HOLIDAY CLOSURE
CARE will be closed Friday, December 23, through Monday, January 2, 2023, during the university's holiday closedown. If you're in crisis, please call 402.472.7450 and follow the prompts for immediate assistance (24/7).
Our Mission
The Center for Advocacy, Response & Education (CARE) believes in the strength and resilience of individuals and communities impacted by sexual/relationship violence. Our focus is supporting survivors and offering educational opportunities for the campus community. We offer a safe, inclusive, survivor-centered space while providing confidential support focused on individual needs and concerns.
Our Vision
We envision a campus where:
- Sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment is not accepted.
- Victims and Survivors receive the advocacy, compassion, and support they deserve.
- Our campus community challenges the practices and policies of our institution regarding sexual and relationship misconduct.
- Education surrounding sexual and relationship violence is a part of every Huskers’ experience.
- The campus community is trained in how to support survivors with empathy and compassion as well as provided available resources and referrals.
- Prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
Meet the Team
Melissa Wilkerson
Interim Direcor, Advocate
Direct Line: (402) 472-3573
My passion for working with survivors began in 1993 when I first started volunteering with a service that assisted victims of domestic violence. My first professional position as an advocate was in 2001 in the Denver area at the District Attorney’s Office where I worked until 2014. I’ve been with the university as an advocate since 2018 and feel incredibly fortunate to work on this campus supporting survivors and working to help create a safer campus community. Outside of my work on campus, I stay busy with my family and our goldendoodle, Mavis. I love to spend time outside and enjoy gardening as my favorite self-care activity. I’m a huge college basketball fan and believe that March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year.
Katie Bogen
Clinical Psychology Graduate Assistant – Trauma, Violence & Abuse Lab
Direct Line: (402) 472-2351
I have worked closely with trauma survivors - including folks who have experienced sexual and dating violence, stalking, hate crimes, trafficking, and harassment - since 2015. In my previous role, I facilitated violence prevention programming across 35+ middle and high schools in New England. I was trained as an advocate for survivors of identity-based violence in Rhode Island before coming to UNL to begin my PhD in Clinical Psychology. My research and clinical work dovetails violence prevention and human sexuality - I hope to empower trauma survivors to live joyful, consensual, and fully-embodied intimate lives. Through the Trauma Recovery Clinic (TRC), I provide evidence-based interventions like Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure to individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or related symptoms. It is my privilege to work as a TRC therapist, and to join the CARE team this year. I am a passionate social justice advocate, focused on celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, combating antisemitism, and participating in anti-racist action. Bright spots in my life are: my two cats (Abra and Eevee); caffeine; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; the city of Providence, Rhode Island; yoga at Holmes Lake; classical vocal training; my glittering queer community; and my raucous Jewish family.
Ashley Turner
Graduate Student Intern
I'm currently a second-year student in the Educational Administration Student Affairs M.A. program, as well as the graduate assistant for the LGBTQA+ Center. In all facets of life, I work to ensure that I approach everything I do with a guiding principle of equity and respect for all. Outside of class and work, I can usually be found cuddling my cat, going on long walks, baking, listening to vinyl, and spending time with my partner, friends, and family. After graduation, I hope to continue my work with gender and sexuality programs within a higher education setting. I am so excited to be working with CARE this summer!
Contact Us
CARE is located in Neihardt Center, room 118.