About CHRT

Jessica Edel, Ph.D. (she/her) is a Program Director at the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCEDSV), where she supports statewide and national efforts to prevent domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. In her role, Edel provides training, evaluation leadership, and technical assistance on evidence-based prevention strategies, maternal health equity, trauma-informed and survivor-centered practice, and systems-level change.

Edel brings more than 20 years of experience across advocacy, research, and leadership, including serving as the executive director of two domestic violence service agencies, holding executive board leadership roles, teaching at the university level, conducting academic research, and providing post-assault crisis response. She is also a certified birth and postpartum doula, with a strong commitment to advancing health equity and community-driven approaches to healing and prevention.

Edel holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, as well as a master’s degree in Sociology and a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Psychology from Western Michigan University. She is passionate about building communities where all people can thrive and belong and about exploring the intersections of health and healing through food, nature, and travel.