How can we help college and universities students (both undergraduate or graduate), or other participants, navigate the fraught worlds of intimate social interaction, romance, and abuse in the 21st century? Are there any gaps between how issues surrounding consent, assault, and sexual violence are talked about in the academic literature and how higher education students experience these issues in their lives? What sort of interpersonal and bottom up programming could be done to address issues of sexual assault, violence, and other sorts of coercive dynamics in graduate departments?
We explore these questions and more with Lori Bednarchik a professor and one of the leading national experts on sexual consent and communication, and in particular sex-positive and skills-based approaches to violence prevention. Alongside her scholarship and research, she has worked closely with athletes, fraternity men, and college students across the country, challenging the norms surrounding relationships, consent, and sex. Bednarchik received her PhD in Human Communication from Arizona State University, and an MPH in Health Education and Health Promotion, and BA in English and Gender Studies from The University of Maryland. She lectures at Arizona State University, San Diego State University, California State University at San Marcos, among other universities. Previously, she worked as a Health Educator at San Diego State University where she created several award-winning programs on bystander intervention education, and alcohol risk-reduction. She also re-designed and facilitated a Peer Health Education Program specifically for fraternity men called FratMANers (Fraternity Men Against Negative Environments and Rape Situations).
To learn more about her work and services check out her personal website, here.