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We are happy to highlight Marcia Batchelder (she/her/hers) on the CDV Team! Marcia served as an intern with the Center's END Violence Project from Fall 2020 to Spring 2021. Marcia also conducted a capstone project on consent for END Violence Project.

What is your experience working in the movement to end gender-based violence?

In 2015, I began volunteering with a program that provided direct service to women who are incarcerated. This experience enlightened me to the lifelong impact that gender-based violence, abuse and trauma can have on an individual and how support at a young age can possibly change a person's life course. In speaking with the women, and through my coursework, I have come to understand that gender-based violence is caused by many things: gender inequality, social norms, exposure to violence as a child, and issues of power and control. With that said, I believe strongly in the power of community, education and hope.

How has being an intern with END Violence influenced your choices?

Serving as an intern this year, I saw that schools are central to providing quality prevention education, one-on-one support and the best place to demonstrate that a safe and supportive environment can influence positive behaviors. The internship also introduced me to the broad community locally and nationally that supports individuals who experience relationship violence.

You have recently joined the CDV staff. What is your interest in joining the CDV team?

I joined the CDV team in August 2020. The initial orientation was incredibly helpful in framing the history and current efforts to address and reduce gender-based violence. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with young people in high schools who are interested in improving sexual education curriculum to include information on consent and consent culture. As a result of this, I created a short documentary about consent and consent communication highlighting student voices and community partners.

Who/what inspires you?

Young people inspire me. They are active and meaningful advocates for themselves and our community. Part of the social documentary was interviewing seven Denver high school students. The students' words and perspectives give me great hope that we can work together to empower people to have healthy and meaningful relationships.

Marcia graduated in Spring 2021 with a Master of Social Work from Metropolitan State University.

MarciaBatchelder@gmail.com

Dr. Kimberly Wiley (She/Her/Hers) is an Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Leadership and Community Sciences in the Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. She earned her MPA with a Certificate in Gender-based Violence from CU Denver and her doctorate from Florida State University in Public Administration with an emphasis on nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Wiley does research on the  relationship between nonprofit organizations and their public funders. She has particular interest in domestic violence advocacy organizations serving families and youth. Before joining the faculty at UF, she served as Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield where she coordinated the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Dr. Wiley brings with her thirteen years of nonprofit experience in the field of victim advocacy in local, state, and national organizations. After serving in multiple capacities in three domestic violence shelters in Florida, she accepted a position with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the statewide administrative organization for Florida’s 42 certified domestic violence centers. There she provided training and technical assistance to Florida’s domestic violence shelters and criminal justice systems. Outside of the office, she enjoys exploring the local hiking trails with her large family and rambunctious dog.

What is your experience working in the movement to end gender-based violence?

      I started my work in the movement to end gender-based violence working in domestic violence shelters in Florida. Then I headed to Colorado to earn my MPA and Certificate in Domestic Violence at UCD. From there, I worked for several years in a statewide domestic violence coalition as a trainer and technical assistance provider. I returned to school in 2016 to earn my doctorate degree in Public Administration while focusing my studies on nonprofit organizations and public policy, more specifically domestic violence organizations and policy. I’ve gone on to publish several research articles on the complexities of nonprofits working with people in crisis and nonprofits experiencing crisis themselves. Now, I lead a research lab at the University of Florida where we study human service nonprofit organizations and qualitative methodology.

How has being a past student of the PGV influenced your choices? 

      In my first week at PDV in 2004, Barbara Paradiso taught my cohort the herstory of the Battered Women’s Movement. These lessons stuck with me throughout my career. I continually reflect on the evolution of the Movement since the formation of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1978. Knowing where we’ve been helps guide where we are headed. Though I no longer serve in the role of advocate, the herstory and my experience working in domestic violence advocacy drives my research into DV and SV organizations. 

Tell us more about your article with Sarah L. Young "Erased: Why faculty sexual misconduct is prevalent and how we could prevent it"

      During our time in academia, Dr. Young and I witnessed numerous faculty not held accountable for sexually harassing and abusing students. Our field appeared to be at a loss for how to end this problem. Much like religious institutions and the military, abusers are able to escape accountability and continue their careers in a new town and new job. We want this to end. We want perpetrators held accountable and victims to receive justice. “Erased” is a call to action to the academic discipline of Public Affairs. Dr. Young and I received a huge, positive response to this article. Thirteen Public Affairs journals have published an abridged version of the article: ten as a guest editorial in the journal and two on their social media pages. Public Affairs schools and departments around the country are meeting to strategize on the issue. Academic associations in Public Affairs around the world are developing detailed plans to root out predators and ensuring safe spaces for the members at their conferences. Erased is published open access in the Journal of Public Affairs Education: https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2021.1877983.

What/Who inspires you?

      My three teenagers and my students inspire me daily to work hard to build a world that is free from gender-based violence. I love working with students in my research lab to explore both fun and more serious research endeavors. They energize me! You can learn more about our work here: www.DrKimberlyWiley.com (Will be up shortly)