domestic
abuse. Intern conducted survey. Later, Dr. Christopher Yeung authored the report:
“Summary of 2012 Pilot Survey of Responses of Catholic Charities – USA Affiliates
Regarding Domestic Violence Programs.”
12. 2011: “Faith Response to Domestic Violence.” International Family Aggression
Society. Manchester, England.
13. 2009 -2012. Research Team Member. G. Callwood, PI. Abuse Status and Health
Consequences for African American and Afro-Caribbean Women. R01 funded
by Caribbean Exploratory Center (P20) at the University of the Virgin Islands
School of Nursing.
14. 2012. Research Seminar Presenter. “Overview of the National Intimate Partner and
Sexual Violence Survey.” Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing Research
Symposium.
15. 2012. “Roundtable on Faith-based Therapy Response to Domestic Abuse.”
Collaborated with Catholic Charities–USA and CHANA so Catholics from six agencies
could discuss the Jewish approach of providing faith-based therapists to survivors.
16. 2012. “Why and How Dioceses Should Support Domestic Violence Ministries”.
Presentation. National Council of Catholic Women’s Annual Convention. Myrtle
Beach, SC.
17. 2011. Focus Group Discussion: “What is the experience of Catholic women dealing
with domestic abuse?” National Council of Catholic Women’s Annual Convention.
Chicago.
18. 2011. Communication Category, Poster Award: Defining and deconstructing
adolescent girls dating dynamics. University of Maryland. College Park, MD. School
of Public Health Research Interaction Day.
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19. 2004-2005. Member. Domestic Violence Abuser Research Collaborative. State of
Maryland.
20. 2003- 2010. Research Coordinator for seven year contract. DOE Grant. Barbara
Waskik, PI, Johns Hopkins University. Early Reading First Program. Center for the
Social Organization of Schools (CSOS). Trained and coordinated the work efforts of
5 testers to administer standardized language and literacy assessment to 1,000
Baltimore City Head Start children at 20 sites. Scored tests. Developed a working
relationship with the Directors and teachers at each site.
21. 2010. Co-authored the adaptation of a 3 hour training program for “DV Lethality
Assessment for Police” into “DV Lethality Assessment Program for Faith Leaders.”
22. 2008. Initiated and co-designed USCCB’s Survey: Diocesan Response to Domestic
Violence: Report from a survey of U.S. Dioceses. July 2008. see
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-andfamily/marriage/domesticviolence/upload/USCCB-FLWY-Domestic-Violence.pdf
23.
2007. Authored 30-page book chapter based on interviews of 20 people:
Faith Communities Response to Intimate Partner Violence. See Intimate Partner
Violence. Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett & Sarah M. Giacomoni, Editors. Civic
Research Institute.
24.
2006 & 2005. Grant Reviewer. Administration on Children, Youth and
Families (ACFY). Reviewed grants and resolved scoring with fellow group of
reviewers.
25. 2006. Authored 2500 word article for Community Corrections Report on “Can Reentry
Services Work with the Faith-based Community to Reduce Domestic Violence?”
Community Corrections Report on Law and Corrections Practice. March/April 2006,
Volume 13, No. 3.
26. 2004-2005. Research Interviewer. CDC Grant. Pamela Alexander, PI, University of
Maryland. Conducted follow-up telephone interviews with victims of intimate partner
abuse at 6, 12, and 18 months after initial contact with agency.
27. 2003. Dissertation Seminar Presentation. International Family Violence and Child
Victimization Research Conference. University of New Hampshire. Durham, NH.
28. 2002. Research Study Interviewer. NIH Grant. Jacquelyn Campbell, PI, Johns
Hopkins University. Risk Factors for Homicide in Violent Intimate Relationships.
Followed research protocol to conduct in-person interviews with a close relative,
usually sister or mother, of a woman killed by domestic violence.
29. 1999. Research Consultant. Project with pharmaceutical company to design a model
quality improvement to decrease medication errors.
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30. 1998 - 1999. Focus Group Leader for qualitative portion of study. NIJ Grant. Robyn
Gershon, PI, Johns Hopkins University. Domestic Violence in the Police Community.
31. 1997. "Total Quality Management Approaches for Improving Safety Climate." Robyn
R.M. Gershon, Patricia A. Flanagan, Ronald Bunk, Sharon O'Brien, and Judy Shahan.
Poster presentation. 40th American Biological Safety Association Conference. La
Jolla, California. October 19-22, 1997.
32. 1997. Focus Group Facilitator for qualitative portion of study. NIJ Grant. Robyn
Gershon, PI, Johns Hopkins University. Infection Control of Healthcare Workers in
Prison Environments.
33. 1996. "Comparison of Qualitative Techniques to Analyze Focus Group Results."
University of Maryland. Research class requirement.
34. 1994. "Department Deployment: Integrating Quality Improvement into Day to Day
Management." Thomas A. Fontana, MBA; Sandra Butcher, MSW; and Sharon Ann
O'Brien, MA. Quality Letter for Healthcare Leaders. Vol. 6. No. 6. July - August
1994.
35. 1982. "Use of Program Evaluation Results in Decision-making." Sharon A. O'Brien,
Dennis H. Holmes, and Rebecca Jane Wilson Grueneberger. Presented to
Pennsylvania and New Jersey Education Research Association Conference.
35. 1985. "Supervisory Staff Participation in The George Washington University Training
Programs 1979 - 1984." Internal Document.
36. 1978-1982. Primary writer of five proposals. 80% success rate.
$250,000.00 of funded business for employers.
Resulted in
37. 1980. “Reviewing the Validity and Reliability of the Medical College Admissions Test”.
Statistics class requirement.
38. 1979. "A Demographic Study of Clients for the Period of July 1, 1978 - June 30, 1979."
Tri-County Youth Services Bureau. Internal document.
39. 1975. "Teleteaching." University of Maryland Extension Education. April, 1975.
SUMMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
2015 – present. Director, Catholics For Family Peace at Catholic University of America,
National Catholic School of Social Service, Consortium for Catholic Social Teaching
2011 – 2015. Co-Founder and Director, Catholics For Family Peace. National education
ministry. Office at Theological College (2014-2015)
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1999 – present. Family Violence Research Consultant
1994 – 1999. Quality Improvement Consultant (Healthcare Specialty)
1992 – 1994. Quality Improvement Coordinator, George Washington University and
Medical Center (GWUMC).
1983 – 1992. Management Training Specialist, Department of Personnel, GWU
1983 -- 1983. Interim Executive Associate to the Dean, GWU, School of
Education and Human Development
1982 – 1983. Conference and Grants Coordinator, GWU
1981 – 1981. Adult Education Consultant (Healthcare Specialty)
1977 - 1979 Parent Education Coordinator and Associate Director of Research.
Tri- County Youth Services Bureau
MAJOR WORK RELATED TO FAITH RESPONSE TO ADDRESSING INTIMATE
PARTNER VIOLENCE AND PROMOTING FAMILY PEACE
1. 2010 – 2011. Initiated and facilitated USCCB hosted National Workgroup to propose
a National Coordinated Response to Domestic Abuse. Results include a
Statement of Purpose and the creation of the national ministry, Catholics For Family
Peace (CFFP). CFFP has a web-paged presence sharing Church teaching and resources
to address domestic abuse. It provides clergy educational days, conference
presentations, and national and international collaboration on the issue. In October 2015,
it became affiliated with Catholic University of America's National Catholic School of
Social Service's Consortium for Catholic Social Teaching.
2. 2008 – 2015. Facilitator. Inter-parish Family Peace Education and Awareness Project.
Results: 7 parishes. Collaborate to promote awareness campaigns and service project
for local shelter.
3. 2015. Conference Planner and Presenter. “Clergy Respond to Domestic Abuse.”
Archdiocese of Baltimore, Notre Dame of Maryland University.
4. 2015. Workshop Presenter at “Blessed Art Thou: The Dignity of Women – A Woman’s
Conference on Domestic Violence and Life Issues.” The Josephite Pastoral Center
and the National Black Catholic Congress.
5. 2015. Co-designed and co-presented Training Program: Introduction to a Catholic
Approach to Domestic Abuse. Stephen Ministry. St. Andrew of the Apostle Church,
Silver Spring, MD.
6. 2014 – 2015. Coordinator. Family Peace Project Study Group. Archdiocese of
Washington, D.C. Results include a Plan of Action. An initial project was that a parish
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based DV Ministry hosted a Day of Learning for Clergy and Deacons on Domestic
Abuse. Priests and Deacons from 14 different parishes attended it.
7. 2012 – 2013. Facilitator, Ad-hoc Committee to Propose a Coordinated and
Collaborative Response to Domestic Abuse between the Archdioceses of Baltimore
and Washington, D.C. Results include each Archdioceses endorsing the concept.
8. 2014. Designed and facilitated a 5 session workshop for 13 Executive Directors of
Birthing and Pregnancy Centers on the “Catholic Response to Domestic Abuse.”
Resulted in the sharing of policies and protocols to screen for domestic abuse and to
assist clients experiencing it.
9. 2013 – 2016. Served on the State of Maryland’s Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition
to represent the Catholic Community. Results: Each year, helped plan an annual day
of dialogue for clergy and advocate community. 300 people registered for the October
14, 2015 event.
10. 2013 – 2015.Served on Montgomery County, Maryland’s Teen Dating Awareness
Annual Conference (Choose Respect) representing the Catholic Community.
11.
2009 – present. Serve on Advisory Board of Jewish Coalition Against Domestic
Abuse.
12.
2006 – 2013. Founding Board of Director, Peaceful Families Project. National
Muslim Response to Domestic Abuse. Organization is now a national initiative of
United Muslim Relief.
13.
2004-2012. Founding Board of Director, Interfaith Community Against Domestic
Violence, Montgomery County, MD. (June 2004 – June 2012). Assisted in planning
and implementing the annual one-day conferences. Led transformation from a
committee to a nonprofit organization. Secured funds for office space. During tenure,
served as Secretary (2004-2006), Vice President (2006-2007) and President (20072011).
14.
2011. Co-taught a 6 session Peace Education course with MJ Park, Co-Founder
of Little Friends For Peace. Catholic Church of the Resurrection, Burtonsville, MD.
15.
2005-2007. Board of Director. Maryland’s Domestic Violence Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (DVICM). Group disbanded but the State picked up the
responsibilities in 2012. .
16.
2006 – 2007. Secured a Pastoral Excellence Study Group Award ($10,000.00).
Curriculum Co-Designer and Co-Facilitator with priest for a 5-session, 15 hour Study
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Group for Catholic priests on faith response to relationship violence and abuse.
Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
17.
2005- 2007. Project Team member to assist the Catholic Archdiocese of
Washington, D.C. to develop a method to respond effectively to relationship violence
and abuse.
18.
2005. Co-designed 3 hour presentation on “Domestic Violence During Pregnancy”
for a Catholic Pregnancy Crisis Center.
19.
2005. Designed and presented 1 ½ hour workshop on Emotional Abuse. Interfaith
Community Against Domestic Violence’s Annual Conference.
SPONSORED INTERNS
1.
2011 (Fall). Catholics For Family Peace. Marymount University Undergraduate
Student. Intern researched and completed paper on Current Resources Accessible to
U.S. Catholics on Domestic Abuse.
2.
2012 (Summer). University of Chicago MBA Intern. Catholics For Family Peace
in collaboration with Catholic Charities – USA. Intern conducted a national pilot survey
on the Catholic Charities – USA’s affiliates program responses to domestic abuse.
PROFESSIONAL AND FAITH-BASED AFFILIATIONS
NACFLM: National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers. 2014 – present.
State of Maryland’s Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition. 2013 – 2016.
National Council of Catholic Women. Member: 2008 – present.
(NCCW Province Director 2013- 2017)
Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. 2008 – present.
Peaceful Families Project. Founding Director 2006 – 2013 until it became a national
initiative of the United Muslim Relief.
JCADA: Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse’s Advisory Board. 2004 – present.
Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence (IFCADV). Montgomery County, MD.
2004-2013.
Domestic Violence Interfaith Coalition of Maryland, Inc. (DVICM). Elected to Board,
January 2005. Member November 2003 – 2007.
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. Member: 2003 – present.
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault. 2003 –present.
State of Maryland’s Family Violence Council’s Research Collaborative, Abuser
Intervention Program Group, September 2003 – March 2005.
Phi Delta Kappa. The George Washington University Chapter. Initiated 1984.
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National Capital Area Hospital Council, Education and Training Division, 1983-1992.
American Society for Training and Development. 1980 – 1992.
Adult Education Association. 1979 – 1982.
Education Alumni Association of The George Washington University, School of
Education and Human Development. Member: 1981 - present. Board member, 1988 1990. Secretary, 1989-1990.
University of Maryland Alumni Association. 1975 - present.
Toastmasters International, a non-profit communication and leadership organization.
Club member: 1981- 1991. 2013 – present. Executive Board: July 1987 - June 1990 and
District Governor of 139 clubs July 1990 – June 1991.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2009. Leadership Award. Archdiocese of Washington, Department of Carity and Justice
in recognition of dedicated leadership with the domestic violence pastoral outreach
initiative.
2003. Gerald T. Hotaling Memorial Student Research Award. International Family
Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference. University of New Hampshire.
1991. Distinguished District Governor. Toastmasters International.
1984. Phi Delta Kappa. The George Washington University Chapter.
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