Behind the Screen:When People Become Products. Pornography, Demand, and Human Trafficking Prevention

After ten years of being trafficked and exploited through the commercial sex industry, Deanna sought healing through a local residential program for exploited and trafficked women. Since graduating from Refuge for Women in 2012, she has earned a Master’s Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and authored two books detailing her journey: Purchased: Leaving The Sex Trade and Integrated: Living Beyond the Sex Trade.

As a leader in Kentucky Deanna worked to remove systemic barriers, expand programming services, and strengthen collaborative partnerships across the United States. While serving as Executive Director, the organization deepened community engagement, advanced financial empowerment initiatives, and broadened strategic partnerships. She was recently honored by the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP) for recognizing emerging needs and innovating to meet them.

Deanna has also worked alongside Secretary of State Adams to launch Kentucky Businesses Against Trafficking and was nominated for the Elkes Impact Award for Best Advocate with Lived Experience. In addition, Refuge for Women Kentucky received the Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindness and Health Justice award recognizing the organization’s inspiring and impactful services.

She is now focusing her attention on developing curriculum that addresses a significant empowerment gap within the anti-trafficking field — particularly in the areas of trauma-informed financial empowerment, long-term agency, and survivor-informed leadership. Her work seeks to build bridges between lived experience and learned expertise, fostering collaboration that leads to meaningful, sustainable change.

Deanna celebrates 20 years clean and sober this year, is a global consultant and speaker on anti-trafficking, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate at Asbury Theological Seminary. In daily life, she and her husband, Matt, spoil their twin daughters, their cat Maggie, and their dog Buddy — who looks like a real-life giant muppet.