HJAR Sep/Oct 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  SEP / OCT 2024 11 Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, PhD, MCHES, CWHC, CA, FACHA, director of the Sexual & Relationship Violence Center at the University of Arkansas, has 29 years of professional experience within the field of sexual and relationship violence. She holds a doctorate in health science from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Education in health education from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the University of Arkansas in 1998. In 2000, she created the multi-award- winning peer education program, RESPECT, which is about to celebrate 25 years of peer-to-peer programming and education. In 2013, Wyandt-Hiebert co-created “What Were You Wearing?” (WWYW), an art installation that addresses sexual assault through dispelling age-old rape myths.WWYW has become a worldwide phenomenon and continues to grow and create global change. She served as co-chair of the American College Health Association (ACHA) Campus Safety and Violence Coalition from 2016-2020 and again in 2022. In addition, she was appointed co-chair of ACHA’s Creating Guidance for Addressing Sexual Assault Task Force from 2016-2018. She helped author ACHA’s first edition of “Addressing Sexual and Relationship Violence: A Trauma-Informed Approach Toolkit” in 2018, as well as contributed to the updated editions while serving as an appointed member of the ACHA Title IX Response Task Force. In 2018, Wyandt-Hiebert was awarded the Ruth E. Boynton Award for Distinguished Service to ACHA. The following year, Wyandt-Hiebert was recognized by the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing with the Outstanding Service and Leadership Award in the established professionals category. In recognition of “outstanding service to ACHA and [demonstrating] superior professional stature and performance in the college health field,” Wyandt-Hiebert was inducted as a fellow of ACHA in 2019. Most recently, Wyandt-Hiebert’s work withWWYWhas been honored with her reciept of the 2024 Tadini Bacigalupi Jr. Award by the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA). The Tadini Bacigalupi Jr. Award recognizes outstanding leadership and tireless efforts in advancing crime victims’ rights and distinguished victim service programs. Wyandt-Hiebert maintains several national professional credentials, including Master Certified Health Education Specialist, Certified Wellness and Health Coach, and Credentialed Advocate at the advanced level with specializations in campus sexual assault and sexual violence. Her passion to address sexual and relationship violence has been the cornerstone of Wyandt-Hiebert’s career. However, at the foundation of her life is her family, followed by her community. Being a wife and mother are her most loved roles and at the center of her life. She enjoys time with her family, whether together at home or on an adventure. Her volunteer service includes being an active Girl Scout adult volunteer; active participation with her church’s ministries; ongoing engagement with her daughter’s school as a homeroom mom, club adviser, and co- chair of Fall Fest; providing leadership with her neighborhood property owners association; and serving on several community committees and an education board. As one who has battled cancer within the last few years, Wyandt- Hiebert also uses her skills and knowledge to help others stricken by cancer while striving to live her life to its fullest. Dianne Hartley, Editor We as a healthcare industry, and hopefully as a society, have become more trauma informed. The CDC statistic of 1 in 4 women — which they're now saying 26.8% of women — in the U.S. having reported either completed or attempted rape in her lifetime is startling. Do you think that stat is accurate? Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, PhD Well, we have national research study after national research study that indicate 1 in 4 to 1 in 5, whether it be college women or women in general. It's typically 1 in 4 college women and 1 in 5 women in general who are victimized by sexual assault, which would include either attempted or completed rape. Editor Has the definition of rape changed over the years? Wyandt-Hiebert Each state defines rape. In and of itself, the definition hasn't changed grossly, but within each state, over the years, it's become more inclusive. In previous years, when a male was victimized by sexual violence, they could not go after a rape charge because the language specifically stated that [rape occurred when] a penis or an object entered a vagina. So, a lot of states have since changed that language, but you'd have to look at each state law as far as the language of the legal definition of rape goes. All in all, the overarching definition of rape continues to remain the penetration of the anus or vagina by a penis or object; or the mouth being penetrated by a penis would constitute sexual violence or rape as well. There is no rule on how long penetration has to occur — however slight, for however least amount of time that it occurs, it would be considered rape. Editor That's a quarter of American women walking around with rape trauma. What is that like? Wyandt-Hiebert Well, trauma is very specific to individuals. Some individuals are going to have a different experience or outcome related to the trauma they had experienced. Part of it is also going to depend on how