I am: a PhD, a sister, a daughter, a partner, a graduate of Clemson University. I’m a scientist, a runner, an adventurer, a craft beer and bourbon enthusiast. I grew up in a loving, supportive family – people always ask me how I have my life so “together." What many of those people do not know is that I am also a survivor of domestic violence. However, I am one of the LUCKY victims, if that is possible – the majority of my abuse in the span of six years was psychological. My partner utilized coercive control, which is basically long term abuse that included attacking my self-worth, degrading remarks, obsessive monitoring of my whereabouts, limiting my contact with others, and controlling my physical appearance. Naturally, this behavior drastically reduced my self-esteem, making it harder to end the relationship and impossible for me to see the situation for what it really was: domestic abuse. I simply rationalized it as strong love, care for my well-being, and protection, as so many victims do.

Personally, one of the main reasons that this experience did not entirely consume me is because of the incredible network of friends and family who dropped everything to pull me out of the depths of it – I remember my mom and sister helping to discard all of his belongings, my colleagues changing the lock on my apartment door after he broke in, my girlfriends who picked up the phone when I called them, regardless of the hour. I owe so much to these incredible human beings, and for some time they truly were my voice and my strength.

That is why I truly believe as educated, influential, able women, we have a responsibility to be the voices for those that cannot speak, to be the strength for those who are currently weak or suffering in our community. That is why I am an ambassador for Safe Harbor and why I continually make efforts to raise money to support their cause. I hope you will join me!

#BecauseIRide #DefyTheLie #SupportSurvivors

Love, 

Katie