Mary Stafford

Mary Stafford is an Instructor with the University of Kansas Criminal Justice Program and University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker with nearly 20 years' experience serving crime victims and survivors. Her areas of emphasis include domestic and sexual violence, education and prevention initiatives, program management, trauma-informed leadership, expert witness testimony, and alternative paths to healing and justice both for victims and those who have caused harm. Mary has worked as a victim advocate, prevention specialist, and program manager at community-based organizations in Kansas. Most recently, she served as the Director of Victim Services for the Kansas Department of Corrections overseeing notification, advocacy, victim-centered offender programming, and restorative justice services for victims across Kansas. Currently, Mary facilitates intervention programming for incarcerated and paroled individuals convicted of violent crimes. She proudly serves on the Board of Directors for Do Good for Erin, a Kansas City based organization committed to supporting anti-violence efforts throughout the metropolitan area.

Throughout her career as a social worker, Mary has focused her efforts on educating the next generation of victim advocates and moving the needle on justice-related issues. She is eager to impart her professional and lived experiences to her students.