Christine Ann Awad Cowart, a dually certified trauma professional has built a career in the human services field, with a focus on criminal legal systems and family services policy. After earning her Master of Criminal Justice degree from the State University of New York at Albany, Christine was employed as a state legislative analyst in New York, and then New Jersey. She has also worked as a policy analyst for the New York State Division of Parole and a contract and grant specialist for the Vermont Department for Children and Families, where she doubled as the co-chair for the Family Services Division's racial equity workgroup. She currently serves as the policy director for the Vermont Department of Corrections, where she is helping to implement a Department-wide trauma-informed approach.Christine was raised in the United States by two immigrant parents, one from North Africa, the other from Waestern Europe, who merged the best of their vastly different cultures. After marrying, she joyfully welcomed two Indigenous sons from South America, each with their own personalities, stories, gifts, and traumatic histories. Her personal and professional experiences led her to a clear recognition of trauma and its effects throughout our society and what can be done to change the story. Driven to research and share this information, Christine founded Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership, to help individuals and organizations implement trauma-informed practices.Recognizing that the physical spaces in which we spend time can impact our perceptions, stress levels, and ability to regulate our emotional responses and behaviors, Christine joined Janet E. Roche and J. Davis Harte as a co-founder of the Trauma-informed Design Society, in 2021.