The Rosalie Wolf award, established in 2002, commemorates the achievements of NCPEA's founder, Dr. Rosalie Wolf. The award is given to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to Dr. Wolf's ideals by promoting research, education, policy and interdisciplinary exchange.

M.T. Connolly Receives 2004 Rosalie Wolf Award

Previous Honorees

Charlee Lambert 2002
Aileen Kaye 2003

Marie-Therese (M.T.) Connolly
2004 Recipient of the Rosalie Wolf Memorial Elder Abuse Prevention Award

The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA), the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), and the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute (FVSAI) are pleased to announce that Marie-Therese (M.T.) Connolly is the 2004 recipient of the Rosalie Wolf Memorial Elder Abuse Prevention award. The award, established in 2002, commemorates the achievements of Dr. Rosalie Wolf, a driving force in the field of elder abuse prevention, who founded and presided over NCPEA and INPEA, edited the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, and conducted groundbreaking research on elder abuse. The award is given to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to Dr. Wolf's ideals by promoting research, education, policy and interdisciplinary exchange.

M.T. Connolly is Senior Trial Counsel in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). She joined DOJ in 1986, following a clerkship with the Honorable Paul H. Roney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. During her tenure with DOJ, Ms. Connolly has brought elder justice and abuse prevention to national prominence. She was appointed by Attorney General Reno to coordinate DOJ's Nursing Home and Elder Justice Initiatives and continues to spearhead activities under the Bush administration, working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services and other national, state and local healthcare, public safety, regulatory, social service and law enforcement entities. She is a leading expert in prosecuting abuse in nursing homes.

In the area of advocacy, M.T. was the guiding force behind state and federal work groups, which were created to develop comprehensive responses to abuse and neglect. She served as a resource person to the Senate Special Committee on Aging in the drafting of the Elder Justice Act, the first comprehensive federal legislation to combat elder abuse, soliciting input from experts in diverse disciplines. The Elder Justice Act, exists, in large part, due to her energy, imagination and commitment.

M.T. has also single-handedly pushed forward research and clinical practice agendas. She spearheaded efforts to expand knowledge and expertise into elder abuse and neglect forensics, organizing and convening roundtable discussions of leading researchers, practitioners and policy makers to generate new initiatives, collaborations and expertise in this emergent field. She increased funding for research projects to innovative programs and continues to work with grantees to promote exchange and collaboration.

M.T. is highly-praised and admired by her colleagues for her grasp of the issues, superb intelligence, passion, leadership, enthusiasm, sense of humor and energy. "She is a leader in every sense of the term." Another colleague dubs her "the older American's best friend," who is remarkable for her ability to transcend barriers and accomplish the impossible.

An NCPEA committee selected M.T. Connolly for the award, which was presented at the 9th International Conference on Family Violence in San Diego, California on September 22, 2004.

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