FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? OVW
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2003?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202/307-0703
DIANE STUART TO SERVE AS ACTING DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Justice Department today announced that Diane
Stuart has been designated by President Bush to serve as the Acting Director of the
Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice's Office of
Justice Programs.
The Office on Violence Against Women (formerly
the Violence Against Women Office), created under the 1994 Crime Act, provides
federal
leadership and has awarded more than $1 billion in grant funding for violence
against women programs for the past eight years.? With enactment of a new Justice Department authorization bill in
November 2002, the position of Office on Violence Against Women director was
elevated to a presidentially‑appointed position, subject to Senate
confirmation.? The designation of Stuart
to serve as Acting Director represents the Administration?s continued
commitment to maintaining a high profile for violence against women issues.?
?Combating violence against women is a priority for the Justice
Department, and Diane?s commitment has helped make the office a success,? said
Attorney General John Ashcroft.? ?I am
pleased Diane will continue to provide valuable leadership and service to the
Justice Department as Acting Director of this office.?
Ms. Stuart has served as Director of the existing Office on Violence Against
Women, since her appointment by President Bush in October 2001.? Prior to her appointment, Ms. Stuart was the
State Coordinator for the Utah Domestic Violence Cabinet Council, serving in
that capacity since 1996.? Prior to
that, she worked as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Specialist in the
Division of Child and Family Services for the State of Utah.? She served as Director of the Battered
Women?s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center in Logan, Utah from 1989 through
1994.?
Ms. Stuart has been on the leadership group of the National Advisory
Council on Violence Against Women, and has served on the Women?s Advisory
Council for Senator Orrin
Hatch.? She also has participated on the Utah
Council on Victims of Crime, the Utah Domestic Violence Advisory Council, the
Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and the Utah Substance Abuse and
Anti-Violence Coordinating Council.
Ms. Stuart received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from
the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Science degree in family and
human development from Utah State University.
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