McMaster University hires sexual violence response coordinator

Meaghan Ross has joined the Office of Human Rights & Equity Services as McMaster University’s new sexual violence response coordinator.

In this role, Ross will coordinate a comprehensive survivor-centred response protocol to disclosures of sexual and gender-based violence.

She will also respond to individual disclosures of sexual, intimate relationship and family violence, and will work closely with the campus community to implement a wide-range of campus-based education and prevention initiatives.

“In my mind at least, it’s a no-brainer to focus on this type of thing,” Sean Van Koughnett, McMaster’s Associate Vice-President and Dean of Students, told CBC Hamilton.

“From what I can see, there’s a level of interest there from students. Students want to know how they can talk about it with their peers.”

Ross joins the University with more than six years’ experience in project management, including the coordination of a two-year project at McMaster entitled It’s Time to End Violence Against Women on Campus, funded by the Status of Women Canada.

She brings experience as a crisis counsellor, public educator, sessional lecturer and course instructor, as well as in-depth knowledge of the Hamilton and McMaster communities.

Ross received a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster in Social Work/Labour Studies (2007), as well as a Master of Arts degree in Globalization Studies from McMaster’s Institute of Globalization and the Human Condition (2008).

She will be based in the Office of Human Rights & Equity Services, 2nd Floor, MUSC (Student Centre), Room 212, and can be reached at 905-525-9140 ext. 20909 or rossm4@mcmaster.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Wade Hemsworth
Public Relations Manager
Office of Public Relations
905-525-9140 ext. 27988
hemswor@mcmaster.ca