Terri Cheshire is a Child and Adolescent Forensic Interviewer and Child Advocacy Center Coordinator based in Alexandria, Virginia. She has 20 years of non-profit and government experience in International Development, Child Welfare and Technology. Terri received her MA in International Social Work and Community Development in 2007 from the University of East London. She worked in London for an international non-profit, managing partners and projects in 16 countries, developing strategic plans and delivering programs locally and internationally. As lead government liaison, Terri worked closely with top government officials and funders within Parliament to design and create innovative programs for former child soldiers in Sierra Leone and households headed by children below the age of 18 in Zimbabwe.

Since relocating back to the US in 2009, Terri became a Social Caseworker in Colorado and later worked as a Project Manager and Management Consultant with a focus on child welfare, advocacy, IT and enhancing government services. Terri moved to Virginia to work with the Center for Alexandria’s Children in 2020 and has since been trained in two nationally recognized Forensic Interview protocols, as well as Advanced and Extended Forensic Interviewing. Part of her role at the Center is to coordinate and facilitate Alexandria’s Multidisciplinary Team of professionals, including law enforcement, child protection services, mental health, advocates, medical and prosecution. She is a passionate advocate for survivors of abuse and actively pursues training and partnership opportunities to improve child sexual abuse investigations and the quality of support and services provided.