GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA — Gwynedd Mercy University is expanding campus and community violence prevention efforts after securing $95,000 in combined public and private funding to support sexual assault prevention, domestic violence education, and survivor-focused training programs.
The university received a $40,000 It’s On Us PA grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and a separate $55,000 donation from philanthropists Barbara and John Jordan to establish the Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education.
The investments will support expanded education, prevention, and response initiatives at a time when colleges and universities face increasing pressure to strengthen programs addressing sexual violence, domestic abuse, and trauma-informed support services.
According to the university, the state grant will fund prevention programming developed in partnership with campus groups, including student-athletes and the institution’s Title IX office.
The new Jordan Center is expected to serve as a hub for professional training and education focused on trauma and domestic violence. The center will provide development opportunities for educators, social workers, coaches, campus leaders, and other professionals while supporting research and community partnerships.
Colleen Lelli, who will direct the center, said the initiative is designed to improve awareness and response efforts across the university community.
“This initiative strengthens how we educate our campus community to recognize risk and respond appropriately,” Lelli said.
Lelli previously directed the Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education at Cabrini University and has spent more than three decades working in education. Her work has focused extensively on trauma-informed education and the effects of trauma on children and communities.
The university said the center will employ a trauma-informed approach emphasizing safety, trust, education, and professional training.
The expansion comes amid continued concerns about the prevalence of interpersonal violence. Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the university noted that more than one in three women and more than one in six men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetimes.
The It’s On Us initiative originated as a national campaign aimed at preventing sexual assault through education, awareness, bystander intervention, and support services for survivors.
In addition to campus programming, Gwynedd Mercy said it plans to host educational events and expand partnerships with community organizations serving individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
More information about the Jordan Center is available at gmercyu.edu/jordan-center.
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