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Adjunct Faculty
Online Faculty

Sarah Scanlon (they/she)

Adjunct Faculty
Center for Justice Reform
Online Learning Program

Curriculum Vitae

Sarah Scanlon (they/she)

Biography

Sarah Scanlon (they/she) has spent the last 17 years in gender justice work. Having worked across close to a dozen organizations and initiatives focused on ending gender-based violence and responding to human rights violations, they have substantial experience working with individuals and groups who have experienced interpersonal, institutional, or state violence. Sarah acts as a consultant for both profit and non-profit organizations. They are the Sexual Violence Response Manager at Wilfrid Laurier University and an active member of the Ontario University Sexual Violence Network.

Sarah has been engaging with non-punitive accountability approaches (including transformative justice and restorative practices) for 14 years. They are currently the co-coordinator for Laurier's Restorative Practice Initiative and Training Program. She was a member of the national Towards a Justice that Heals community of practice which collectively wrote and produced the "Essential Elements for Non-Punitive Accountability: A Workbook for Understanding Alternative Responses to Gender-Based Violence." Sarah sits on the Project Willow Advisory Council which works to engage transformative justice models to address gender-based violence within communities experiencing houselessness.

Sarah has extensive experience facilitating conversations around complex and sensitive issues, having facilitated workshops or discussions to 35,000 individuals over the past 16 years. She has successfully produced research-based manuals, trainings, websites, and resources focused on supporting those impacted by harm and creating safer and more accountable spaces.

Sarah has a double Honours degree in Psychology, Women's Studies and Feminist Research from Western University and a Masters of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership and has received many certifications in trauma-informed therapy, non-punitive accountability practices, facilitation, conflict resolution, and innovative responses to oppression.