OPSVAW Supports Five Students

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 4, 2014) — The Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women (OPSVAW) in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences recently announced that it will support the largest number of graduate and professional students within its relatively short history.  One of the top priorities of the OPSVAW is the support of students, and the 2014-2015 academic year will see the program support five individuals through graduate fellowships and research assistantships.

“It is an extraordinary opportunity to advance the careers of these young scholars while also teaching them that there are real women behind the work that they do,” said Carol Jordan executive director of OPSVAW. “I believe we help give real purpose and inspiration to their academic careers while they also contribute to the field with their energy and maturing expertise.”

Among the students being supported during the 2014/2015 academic year are two doctoral students in the Department of Psychology, two doctoral students in the Department of Political Science, and one professional student from the College of Law.  Specifically:

• Kathleen (Katie) Clark from the Departent of Political Science is receiving an OPSVAW Graduate Fellowship to support her work focusing on the negative effects of violence against women and the influences of effective policy adoption on an international scale. Some of her most recent work examines how sexual violence during armed conflict/war contributes to negative political outcomes on post-civil conflict society.

• Molly Coffey, from the College of Law, is serving as a research assistant to the executive director of the Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women. She will be working with Jordan to conduct legal research to advance the office's legislative reform projects related to civil protective orders for domestic violence, rape and stalking victims.

• Dakota Thomas from the Department of Political Science will receive an OPSVAW Research Assistantship to support his work on a project led by two department faculty, Assistant Professor Tiffany Barnes and Assistant Professor Abby Córdova. The project, which will be based in El Salvador, is titled “Dangerous Place and State Action: Does Violence Against Women Legislation Motivate Women to Participate in Civic and Political Activities?”  

It was reported earlier that two additional students Jennifer (Jenna) Jewell and Kellie Lynch, both from the Department of Psychology, will receive Mary Byron Fellowships. Jewell for dissertation research on the victimization experiences of adolescents who are gender atypical. Lynch for research in understanding perceptions of rape and victim blaming.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Hairston, 859-257-3302, gail.hairston@uky.edu