Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence

Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence

The Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence is a regional hub of collaborative research and service, housed in the Department of Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University.

    

News

In 2021, CEVGV was selected as one Rural Innovation site by the Advisory Council of the Rural Justice Collaborative. The RJC showcases the strengths of rural communities and highlights the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. The work under the RJC is supported by a cross-sector advisory council composed of rural judges along with additional stakeholders in the justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and public health systems.

To learn more about the RJC and CEVGV, please check out this link:

https://www.ruraljusticecollaborative.org/innovation-sites

Past Events

September 29, 2021 
"Together We Heal, Together We Rise" 

Sponsors: Department of Criminal Justice, Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence (CEVGV), Department of Sociology  

Special Thanks to the Provost’s Office, Office of Student Affairs, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellowship  

Date: September 29 ^th.

Time: 10 am to 2 pm (Workshop)

Location: Black and Gold Room at Memorial Union

Please RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/together-we-heal-together-we-rise-tickets-168343793819

The Department of Criminal Justice, the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence, and the Department of Sociology will host an on-campus event in Fall 2021 with the founder and CEO of Thistle Farms-Becca Stevens. Ms. Stevens is a social entrepreneur, social activist, author, motivational speaker, and trauma-informed practitioner. Becca also helped establish ten justice initiatives that have raised more than $55M in funding revolving around trauma, trafficking, addiction, and extreme poverty. Becca was also recognized as a CNN Hero of 2016. 

Thistle Farms provides on-site employment and a long-term residential program to women survivors who were justice-involved and victims of sexual violence and human trafficking. Five years after graduation, 75% of Thistle Farms’ graduates are living healthy and financially independent lives.

During her visit to FHSU, Becca will facilitate a workshop on social entrepreneurship, community collaboration, survivor empowerment, and techniques of boosting the local economy. While the workshop is open to all, it is designed for FHSU students who seek victim advocacy and social entrepreneurship certificates. A keynote event will also be open to the public that evening to engage this important conversation with our community.

The workshop aims to support economic independence, counseling, healthcare, and safe housing for the survivors of gender-based violence by sharing information, improving professional networking, assisting with program evaluation, and training that promotes a violence-free community. 

The workshop will be open to FHSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as professionals who work with victims of gender-based violence. It is also designed for students who pursue a victim advocacy certificate or social entrepreneurship certificate. Live streaming and recording will also be available for online students.

Time: 7 to 8 pm (Keynote)

Location: Beach/Schmidt

The keynote event is open to the public. It aims to inspire and engage the community to learn about the power of healing, hope, and empowerment for survivors of gender-based violence. 

You call also follow us via our social media site to watch live and review the recording https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweringVictimsofGenderbasedViolence

https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/center-for-empowering-victims-of-gender-based-violence/index

September 24, 2021 
Roundtable Discussion "Researching Gender in Rural Communities" 

 

October 29, 2020
"Let's Talk About Domestic Violence" 

Video Link - -  https://youtu.be/EjXZ5ZM5F2w 

March 16, 2021
"Research and Social Activism on Gender-Based Violence"

 Video Link - -  https://youtu.be/NOArSO9V8kc 

April 8, 2021 "Break the Cycle" 

Video Link - -  https://youtu.be/-Wzq0rcCUs8

April 22, 2021 - -  "Author Meets Critics" 

Video Link - -   https://youtu.be/1_koiDgB5u0 

Monthly Roundtable with Dr. Ziwei Qi
    (please click on link for more information)

• Priority given to proposals submitted by February 19, 2021
• Please submit proposal to Dr. Ziwei Qi -- z_qi5@fhsu.edu

July Roundtable with Dr. April Terry
(please click on link for more information)

• Priority given to proposals received by May 19, 2021
• Please submit proposal to Dr. April Terry -- anterry2@fhsu.edu 

About

• The Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence aims to reduce the constraints facing survivors, to promote the freedom of economic independence, and to empower survivors to seize opportunity freely. The center commits to providing sustainable support and improvement to help survivors to break the cycle of violence and transform themselves from victims/survivors to social entrepreneurs.
• The Center facilitates cross-disciplinary research focusing on the causes and control of gender-based violence in rural areas.
• The Center leads and facilitates collaborative networks for researchers to apply evidence-based approaches and to investigate best practices addressing gender-based violence in rural communities.
• The Center establishes and develops academic-community collaborations through service-learning, research, assessment, and to create educational opportunities and policy recommendations that enhance the wellbeing of rural communities.
• For questions, please email the Center at centerforempowerment@fhsu.edu 

History of the Center: 

In 2018, Dr. Ziwei Qi of Criminal Justice and Dr. Hsin-Yen Yang of Communication Studies were selected as entrepreneurship faculty fellows by the Robins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the Provost's Office at Fort Hays State University. This fellowship supports Drs. Qi and Yang to pursue their innovative approaches to empowering survivors of gender-based violence from rural communities to gain economic independence and long-term security. Their initiative addressed the importance of social entrepreneurship, safe housing, employment, counseling, and healthcare for survivors' financial freedom and social justice.

With the support from the Departments of Criminal Justice, Communication Studies, Sociology, and Art and Design, in March 2020, the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence (CEVGV) was established and housed in the Department of Criminal Justice. Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, became the Center's third co-founder alongside Drs. Yang and Qi.

Currently, the Center has welcomed four senior research consultants: Dr. Christy Craig of Sociology and Drs. Morgan Steele and April Terry of Criminal Justice, and Dr. Rachel Dolechek of Applied Business Studies, to provide research and policy recommendations on gender-based violence in the rural community. The Center also has two undergraduate research assistants, Brandi Hanson and Cristina Jimenez, and one graduate research assistant, Viviana Lizarraga.

Why Rural Justice Matter?

“Many scholars have bypassed rural locations, producing an urban ethnocentrism in criminology. Specifically, few have considered the spatial positioning of girls and women in rural communities and how unique rural cultural dynamics influence the acknowledgement and response towards gender-based violence. Rural communities are characterized by anonymity and privacy from others due to “close-knit” ties and a mentality where individuals informally work out interpersonal agreements. Reputations are at stake in rural communities—places where family name, socioeconomic status, gender identification, race/ethnicity, and other variables, play a clear role in how communities respond to one another, especially during instances of gender-based violence. With diminished service availability, geographic isolation, and blurred boundaries for professionals, better understanding of intersectionality and service responses in rural areas is necessary and timely.”—Dr. April Terry

“Rural crimes are undergoing fundamental and drastic changes across the world due to migration, the decline of the family farm, the emergence of violence, the impact of the opioid crisis, the challenges of housing development, and limited access to various social and legal resources. Considering the scarcity of literature on rural crime and rural criminology, it’s criminologists’ responsibility to reimagine the causes and consequences of crimes in rural areas.”—Dr. Ziwei Qi

FOUNDERS

Dr. Ziwei Qi

Dr. Ziwei Qi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Dakota; a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University; a Law degree from Nankai University. As an international scholar in criminal justice policies and comparative criminal justice, her research examines migration, crime, the left-behind children, and their associated problems through a cross-cultural perspective. Dr. Qi has presented her research at both national and international conferences, and is currently working on conference articles and book chapters in the aforementioned topics. Dr. Qi has also been actively engaged in research involving gender and crime, restorative justice, social entrepreneurship in the criminal justice system, and experiential learning in the United States.

Dr. Hsin-Yen Yang

1. Dr. Hsin-Yen Yang is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Fort Hays State University. She holds a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa, a nationally recognized doctoral program; a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Emerson College in Boston; a BA in Political Science from National Taiwan University. Dr. Yang has advised many award-winning PR campaigns in state- and nation-wide collegiate contests. She was nominated for the Pilot Award, which recognizes an outstanding faculty member at FHSU in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Dr. Yang was selected as an Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow in 2018. She serves on the Title IX Advisory Committee at FHSU, and she is the faculty advisor of the FHSU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

Dr. Tamara Lynn

Dr. Tamara J. Lynn is Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University.  Current research includes recruiting, hiring, and retaining law enforcement in rural communities and effects of stress on law enforcement officers. She is currently working with the National De-escalation Training Center to develop a regional training center on the FHSU campus. Dr. Lynn holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Sociology, with concentrations in Criminology and Political Sociology, from Kansas State University and a Master of Liberal Studies, with concentrations in Public Administration and Criminal Justice, from Fort Hays State University. 

RESEARCH CONSULTANTS 

Dr. April Terry 

Dr. April Terry is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University, specializing in four lines of research: juvenile corrections, gender and crime, rural criminology, and gender-based violence. Dr. Terry obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and a PhD in Sociology (concentration in Criminology and Gender Studies). Recently, Dr. Terry has published a forward-thinking policy piece on responses to sexual assault in rural communities, the abuse-to-prison pipeline for girls in sparsely populated areas, and the dangers of dense collective efficacy for at-risk girls in rural areas.

Dr. Morgan Steele

Dr. Morgan Steele is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University. His research focuses on quantitative methodology, community crime patterns, and the use of forensic evidence within the criminal justice system. He received his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati with a focus on policing and criminology. He is proficient in the following: survey development, content analysis, experimental design, exploratory factor analysis, longitudinal analysis, multilevel modeling, and program assessment.  


Dr. Christy Craig

Dr. Christy Craig is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Fort Hays State University. She studied anthropology, sociology, and women’s and gender studies, earning her PhD in Sociology from the University of Kansas. Dr. Craig’s research focuses on gender, sexuality, and culture in Ireland and the United States, trauma and identity, as well as accessibility and inclusivity in higher education.

Dr. Rachel Dolechek

Dr. Rachel Dolechek is a member of the Department of Applied Business Studies at Fort Hays State University. Dr. Dolechek obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Communication, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance, an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.), and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). She has worked on a variety of multidisciplinary research projects and has an interest in continuing research focused on employability. 

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Megan Shepard

The Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence would like to welcome our newest undergraduate student researcher, and our first virtual student researcher- Megan Shepard. We are thrilled to have Megan to work with the Center on research, community service, and grant applications. Megan Shepard (she/her/hers) is a virtual student obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. She currently works for Community Action, Inc. as a Special Projects Manager. As Special Projects Manager, Megan works on projects that aid in Community Action’s mission to help people move from poverty to prosperity. Megan’s previous work includes collaboration with Kansas victim advocacy centers to build a better response to survivors who are incarcerated. Additional partnerships include Just Detention International and the Kansas Department of Corrections to ensure adequate training for corrections staff through the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). She is originally from Kinsley, Kansas but currently resides in Topeka, Kansas with her partner, four children, three dogs, and three cats. Megan prides herself on advocating for individuals who are often forgotten.

FORMER RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Viviana Lizarraga

Viviana Lizarraga is a first year graduate student in the Masters in Clinical Psychology program, as well as the Graduate Assistant for the Department of Criminal Justice. Viviana earned her Bachelors in Criminal Justice, a Bachelors in Psychology, a minor in Spanish, and certificates in Leadership Studies, Corrections, Victim Advocacy, and Case Management, all from Fort Hays. Viviana’s research background focuses on mental health stigma, gender-based crime, as well as rural crime.  

Garrett McBlair

Garrett McBlair is a senior criminal justice student with minors in psychology and philosophy. Within his criminal justice degree, he will also be earning a certificate in victim advocacy. As a native of Kansas, he grew up in two towns only ten miles apart, Beloit & Glen Elder, KS. At Fort Hays State University, he has been involved with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, having served multiple roles, including the president for 3 terms (years). Along with that, he is also a facilitator for Tiger Team, the university's student orientation/transition team. From these involvements, Garrett has been recognized for his service/organizational involvement. He has been named Fort Hays State University's fraternity man of the year, received the "Excellence in Service to Students" award, and was given the Order of The Phoenix (undergraduate achievement award) for his investment and development of his fraternity. As a student scholar, he has a passion for research regarding mental health, rural crime/criminology, and gender-based violence. He has conducted/assisted with research regarding trauma-informed education in higher education settings and the 2021 Capitol riot/insurrection. He is currently working on research regarding mental health in rural law enforcement officers, existing mental health resources in rural communities, and the common types of mental health stigma observed. He has had an opportunity to present research on this topic at a university-level conference. Along with his research interests, he has developed his personal skillset by receiving certified training in mental health first aid, suicide intervention, and personality based de-escalation. During his free time, he enjoys reading, mentoring his fraternity brothers, and volunteering on campus and in the Hays community. His current goals and ambitions include continuing his education in a master's program and to eventually earn a PhD in a field related to his current research passions.

Cristina Jimenez

Cristina Jimenez graduated from Fort Hays State University in Criminal Justice and certificates in social justice & victim advocacy. She was a member of the Fort Hays State University Criminal Justice Club, the Fort Hays Honor Society, and the American Criminal Justice Association. 

Brandi Hanson

Brandi Hanson graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice and Spanish Translation and Interpretation. She was a member of the Fort Hays State University Criminal Justice Club, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the International Student Exchange, and served as a Study Abroad Ambassador for the university. Having studied different legal systems throughout the world while attending the University of Vigo in Spain, she brought international and cultural perspectives to studying crime in rural communities. Throughout her time at Fort Hays State University, she was on the Dean’s Honor Roll six times.