University of Michigan News Service – UM News

New director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center

Editors: Photo available on request.

ANN ARBOR—Kelly Ann Cichy has been named the new director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) at the University of Michigan. She is expected to join the center at the end of the summer.

Since 1999 Cichy has served as executive director of the Women’s Center, Inc. in Carbondale, Ill., a nonprofit domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center. She received a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and earned her Ph.D. in physical anthropology from Southern Illinois University.

“I believe in the right of each sexual assault survivor to have safe, confidential advocacy and counseling services that are victim-centered and focused on that survivor’s needs and goals,” Cichy said. “In a university setting, these services are extremely important, as female university students are at higher-than-usual risk for sexual assault, especially assaults perpetrated by someone known to them or assaults where date rape drugs were used.

“SAPAC gives students a place to call and go when they need help, combined with prevention and awareness education and strong institutional advocacy. I’m looking forward to working with the program.”

SAPAC, established in 1986, offers support and educational services to U-M students, staff, faculty, and their families related to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking. The center operates a 24-hour crisis line and 24-hour outreach services. Two-person teams of female volunteers can provide immediate crisis intervention, support and information at residence halls, hospitals, police stations and campus offices. The Crisis Line phone number is (734) 936-3333.

The center also provides free advocacy services and individual or group counseling, and a number of educational workshops. The workshops are led by trained Peer Educators who provide information and facilitate discussions for students in residence halls, classrooms, co-ops, sororities, fraternities, and student groups and organizations.

For more information about SAPAC activities and volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.umich.edu/~sapac/ or e-mail SAPAC@umich.edu.