Amherst College Sexual Respect and Title IX Review Committee

CHARGE

Vision

We envision a campus and community free of sexual violence.

Mission

In order to take a comprehensive approach to sexual violence prevention, intervention, and response at Amherst College, the Title IX & Sexual Respect Review Committee’s purpose is to oversee and inform the implementation of sexual misconduct policies, procedures, and practices, including but not limited to Title IX.

The CHARGE of the Sexual Respect and Title IX Review Committee:
  • Solicit community feedback regarding experiences with and perceptions of the College’s sexual misconduct policies and procedures, and prevention education strategies;
  • Review sexual misconduct report information and other institutional data, including but not limited to campus climate surveys, to identify trends and areas of concerns;
  • Review existing prevention and engagement strategies that seek to educate the campus community on sexual misconduct topics, skill building, and pathways for support; 
  • Determine areas of concern and improvement, and recommend potential strategies to address and resolve identified issues; 
  • Provide recommendations to ensure that policies, procedures, and practices are rooted in trauma-informed and survivor-centered best practices;
  • Inform the community of the work of the Committee along with the current work of the College to address issues of sexual misconduct
Committee Composition, Process & Procedures:

Membership: The Committee will be co-chaired by the Dean of Students/Interim Chief Student Affairs Officer and the Sexual Respect Educator.  For Spring 2022, membership is comprised of existing members of both the Title IX Review Committee and Sexual Respect Task Force from the 2021-22 academic year. 

Quorum for conducting Committee business shall be 2/3 of the members of the Committee. All members of the committee shall have voting rights. Committee action shall be taken only upon concurrence of a majority of the Committee members present.

Meetings: The Committee will convene regular meetings during the academic year, or upon such other schedule as agreed by the Committee.  The Chair(s) may convene the Committee for a special meeting as needed.  In addition to regular committee meetings, the Chair(s) may determine the use of sub-committees to respond to specific goals and tasks.  All members are expected to regularly attend and participate in meetings. 

Committee Reports: The Committee will publish a report with recommendations annually, or as determined by the Chair(s) and the Committee. The Committee is charged with deciding the content and form of its reports. Upon approval of the report in its entirety by a majority of the Committee, the report will be submitted to the Chief Student Affairs Officer and subsequently made available to the entire Amherst College community.

MEMBERSHIP

Faculty & STaff 
  • Angie Tissi-Gassoway, Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students (co-chair)
  • Lauren Kelly, Sexual Respect Educator (co-chair)
  • Tracy Kennedy, Interim Director of Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator
  • Eddy Augustin, Assistant Football Coach 
  • Laura Fusari, Psychotherapist, Project Manager for CASA, Outreach Coordinator for Sexual Assault Services, Counseling Center
  • GP Gromacki, Head Coach of Women's Basketball
  • Hayley Nicholas, Director of the Women’s and Gender Center
  • Cara Sullivan, Detective, Amherst College Police Department
  • Suzanne Belleci, Director of the Center for Restorative Practices 
  • Alyssa Carlotto, Community Developement Coordinator 
  • Amber Rice, Assistant Director of Residential Life for Education and Engagement
  • Ruxandra Paul, Assistant Professor of Political Science
  • Adam Levine, Assistant Professor of Art, FIlm and Media Studies  
  • Aly Levinson, Assistant Dean of Admission
  • Jessica Reyes, Willord Long Thorp Professor of Economics
  • Amalia Culiuc, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Students
  • Min Ji Kim 2025, AAS Representative
  • Anna Penner 2024, AAS Representative 
  • Bianca Sass 2023, At Large Member
  • Gent Malushaga 2023, AAS Representative
  • Kyabeth Rincon 2022, AAS Representative
  • Katie Sullivan 2025, AAS Representative
  • Sophia Kubik 2023, Student Athlete
  • Vietta Kuntz 2023, At Large Member
For More Information

If you would like more information on the Sexual Respect and Title IX Review Committee please contact the Office of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@amherst.edu.