Preparing the Next Generation
To change the lives of future generations of girls and women, we must also create future generations of scholars, scientists and professionals who will carry on the mission to end violence against women. Part of the Center's mission is to improve the preparation of future professionals at the most formative stage of their careers. Physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, attorneys, and others who come into daily contact with victims and survivors must exit graduate and professional programs prepared to identify violence in the lives of their patients and clients and be knowledgeable about the most effective interventions. Effective graduate education programs must also prepare students for careers in the academic setting as researchers and scholars.
The Center's education effort is focused in two primary ways:
Expanding educational and research opportunities for graduate and professional students
The Center offers research assistantships to graduate students in a wide variety of disciplines. Students assist with Center research projects, particularly those related to the justice system. Research assistants are also hired by the Center's endowed chairs and in those positions are exposed to research on women's health, mental health, forensics, and prevention. The Center is also proud to offer the Mary Byron Graduate Fellowship, which is awarded annually to a female graduate student studying in the area of violence against women.
Enhance instruction and curriculum development on violence against women
Historically, universities have offered limited content specific to violence against women, stalking, and sexual assault in the coursework of psychology, psychiatry, social work, legal and other departments. The Center has plans to work with Colleges across the University and the Graduate School to develop an interdisciplinary graduate certificate related to violence against women.