Catherine Shugrue dos Santos is a social worker, an advocate, and an educator, with 25 years in the intersecting fields of public health, anti-violence and anti-poverty work. Through organizational leadership, innovative program development, policy advocacy, direct services, training and education, Catherine has dedicated her career to  promoting social justice for the most vulnerable in our communities, especially Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, HIV-affected (LGBTQH) and immigrant survivors, as well as with children and youth.  As Deputy Director, in charge of Client Services at the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), Catherine oversees all direct services provided to LGBTQH survivors of hate violence, intimate partner violence and sexual violence.  AVP is dedicated to eliminating hate violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities through counseling, advocacy, organizing, and public education.

Prior to her work at AVP, Catherine worked as the Deputy Clinical Director at Sanctuary for Families for six years, and prior to that, at HELP USA in a series of positions, held over 8 years, ending her tenure as the Executive Director of two large domestic violence shelters, HELP Haven and HELP Harbor. 

Catherine has been an adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer, teaching social welfare policy and legislative advocacy at graduate schools of social work at Hunter College, and Fordham University.  She is a leading voice in a variety of coalitions promoting safety and justice for survivors of family and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, hate violence, and gender-based violence, including currently as Co-Chair of the Task Force on Domestic Violence and Economic Justice (DVEJ), a member of the Advisory Council to the New York State Office for Victim Services, a member of the Advisory Committee for Contemporary Social Issues at CUSSW, and formerly as President of the Board of the Coalition of Battered Women’s Advocates.  Catherine presents at conferences across the country and has been featured in local and national media outlets speaking and writing on these types of violence as they overlap with other forms of oppression, including poverty, sexism, heteronormativity, linguistic marginalization, racism, ageism, ableism, as well as legalized discrimination and social oppression related to gender identity, gender expression, and immigration issues.   Catherine earned her MS from Columbia University School of Social Work in 1992, and her BA in English from Boston University in 1988.  Catherine identifies a queer working mom living east of New York City with her husband and daughter.

Last updated December 02, 2011.