Academic Conferences

The Second Annual Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Summit is Rescheduled for April 2nd 2025

In Partnership with the General Federation Of Women's Clubs

GFWC of TN District 1

Johnson City Monday Club Auxiliary

The Monday Club of Johnson City

To Register Click HERE  

Conference has been resceduled for April 2nd, 2025

Mission: "…to train and educate our campus and community in the prevention, response, advocacy, and treatment for domestic violence sexual assault victims. The conference is an initial effort to eliminate misconceptions and to begin to create an environment that will better take care of victims/survivors." 

This educational summit explores response and access to victim resources and victim services that are available in the community.  The program will address effective protocols for responding to those experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault and discuss integrating that response into a management plan for the community at large.

We are excited to welcome the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence back to Johnson City for this event!

Ruth Taylor Read is the  program manager for this event, and she is commited to the community, which  is evident in her involvement with organizations such as the Johnson City Sexual Assault Task Force and Women Matter Northeast Tennessee, a nonprofit organization addressing critical issues affecting women in the region. She currently serves on the board of directors for Frontier Health SAFE House, underlining her dedication to fostering a safe and supportive community. 

                                                                                                               

 

 

Speakers include: 

                                                                                   

Tina L. Fox, MPS

A native Memphian, Tina Fox retired from Tennessee State Government in 2019 after thirty (30) years of dedicated service. She served as the first African American state Director of Victim Services for the Tennessee Board of Parole (2012 – 2019). Tina was recognized nationally for her work with crime victims in April 2018 as she received the National Crime Victims’ Rights Award from the United States Department of Justice. She graduated from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Leadership Academy and holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership, Master’s degree in Public Studies in Strategic Leadership, and Bachelor’s degree Science in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University where she is an active alumnus. She is also a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership Institute for Public Service. Tina recently received from e-Cornell University her Leadership Certificate in Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.Tina is currently the Director of Community Relations for Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence; she facilitates Statewide domestic violence trainings, monitors certified Domestic Violence Programs, coordinates the Inclusivity Committee, manages the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council, attends and support partnerships’ community events.Tina is a lifetime member of Tennessee State University National Alumni Association, lifetime member of TSU’s Nashville Alumni Chapter where she is serving as Vice President, member of the NAACP (Nashville Chapter), President of Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Steering Committee Member for Tennessee State Youth Conference and serves in several organizations. She recently was recognized as the 2024 Lady in History from the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Philos for her work in domestic violence. \Tina is a faithful member of the Schrader Lane Church of Christ in Nashville where she teaches 5th – 8th grades’ Wednesday Nigh Bible Class and Co-Chairs the Single Sistahs Ministry. She strongly believes “in order to achieve greatness, we must first do small things well.”

 

 

 

 

                                                                                       

 

Kate Emmerich, LCSW 

Ms. Emmerich (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her Masters of Social Work from Michigan State University in 2012.  Ms. Emmerich currently serves as Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Instructor for medical students, residents, fellows and spouses at Quillen College of Medicine.  Prior roles include providing therapy to elementary school students in Johnson City through the Frontier Health HEROES program, private group practice, and Mental Health Counselor and Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Coordinator (OASIS Program) at the ETSU Counseling Center.  In her previous role at ETSU, Ms. Emmerich was heavily involved in outreach, education and advocacy related to sexual and IPV prevention on campus and in the community.  This included membership on ETSU's Sexual Misconduct Leadership Team and the community Sexual Assault Response Team, annual invitations to train Title IX investigators on dynamics and symptoms of trauma, presentations on sexual misconduct at orientation sessions, presentations and workshops for classes and student groups across campus, and interviews with local news outlets.  Ms. Emmerich led annual campus events for eight years, including Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, Take Back the Night, The Red Flag Campaign, and Love Your Body Day.  Ms. Emmerich was awarded ETSU Staff Woman of the Year in 2021.  In her current role, Ms. Emmerich has served on the planning committee for a recent National Libraries of Medicine traveling exhibit on sexual and intimate partner violence.  Ms. Emmerich helped bring the exhibit to ETSU's main campus and presented to medical students about their role with patients regarding these issues.  Ms. Emmerich is trained in EMDR (EMDRIA Approved) and TF-CBT and provides trauma-informed, person-centered therapeutic support to clients with varying presenting concerns.  As a social worker, Ms. Emmerich recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of each individual person, and the incredible importance of human relationships.  Ms. Emmerich believes in preventative care when it comes to a person’s health and wellness, which includes preventative emotional and psychological care.  Help-seeking is viewed and treated as a great strength, not a sign of weakness.  Ms. Emmerich conceptualizes her role as collaborative with clients as they work to identify and address what in the client’s life or current circumstances is impeding the way to thriving, healing, peace, empowerment, confidence, or whatever clients believe would help them live their best lives and be the most authentic versions of themselves.   

Amanda Simpson, Attorney

Amanda Simpson graduated with honors from the Bellmont College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was recognized for her outstanding work with people who had no access to justice. She is passionate about ensuring that everyone has the ability to receive excellent legal advocacy, regardless of their ability to pay. She is currently the Managing Attorney of the Johnson City Office of Legal Aid of East Tennessee and has successfully litigated thousands of cases. She cares deeply about eradicating domestic abuse and regularly trains partnering agencies and attorneys on the complexity of abuse cycles. She is proud to call Bristol her home and to be a dog mom to three beautiful Huskies.

Sarah King, Attorney

Sarah King has been a passionate attorney advocate for 18 years and currently works as an attorney for Legal Aid of East Tennessee, where she works closely with victims and survivors of domestic abuse. She is originally from Abingdon, Virginia, but has spent most of her career in Nashville, TN and Portland, Oregon. She was named a Nashville Emerging Leader, a federal fellow, was the first female Assistant Director of the Umpqua Valley Public Defender Office, and was the First Female Chief of Major Felonies in Portland, Oregon. She has extensive trial and appellate experience, including death penalty work and federal mega cases. When not working, she enjoys gardening with her husband at their home in Erwin, Tennessee, hiking with friends and family, and traveling with their three dogs.

“Domestic Violence and Sexual Assaults are serious problems in Sullivan County.”

Barry Staubus, Sullivan County, District Attorney General 

For more information or to register Click HERE

Previous Conferences

 

East Tennessee State University's Office of Professional Development is offering The State of Aging in East Tennessee Conference August 7, 2024 at the Carnegie Hotel, Johnson City, Tennessee from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.This conference is founded by the Office of Professional Development, in collaboration with the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability, Alzheimer's Tennessee, Northeast Tennessee-Southwest Virginia, First Tennessee Development District, Elder Law of East Tennessee, Johnson City Senior Center, and other regional agencies whose focus is on the aging experiences of East Tennesseans.

"Through recognizing partnerships and igniting conversations, this conference is beginning a pathway towards a more transparent, efficient, informed, and enriched journey for our seniors and their caregivers," says Program Manager Ruth Taylor Read. "It is important in every community that we become aware of allies, processes and resources that define today's aging experience."Beginning conversations will include essential topics in aging. We will discuss the latest Alzheimer's research and proven strategies to enrich the journey for our regional seniors. Other topics include: dementia, active aging, creative aging, elder law and more.

Our Gold Sponsor is Humana. We also have UTExtension at Knoxville’s Family and Consumer Science sponsoring.  

Photos from the conference. 

 

 

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