Center for Research on Ending Violence

10/21/2026

Enrollment is now open for "Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct: What New Jersey Physicians Need to Know." This fully online course is relevant for anyone working in healthcare and is eligible for 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 2.0 General CEH for Social Workers. The content meets the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners CME licensing requirement for sexual misconduct prevention. Please see the attached flyer for more information about enrollment. Please visit https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-research-ending-violence/training/dca for more information.

10/15/2026

💜 The Center for Research on Ending Violence encourages you to join us by wearing purple on Oct 15, for ‘Purple Thursday’ in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple is the color of domestic violence awareness, and wearing purple today connects survivors and advocates across the country in our work to end abuse.

10/14/2026

Recent high-profile incidents - from cases involving students on college campuses, including Cornell and LSU, to reports of sexual misconduct and troubling responses aboard commercial flights - have prompted renewed conversations about what we do when we witness harm, how we respond to survivors, and how we turn concern (or anger) into meaningful action.

Join REV's Dr. Simone Snyder, Director of the Certificate on Interpersonal Violence and Trauma Program, and Maddy Zijdel of Rutgers-New Brunswick's Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance Office for a free online webinar through the Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Together, they'll explore survivor support, active bystander intervention, and pathways to advocacy, activism, and community action.

🎓 Participants are eligible to receive 1 free CEH.

From Bystander to Action: Social Work, Survivor Support, and Activism
📅 November 5, 12:00-1:00 PM ET
🔗 Register: https://socialwork-ce.rutgers.edu/index.php/product/2855?v=7865

How can we move from witnessing harm to taking meaningful action? Join for From Bystander to Action: Social Work, Survivor Support, and Activism on Thursday, November 5, from 12–1pm.

This free, interactive online webinar will explore active bystander intervention, trauma-informed and survivor-centered responses, and ways social workers can engage in advocacy, activism, and community action. All attendees are eligible to earn 1 free CEH.

Register: https://socialwork-ce.rutgers.edu/index.php/product/2855?v=7865

10/13/2026

Center core faculty member and Rutgers SSW Distinguished Professor Dr. Victoria Banyard was recently featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, contributing her expert perspective to a discussion of bystander intervention and sexual violence prevention. We're grateful for her scholarship and impact on important conversations in this area. Read the full article here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/cornell-has-called-for-bystander-intervention-to-stop-rape-does-it-work?fbclid=IwY2xjawU7RdxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Hn8V7CK__Wtr12EpXbLRP2UeSBk2Rosd4zUryGAFoojYg52Vtf9b4ZnFEKg_aem_aprialTvESTJcfgjkXMtow

The theory behind such training can be at odds with the prevailing culture of some Greek life institutions.

10/07/2026

Center Director, Dr. Sarah McMahon, was recently featured in The Washington Post, sharing research-informed perspectives on sexual violence reporting and the factors that influence a survivor's decision to come forward. View the article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/10/07/sexual-violence-is-up-data-cornell-colleges-nationwide-8-charts/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzkxMzQ1NjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzkyNzI3OTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3OTEzNDU2MDAsImp0aSI6ImU1ZGRlNjFlLTE3NWMtNGMyMC1hNDc4LTNiZDI0MjcxMmEwOCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9lZHVjYXRpb24vMjAyNi8xMC8wNy9zZXh1YWwtdmlvbGVuY2UtaXMtdXAtZGF0YS1jb3JuZWxsLWNvbGxlZ2VzLW5hdGlvbndpZGUtOC1jaGFydHMvIn0.GSeE7LHF3JcomrEJ2a-gnE1d-UJwXmFPYl5rApfBq4g

"'Sexual violence/assault is one of the most underreported crimes,'" said Sarah McMahon, director of the Center for Research on Ending Violence at Rutgers University. McMahon said there are many factors that deter people from reporting crimes to police, including feelings of shame, fear of retaliation or not being believed and a reluctance to recount traumatic experiences with strangers."

An article from The Washington Post explains that data shows incidents of sexual violence are more likely than before to be reported to law enforcement but are less likely to result in serious discipline compared to statewide figures. https://ow.ly/QYRy50ZVqhH

10/06/2026

We recognize that news and public conversations about sexual violence can be deeply impactful for survivors and those who care about them. We also recognize that sexual violence is not an individual problem- it is a community responsibility.

At the Center for Research on Ending Violence, we believe that ending sexual violence requires all of us - supporting survivors, challenging the conditions that allow violence to occur, rooting our efforts in social justice and working together to create communities where everyone can live, learn and work free from violence.

For those who are seeking support, information or opportunities to get involved, the following resources are available:

💜 Rutgers University–New Brunswick Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance (VPVA)
Confidential advocacy, counseling, and support services. The 24/7 hotline (848-932-1181) is available to Rutgers-New Brunswick students.
https://vpva.rutgers.edu/

💜 New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA)
Resources, education, and connections to support services throughout New Jersey.
https://njcasa.org/

💜 RAINN (R**e, Abuse & In**st National Network)
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673. Free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish is available to anyone affected by sexual violence.
https://rainn.org

08/28/2026

Congratulations to Liz Cohen, MSW, on receiving the 2026 Sheryl Cara Lanman Scholarship. Liz is a graduating Rutgers MSW student of Scottish, Jewish, and Chickasaw American Indian heritage. After earning their BA in Public Policy from Duke University, they spent their first career managing social impact initiatives for Fortune 100 technology companies. That was until they had a panic attack on stage, and decades of trauma came spilling out unexpectedly. A trauma-informed therapist helped them see, understand, and - eventually, startlingly - love themself. Inspired to support other survivors in walking their own paths to healing, they pursued their MSW, the Certificate in Interpersonal Violence and Trauma, and their practicum in Trauma Counseling with the Coalition Against R**e & Abuse. Today, they feel proud to be officially becoming a licensed trauma therapist and to receive the Lanman Scholarship. As they learn in therapy, we are more than the stories we have survived and the credentials we’ve received. Liz is also a musician, breathwork teacher, surfer, yogi, nature lover, and amateur breakdancer. Additionally, they are a wife and proud mom of four babies who never walked the earth – and, last but not least, Atticus the dog.

08/28/2026

Congratulations to Naomi Hunt on receiving the 2026 Sheryl Lanman Scholarship. Naomi completed the Accelerated Master’s in Social Work program at Rutgers University. Throughout her academic and professional experiences, she worked extensively with survivors of domestic violence and individuals impacted by violence and trauma. Naomi dedicated much of her work to supporting victims and survivors both locally and internationally, completing her practicum placement at Manavi, the first organization in the United States dedicated to ending all forms of violence against South Asian survivors. Her international work includes serving communities in Los Cocos, Santiago, in the Dominican Republic, through efforts focused on building homes and providing essential resources to families in need. In Sri Lanka, Naomi supported individuals and families impacted by the 2019 bombing attacks through community support efforts and mental health support initiatives for youth affected by trauma. Naomi is passionate about creating safe, supportive, and empowering spaces for individuals impacted by violence. She hopes to continue going above and beyond throughout her career to ensure survivors feel heard, supported, and never alone in their healing journeys.
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08/28/2026

The Sheryl Cara Lanman scholarship is awarded in honor of Sheryl Cara Lanman Nichols, MSW alumna from Rutgers who worked tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of domestic violence survivors prior to her death from cancer. Her family awards this funding to students who have worked with passion and dedication in supporting survivors of domestic violence and have also demonstrated academic excellence. Congrats to our 2026 scholarship recipients: Naomi Hunt, MSW and Liz Cohen, MSW.

07/29/2026

We are so proud of REV's own Chiara Sabina, PhD! 🩵

This week at the Violence Prevention Research Conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Dr. Sabina delivered the keynote address, Beyond One Latina Experience: Intersectionality, Discrimination, and Interpersonal Violence, and presented three times during the conference — including findings from REV's LAT-VIDA study alongside Maria A. Guevara Carpio, MSW.

Chiara's commitment to research that centers the full complexity of Latina survivors' experiences is making a real difference in this field.