Julie Domonkos
Tenacious Opponent of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking
A leader in the fight against domestic violence and a tireless champion of women and women’s issues, Julie Domonkos is a 1983 graduate of Douglass College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with highest honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. After obtaining her law degree from New York University in 1986, Domonkos practiced at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison before founding one of the first legal services offices for domestic violence victims in New York City in 1992.
Domonkos served as co-founder of the Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence and as chair of the Domestic Violence Task Force of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, where she developed and advocated for improved policies in the police, prosecutorial, judicial, and social services responses to domestic violence. Her tenacious advocacy efforts led to the passage of many significant policy changes and pieces of legislation, including landmark New York State laws against stalking and human trafficking.
From 2000 to 2005, Domonkos was Executive Director of My Sisters’ Place, Westchester County’s leading domestic violence services and advocacy organization, ensuring victims’ access to legal and social services. As a frequent writer and lecturer on domestic violence, she has authored numerous journal and newspaper pieces, and is a co-editor and contributor to the Lawyer's Manual on Domestic Violence, published by the New York State Court system. In recent years, Domonkos has transitioned to writing fiction and mentoring young women in her community. She is also an avid supporter of Douglass, serving on the esteemed institution’s Advisory Board since 2014, and has provided strong leadership as Board Chair since 2016. Working closely with Douglass leadership on the Centennial Campaign and Dean Jacqueline Litt’s Strategic Plan, Domonkos helped drive the creation of the BOLD Center for Leadership, Career, and Personal Development, one of Douglass’ most successful and impactful initiatives.