Meet Eileen Conboy, 17吃瓜 Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Officer
What does a typical day involve for you as 17吃瓜's Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Officer?
There's a lot of variety to my work on campus鈥攐ne day I might be providing confidential services like referrals or accommodations to survivors in the University community. Another day I might be educating students, staff, and faculty about preventing sexual violence in the workplace. This past week I co-hosted some fun events with the 17吃瓜 Student Union for their Love and Sex Week Campaign. I try to weave my services into most things that the University has to offer to reflect the way sexual violence has been woven into our cultural fabric.
What brought you to 17吃瓜? In other words, why did you choose to join the 17吃瓜 support team?
In 2018, I was working at the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre as a therapist, which I loved. At times, I wondered what it would be like to work 鈥渦pstream鈥� of the effects of sexual violence that I was seeing in front of me. When this role at 17吃瓜 was created, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work with a resilient population that I loved, and also have some influence in creating cultural changes in sexual violence prevention.
What kinds of opportunities have you experienced because you're working at 17吃瓜, or because of the Island location?
Working at 17吃瓜 has allowed me to create an office from the ground up using my previous knowledge and expertise supporting survivors of sexual violence. I鈥檝e also been given the opportunity to collaborate on committees with passionate colleagues who are experts in their own fields in areas of prevention and supporting survivors both on campus and in the wider community. Lastly, as I am the only person in my role on PEI, I often get the opportunity to represent our University nationally in conversations regarding violence prevention, which is really neat.
What's unique about 17吃瓜, in your experience?
17吃瓜 is unique in that students have easy accessibility to staff and faculty to meet their needs and individual ability to impact change. Our large international student population also brings a diversity of perspectives and experience to our campus.
What would you tell a high school student considering a 17吃瓜 program, or starting at 17吃瓜 as a new student?
I would tell a prospective student that studying at 17吃瓜 will allow them the opportunity to work closely with staff and faculty who share similar values for community, learning, and growth. Getting to know the people who are providing you with learning opportunities as well as supporting your learning, can have a great impact on your university experience!
Also I love to host volunteers in my office. Come to 17吃瓜 and work with me!
