Campus Events Focus on Education, Advocacy, and Solidarity with Survivors

猫咪头条 University鈥檚 Office of Student Development will recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout April with a series of educational programs and awareness events. For 25 years, Sexual Assault Awareness Month has united survivors, advocates, and communities in a shared commitment to ending sexual assault, abuse, and harassment through education, prevention, and support.

Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students Lesley Villarose, who also serves as the University鈥檚 interim Title IX coordinator, emphasized the importance of intentionally observing the month and engaging the campus community in meaningful ways.

鈥淗onoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month means choosing to see, to listen, and to act鈥攂ecause every voice matters, every story deserves dignity, and every community has a responsibility to create a culture of respect, consent, and accountability,鈥� Villarose emphasized.

Building on this commitment, 猫咪头条 will host a variety of programs and initiatives this mont aimed at fostering awareness, education, and open dialogue around sexual violence, prevention efforts, and available campus resources.

Monthlong Book Display at Dover Library

猫咪头条鈥檚 Dover Library will host a book display featuring books and educational resources focused on sexual violence awareness, prevention, consent, and survivor support. This collection is intended to encourage learning, reflection, and informed dialogue across the campus community. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to visit the display throughout the month to explore these important topics and access available resources.

April 1

• Start By Believing Day 鈥� 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., front of the Caf, Dover Campus Center.

Held the first Wednesday in April, Start by Believing Day provides an opportunity for communities to unify with a single voice for survivors. 鈥淲e hear you, we support you, and we will start by believing.鈥�

April 8

• Know Your IX: Title IX training session 鈥� 7 p.m., Faith Hall, Tucker Student Center.

April 9

• Consent with Fries 鈥� 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., front of Tucker Student Center.

April 13

• Know Your IX: Title IX training session 鈥� 8:15 a.m., Faith Hall, Tucker Student Center.

April 15

• Know Your IX: Title IX training session 鈥� 2 p.m., Football Training Room

April 16

• Wear Teal Day: Free Slushies 鈥� 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., front of Caf, Dover Campus Center.

Teal is the official color of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to represent prevention, healing, and solidarity with survivors. “T.E.A.L.” represents Togetherness, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Learning.

April 29

• Wear Denim Day

Denim Day originated in response to a widely criticized Italian court decision in the 1990s that raised serious concerns about the treatment and rights of victims. Women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans in solidarity the following day, helping to spark a movement that is now recognized globally and supported by organizations such as Peace Over Violence.

猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .

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New Officer Brings a Decade of Experience to the Position

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斆ㄟ渫诽� University has hired Jeffrey Merrill as its new assistant athletic director for compliance, announced Vice President & Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich this week. Merrill joins 猫咪头条 after 10 years at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., where he most recently served as deputy director of Athletics and chief compliance officer.

鈥淚n this era of ever-changing NCAA rules, having an incredibly confident, competent, and hard-working compliance officer can truly elevate the experience for our student-athletes and coaching staff,鈥� explained Goodrich. 鈥淚 am incredibly excited to welcome Jeffrey to the Runnin鈥� Bulldog family.鈥�

猫咪头条 President Dr. William M. Downs also praised Merrill鈥檚 knowledge of the job. 鈥淛effrey knows and understands the terrain of collegiate athletics, and he fully appreciates the imperative of fielding teams that abide by both the spirit and letter of NCAA regulations,鈥� Downs observed. 鈥淗e鈥檚 guided coaches and players for years, he鈥檚 taught it in the college classroom, and he鈥檚 partnered effectively with university leaders to ensure that winning is done the right way. Add to all of this that he exudes a passion and joy for his work, and Jeffrey Merrill presents himself as a terrific match for GWU.鈥�     

Merrill thanked Downs and Goodrich for the opportunity to join the 猫咪头条 community. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to assist 猫咪头条 Athletics on their journey of achieving academic and athletic excellence,鈥� Merrill shared. 鈥淔or the first time, but most certainly not the last, 鈥楽ko Dawgs!鈥�

Merrill was elevated to his current role at Lees McRae in 2022. In addition to oversight of the department鈥檚 compliance efforts, Merrill鈥檚 responsibilities included game administration at home competitions, managing the media room schedule, completing the annual NCAA reports, and monitoring the academic success of Lees-McRae鈥檚 300+ student-athletes.

Merrill joined Lees-McRae in 2014 as the director of compliance and Title IX coordinator. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2018, a role he held until his most recent promotion, and has continued to serve as Title IX coordinator throughout his tenure. In 2019, Merrill became an adjunct professor in the school鈥檚 sport management program.

A member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), and both the Early Intervention Team for Student Academic Success and the Staff Association Bylaw Committee at Lees-McRae, Merrill has participated in numerous workshops including the NCAA Leadership Development Program and the BB&T Leadership Development Program. Merrill also received the Edgar Tufts Humanitarian Award in 2021 and was presented with the Bridge Builder Award by Lees-McRae in 2015-16.

Merrill is a 2012 cum laude graduate of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He completed his master’s degree in college athletic administration in 2017 from Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.

猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 猫咪头条.edu.

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Recognizing Top Women Athletes, Kat Ayotte and Kathy Smith Brooks

To our readers: In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. In a year-long celebration of the law鈥檚 50th anniversary, 猫咪头条 will recognize its individual pioneers and trailblazers, women influencers and administrators, and honor several teams and alumni groups at games and events on campus. Profiles on these women will be published in the Newscenter twice a month.

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斆ㄟ渫诽�’s first women’s athletics teams predate Title IX by many decades, going back to the early 1900s when the institution was a boarding school known as Boiling Springs High. The school first fielded a tennis team in 1913 and a basketball team in 1916.

Programs also appeared in the 1920s for soccer, softball and volleyball. 猫咪头条 Junior College briefly fielded women鈥檚 basketball from 1956-1959 under head coach Hester Haynes. 猫咪头条 transitioned to senior college status following the 1968-1969 season, joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Following the passage of Title IX in 1972, the Bulldogs’ athletics program moved into a new era when women’s basketball started competition during the 1975-1976 season.

Here are two hall-of-famers recognized by 猫咪头条 athletics:

Kat Ayotte

Kat Ayotte was inducted into the 猫咪头条 Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. She was an All-South Atlantic Conference choice in both soccer and softball. She finished her career as one of the top female two-sport performers in school history. Ayotte is an associate athletic trainer at 猫咪头条. Her primary responsibilities are coverage of baseball and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf. She joined GW in 2003 after serving Newberry College as head athletic trainer. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts from 猫咪头条.

Kathy Smith Brooks

In 2010, Kathy Smith Brooks became the first volleyball player to be inducted into the 猫咪头条 Athletics Hall of Fame. Playing from 1994 to 1997, Brooks powered the Runnin鈥� Bulldogs to 58 wins in her final two seasons. She was the first player in GWU volleyball history to earn first-team All-South Atlantic Conference honors twice, and Brooks finished her four seasons with over 800 kills and 400 blocks. As a junior in 1996, she was named 猫咪头条鈥檚 Female Student-Athlete of the Year and led the South Atlantic Conference in blocks per game. That season, she led GWU to a 27-10 finish, an 11-3 league mark and a second-place finish in the regular season standings. As a senior in 1997, the Lincolnton, N.C., native was the strength of a team that finished 31-7 overall, posted a 13-1 conference record and won both the SAC regular season and tournament titles. Brooks also paced the league with a .355 hitting percentage. A testament to her impact on the program, 猫咪头条 had only one season in its history with more than 11 wins before her arrival on campus.

#GWUHerStory Submission Form

Help us tell the Title IX story by sharing your experiences. We want to recognize and celebrate our alumni, faculty, staff, and students who have been impacted by the Title IX law and the opportunities and experiences it has provided and protected.

, as well as a photo or video/audio recording with us to be included in the storytelling we publish on our website and social platforms.

猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 猫咪头条.edu.

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Etta Curtis and Dee 鈥楧oc Hunt鈥� Were Caring and Influential Campus Leaders 

To our readers: In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. In a year-long celebration of the law鈥檚 50th anniversary, 猫咪头条 will recognize its individual pioneers and trailblazers, women influencers and administrators, and honor several teams and alumni groups at games and events on campus. Profiles on these women will be published in the Newscenter twice a month.

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擨n 猫咪头条 University鈥檚 117-year academic history, many outstanding women made their mark on the school. Two of those influential and caring leaders were Etta Curtis and Dee 鈥淒oc Hunt.鈥�

Etta Curtis

In 1909, Curtis was 鈥淟ady Principal,鈥� a title that changed to Dean of Women in 1928. She served in that position until 1936. She was appointed alumni secretary in 1933. In the book, 鈥淟engthened Shadows: A History of 猫咪头条, 1907-1956,鈥� Curtis is described as 鈥渁 lady of refined culture, kind and sympathetic, rich in experience, firm and steadfast in purpose and prizing the cardinal virtues above everything else.鈥�

The 猫咪头条 history book also noted that Curtis was a tireless worker, on duty at all times, watching over the girls. Curtis made sure the girls didn鈥檛 visit each other during study hours and called for the oil lamps to be blown out at 10 p.m. She also worked to decorate and furnish the parlors and social halls, and contributed to many improvements on the campus. She retired at the age of 78, and a year later, the Memorial Building on 猫咪头条鈥檚 campus burned. Curtis wrote a check for all of her savings to help in its rebuilding, and she died a pauper in 1940.      

Dee 鈥淒oc Hunt鈥�

Hunt retired in 2017 as vice president of Student Development, after working at 猫咪头条 for nearly 40 years. During that time she held several roles: professor, coach, administrator, dean, department chair and other positions. Over the years, students gave her the nickname, 鈥淒oc Hunt,鈥� which was used by everyone on campus.

Hunt joined the GWU faculty in 1978 as associate professor of health education and physical education. She distinguished herself as a coach and consultant in the field of women鈥檚 athletics, particularly volleyball and softball. She also provided distinguished leadership to the Department of Physical Education, Wellness and Sport Studies as chair from 1988 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 1999. As the founding dean of the College of Education, Hunt provided innovative and energetic leadership, directing the program鈥檚 inception and accreditation from 1995-99.

She continued to teach physical education until 2010, when she was named vice president of Student Development and dean of students. In 2012, Hunt successfully directed the physical move of the Student Development division into the newly constructed Tucker Student Center, which she helped plan. The dedication ceremony was at the top of her list of favorite GWU memories. She once said, 鈥淩obert Tucker surprised me鈥攕urprised us all鈥攚ith an additional half-million dollar gift. He didn鈥檛 know he was going to do it. I鈥檒l never, ever forget that.鈥�

One year after her retirement from 猫咪头条, Hunt became the first faculty member to receive three emeriti titles. On May 4, 2018, she was honored for her service as a professor emerita of physical education, dean emerita of the College of Education and vice president emerita of Student Development. In 2020, the Dr. Dee M. Hunt Student Development Suite in Tucker Center was named in her honor. Hunt passed away on July 8, 2021.

#GWUHerStory Submission Form

Help us tell the Title IX story by sharing your experiences. We want to recognize and celebrate our alumni, faculty, staff, and students who have been impacted by the Title IX law and the opportunities and experiences it has provided and protected.

Share your story, . You can include a photo or video/audio recording with your story that we can publish on our website and social platforms.

猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 猫咪头条.edu.

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