About Us

The U of A Sexual Assault Centre provides drop-in crisis intervention and psychological support services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. We are currently refreshing our community engagement and outreach programs for the 2024-25 academic year. We actively work with community partners towards creating a campus community free of sexual and gender-based violence and operate from a feminist, anti-oppressive, intersectional, trauma-informed, and person-centred framework. We are a part of the University of Alberta’s student health and wellness services offered by the Office of the Dean of Students and our services are free of charge and available to people of all genders, sexualities and backgrounds. The Centre is guided by the Assistant Dean, Community Wellness Supports.

Our Staff

The U of A Sexual Assault Centre is a team of dedicated, passionate and professional individuals committed to caring for the U of A community.

Current Opportunities

Assistant Dean, Community Wellness Supports — Dunsi Strohschein, PhD

Meet Dunsi. She joined the U of A’s student health and wellness leadership team in July 2024 as our first Assistant Dean of Community Wellness Supports. Dunsi has more than 20 years of experience working in a variety of corporate and academic environments. She is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and a leader in public health policy. Dunsi is passionate about building healthy communities by bringing diverse voices to the policy table. Dunsi’s work has been driven by change for impact in the areas of gender-based violence, community health, houselessness, child labour, addiction and mental health. She develops and implements community engagement strategies and fosters healthy communities through evidence-based approaches merging theory and practice.

Counselling + Support Team

We have a team of five counsellors and psychologists who provide drop-in + same-day crisis care, individual counselling, group counselling and psychoeducation services.

Community Engagement Team

We are currently building a team of three staff members and 15-20 volunteers who provide the U of A community with education, engagement, outreach and peer-to-peer support services.

Options Navigation Network

The Sexual Assault Centre is part of a group of university units that assist those who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence in exploring and understanding the options available to them through the university.

Our community + partners

Our Centre works alongside many campus and community service, educational and care response partners towards fostering violence-free campus communities.

Key U of A partners:

Key off-campus partners:

Community Advisory Group NEW

Starting in October 2024, the Sexual Assault Centre’s Community Advisory Group will provide a space for valued input, feedback and reporting with university community representatives including various student groups and university community members-at-large. The group will be co-chaired by the Assistant Dean, Community Wellness Supports and a student group representative. The initial commitment of this group will be for one year and its mandate specific to the Centre’s revitalization year and initiatives. We’ll do a one-year check-in during the summer of 2025.

Steering Committee NEW

Starting in October 2024, the Sexual Assault Centre’s Steering Committee will consist of representatives and experts from key university partners and support offices. The Steering Committee will advise and support the Assistant Dean, Community Wellness Supports, in expeditiously:

This is currently a temporary committee for 2024-25.

Community Engagement Student Volunteer Team

Are you interested in making a meaningful difference in the lives of fellow students this year? Stay tuned to learn more about how you can help create informed campus communities and stop sexual and gender-based violence.