Prevention Innovations Research Center has been working to keep students safe since 2006.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) calls Prevention Innovations’ evidence-based strategies the “gold standard” in prevention and response.

For more than fifteen years, the Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC) at the University of New Hampshire has been a national leader in the work to end sexual and relationship violence, harassment, and stalking. We do this by developing and evaluating cutting edge, innovative, and trauma-informed responses to sexual violence. We leverage our work through the power of effective practitioner and research partnerships.

We work with practitioners and community partners to implement and refine our approaches. Our evidence-based bystander prevention and response strategies are used in high schools, colleges, and workplaces, as well as the U.S. military. Our collaborative approach has contributed significantly to scholarly research, practice literature, institutional responses to sexual and relationship violence, sexual harassment and stalking, and technology transfer.

  • More than 500 high schools, colleges, and workplaces use the PIRC-pioneered bystander intervention program, Bringing in the Bystander®.

  • Our college safety app, uSafeUS®, is used on 26 campuses in five states.

  • Prevention Innovations was one of three university research centers identified in the 2014 and 2017 White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and was asked to administer a national study as part of this effort.

  • Our directors are routinely consulted by top universities and secondary schools, Fortune 500 companies, federal legislators, and the U.S. military for their research and expertise in addressing sexual violence and creating safe, equitable work and learning environments.

  • We conducted first-of-its-kind research on campus violence, LGBTQ+ victimization, the economic cost of sexual violence, and community responsibility in violence prevention.

  • We’ve been recognized by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the C. Peter McGrath Foundation, the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps), the NH Charitable Foundation, and the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

PIRC has taken the lead in training the next generation of researchers and practitioners through its prestigious intern program. Our research-informed commercialized products, including Bringing in the Bystander®, are available through our spin-off non-profit company, Soteria Solutions.

At PIRC, our directors, researchers and practitioners are committed to the eradication of sexual and relationship violence, stalking and harassment. Their trailblazing work has been essential in bringing this issue to the forefront of the national conversation and providing effective, research-informed solutions for institutions both nationally and internationally.

Meet the Team

  • Sharyn Potter, PhD, MPH

    Executive Director of Research

  • Victoria Bryan, Ph.D.

    Personality and Social Psychologist; Postdoctoral Research Scholar

  • Holly Alperin, M.Ed.

    Health Education Curriculum Specialist

  • Laurie Dawe, BS

    Program Manager

  • Kimberly Hobbs, BS

    Manager of App Development