Tulane Title IX Office recognized as leader in addressing sexual misconduct

The Tulane University Title IX Office has been recognized as an innovative leader and invaluable community partner among Louisiana colleges and universities for its work in combating sexual misconduct.

The Title IX Office was recently awarded the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA) Ally of the Year Organization, which recognizes an agency or organization that “has contributed to sexual violence prevention and response within their own field.”

LaFASA is a coalition agency that serves statewide sexual assault prevention and response efforts through education, training, accreditation standards, community engagement, technical and legal assistance, and other support services, including crisis centers.

The Tulane Title IX Office was nominated for the award by Amanda Tonkovich, who previously worked with the New Orleans Family Justice Center. Tonkovich has coordinated with the office and Julia Broussard, associate director of Title IX, for nearly a decade.

Tonkovich said the office has been deeply involved and committed in its efforts, from conducting and reporting comprehensive and transparent results of the Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey, to regularly attending the New Orleans Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Action Coalition meetings.

“Overall, they’ve (the Title IX Office) really been a leader, not just on Tulane’s campus, but in the New Orleans community in addressing campus sexual violence,” Tonkovich said.

Tonkovich, who is now co-director of Beyond Harm — an agency whose mission is to disrupt sexual and domestic violence without relying on incarceration — noted that the office has “always been really generous” in sharing resources with others in the field.

Exemplifying this community-minded and team-player spirit, staff members of the office are also part of a LaFASA-facilitated coalition composed of sexual violence prevention professionals from different New Orleans-area universities.

“That’s been a really valuable space for us to connect with our colleagues at Loyola, Dillard, Xavier, UNO and LSU Health Sciences, and share best practices and have a space to be in community with other folks who do this work,” Broussard said.

Of the LaFASA Ally of the Year Organization recognition, Marcus Foster, assistant provost for Title IX Compliance and Education, said the office is grateful, noting that their focus is on remaining steadfast.

“While none of us gets into this work for personal or professional accolades, it’s a humbling reminder that we are meeting the needs of our campus community. While we still have work to do with the implementation of the All In 2.0 Strategic Plan, this award validates the work that Title IX Office is doing with our campus partners and students on a daily basis.”