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January 6, 2012

NNEDV today mourned the passing of Ellen Pence, a scholar and social activist who was considered a leader in the movement to end violence against women for many years.

"We are very saddened to hear the news of Ellen Pence's passing," said Sue Else, NNEDV's president. "Ellen's contributions to creating a safer world for women and families will long be remembered and appreciated. Ellen's longtime dedication and passion fueled many accomplishments and her legacy of hope will live on."

In 1980, Pence co-founded the Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, an inter-agency collaboration model used across the U.S. and more than 17 countries. Known for her generosity, quick wit and sense of humor, Pence learned from battered women and trained thousands of professionals in the domestic violence field.

Pence is credited with creating the Duluth Model of intervention in domestic violence cases, Coordinated Community Response, which uses an interagency collaborative approach involving police, probation programs, courts and human services in response to domestic abuse.

Pence died of breast cancer on January 6, 2012.