Office of Violence Prevention

What is the Office of Violence Prevention?

The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) leads efforts to educate and raise awareness about sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. Our team coordinates prevention programming, campus-wide initiatives, and response strategies to support a safer, more informed community.

We also manage Spring Hill College’s Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women Campus Grant—awarded in 2020. This grant supports colleges and universities in strengthening their prevention and response efforts related to gender-based violence.

Through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, OVP focuses on expanding prevention education, increasing access to support resources, and empowering students with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions. Our work centers on five core pillars: Support, Prevention, Education, Advocacy, and Knowing Your Rights.

For further information, contact:
Leslie Weaver
lweaver@shc.edu
violenceprevention@shc.edu
Lucey Administration Center, Wellness Center

Mission Statement

The Office of Violence Prevention is grounded in the belief that no one should experience sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. We are committed to preventing violence before it happens, equipping bystanders with tools for effective intervention, enhancing the response of professionals who support survivors, and providing comprehensive care and resources for those impacted by violence—both on campus and in the broader community.

Goals

• Broad Campus and Community Engagement: Foster strong partnerships across campus departments and with local organizations to create a coordinated and inclusive approach to violence prevention and response.
• The Ultimate Reduction of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking: Work toward the long-term elimination of gender-based violence through education, awareness, and evidence-based prevention strategies.
• Effective Intervention: Equip students, faculty, staff, and community members with the skills and knowledge to intervene safely and supportively in situations involving potential harm.

Goals are following through in these five areas of our campus and community:

1. The Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT)
2. Comprehensive Prevention
3. Student Conduct
4. Law Enforcement
5. Victim Services

What is a CCRT?

The Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT) is a multidisciplinary group of campus and community stakeholders who meet regularly to assess, plan, monitor, and evaluate efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking.

Rather than reviewing individual cases, the CCRT focuses on building a coordinated, collaborative, and systemic approach to campus safety and survivor support. Comprised of leaders in prevention education, student conduct, law enforcement, and victim services, the team brings together diverse perspectives to strengthen policies, programs, and partnerships across all levels of the campus community.

Values/Purpose

The Office of Violence Prevention is committed to responding to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking with urgency, clarity, and trauma-informed care. We work to create and maintain clear, effective policies and procedures that guide prevention and response efforts. Our approach is centered on supporting survivors by prioritizing their safety and well-being. We aim to ensure that resources and services are easily accessible to all members of the campus and surrounding community. Through ongoing education and outreach, we also promote a unified understanding of consent and healthy relationships across campus.

Why is a CCRT important?

• Research has supported the idea that engagement of multiple entities is required to make necessary changes to effectively respond to campus sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
• Broad scale efforts are not successful if they lack coordination or operate in silos.
• Ultimate goal is to create systemic, sustainable change – this cannot be accomplished without the multifaceted approach that a CCRT takes.

Members of OVP:

Leslie Weaver, Program Director, Director of Counseling and Wellness Services lweaver@shc.edu

Sa’Mya Jones, Assistant Program Director
sajones@shc.edu

Rebecca Cantor, Provost
rcantor@shc.edu

Vannee Cao-Nguyen, Associate Vice President for Culture and Community; Chief Diversity Officer; Title IX Coordinator
vcaonguyen@shc.edu

Desirée Melton, Executive Director of Campus Life and Student Conduct
dmelton@shc.edu

Rapunizal Boykin, Director of Residence Life, Student Involvement
rboykin@shc.edu

Eduardo Gonzalez, Interim Chief of Police
egonzalez@shc.edu

Chad LeBlanc, Deputy Athletic Director of Internal Affairs/Compliance
cleblanc@shc.edu

Rachel Younce, Director of Campus Ministry
ryounce@shc.edu

Brian Courtney, Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Accounting
bcourtney@shc.edu

Stephanie Girard, Faculty Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs
sgirard@shc.edu

Timothy Hicks, Director of Human Resources
thicks@shc.edu

Walker Carlisle, Student Government Association President

To be Hired, Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator

This project was supported by Grant No. 2020-WA-AX-003 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publications/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.