‘Behind the Blue’: Discussing sexual assault awareness and prevention on campus
This episode of “Behind the Blue” deals with sensitive subject material involving sexual assault, rape, stalking and intimate partner violence. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact the VIP Center at 859-257-3574 or email vipcenter@uky.edu.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 7, 2025) — April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month — a time dedicated to education, advocacy and support for survivors. At the University of Kentucky, the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center serves as a confidential resource for students, faculty and staff impacted by interpersonal violence — including sexual assault, rape, stalking and intimate partner violence. The VIP Center, in the Office for Student Success, provides a welcoming space for survivors, advocates and anyone seeking to learn more about prevention and intervention.
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” two professionals dedicated to supporting survivors and preventing violence on campus discuss the work of the VIP Center and the vital role of advocacy in the campus community.
Natalie Tate is the victim advocate for the UK Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. A mental health professional pursuing a master’s degree in family sciences with an emphasis in couple and family therapy, Tate brings extensive experience in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care and community engagement. She works closely with survivors — providing support and guidance if and when they choose to navigate the criminal justice system. Tate also collaborates with the VIP Center to ensure survivors receive holistic care, connecting them with advocacy, counseling and other essential resources.
Lenzi Dodgen works with the VIP Center, where she helps survivors navigate their healing journeys and engages the campus community in education and prevention efforts. With both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the UK College of Social Work (CoSW), Dodgen has devoted her career to advocacy and considers her work at UK a “dream job.”
Click the play button above to hear Tate and Dodgen discuss the resources available at UK, the importance of trauma-informed care and how we can all contribute to a safer and more supportive community.
About “Behind the Blue”
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“Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
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As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.