Student Leaders Trained as Mentors in Violence Prevention

Academics

Emma Willard School's curriculum focuses on three pillars: Intellectual Flexibility, Purpose & Community, and Equity & Justice. Our academic program offers more than 140 courses, including Emma's own unique Advanced Studies options. Personalized study programs enable students to dive deep into a topic or field of their choosing, and gain hands-on experience.

School Life

Education at Emma isn’t limited to the classroom—it’s woven into the fabric of our community. With students from around the world and across the United States, and faculty and staff with a wide breadth of life experiences, you will broaden your perspective the moment you walk onto campus.

Bonds created in the residence and dining halls, while practicing for an athletics match or arts performance, at one of our many cherished traditions, and all the little moments in between, define the Emma experience.

Student Leaders Trained as Mentors in Violence Prevention

8/25/2017

Our student leaders are vital resources for Emma Girls. Each year, girls undergo a rigorous application process to become a senior Proctor or junior Wellness Advocate (formerly known as Peer Educators). These leaders are trained to provide direction and advice for navigating the many aspects of life at Emma. As such, they undergo training on a number of topics.

This year, as an extension of Emma’s partnership with the Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, both Proctors and Wellness Advocates met with Prevention Educator Ron Fountain and Adolescent Therapist and Prevention Educator Carly Sunderland for a training on how to be mentors in violence prevention (MVP).

The goal of the MVP program is to raise awareness of different types of trauma and how it impacts each person individually, challenge thinking on what trauma looks like, have an open dialogue, and inspire leadership.

Together the group discussed what it means to be a leader and an active and passive bystander, and how to recognize those who may need support and get them help.

It was emphasized that it’s not the responsibility of a Proctor or Wellness Advocate to help a student through a trauma, but to know how to point her to resources both on and off campus to get the support she needs.

This work is part of our ongoing commitment to Safety and Healthy Boundaries on campus. Learn more at emmawillard.org/healthyboundaries.