Communication Expert, Psychologist, Author, Lecturer
Dr. Donna Friess, a founding member of the Communication Studies Department at Cypress College in Orange County, California, is passionate about her long time teaching career. She loves working with college students. She also serves as chairperson for that department. Donna’s story of her intervention against her father to protect a four-year-old niece from molestation, came to international attention after a grueling 15 month long trial and some changes in child abuse laws in California. Upon the release of her autobiography, Cry The Darkness: One Woman’s Triumph Over the Tragedy of Incest (HCI, 1993), there were frequent media appearances on Oprah and other television and radio shows, and newspaper headlines here and abroad, all of which brought new speaking and writing opportunities to Donna. Her case has helped focus national attention on the frequency of child abuse in middle class homes across America. As a spokesperson for children's rights, Donna is a frequent guest speaker on radio and television talk shows, and at professional conferences. As the author of five books, she is working actively to help train and inform health care professionals on the subject of sexual abuse which victimizes children. In recent years she has been presenting workshops and strategies for living a more fulfilling life to audiences here and abroad. Donna recently lectured at the University of Tianjin in China.
As a proponent for children’s rights, Dr. Friess was recognized by the United States Justice Department for her work in protecting children and she was nominated for the American President’s Service Award. In 2006, she was appointed by the California governor to an advisory council regarding victim sensitive issues for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She has been a member of the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Victims Affairs Technical Training and Advisory Council since 2002. Her biography appears in Who’s Who in the World , Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, Great Teachers, and others. She has been honored by the California State Senate and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for her work in stopping child abuse. She is very proud to have been a California Co-Chairperson for the successful passage of the first federal victim’s rights bill which was signed by President George Bush in 2004.
Donna has been honored for her writing by the University of California at Irvine and by the National Kidney Foundation for her work as well as by Childhelp, USA. She received the “Outstanding Dissertation Award” at the United States International University for her research and writing on the movement to stop child sexual abuse. She was the subject of a cover story in the Los Angeles Times Magazine, and two subsequent feature stories as well as a story of her childhood and activism for children in the Orange County Register. Donna’s story was the subject of a Lear’s Magazine article entitled “Incest” in February of 1992. Changes Magazine honored her by publishing a condensation of her book, Cry The Darkness. She was also a member of former Governor Pete Wilson’s Crime Summit in California which allowed her to address the California legislature on child abuse issues.
She has served on the board of directors for Mother’s Against Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse Listening and Mediation in Santa Barbara, California, and Laura’s House - Center Against Domestic Violence, where she also worked with teens in crisis, as well and other organizations.
Donna is an enthusiastic dog lover, hiker, world traveler, and portrait artist. Her paintings can be seen in art magazines and shows. Beyond the thrill she obtains helping to inspire people to be all that they can be, she enjoys her life with husband, Ken, as they revel in their great big family filled with ten grandchildren.
Donna is available to speak to your group or organization!
