Gracie Delaney says she has countless wonderful memories of her time at King, chief among them a 2022 trip to Kenya with fellow students.
When Gracie Delaney ‘23 was just 10 years old, she was already fascinated by criminal investigations. By the time she was ready to go to college, she had no doubt that she wanted to pursue a career in the criminal justice field.
She also knew that she wanted to attend a university that fostered a welcoming academic and social environment and had a strong forensic science program. King, as it turned out, was her perfect match.
“It was crucial to me to have the opportunity to build meaningful, professional relationships with both my professors and peers,” said Delaney, who hails from Hickman County, Tennessee. “Additionally, I always had a strong desire to live in the mountains.”
Delaney pursued studies in forensic science and graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Uncertain about which specific career path she would follow, she began job shadowing and applying for internships, and soon her work with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) helped her zero in on a calling.
“I became interested in working with criminal offenders, but after gaining experience through internships and a temporary position with the TBI, I realized my true passion was in the counter-trafficking field—serving victims of sex and labor trafficking,” Delaney said.
While interning, she gained invaluable experience in evidence handling, participating in search warrants, and observing undercover operations. When the internship concluded, she learned about a contract position in the TBI’s Victim Services Unit.
“While I hadn’t originally envisioned myself working directly with victims of crime, I recognized it as an excellent opportunity to further explore my interests and gain experience within the TBI,” she said. “I worked in the Victim Services Unit throughout my senior year and for a year after graduation.”
During that time, Delaney served with the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCAHT), a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of sex and labor trafficking in East Tennessee. From that experience, she developed a strong passion for the counter-trafficking field, and realized it was where she wanted to focus her career.
Margaret Feierabend, city councilwoman for Bristol, Tennessee, presents Gracie Delaney with a proclamation designating January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Jan. 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Currently, she serves as the Community Care Liaison at CCAHT, focusing on building and maintaining strategic partnerships within the community.
“My role involves creating pathways that enhance the recognition and recovery of trafficking victims, ensuring they have access to specialized care,” Delaney said. “I also collaborate with the CCAHT team to design and implement awareness and outreach campaigns, with the goal of establishing CCAHT as a visible and accessible resource for both survivors and the broader Upper East Tennessee community.”
Delaney noted that within her job, she particularly enjoys educating the community about human trafficking in our region, as well as the services CCAHT provides to survivors.
“I believe that education and awareness are powerful tools, and it’s crucial to equip our communities with this knowledge so that more trafficking survivors can be identified and receive the aftercare they need. I’m proud to be a part of that effort,” she said.
Earlier this year, a proclamation designating January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Jan. 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day was presented to Delaney by the City of Bristol, Tennessee. Other municipalities also one of several proclamations she helped secure.
“I was honored to attend City Council and County Commission meetings throughout our region to receive proclamations, and during those meetings I was given the chance to speak,” she said. “I used the opportunity to educate about what human trafficking looks like in our region and to highlight the services CCAHT provides to survivors of this crime.”
While she loves her current job, Delaney says that as she grows in experience, she plans to continue exploring career paths that genuinely interest her.
“For a long time, I believed I needed to have everything figured out – one degree, one career, and a clear path to follow until retirement,” she said. “However, as I’ve connected with professionals in the criminal justice field, I’ve realized that many of them started in completely different areas before finding their true calling.
“My interests and passions have evolved, and I expect they will continue to do so. I am open to letting my career goals reflect this ongoing growth and change.”