Shelia Hankins

Ms. Hankins is the associate director of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community at the University of Minnesota. In this capacity she provides leadership in working with national and local projects dedicated to ending domestic violence among African Americans. Specifically her work includes research, policy, community education and awareness, community organizing and developing, and the provision of technical assistance to federally funded and other nonprofit organizations. She has 30 years of leadership experience and is recognized nationally for her work in the domestic violence field. Additionally, Ms. Hankins provides training, meeting facilitation, and consulting services nationally.

Ms. Hankins has focused her professional career and her community service activities on issues related to redressing the economic, political, and social status of traditionally disenfranchised and marginalized communities. She is an advocate for organizational, institutional, and systemic changes in our society that will create safe and empowering environments for clients/customers, staff, families, and communities. She is a co-founder of national Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community and has served on the steering committee since 1993. Ms. Hankins also is co-founder and past chair of the Transformation Detroit Project. Ms. Hankins has served on the board of directors for the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic Violence.