24th Annual STOP F.E.A.R. Criminal Justice Conference

Mary M. Walsh is the Coordinator of the NYS Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, which is administered by the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV). Employed at OPDV for over 22 years, Mary has worked on various agency initiatives, including multiple federal grant programs, the NYS Domestic Violence Dashboard and the OPDV Bulletin, and working with communities across New York State to further their coordinated community response (CCR) efforts. Prior to joining OPDV, she was the coordinator for a Universal Response to Domestic Violence in Dutchess County, where she facilitated the local CCR efforts. Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Marist College and a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University.

Bob Passonno is the Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Training Programs for the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV). He is responsible for the development and delivery of classroom and online domestic violence and stalking training programs for New York State and local law enforcement professionals. Bob provides written training curricula, publications, and technical assistance on the various issues related to the law enforcement response to domestic incidents. He works together with criminal justice professionals and victim service providers to establish domestic violence policies and protocols. Prior to joining OPDV in August 1996, Bob served as a patrol officer and sergeant in the City of Watervliet (NY) Police Department, retiring in July 1996 after more than twenty years of service. Bob earned his B.S. Degree from Siena College and holds Master’s Degrees in both Public Administration and Criminal Justice from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of the State University of New York at Albany.

Ellen C. Schell is General Counsel for the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. Previously, she was Counsel to The Legal Project, in Albany, New York, and provided national training and technical assistance to civilian attorneys and advocates working with military-related survivors of intimate partner violence. From 2006 – 2009, Ellen was an Assistant District Attorney in Essex County, New York, where she had primary responsibility for prosecution of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault cases. Ellen was also Legal Director at The Legal Project from 2001 until 2006, providing civil legal services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and supervising other legal services provided by the organization. Ellen graduated from Albany Law School magna cum laude in 1993. Prior to law school, she worked in organizations providing direct assistance to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.