The Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in Kentucky has established the Mary Byron Center and Endowed Chair in Intimate Partner Violence.
“This initiative establishes UofL as a national leader in educating its students about intimate partner violence,” said President Gerry Bradley. “Our hope is that the project helps to curb instances of abuse and violence in our community and across the nation.”
The initiative stems from the Mary Byron Project, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering innovations and programs that prevent intimate partner violence (IPV). The organization is named for Mary Bryon, a 21-year-old Louisville resident who was killed by her estranged ex-boyfriend in 1993.
Led by the endowed chair, the Mary Byron Center will serve as an interdisciplinary entity for research, education, and policy regarding IPV prevention. It will also facilitate an annual conference for aspiring and practicing law professionals, as well as universities seeking to integrate IPV prevention strategies into their curricula.
“My daughter Mary’s name lives on,” said Pat Byron. “The important work begun by the Mary Byron Project will continue, helping train the next generation of advocates — lawyers and lay people alike. With each of these important steps, we get closer to making ‘no more’ a reality.”