Women's Center's Kaplan Honored for Work Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

December 13, 2011 — Claire Kaplan, director of Sexual and Domestic Violence Services at the University of Virginia Women's Center, is one of 30 individuals and groups recently recognized by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance in honor of its 30th anniversary.
 
Kaplan brought her experience from working in sexual assault services in Los Angeles to the University's Women's Center in 1991. She began providing leadership to Virginians Aligned Against Sexual Assault, the state sexual assault coalition, and later to the Action Alliance, representing college campuses across Virginia. She helped establish the Virginia Coalition on Campus Sexual Assault and has provided countless training sessions at the state and national level.
 
Kaplan also has provided training for, and published articles related to, working with traditionally underserved women, including those who are deaf, lesbians, immigrants, African-Americans, Latinas, older women and youth. She worked on community organizing and lectured on sexual and domestic violence in El Salvador.
 
"She truly is an international advocate for the movement," said Kristi VanAudenhove, co-director of the Action Alliance and long-time advocate for sexual and domestic violence victims in Virginia.
 
"Thirty years ago, victims of sexual and domestic violence in Virginia had few options for finding safety and resources," she said. "Because of the work of the individuals and groups being honored this year, as well as countless others, victims now have choices in addressing violence being perpetrated against them."
 
— By Anne Bromley

Media Contact

Anne E. Bromley

Office of University Communications