
Deanee’ Johnson, Ph.D., M.A., B.A.
Deanee’ Johnson, Ph.D., began her career in victim services as a mentor for adolescent sexual assault survivors. She has over 20 years of experience in the crime victim field, working directly and indirectly with victims, meeting the needs of children and their families.
Dr. Johnson is CEO and Founder of Ascent Connection and Consulting Solutions, LLC, leading a group of consultants who, through coordinated strategic collaboration, pave the way for victim service providers to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations. Prior to launching this initiative, Deanee’ served as Chief Program Officer for the National Center for Victims of Crime, responsible for establishing the protocols and policies for federally funded projects and established federal grant writing protocols as well as the National Crime Victims Advisory Board.
Dr. Johnson has worked as a survivor specialist and is a child forensic interviewer. She assisted in establishing the first forensic interview program for Patsy's House Children's Advocacy Center in Wichita Falls, Texas, and in drafting their initial policies and procedures. She was the director of the statewide sexual assault coalition in Delaware and managed the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southern Maryland.
During her fellowship with the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, Dr. Johnson created the Child Exploitation and Polyvictimization Working Group which worked in conjunction with the U.S. Office of the Deputy Attorney General to identify the range of child sexual exploitation programs available nationwide, illuminating best practices.
Dr. Johnson has assisted Facebook’s Safety Advisory Board in establishing policies protecting children and youth on their social media platform. Locally, she is an active member of the Charles County Board of Education Safety Advisory Council, speaking on behalf of child victims and witnesses. She is Chair of the non-profit Preparedness Without Paranoia’s advisory board and serves on the national steering committee for Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth, OVC, Demonstration Project.
Dr. Johnson has a B.A. in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University, an M.A. from Midwestern State University in counseling, and a Ph.D. in child development from Texas Woman’s University.