Guided by a mission to transform trauma into empowerment, Alicia Tappan has devoted her career to advocating for survivors of sex trafficking and building stronger, more compassionate communities. As founder and chief executive officer of Survivor-Led Solutions and Tappan Consulting, she leads with both professional expertise and lived experience, crafting programs that prioritize healing, education and systemic change. Through her leadership, she develops survivor-focused curricula, secures consulting contracts with residential care organizations, and facilitates workshops that support survivors and service providers. Her role also includes coordinating annual fundraising galas, managing grant writing efforts, and offering specialized training for law enforcement, first responders, teachers and counselors.
Dr. Tappan’s academic background supports the depth and scope of her advocacy. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in forensic psychology from Walden University, a Master of Arts in international psychology from The Chicago School and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of West Florida. These academic achievements have shaped her approach to trauma-informed care, community programming and cross-sector collaboration. Her education also reinforces her belief that academic success is one of many tools needed to create sustainable, survivor-centered change.
Dr. Tappan’s efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Motivational Speaker of the Year honor, the George Washington Honor Medal and the Coach Mentor Award from the Pensacola Dream Center. She is also the author of “Brave Girl Diaries,” a personal and powerful publication that amplifies survivor voices and provides a roadmap for healing and advocacy.
Before launching her consulting and advocacy organizations, Dr. Tappan was the executive director of The Secret Place Home Inc., guiding strategic operations and program development for individuals impacted by exploitation. Her leadership was central to the organization’s expansion and outreach, particularly in creating environments where survivors could find safety, support, and purpose. Earlier in her career, she held the role of office manager at Unishippers in Denver, Colorado, building a foundation in staff coordination and organizational leadership.
Dr. Tappan began her work in crisis care as a field instructor at Pacific Quest, gaining hands-on experience in trauma support and behavior intervention. In addition to her work in advocacy and nonprofit leadership, she has also owned and taught at Footprints Yoga in Pensacola, Florida. Her commitment to yoga reflects a broader philosophy of holistic wellness, offering tools for healing that integrate physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Dr. Tappan’s contributions to advocacy extend into civic and professional organizations. She is an active member of Golden Key International Honour Society and serves as alumni chapter president of Alpha Chi Omega. She also leads the Pensacola Women’s Alliance as president and contributes to initiatives through Storytelling Solutions of America, Circuit One Human Trafficking Task Force and Pensacola Dream Center.
Looking ahead, Dr. Tappan plans to host a national convention for survivor leaders and develop a new curriculum rooted in evidence-based practices from her forthcoming book. She also dreams of opening a drop-in center in northwest Florida to offer survivors a safe space to share their stories, access resources and find community without fear or stigma.