We’re growing—meet our latest team members

To our friends and collaborators in violence prevention,

The Center is starting the year with strong momentum by growing our team and continuing to

attract some of the top talent in the field, even amid turbulent times for scientific research.

We are thrilled to introduce four new Center staff members, who together bring many years of subject-matter expertise that will deepen our work in advancing evidence-based violence prevention:

Maggie Ingram, PhD has joined the Center as an Assistant Scientist, where she leads the evaluation of several programs across our portfolio. Maggie was most recently the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Lead in the Division of Violence Prevention at the CDC.

Mary Harbert Morgan, MPH is the Center’s new Research Project Manager and is charged with overseeing the Center’s research portfolio. Mary also joins us from the CDC, where she served as a Health Scientist in the Division of Violence Prevention.

Alli Ertl, PhD has joined the Center as a Senior Data Analyst and will lead our data analysis to maximize research impact. She is also a CDC alum, where she was a Health Scientist on the Child Abuse, Neglect, and Adversity Team in the Division of Violence Prevention.

Luke Malone, MA is our new Senior Communications Specialist and will help broaden the Center's reach. Luke is an Emmy-nominated journalist and has reported on sexual violence prevention for outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and HBO.

BECOME A SUSTAINER TO MAXIMIZE OUR IMPACT

What else is new at the Center in 2026:

With a $1.4 million grant from the CDC, the Center will conduct a randomized controlled trial of Stop It Now’s WhatsOK helpline, helping us understand how early, confidential support can prevent harm before it occurs.

We’re expanding our work on safeguarding in sport through collaborations with USA Football and the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, and growing our school-based prevention partnerships with kNot Today and ChildHelp.

We’ve had two abstracts accepted by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, which we will present at their annual conference. You will also find us at ATSA, the NH Violence Prevention Conference, the Conference on Crimes Against Women, and the American Public Health Association conference.

I will be speaking at the Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children Prevention Series, the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect's "Office Hours," and Safer Society Foundation's Safe Talk webinar.

The Center’s Dr. Ingram kicked off an inter-agency working group for leaders in the field of sexual abuse prevention. The group’s first meeting took place in January, and I am proud that the Center is taking the lead in connecting our talented colleagues and collaborators in the field.

Here’s to a fruitful year of research, collaboration, and progress in violence prevention. We are glad to have you with us.

Melissa Bright, PhD

Founder and Executive Director

Center for Violence Prevention Research

Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 87-0979357

Center for Violence Prevention Research | 2603 NW 13th St 105 | Gainesville, FL 32609 US

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