Ms. Elizabeth Petersen received a masters degree in social work from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa in 2006. She became the director of St. Anne's Homes in Cape Town, a century old Anglican shelter caring for abused and homeless women and children in 1997. Her concern for addressing the root causes of domestic violence compelled her to actively engage and train religious leaders in both an interfaith and intra-faith context and she co-facilitated a batterers' treatment group with a prominent national organization in South Africa. Ms. Petersen is the founder and executive director of South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI), a non-profit organization focused on domestic violence training and support of religious leaders and their faith communities, as well as the development of restorative justice residential intervention program for batterers. She directly influenced the establishment of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa and continues to serve on its national board. During her fellowship year, Ms. Petersen will focus on women's issues, domestic violence, and transitional housing.