Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative

Mac Babb – chief of police and director of security, Virginia Tech Police
Paige Bik – assistant director, prevention, Women’s Center at Virginia Tech
Meagan Brem** – assistant professor, Department of Psychology
Chelsea Clery – sexual violence prevention specialist, Hokie Wellness
Amy Epperley – director, Hokie Wellness
Kristina Hartman** – associate, University Legal Counsel
Jennifer Johnson** – professor and chair, Sociology
Frances Keene* – vice president, Student Affairs
Meghan Kuhn – program director, Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative
Kelly Oaks* – associate vice president, Equity and Accessibility
Katie Polidoro – Title IX coordinator
Ellen Plummer – associate vice provost, Academic Administration
Rohsaan Settle - interim director for student conduct, Student Affairs
Mark Sikes – dean of students
Christine Dennis Smith – co-director, Women’s Center at Virginia Tech
Shaka Sydnor – director, Dean of Students Office
Lisa Wilkes* – vice president for strategic initiatives, Office of the President

*member of the Executive Leadership Team
**Steering committee advisor

In 2021, President Tim Sands charged the Sexual Violence Culture and Climate Work Group (SVCC) to develop a framework for sustainable climate and cultural transformation that establishes sexual violence prevention and response as a shared responsibility of the entire Virginia Tech community. 

Over two years, SVCC and its subcommittees developed a foundation of resources, programs, and assessment tools, in alignment with four strategic pillars: prevention, advocacy and support, response, and adjudication.

During that time the group inventoried existing sexual violence prevention programs, implemented a university-wide prevention campaign, established a full-time gender-based violence prevention specialist position, updated and improved the SAFE at VT website, improved Clery notices, provided enhanced response and prevention training for student employees in residence halls, held multiple prevention education discussions and workshops, and developed the framework for an alternative resolution policy based on restorative justice principles.