Monique Garvin

Monique Patton Garvin is the Acting Director of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Program and the State Human Trafficking Task Force at the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.  She brings over a decade of professional experience spanning education, program evaluation, direct services,  prevention, community advocacy, and public health. Throughout Monique’s professional career, her work has emphasized the impact of abuse and trauma across the lifespan.

Prior to her role as Deputy Director of the State Task Force, Monique served as the VAWA Program Coordinator for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. She managed statewide trainings for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and other service providers on the topics of domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, stalking, and harassment. While in this position, she also provided technical assistance to Sexual Assault Response Teams, Domestic Violence Coordinating Councils, and served on various local and state coalitions. Her work also included honoring the men and women who lost their lives to domestic violence by coordinating the Annual Silent Witness Ceremony.

Monique's background includes her service as an AmeriCorps member through Teach for America in 2014, where she taught middle and high school math in Colleton and Clarendon Counties. Additionally, she has provided residential care to unaccompanied and system-involved youth in Richland County and supported victims of domestic violence seeking emergency housing in York County.

She is a charter member of the COLA City Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., a national service organization focused on uplifting women and serving teens through their Top Teens Program. She has also served in several other academic programs and community organizations, including being selected as a University of South Carolina Graduate Civic Scholar and serving as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Additionally, Monique held the position of vice-chair of the Board of Directors at the Hive Community Circle, a survivor-led, survivor-driven support organization helping women and girls in South Carolina overcome the trauma of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking.

In recognition of her contributions, Monique was spotlighted on the 10th Anniversary of Teach for America South Carolina for her impact as a 2014 corps member and her current work in domestic violence and sexual assault. Monique is a 2022 recipient of the Service Award from Columbia Fashion Week and was recognized as Best and Brightest 35 and Under by Columbia Business Monthly that same year.

Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Professional Writing from Winthrop University, as well as dual Master degrees in Public Administration and Social Work from the University of South Carolina.