PVAMU professor secures nearly $700K in grants to combat violence against women, human trafficking

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (April 4, 2025) - April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month-a time dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for prevention. At Prairie View A&M University, that mission is being reinforced through groundbreaking research and action. Dr. Temilola Salami, an associate professor of psychology, has secured nearly $700,000 in federal and state grants to tackle some of the most pressing issues affecting women and vulnerable populations: domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

With a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, Dr. Salami and her team will develop culturally specific programs to support students at PVAMU. The initiative, part of a nationwide effort to strengthen safety at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions, aims to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.

Salami, alongside co-principal investigators Drs. Ayodeji Iyanda, Anne Lippert, and Rahsheda Perine, will work with campus partners to implement targeted prevention programs, strengthen response efforts, and train faculty, staff, and students on best practices in violence prevention. The team's approach centers on education, intervention, and community collaboration-key pillars in the fight against gender-based violence.

In addition to supporting students on campus, Salami is also leading efforts to combat human trafficking. With a $185,000 grant from the Texas Office of the Governor-Criminal Justice Division, in partnership with the DOJ, PVAMU will update and enhance Human Trafficking 101 training for law enforcement. The training will incorporate insights from survivor advocates, criminal justice experts, and healthcare professionals, equipping officers with the skills needed to identify, support, and protect trafficking survivors.

The program, facilitated by the PATH Collaborative, will offer both in-person and online training, with law enforcement agencies engaging in biweekly sessions to refine their response protocols. Officers completing the training will also earn Texas Commission on Law Enforcement credits, further reinforcing their expertise in handling trafficking cases.

As Sexual Assault Awareness Month highlights the urgent need for education and prevention, PVAMU is taking bold steps to drive real change. Through these grants, Dr. Salami and her team are advancing research-driven solutions that not only strengthen campus safety but also enhance the response capabilities of law enforcement. With every training session, awareness campaign, and support initiative, they are making a lasting impact in both educational and criminal justice systems.

A modified version of this story originally appeared at pvamu.edu/research.

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