Dr. Debra Howard-Burton, ThD
Dr. Debra Howard-Burton is the esteemed founder and visionary leader of S.O.A.R. Professional Services, LLC, a consultancy that specializes in workshops, training, and technical assistance. With a remarkable career spanning 38 years, Dr. Burton devoted 34 years to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she served as the Lead Field Victim Advocate. In this crucial role, she was a catalyst for change, developing and implementing impactful victim advocacy policies and procedures.
Dr. Burton's extensive expertise encompasses mass violence response, leadership, community outreach, crime victim advocacy, crisis intervention counseling, and workshop development. Her academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Union University and a Doctorate in Theology from Midwest Theological University. Between 2009 and 2014, she inspired many as an Adjunct Professor at Dr. E.V. Hill Bible College in Miami, Florida, teaching courses in Leadership, Crisis Counseling and the Church, Womanist Theology, and Creative Teaching Methods.
A nationally certified professional by the United States Department of Justice, Dr. Burton imparts her wisdom as a faculty trainer for the National Hate Crimes Curriculum. Additionally, her role as a consultant for the Office of Victims of Crimes and the National Mass Violence Center underscores her unwavering commitment to assisting crime victims and their families through nationwide workshops, earning her numerous commendations. As a National Crisis Responder and Group Crisis Intervention Facilitator, Dr. Burton has bravely faced a multitude of mass violence incidents and disasters, including the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center tragedy, the Fort Lauderdale Airport shooting, Hurricane Irma, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting, the Surfside Condo collapse, and Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida. In 2018, she left an indelible mark as a distinguished panelist at the University of Oregon’s "Leave No Victim Behind Conference: Best Practices for Mass Violence Response and Tribal Communities."
Moreover, Dr. Burton's contributions as an adjunct faculty member for the National Victims' Assistance Academy at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, include authoring vital manual chapters on “Culture and Spiritual Competence” and “Respecting Diversity: Responding to the Underserved Victims of Crime.” Dr. Burton is also the author of the poignant poem "Someone Is Screaming," which powerfully reflects her dedication to uplifting and advocating for victims, inspiring others in the crucial field of victim advocacy.InsertRetry