Jennifer Gagen is one of two Victim Survivor Advocates who will be part of the Center for Community Health and Wellbeing.  She will be providing direct service, confidential crisis counseling, referrals and advocacy to students who seek support as a result of sexual and relationship violence.  We sat down with Jennifer to get to know a little bit more about her experiences, her goals here at Tech and her personal hobbies!

Tell us about your background. Are you originally from Atlanta?
I was born and raised in the Tampa, FL area and I spent the past 10 years in Tallahassee, FL. It’s my first time living in another state, but I’m excited to explore Atlanta and the rest of Georgia.

Where did you attend University?
I attended Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminology & Criminal Justice. I also received my Master’s degree in Social Work from FSU.

Can you tell us a little bit about your previous experience in this field?
My first experience in crime victim services was at the Tallahassee Police Department as an undergraduate criminology intern in its Victim Assistance Unit. I found that I really enjoyed working in this field and continued on to complete a graduate social work internship at the State Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Unit while also working part-time as an On-Call Victim Advocate at Florida State University. For the past five years, I was the Associate Director of the Victim Advocate Program at FSU.

What influenced you to be a Victim Survivor Advocate?
I was always attracted to criminal justice but I also wanted a career where I could directly help individuals who have experienced challenging circumstances. After realizing that a career in law or psychology wasn’t for me, I discovered survivor advocacy as a perfect fusion of my interests. It’s fulfilling to know I can help people improve their lives after trauma. I can’t imagine doing any other career.

Do you have any specific goals for this position?
I would love to see the VOICE initiative enhanced and for survivor support to become a cultural norm at Georgia Tech. There have already been strong efforts from numerous students, President Peterson, Health Promotion, the Women’s Resource Center, and so many others across campus. With the creation of our two new full-time Victim Survivor Advocate positions, I hope Katy Berteau and I can create a comprehensive program in Health Promotion so that any student who has experienced sexual violence, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, or stalking can receive whatever support and guidance they need to feel safe and begin to heal. I aim to see these services advertised widely and supported by every member of our community. I hope to see a culture shift so that all of us believe every survivor, honor their courage, and negate the shame they feel about the harm perpetrated on them.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I love to be outside and especially hiking and relaxing on the beach. I take my Boston Terrier with me when I can. Besides that, I love listening to music and going to concerts and music festivals. I like cooking and especially baking. Cheesecake is my specialty.

Do you have a particular artist/album you’ve been loving lately?
I love discovering new music and I’m very excited to take in the music scene here in Atlanta. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Metric, Vacationer, Phantogram, Sufjan Stevens, and James Vincent McMorrow.

What’s your absolute favorite place in Atlanta?
I have yet to explore all the wonderful places in this city, but so far, I really enjoy Little Five Points. There is a lot to do there and great food.

What do you think about Georgia Tech so far?
The Tech community is amazing. I have felt so welcomed and that I already belong here. I’m really impressed by students’ level of achievement and extracurricular involvement here. The staff is great and there are so many services available to help students. Campus is beautiful!

Any suggestions for students for finding a healthy lifestyle?
It’s all about balance. Academics are rigorous and there is a lot of pressure to succeed, but it’s important to find time to unwind and have fun. Even if that means scheduling time in your planner to work out at the CRC, watch Netflix, meet up with friends for dinner, or just sleep, it’s crucial. You’ll find it makes a big difference in your ability to focus when you sit down to study.
 
Welcome, Jennifer!