Sexual Violence

SARC Team

On-call number (24/7, 365): 484-343-6028, sarc@villanova.edu

The Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) team is a group of Villanova staff and faculty members, who care deeply about the issue of sexual violence and who have completed extensive training on how to support survivors of sexual violence at Villanova. A member of the SARC team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year for a Villanova student who needs support following an incident of sexual violence. Whether the incident occurred recently or days, weeks, months, even years ago, a Villanova student can always seek the support of a SARC.

Even though "sexual assault" is in our name, a SARC can review the options available to a survivor of any form of sexual violence, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, retaliation, incest, and statutory rape. A SARC can connect a student to a variety of resources, (medical care, reporting, counseling), and can accompany a student to campus and/or community services to ensure that he/she receives appropriate care and follow up information in the wake of sexual violence.

If someone isn’t sure whom to talk to, calling the on-call SARC or reaching out to a familiar SARC team member is a good place to start. For students with questions about someone who has been alleged to have committed an act of sexual violence, please click here.

Patty Abdalla

Driscoll Hall Room 324, College of Nursing
patty.abdalla@villanova.edu
Patty is the Student Resource Advisor in the College of Nursing. She has been at Villanova University for over 17 years, helping students achieve success. Student retention and success has been her professional mission and she loves the work she gets to do every day! She attended Penn State University for her undergraduate degree and earned a Masters of Education in College Student Personnel at Penn State, as well. She feels honored to serve on the SARC Team, as she hopes to offer support and advocacy to students in need. Outside of the work she enjoys at Villanova, Patty is an avid sports fan, enjoys reading and spending quality time with family.

Stacy Andes

Health Services Building, First Floor
stacy.andes@villanova.edu

Stacy is the Director of Health Promotion at Villanova University, and she currently heads up the SARC team at Villanova. As a back-up team member and SARC team trainer, Stacy believes that the team approach to providing support to students who have experienced sexual violence is a direct expression of Villanova’s commitment to caritas. She believes that all students should be treated with dignity, respect and compassion and hopes that the SARC team approach will let students know that we believe preventing and responding to sexual violence is a community responsibility, one that transcends our formal positions, roles and responsibilities at the University. As a military brat, Stacy grew up traveling and living in the United States and Germany and attributes much of her personal and professional success today to her experiences as a child in a career military family. Stacy is a passionate New England sports fan, a self-proclaimed foodie and is an avid reader and traveler.

Kathy Byrnes

Dougherty Hall Room 202
kathleen.byrnes@villanova.edu

Kathy is the Associate Vice President for Student Life, a Title IX Deputy, and the sexual harassment complaint officer for the University. Kathy has been at Villanova for many years in a variety of roles. Kathy attended Villanova herself as an undergrad and remembers her college years as a time that shaped her spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. Now, Kathy works closely with the first-year learning communities and with the Gay-Straight Coalition, among other things. She also helps administer the Safe Zone program, creating safe spaces and a message of welcoming throughout campus. Kathy is honored to be part of the SARC team, to serve as a resource for students and to help educate the Villanova community about sexual violence. Her office is in 202 Dougherty. When not at Villanova, Kathy enjoys taking long walks with her husband and little white dog. She also sees many plays, loves to read, and spends time with family and friends.

Martin Garcia

Middleton Hall 2nd floor, Office of Education Abroad
martin.garcia@villanova.edu

Martin works in the Office of Education Abroad at Villanova University. Originally from California, Martin left La Puente to attend Villanova’s School of Business. After earning his degree and doing 2 years of post-graduate service, he is back at Villanova as a member of the Student Involvement Staff, a Service Learning Community Advisor, a Challenge Course Facilitator, and now a member of the SARC Team. He is also a current graduate student working on his Master’s of Public Administration. Martin is a Lakers fan and loves basketball. He can be found playing basketball with the Men’s Club Basketball Team on Monday and Wednesday nights. Martin strives to be supportive and compassionate for others and is hoping to help students during a really formational time, their college years.

Kimberly Hidore

Garey Hall 105, Villanova Honors Program
kimberly.hidore@villanova.edu

Kim has transitioned into the role of the Assistant Director of the Villanova Honors Program, and she was previously an Academic Advisor in the Villanova School of Business for over two years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University (whoop!) and her master’s degree in Counseling from Villanova University. Originally from Texas, Kim moved to the Philadelphia area five years ago and moved from teaching high school English to higher education. Kim is still passionate about teaching, and she is currently a VSB 2000 instructor. She enjoys traveling, reading, the beach, and yoga in her free time. Kim’s goal is encourage students in their academic, professional, and personal development, and to help them define and find success.

Brooke Hunter

SAC Rm 480, English
brooke.hunter@villanova.edu

Brooke Hunter has been an Assistant Professor in the English department at Villanova for three years and is passionate about her research specialty, medieval literature. In addition to teaching courses on medieval romances, Chaucer, and Dante, she is also writing a book about medieval forgery and the philosopher Boethius. As a teacher Brooke is committed to providing students with rigorous learning experiences and a chance to talk through difficult topics in a warm and open classroom setting. Although she is originally from Seattle, WA, Brooke has also lived in Austin, TX, Baltimore, MD, and is now happily settled in West Philadelphia with her polydactyl cat Twinkles and the occasional feline rescue foster. Brooke is excited to serve the Villanova community as a SARC team member.

Jhaakira Jacobs

Garey Hall, Career Center
jhaakira.jacobs@villanova.edu

Jhaakira is the Assistant Director of Career Development for Villanova University’s Career Center and has been working in career services for the past 6 years. From time to time you can also find her in CASA as a liaison to their office in Falvey 211. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health Promotion and Education from Kent State University and her master’s degree in Student Affairs from Old Dominion University. Jhaakira is originally from Ohio and enjoys going home to the Midwest, traveling, SoulCycle, and spending time with her nieces. Jhaakira is passionate about student professional development and loves hearing student’s stories about where they are and where they want to go!

Danielle Johnson

SAC Rm 26, Public Administration
danielle.johnson@villanova.edu

Danielle is an Assistant Professor in Villanova’s Public Administration department. She holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters of Public Administration from Villanova University, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Temple University. Through her research as a medical sociologist and public administrator, she explores how social factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood characteristics influence the efficacy of public policy initiatives. As a professor and active member of the Intergroup Dialogue and Diversity Awareness communities at Villanova, Danielle is excited to additionally serve the University as a member of the SARC team.

Brian McCabe

St. Ritas's Hall, Campus Ministry
brian.mccabe@villanova.edu

Brian has served as the Campus Minister for Outreach and Student Formation since the summer of 2013. This role has allowed him the opportunity to collaborate with students, faculty, and staff in exploring questions of meaning and belief. Beyond Villanova his work accompanying people has included supporting and mentoring of Alaskan teens and young adults, street outreach throughout Philadelphia, and mental health and housing case management to folks experiencing chronic homelessness. Brian has witnessed the deep wisdom of each person to realize their own goals and seek physical, spiritual, and mental wholeness, but also believes we have a responsibility to support one another to that end. Brian lives with his wife, daughter, and dog who make him laugh and teach him something new each day.

Kristy McCarthy

Health Services Building, First Floor
kristy.sillay@villanova.edu
Kristy received her bachelor’s degree in Health Studies from The University of Alabama, as well as a master’s degree in Health Science. During her time at Alabama, Kristy served as a Graduate Assistant for the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness. As a Graduate Assistant, Kristy worked directly with the department’s peer health education program (a student organization of more than 130 interns) to help develop, implement, and coordinate all health programming. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Kristy enjoys southern food, traveling, and College Football (Roll Tide!). Currently, as the Assistant Director of Health Promotion, Kristy oversees MOVE above the influence, campus-wide programming initiatives, in addition to the development and implementation of health programming within the dimensions of physical, social, intellectual, emotional, cultural and spiritual well-being.

Lauren Ward

Falvey Hall, Room 211, Center for Access, Success and Achievement (CASA)
lauren.ward@villanova.edu
Lauren is the Academic Advancement Program (AAP) Counselor at the Center for Access, Success and Achievement. She has been at Villanova University since February 2016 and provides support to students to help them meet their academic, personal and professional goals. Lauren earned her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College as well as a Masters of Arts in French Studies from NYU and a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. She has served as a volunteer crisis counselor with Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR), Philadelphia’s rape crisis center since 2009. She is happy to be a part of the SARC Team and is honored to help and empower survivors of sexual violence. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband Jim, their dog Lucy and her family and friends.