News & Updates
Explore recent news stories, interviews, and media features highlighting the work of VPC faculty and trainees. Our initiatives and research are regularly featured in local and national media, providing insight into the critical role we play in violence prevention.
As the academic year comes to a close, we are celebrating several outstanding accomplishments from our faculty and students. We are proud to recognize core faculty member Dr. Natalie Ricciutti, recipient of the UNC Charlotte Cato College of Education Early Career Faculty Award. Dr. Ricciutti’s work focuses on community readiness, substance use, and adverse childhood […]
Center Director Dr. Apryl Alexander was recently featured in a national USA TODAY article examining the broader impact of domestic violence and trauma following the tragic Shreveport mass shooting. In the article, Dr. Alexander discussed the psychological effects of repeated exposure to traumatic news coverage and emphasized the importance of addressing domestic violence as a […]
We are celebrating several students who showcased their research at the UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Research Conference. The students presented projects focused on violence prevention, bystander intervention, and community health, including: Through their work on NIH-funded research projects, these students continue to demonstrate innovation, leadership, and commitment to prevention science. Congratulations to Zihui Qiu, Brianna Jones, […]
The UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center proudly celebrates Director Dr. Apryl Alexander, who delivered a keynote address for the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Her presentation, “Transforming Data Into Dialogue,” focused on the power and importance of public scholarship, highlighting how researchers can make complex issues accessible and meaningful for broader communities. As an example of […]
Associate Director of Research Dr. Annelise Mennicke recently presented at Trinity College Dublin. During her visit, Dr. Mennicke delivered presentations to undergraduate social work students and graduate sociology students focused on her research using bystander intervention approaches to address problematic alcohol use. Her work aims to reduce alcohol-related harms, including sexual assault, through prevention-focused and […]
Our first research symposium, Violence Prevention is Public Health, during National Public Health Week in April, brought together community partners, film, and scholarship in a shared effort to advance violence prevention. The event showcased how interdisciplinary collaboration can spark deeper dialogue and inspire continued action. The event featured two rounds of lightning talks, with a […]
The UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center is proud to participate in UNC Charlotte’s annual Niner Nation Gives campaign. This initiative provides an opportunity to invest in work that strengthens communities through research, education, and training. The Center addresses some of today’s most pressing issues, including human trafficking, sexual and dating violence prevention, suicide prevention, and […]
The UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center invites students, faculty, researchers, practitioners, and community partners to attend the inaugural Violence Prevention is Public Health Symposium. This event will bring together interdisciplinary perspectives to explore how violence prevention intersects with public health, systems, technology, policy, and lived experience. Violence prevention does not occur in isolation. Addressing it […]
The VPC’s Associate Director of Community Engagement, Dr. Moxie, and Associate Director of Training, Dr. Cramer, partnered with VPC affiliate Dr. Gordon-Jackson and the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to support a comprehensive examination of gun violence trends in Fayetteville. Working alongside the City of Fayetteville, the team analyzed police data from 2021 through 2024 to […]
Dr. Rob Cramer, Associate Director of Training, has been selected as one of 45 international researchers invited to join Lund University’s Programme for Global Excellence in Sweden. He will serve as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, supporting the launch of the ReLife Centre and collaborating on co-designed mental health and suicide prevention […]
The UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center team visited the University of Warwick Department of Psychology to share their work and strengthen international collaborations. Skyler Prowten, VPC trainee, delivered a seminar on community-engaged research, supported by Dr. Rob Cramer, Associate Director of Training, and Dr. Samantha Cacace, Core Faculty. The visit also included interdisciplinary discussions focused […]
Dr. Annelise Mennicke, Associate Director of Research at the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center, has been recognized with the Social Policy Researcher Award at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference. This national award honors scholars whose work has made significant contributions to shaping social policy and improving outcomes for marginalized and oppressed […]