UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 2, 2026 / Marquis Who's Who honors Alicia A. Tappan, M.A, founder and chief executive officer of Survivor-Led Solutions and Tappan Consulting, for her work in human trafficking advocacy and entrepreneurship. As an award-winning national public speaker and a recognized leader in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention, Alicia Tappan uses her education and expertise to create sustainable, survivor-led solutions for the anti-trafficking movement.

About Alicia A. Tappan, M.A

Tappan's foundation is built on a strong educational background, including a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of West Florida in 2009 and a Master of Arts in international psychology from the Chicago School in 2013. She is currently earning her doctoral degree in forensic psychology from Walden University.

Part of Tappan's current focus is on the development of a comprehensive Global Survivor Leader Certification Program, which will provide a certifiable, credible 50-hour training curriculum. The project aims to professionalize the role of survivor leaders while helping certain organizations engaged in anti-trafficking efforts, including safe houses, law enforcement, medical, child welfare, legal teams and awareness groups, confidently hire and integrate credentialed survivor expertise.

In 2026, Tappan hosted the third annual fundraising event, "Because I Wore This," to help break the stigma around what women were wearing when sexually exploited. Through her fundraising efforts, she plans to digitize the Global Survivor Leader Certification Program. The program is currently beginning the accreditation process in Florida, with a long-term goal of achieving full national and global accreditation and offering continuing education for professionals.

As a dedicated public speaker, Tappan recently spoke at the Mass Torts Made Perfect conference in Las Vegas. Additionally, her recently published book, "Brave Girl Diaries: Innocence Interrupted," will act as an eight-week certification curriculum. The book offers peer-reviewed, evidence-based practices and personal testimony to support group discussions. It is designed for use in women's recovery programs and safe houses, as well as by individuals seeking personal growth. The publication is available on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Tappan also aims to extend her academic research and plans to publish her PhD study on perceptions of human trafficking training among law enforcement. The purpose is to offer more inclusive and trauma-informed training protocols.

Making an Impact

Alicia Tappan's work has won her significant recognition. She is the recipient of the 2026 Polaris North Star Award, where she was named Catalyst Survivor of the Year. She was also recognized as Woman of the Year in the women's advocate category by Scarlett Magazine in 2026 and received the George Washington Medal of Honor in 2024 for her civic duty. Finally, she was named the Advocate of the Year by the Greater Pensacola (Florida) Chamber of Commerce.

Looking to the future, Tappan intends to host the second annual survivor-leader symposium-the only event of its kind-and establish a research and restoration center in Northwest Florida to provide a safe space for survivors and their families. She is the immediate past president of the Pensacola Women's Alliance, a member of the Advisory Board for the Life Story Initiative, a member of the Bright Network (Florida) and the current President of the Eta Iota Eta Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. She also serves on the membership committee for the Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars.

Outside of her many professional commitments, Tappan boasts an active personal life. She is a certified yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner. Her personal pursuits include painting, writing and spending time at the beach.

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SOURCE: Marquis Who's Who