Dating violence and sexual assault are topics of concern on college campuses and although they are often viewed as separate issues, they are overlapping constructs within the construct of interpersonal violence. Research suggests that people perpetrate dating violence and sexual assault for the same reasons. However, campus programming frequently…

Institutions of higher education have relied heavily on quality assurance mechanisms such as accreditation to ensure programs adhere to the most current standards. Simultaneously, conversations alluding to the impact of organizational culture have also increased, leaving many to question if relationships exist between educational environments,…

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidality are highly prevalent and increasing social problems among the college and university student population, thereby underscoring a need to better understand the relationship between ACEs and suicidal risk, ideation, and attempts during college. There is also a need to examine current suicide…

This study aims to identify the barriers parents face in communicating with their pre-adolescent children about sexual topics and consent using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Feminist Theory to inform this research project. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of parents with pre-adolescent children (ages 9-13) via…

Researchers have found that sex trafficking in the 21st century is a growing human rights atrocity. This qualitative case study investigates law enforcement professionals' perceived needs as first responders to identify and support sex trafficking victims. Specifically, this study examines resources, training, and support that they perceive to be…

This study delved into the unique challenges and experiences of female student servicemembers/veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from miliary sexual trauma in higher education settings. The purpose was to explore the emotional, societal, and academic successes and barriers. Research questions focused on identifying…

The purpose of this study was to describe the post assault support needs of college students who identify as sexual and gender minority after a sexual assault. The study employed participatory action research in the form of a photovoice study wherein participants took photographs to describe their support needs after sexual assault. The study…

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was utilized in this study to explore transgender sexual assault (SA) survivors positive counseling experiences. Feminist theory served as the theoretical framework, with an emphasis on intersectionality, aiding in the multidimensional aspects of transgender SA survivors' identities and experiences…

My Dissertation in Practice concentrated on sexual assault in community colleges with a focus on a mid-western community college. Sexual assault is a pervasive issue that has plagued higher education for years. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive exploratory research study was to explore students' knowledge and awareness of the policies…

This study examined the roles and lived experiences of SCAs engaged in addressing incidents of campus sexual misconduct at public postsecondary institutions in New York State. The primary research question guiding this study was: What are the roles and lived experiences of SCAs as they manage campus sexual misconduct processes? The secondary…

This comparative quantitative survey design study examined sorority and fraternity members at a regional public institution in the Northeastern United States to determine if there were statistically significant differences between sorority and fraternity member perception of the prevalence of campus sexual misconduct; understanding of the…

The most common point of intervention within campus sexual assault programming is that of combatting frequently held myths about rape. These rape myths are often assessed through self-report scales and are thus subjected to concerns of social-desirability and blind-spot bias. Research suggests individuals misperceive the beliefs of others,…

Sexual violence remains a public health concern in the United States. Much of the research has focused on gender-binary individuals, despite the heightened vulnerability of Black, transgender, and nonbinary (BTN) individuals due to societal stigma and discrimination. Campus climate surveys have been recommended by the Obama Administration to…

Sexual assault is a deeply rooted issue on American college campuses. The purpose of this study was to examine the systems that enable a culture of sexual assault and then enact an action step that strengthened the institutional strategies for preventing these incidents on campus. This qualitative action research study took place at a mid-sized…

College students face an increased risk of sexual violence victimization and perpetration compared to the general population. Although sexual violence experiences within this population have received substantial attention by researchers, studies typically focus on male perpetrators and female victims. Although a number of measures have been…