The Sexual and Relationship Violence Center proudly announces that RESPECT peer educators have achieved Certified Peer Educator credentials. This distinction among peer educators required each peer educator to successfully complete a knowledge assessment after engaging with a 12-hour course consisting of eight modules that emphasize leadership skills and the creation and implementation of campus programs.

The national certification is offered through NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Achieving the certification are undergraduate peer educators Reagan Bullard, Nicole Hutchinson, Katalia Schingen and Abigail Wood, as well as graduate student Adrianna Hinson. Part of the SRVC education initiatives, each student serves as a RESPECT peer educator throughout the fall and spring semesters, providing outreach education related to sexual and relationship violence.

A senior psychology major, Bullard enjoys being a peer educator because it allows her to connect with students in a way that feels real and meaningful. Bullard says, "CPE certification has helped me to become more confident and intentional as a peer educator." She further states, "the training I received from the CPE program has improved my skills in clear communication, leadership and problem solving. These skills will be invaluable as I take the next steps toward my career as a researcher and educator through pursuing a master's degree."

Hutchinson, a sophomore criminology and psychology major, finds that CPE training helps her to empower others with knowledge and resources while helping to create a safer and more supportive community. "CPE training provided structured training on essential skills like listening, effective communication and bystander intervention," Hutchinson says. "CPE will enhance my ability to communicate effectively, facilitate discussions and educate others on sensitive topics, which are essential skills in many professional settings for my future."

Wood, a sophomore majoring in music, wants to be a teacher. Wood says, "this will help develop teaching skills that can apply to my future. I can start to develop a teaching style without waiting for student teaching. I am learning how to make a connection with people while also being able to tell them about subjects that they should know. CPE certification gives me a chance to spread information about a topic that means a lot to me and that often gets brushed aside or ignored."

Schingen, a senior majoring in psychology, likes being a peer educator because it allows her to be involved on campus while making a positive impact as she reaches a wide audience and engages with people in her community that she would not have met otherwise. "CPE helps me as a peer educator because I have the necessary knowledge to approach different situations and provide assistance to my peers in the way they need it. I gained insight into what it means to be an educator, activist and team member," Schingen states. CPE will help her with future success as she enters the social work field as "it will be helpful to know how to incite change on various social levels, have an understanding of identities, ethics and intertie, and how to navigate the cycles of crisis management."

Graduate assistant and peer educator Hinson is pursuing a master's degree in social work. "I like being a peer educator because human connection is so important to our learning experiences and how we support each other." The CPE training furthered her knowledge of how to support students with regards to any wellness struggles they may be facing. "College can be a difficult period of time, so being CPE trained allows me to educate and advocate for our students," Hinson says.

"Providing opportunities for student development not only enhances their personal growth but also prepares our peer educators with leadership and communication skills, outreach creation and development, and overall program enhancement as they address topics about sexual and relationship violence among their peers," said Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, SRVC director. "I am proud of the work they do, their professional representation of the SRVC and the difference they make every day."

The RESPECT peer education program of the SRVC focuses on education initiatives about sexual and relationship violence delivered to the campus community by way of interactive presentations, outreach events, and awareness campaigns. Emphasis is placed on consent, bystander intervention, debunking rape myths, alcohol and drug facilitated sexual assault, understanding rape culture to create change, healthy vs. unhealthy relationships and resources for help. Please contact RESPECT at respect@uark.edu to schedule a presentation for an academic class or student group.

The SRVC is a unit within Student Affairs that provides campus education services and victim advocacy. Individual victim advocacy, tailored to each student's needs, is provided in combination with support group and individual counseling services. All services of the SRVC are confidential and at no cost. Please contact survivor@uark.edu to inquire about victim services or call 479-575-4000.