Shawn Partridge

Shawn Partridge is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and serves as Director of the Nation’s Family Violence Prevention Program (FVPP), an advocacy program providing supportive services to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non-AI/AN victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, human trafficking, and other violent crimes. 

Under Ms. Partridge’s leadership, FVPP has continually expanded services to include development and implementation of the Muscogee Nation’s first Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program and advocacy and support to specialized populations, including teens impacted by dating violence and child survivors of sexual violence and their families. 

Ms. Partridge’s work also included the development of Warriors Honor Women, a powerful male-led movement within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to end violence against women and children using traditional values and teachings to promote respect, healthy relationships, and safety for all people. Ms. Partridge is a founding board member and current president of the Native Alliance Against Violence, Oklahoma’s tribal coalition against domestic and sexual violence. She is involved in tribal-, state-, and federal-level efforts to enhance policies that increase safety and justice for AI/AN women and children and advocates for the sovereign rights of tribal nations. 

Ms. Partridge was involved in efforts to promote the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which restored tribes’ authority to ensure accountability for non AI/AN individuals who commit domestic violence on tribal lands. Her efforts in promoting the reauthorization of VAWA helped lead to the historical legislation’s passage and becoming law. 

Ms. Partridge holds an A.A. in liberal arts from Haskell Indian Nations University, a B.A. in Native American Studies, and an M.S.W. from the University of Oklahoma (OU). She is an OU Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work Board of Visitors member, and received the national Professional Development Leader Award at the School’s 2016 Hall of Fame ceremony and was honored at the School’s 100th anniversary for her contributions. 

Ms. Partridge credits her family, friends, co-workers, Mvskoke people, and OU for significantly enhancing and strengthening her voice as an indigenous woman, advocate, and social worker.