Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Support & Education Coordinators, University of Guelph

This office provides leadership in prevention and intervention programs to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence at the University of Guelph, and to enhance the conditions and likelihood of personal and academic success. This includes ensuring appropriate coordination of care and individual support for students and communicating with appropriate partners, both on and off campus.

The office is committed to the following:

• Providing education and support that are trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, survivor-centric, and rooted in harm-reduction philosophies  
• Supporting student survivors of sexual and gender-based violence including coordinating accommodations, system navigations, safety planning, and referrals
• Providing preventative education and training to the University of Guelph campus community

Meet our team: 

• S&GBV Education Coordinator
• S&GBV Support Coordinator

S&GBV Education Coordinator:

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Education Coordinator works with the University of Guelph community to develop and deliver educational training and initiatives. Connect with the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Education Coordinator by emailing jwilli20@uoguelph.ca.

Education includes access to training and education initiatives including: 

• Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Awareness Training Module for Students
• Sexual Violence Support Module for Faculty and Staff
• Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Awareness Training
• Specialized training needs or requests

Jensen Williams, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Education Coordinator
University of Guelph, Student Wellness Services

Jensen Williams (she/they) passionately believes that education and collective action are some of the best tools available when it comes to stopping gender-based violence and meaningfully supporting survivors.

Prior to starting their role as the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (S&GBV) Education Coordinator at U of G, Jensen worked as a Public Educator with Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis and the Campaigns Coordinator at the Canadian Federation of Students where they focused on utilizing education and community building to achieve social change on a local and national level.

Jensen works to develop and deliver trainings, educational campaigns and initiatives for the University of Guelph campus community focused on S&GBV awareness and prevention. You can reach Jensen by email at jwilli20@uoguelph.ca.

S&GBV Support Coordinator:

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Support Coordinator works with survivors to support them in coordinating support and resources following experiences of sexual and gender-based violence. They also provide consultation services to faculty and staff responding to disclosures of sexual violence. Anyone can refer a friend or themselves to the Coordinator by emailing svinfo@uoguelph.ca

Support can help to some extent with a survivor's healing journey and may include the following:

• Coordinating academic accommodations
• Referrals to physical and mental health services 
• Coordination of care
• Discussing reporting options
• Safety planning
• Additional support identified by survivors

You do not need to disclose or make a report to access support. Students are also welcome to bring a support person with them to the planning or support meeting. 

For an introduction to the Support Coordinator’s services and what to expect when you meet with them, please review this video.

Melissa Conte, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Support Coordinator
University of Guelph, Student Wellness Services

Melissa Conte (she/her) has spent the past decade working and organizing in the areas of sexual violence prevention, anti-violence education, and harm reduction. Prior to joining Student Wellness at U of G, Melissa worked at Carleton University doing anti-violence and social justice work in Graduate Studies, the Department of Sociology, OPIRG, and the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities.

Melissa is currently completing her Ph.D. in Sociology at Carleton University. Her dissertation uses collaborative, ethnographic, and action-based methods to examine how grassroots activism and community resistance is asserted and practiced by the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2-spirit folks in Canada. She has a Master’s Degree in Sociology (Carleton University) and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology and Gender Studies (Bishop’s University).

Melissa works with survivors to support them in coordinating supports, resources, and accommodations following experiences of sexual and gender-based violence. She also provides consultation and support to faculty and staff responding to disclosures on campus. You can reach Melissa by emailing svinfo@uoguelph.ca.