Congratulations to Dr. Linda C Neilson for receiving the 28^th Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award. Dr. Neilson is a research associate of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research and a Professor Emerita in Sociology and Law in Society at UNB. Her academic fields include domestic and family violence, court systems, family law, conflict resolution and sociology of law.

She has influenced governments in policy direction to address domestic and intimate partner violence. The first collaborative research project with the government considered the impact of spousal violence and children within the legal system. Building on the themes of family violence in legal systems and the possible supports for families, like mediation, her subsequent work helped families resolve issues when relationships resulted in separation.

She has  shared her extensive knowledge of family violence, understanding risk factors for severe harm and lethality, enhancing safety for victims and children and the relationship with legal systems with police, Crown prosecutors, lawyers, court social workers and policy advisors in various government departments. She has contributed to many initiatives, including establishing of the Domestic Violence Court in Moncton and the Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Act, both of which aim to help support victims, enhance their safety and improve their experience with the system. Not only has her vast amount of research and published articles and books contributed to the knowledge about domestic/intimate partner violence, but through her teaching, she has inspired and influenced many students who bring incredible insight to the work they do.   

She also arranged educational sessions with two internationally known Australian Magistrates, Anne Goldsbrough and Noreen Toohey, judicial experts in the domestic violence field for Crown Prosecutors and government policy professionals from the Department of Justice and Public Safety and the Women's Equality Branch.  

Dr. Neilson recognizes the importance of learning from and linking with colleagues who have developed responses that work while understanding the reality of working in a small province.  Survivors of intimate partner violence, their children, and people who respond to intimate partner violence are fortunate to have influenced by and had access to Dr. Neilson’s intellect, generosity and enthusiasm to address family violence and create safer communities.