Center for Prevention and Education Director Marissa Miller and TEAL Peer Educators (left to right) Maya Jenkins, Kayla Botto and Grace Bonaccorsy. In her new role, Miller will oversee the continuation of a $300K grant from the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.
Marissa Miller wants University of Mary Washington students to know that when they disclose incidents of sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking, they will be heard and supported.
“Many assume they’ll have to come in and share their story,” said Miller, who recently became the director of UMW’s Center for Prevention and Education, or CPE. That’s not required, she said, “but we want students to know they have lots of options and that we’re here to help them feel empowered with whatever decisions they make.”
With her new and vital position at Mary Washington, Miller stands as the first line of support and resources, offering direct services to students who experience sex- and gender-based violence. Her office will also oversee the continuation of a $300,000 grant, awarded by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), which will help expand CPE’s services and offer more programming focused on prevention, awareness and education, intervention and advocacy. UMW is among 52 institutions of higher education selected to receive these federal funds, which come as the University observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Read more.
