Dr. Denise C. McCain is a foremost domestic violence expert, researcher, visionary leader, and trailblazer in the movement to break the cycle of intimate partner violence.   With more than 30 years of experience in the field, Dr. McCain has worked on the front lines as a grassroots advocate, a domestic violence program director, and government administrator for federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funded programs.  

In June 2016, Dr. McCain was appointed as the Director of the Prince George’s County Family Justice Center, an initiative of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. This multi-disciplinary multi-agency organization provides comprehensive wrap-around services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and elder abuse with the support of twenty-three (23) co-located government and nonprofit agencies.  

In May of 2019, Dr. McCain was nominated and confirmed by the Prince George’s County Council to serve as a Commissioner on the Prince George’s County Commission for Women, where she served as Chair for the two terms from 2019 – 2023. Soon thereafter she was nominated to serve on the board of Maryland Network Against Domestic (MNADV), where she currently serves as Secretary. She also works on several local advisory committees and task forces, to include the Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force and member of its steering committee.  Dr. McCain is a national training consultant for the International Alliance for HOPE – the international umbrella organization for Family Justice Centers. 

Dr. McCain is distinguished in Maryland by her accomplishments and is the recipient of numerous awards that were received for the notable work she has undertaken to combat gender-based violence.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Criminology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia; a master’s degree in public administration from New York University (NYU), New York, and a doctorate degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, College of Public Affairs.  Dr. McCain resides in Upper Marlboro, MD with her husband and is the parent of three adult children and three grandchildren.