David Chadwick Outstanding Professional Award

A trailblazer in child protection, Donna Pence broke barriers as the first female Special Agent in the history of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, dedicating 25 years to advancing the protection of children through investigative excellence. In the mid-1980s, she became a national leader in promoting the multidisciplinary response to child abuse, co-developing Tennessee’s first statewide Child Protection Investigative Teams. Her commitment to collaboration and trauma-informed practice has shaped investigative teams across the country and around the world.

 

Donna is widely recognized as an author, educator, and advocate for improving child maltreatment investigations. Her co-authored book Team Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse: The Uneasy Alliance remains a seminal resource for multidisciplinary professionals. She served on the APSAC Board of Directors, chaired the committee that produced APSAC’s first Practice Guidelines on Investigative Interviewing, and has contributed extensively to APSAC publications and training initiatives.

 

Through decades of service, as a law enforcement leader, national and international trainer, author, and consultant, Donna Pence has influenced thousands of child abuse professionals, steadfastly championing the values of collaboration, cultural competence, and trauma-informed care that define this award.