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Dr. Kathryn Hamel, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer of The Hecht Trauma Institute (HTI). The mission of HTI is to provide education, information, and services to empower and support people affected by trauma.
Kathryn is a retired law-enforcement lieutenant, distinguished academic, dedicated philanthropist, sought-after speaker, and author of Body, Mind, and Badge: Strategies for Navigating Trauma & Resilience in Law Enforcement.
During her 25-year career as an active-duty law-enforcement officer, she investigated hundreds of cases involving rape, domestic assault, child sexual abuse, and other forms of violence. Her caseload enabled her to assist victims of these traumatic events in navigating the criminal justice system while seeking justice on their behalf.
She is a regular presenter at national and international conferences related to trauma, abuse, suicide prevention, and interpersonal violence.
Preparing for a post-law enforcement career, she earned a vocational teaching credential, a level 1 and level 2 trauma and resilience certification from Florida State University, and a doctorate in Public Safety Leadership from Capella University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University and a Bachelor of Arts in Occupational Studies and Vocational Education from California State University, Long Beach.
Transitioning from law enforcement to academia, California Southern University recruited her to serve as the Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. She was later promoted to Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Organizational Development. Concurrently, Kathryn was also responsible for creating and implementing an 18-month post-graduate leadership academy.
A committed community volunteer, she has almost three decades of experience guiding non-profit and charitable organizations. She is currently a Board Member of KinderVision; a nonprofit co-founded by her late mother, Ashby Sebastian, dedicated to mitigating childhood exploitation and sexual abuse.
