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RICHMOND –Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the 30 members of the Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence to the administration today. The appointees include a wide variety of experts in the field of sexual assault from law enforcement to educators, forensic nurses, Title IX coordinators, advocates, and more. The Task Force, chaired by Attorney General Mark Herring, will hold quarterly meetings that will focus on finding common solutions to building safer, more educated college communities within the Commonwealth, with the goal of creating best practices for education and prevention of sexual violence on campus.
“There is no bigger concern then the health and safety of our citizens in the Commonwealth. As Governor, I am committed to building a new Virginia economy where students are free from the threat of sexual violence. It is circuital that we work together with the schools, educators, and law enforcement to build on our goal for all higher education institutions to be safe places of learning and growing,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Dorothy and I care deeply about this issue, and as parents we know the importance of sending your children off to a new and safe place, and we want that for all of Virginia’s young people. This task force is the first step in making sure that prevention, education, and awareness are spread about sexual violence, and ensures that Virginia will lead the way on combating this issue.”
In addition to the task force, the Office of Attorney General has begun a review with each college and university of current policies and procedures for prevention and response.
"Governor McAuliffe, Virginia's college and university presidents, and I have sent a clear message that sexual violence will not be tolerated on our college campuses, nor will a societal culture that condones it in any way,"said Attorney General Herring. "I look forward to working with this exceptional group of advocates, students, administrators, and experts to make sure that, as a Commonwealth, we are doing everything we can to prevent sexual violence, and to ensure that our response to reports of sexual violence is timely, appropriate, and survivor-centered. Virginia schools must remain safe and welcoming places where students, faculty and staff can live, learn, and work."
Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence Task Force Members:
· Fran Bradford of Richmond, Associate Vice President for Government Relations, The College of William and Mary
· Ángel Cabrera of Fairfax, President of George Mason University
· Judy Casteele of Buena Vista, Executive Director, Project Horizon, Inc.
· Jean A. Cheek, RN BS SANE-A of Henrico, Forensic Nurse Examiner, Virginia Commonwealth University
· Leah K. Cox, PhD of Fredericksburg, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion, Title IX Coordinator, University of Mary Washington
· Maggie Cullinan of Charlottesville, Director, Charlottesville Victim/Witness Assistance Program
· Brandon T. Day of Richmond, President, Student Government Association, Virginia Commonwealth University
· Daniel Dusseau of Fairfax, Chief of Police, Northern Virginia Community College
· Dorothy J Edwards, Ph.D. of Burke, Executive Director of Green Dot
· William R. Grace, Colonel USMC (Ret) of Lexington, Inspector General and Title IX Coordinator, Parents Council Liaison, Virginia Military Institute
· Allen W. Groves of Waynesboro, University Dean of Students, University of Virginia
· Melissa Ratcliff Harper of Roanoke, Forensic Nurse Examiner, Carilion Clinic-Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
· Tom Kramer of Richmond, Executive Director, Virginia21
· Penelope W. Kyle of Radford, President, Radford University
· Michael C. Maxey of Salem, President, Roanoke College
· Donna Poulsen Michaelis of Chesterfield, Manager, Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety
· Christopher N. Ndiritu of Norfolk, Student Body President, Student Government Association, Old Dominion University
· Nancy Oglesby of Henrico, Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney's Office
· Ellen W. Plummer, Ph.D of Blacksburg, Assistant Provost of Virginia Tech University
· Marianne M. Radcliff of Richmond, Vice-President, Kemper Consulting; Member, Longwood University Board of Visitors
· The Honorable Abby Raphael of Arlington, Vice Chair, Arlington County School Board; former Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, Arlington County
· Daphne Maxwell Reid of Petersburg, Member, Virginia State University Board of Visitors
· Emily Renda of Charlottesville, Program Coordinator in Student Affairs, University of Virginia
· Tracy S. Rusillo of Hanover, Major, Virginia State Police
· Frank Shushok, Jr. of Blacksburg, Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Virginia Tech
· Rosemary D. Trible of Newport News, President of Fear 2 Freedom
· John A. Venuti of Richmond, Assistant Vice President of Public Safety/Chief of Police, Virginia Commonwealth University
· Kristi VanAudenhove of Whitestone, Executive Director, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
· Raychel Whyte of Washington D.C., Administrator at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
