Meet Our New Executive Director

The Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois is excited to welcome Courtney Kampwerth as our new Executive Director.

While this may be a new role, Courtney is already a familiar face to many within the organization. For the past four and a half years, she has served as the Center’s Director of Counseling, working closely with survivors and helping lead a dedicated clinical team committed to trauma-informed care.

Courtney brings more than 14 years of experience in the social work field and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both Illinois and Missouri, as well as a Certified Domestic Violence Professional in Illinois. Throughout her career, she has focused on helping individuals and families navigate trauma while rediscovering their strength and building hope for the future.

During her time at the Violence Prevention Center, Courtney has played a key role in strengthening counseling services for survivors and their families. She helped rebuild and support the counseling team, expand evidence-based trauma therapies, and increase access to services for those seeking safety and healing.

But for Courtney, the work is deeply personal.

“What draws me most to this work is the opportunity to support survivors as they reclaim their safety, confidence, and independence,” she shares. “Watching someone rediscover their strength and begin to believe in their own future again is incredibly meaningful.”

Courtney is also passionate about the Center’s empowerment-based approach to working with survivors.

“My favorite part of working here is seeing how we help individuals recognize their own strength and make decisions that are right for them,” she says. “That empowerment is powerful.”

Outside of work, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband and their husky, Roman. As new homeowners, they spend much of their free time working on house projects and making their home their own. She also enjoys volunteering at church, listening to live music, playing card games—especially Nertz—and traveling when she can.

As she steps into this new role, Courtney is excited about the opportunity to expand the organization’s impact.

“I’m looking forward to building on the strong foundation that already exists here,” she says. “There is such an incredible team and community supporting this mission. Together, we can continue creating safety, healing, and hope for survivors.”