The group has been tasked with reviewing the university’s current practices for supporting survivors of sexual assault and responding to incidents of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct while also focusing on prevention. Once the review is complete, the group will provide detailed recommendations to university administration that will help inform practices moving forward.

Earlier this month, Temple University President John Fry announced he would convene a group comprised of students, faculty and staff to review the university’s current practices for supporting those who have experienced sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct and responding to these incidents. Following a thorough review, the group will provide detailed recommendations, which will be used to help inform and improve practices moving forward. 

On Thursday, Oct. 22, the group met for the first time and heard President Fry share the official charge with his expectations for this important work. 

“This is an institutional improvement effort, not simply a compliance review,” Fry said. “As part of this work, we need to pursue both a short-term and long-term approach. During this review, if we identify areas of opportunity where we can proactively implement positive changes immediately, then we are going to do that. The expectation here is immediate progress and sustained improvement.” 

The committee, which has chosen for itself the name Sexual Harm Advisory Committee, is co-chaired by Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs; Jennifer Ibrahim, dean of the College of Public Health; and Monika Williams Shealey, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. As part of its work, the group will examine university policies, practices, systems, resources, education, communication and institutional responses to identify strengths; address gaps; and recommend improvements in prevention, support, safety and accountability. 

In addition to the chairs, membership for the group is as follows.

• Roxana Aguilar, assistant director for fraternity and sorority life, Division of Student Affairs
• Kristy Bannon, executive senior associate athletics director for compliance and student affairs
• Marian Braccia, director of the LLM in trial advocacy program and practice professor of law, Beasley School of Law
• Olin Chamberlain, student, Fox School of Business, and men’s basketball
• Maia Cucchiara, associate professor, College of Education and Human Development
• Ray Epstein, CLA ’25, KLN ’25, founding president, Student Activists Against Sexual Assault
• Amber French, student, Fox School of Business, and deputy chief of staff, Temple Student Government
• Thomas Macartney, captain, Department of Public Safety
• Ryan McKee, assistant professor of instruction, College of Public Health
• Anna Oppenheim, associate university counsel
• Steve Orbanek, executive director of university communications and media relations
• Megan Patrick, associate director, civil rights compliance and Title IX
• Naomi Rosenberg, associate professor, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
• Laura Sinko, associate professor, College of Public Health
• Annika Verma, student, College of Liberal Arts 

“How we respond when someone experiences sexual harm says a great deal about who we are as an institution,” Bailey Accavallo said. “People need to know they will be heard, treated with dignity and supported through processes that are clear, compassionate and fair. That trust is built through our actions, not simply our commitments. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to take a close look at what is working; confront where we need to do better; and make meaningful changes that strengthen prevention, support and accountability across our university community.” 

Part of the group’s work will be simplifying and improving the processes for reporting sexual harm. It takes courage for survivors to report, and while an institution the size of Temple is inherently complex, its systems and processes for reporting these incidents cannot be. 

This review will help determine whether individuals can easily navigate university systems while also identifying whether they are effective, accessible and responsive to community needs.  

“We received interest in the advisory committee from across campus, suggesting the Temple community is engaged and committed to improvement. With the core advisory group established, we are creating smaller working groups focused on specific aspects of a campuswide approach to preventing and responding to incidents of sexual harm,” Ibrahim said.  

The six working groups include the following.

• Working Group 1: Policies, Reporting and Institutional Response
• Working Group 2: Support Services, Resources and Institutional Investment
• Working Group 3: Prevention, Education and Campus Culture
• Working Group 4: Communication, Transparency and Community Trust
• Working Group 5: Coordination, Student Experience and Educational Continuity
• Working Group 6: Assessment, Effectiveness and Accountability 

The advisory committee also plans to engage the larger university community as part of this process and to hold listening sessions with students, faculty and staff, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to be heard. 

Moving forward, the advisory committee will establish a regular cadence of updating the Temple community on its work. The group will also conduct formal progress reviews in November and March before submitting a final report to President Fry in May 2027. 

“Our work is rooted in the desire to increase awareness; build understanding; and develop skills in prevention, support and restoration that result in policies and practices that reflect a shared commitment to our mission,” Williams Shealey said.  

More information on the Sexual Harm Advisory Committee can be found at the committee’s website.