PennWest College of Health Sciences and Human Services and the Crime Victim Center – Erie County are co-sponsoring a conference, “Sexual Assault Response: Creating Hope and Healing Through Equitable and Inclusive Practice,” April 9 and 10 at PennWest Edinboro.
The conference is dedicated to enhancing survivor support services and fostering collaboration among professionals. It is recommended for professionals from local and surrounding communities, PennWest faculty and affiliates, and PennWest graduate and undergraduate students.
This is the second year for the conference and PennWest’s first time joining CVC as a co-sponsor. The collaboration resulted from the long-standing working relationship between Edinboro faculty and CVC, which has provided internship opportunities for students and employment for graduates. These opportunities now extend to all PennWest students.
“The College of Health Sciences and Human Services is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Crime Victim Center – Erie County for the 2025 spring conference,” said Julaine Field, associate professor in PennWest Department of Psychology, Counseling and Art Therapy.
“Through this community-focused collaboration, PennWest students will have the opportunity to learn about effective sexual assault response from an interdisciplinary perspective. Interacting with current, regional professionals in nursing, criminal justice, mental health and victim advocacy addresses critical, real-world learning needs of our students,” she said.
Field notes that the conference is particularly valuable to students in social work, psychology, counseling, criminal justice and nursing programs. They will participate in educational sessions related to the topic of sexual assault response and will interact with regional professionals in victim advocacy, law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health and nursing/medical services.
The two-day conference kicks off at 6 p.m. April 9 when Joshua “Zeke” Thomas, a celebrity DJ, producer, sexual assault awareness advocate and TV host, will present “Empathy in Action: Building Trauma-Informed Responses for Survivors of Sexual Assault.” A fireside chat and Q&A will follow from 7 to 7:30 p.m., with Thomas joined by Paul Lukach, CVC executive director. That day’s events are free to attend, and the 6 p.m. talk will be streamed to the California and Clarion campuses.
The April 10 schedule begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and a light breakfast, followed by opening remarks at 9:30 a.m. Ninety-minute workshops addressing topics related to victim advocacy, law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health, and nursing/medical services will begin at 10 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. The workshops will be led by professionals, including PennWest faculty.
Detective Carl Hershman, a 32-year veteran with the San Diego Police Department, will give the keynote address during the 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. lunch break. Hershman is a nationally recognized speaker who was featured in the 2024 Emmy Award-winning film, “Victim/Suspect.” His talk, along with key workshop sessions, will be streamed to the California and Clarion campuses.
Pre-registration and a full schedule, including the topics of workshop sessions, are available at pennwest.edu/cvc-sexual-assault-response. Cost is $90 for professionals and $35 for students, which includes breakfast, lunch and the keynote talk. Cost for students who want to attend workshops without the lunch option is $15. PennWest students who want to attend the full day but aren’t able to pay the $35 fee can contact Field at jfield@pennwest.edu to discuss scholarship availability.