Misti Harrelson

Misti L. Harrelson is a survivor, educator, public speaker, advocate, and emerging scholar dedicated to dignity, accountability, healing, and hope. After surviving a decade of domestic violence and coercive control, culminating in an assault that left her blind in her right eye, with a broken back and facial fractures, Misti began a journey of healing, self-determination, and restoration.

Through therapy, education, and personal reflection, she transformed her experiences into a commitment to helping others reclaim their voices and recognize their potential beyond trauma. Her philosophy of survivance emphasizes personal agency, resilience, and the belief that individuals are not defined by their most painful experiences.

Misti earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with honors and Master of Public Administration from California State University, East Bay. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education at California State University, Stanislaus, focusing on survivance, restorative leadership, and trauma-informed educational environments.

As an advocate and educator, Misti collaborates with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and justice-system partners. She speaks to law enforcement, survivors, and community organizations while facilitating court-mandated anger management and batterer intervention programs. Her work emphasizes survivor safety, personal accountability, behavioral change, and compassionate leadership.

Misti is developing **The Misti Model**, an emerging framework integrating survivance, restorative leadership, and structural design to create conditions that support healing, agency, accountability, and hope.

Guided by her philosophy, **“I design the conditions. We design the future,”** Misti is committed to advancing education, public policy, and community safety while empowering individuals to shape futures beyond their experiences of harm.