Jennifer "Jennie" O'Connell

Position:

Serving as the Director for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services is not only an honor for Jennie but also a passion. In her role, Jennie provides oversight for the university's prevention education, awareness and advocacy support around power-based personal violence. As the director, Jennie is not only is responsible for the supervision and budget of SRVSS, but she also develops the strategic goals of SRVSS as well as manages the multiple grants that assist in funding the work at Kent State. Finally, Jennie serves on several university level initiatives including the Kent State of Wellness and the Culture of Respect; leading efforts related to safety and climate change around unwanted sexual experiences. Jennie also holds a certification as an educator for the Green Dot Bystander movement.

Experience:

Originally from Stow, Ohio, Jennie spent 12 years in New England working with college students and the community. As a coalition coordinator for alcohol and drug prevention in a city of 30,000 and as the Coordinator of Education and Outreach with A Safe Place, a domestic abuse support services organization, Jennie was instrumental in educating the community and youth about substance abuse, domestic abuse and teen dating violence. Prior to working the community, Jennie worked in the university setting serving as a Residence Hall Director at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She took the time to get to know her residents and to assist them in being successful in college.
In 2012, Jennie returned home to blend her passion of creating a violence free community with her desire to work with college students to serve as the newly created Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at Kent State University. Since that time, she has help lead the university in developing SRVSS and expanding services to establish a program with 3 fulltime staff, a graduate assistant and several interns each semester.

Favorite place on the Kent campus:

The Brain and the Williamson House.

Best advice for students:

Find what makes you happy, gets you excited and then get involved in that area. Try a new activity or take class in a subject that is new to you, you never know what may give you joy. Get to know others and don't hesitate to ask for help. You are not alone at Kent State.