Jay Blake

Gender Violence Prevention, Education, and Response Coordinator

Jay joined Health Promotion and Well-Being in June 2022 as a Gender Violence Prevention, Education, and Response Coordinator. She is the confidential resource for graduate students, post-docs, and fellows in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health, Carey Business School, and School of Advanced International Studies who have experienced gender-based violence. Jay does programming around gender violence and other related issues like mental health. She also oversees the graduate Bystander Intervention Training (BIT) and the graduate student trainers who present it. With other university departments and schools, she shares resources and information and provides support for students.

Jay earned her Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. During grad school she worked at her campus’ confidential sexual assault and gender violence office creating and presenting programming, sharing resources, and assisting students through the peer-run helpline. Off-campus, she did her field practicum at a substance-use treatment facility. These experiences contributed to her desire to continue working with those who have experienced trauma and operating through a trauma-informed lens. She also holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Seton Hall University where she was involved in student mental health advocacy, awareness, and outreach. In addition to gender violence, mental health, and substance use, she also has a passion for working with the LGBTQIA+ community, and other groups that disproportionately experience psychosocial issues.