Course on Victimology Encourages Students to Engage in Domestic Violence Awareness

This fall, St. John Fisher University students in the criminal justice course, Victimology, translated classroom learning into meaningful community engagement. Guided by Dr. Leah Shon, the course partnered with the Willow Domestic Violence Center, giving students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of survivors’ experiences and the support systems available to them.

Shon, who began incorporating community-engaged learning into the course last year, emphasized the value of learning beyond the textbook. “In class, we discussed victim services and justice systems,” she said. “But going out into the community allowed students to understand the real struggles survivors face and the resources available to them.” Domestic Violence Awareness Month, she noted, offered an ideal moment for Fisher students to apply their knowledge in a meaningful way.

In October, students participated in Walk with Willow, an annual event that brings together survivors, advocates, and community members. They also met with practitioners and heard firsthand accounts during guest visits from Willow representatives. Throughout the semester, students complemented these experiences with research on victim assistance programs across the U.S. and internationally, evaluating their effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.

For senior criminology major Vincenzo Perfetti ’26, the experience was especially impactful. Attending the Walk with Willow showed him how many people in the region supported survivor advocacy. “There were a lot of people who wanted to help survivors of domestic violence, and they came from all walks of life,” he said. A moment that stayed with him came when a community member recognized him from his involvement with the Office of Campus Ministry and thanked him for being there. “It made me feel like I was not only representing myself but the greater Fisher community.”

Shon shared that the project helped broaden students’ career interests as well. Several students from past semesters pursued internships or graduate work in victim advocacy and social services after their involvement in the course. “I want students to be open-minded and aware that victims come from every corner of society,” she said. “Acknowledging our own biases is the first step toward understanding and truly empathizing with others.”

Perfetti noted that the project changed how he viewed the field. “I didn’t realize how robust victim advocacy was until now,” he reflected. “It’s good to know there are highly organized support systems for survivors.” He hopes the class’s participation demonstrated to survivors that “there is a generation of future leaders who care about issues and solutions to domestic violence.”

By combining research, reflection, and hands-on engagement, the course exemplifies Fisher’s commitment to community-engaged learning. Students not only strengthened their academic understanding of victimization but also engaged the community with empathy, awareness, and a developing sense of professional purpose.

This article was written by Ranya Alsalahi, a senior film and television studies major. Alsalahi is an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the Fall 2025 semester.