President Kachanoski welcomes Rhonda Shortall as sexual harassment advisor with the Sexual Harassment Office at Memorial.

Ms. Shortall accepted the position following an extensive search process that included a stakeholder search committee which unanimously recommended her for the role.

“Students, faculty and staff have the right to work and study in an environment that is free from sexual harassment,” said Dr. Kachanoski. “At Memorial, we are committed to having a respectful and harassment-free environment on all of our campuses. The addition of Ms. Shortall, who brings extensive experience and education to the Sexual Harassment Office, will help us live up to that commitment.”  

“I have been involved with Memorial over the years in a number of capacities and am excited to be the new sexual harassment advisor for the university,” Ms. Shortall said. “As I settle into the position, I look forward to engaging with the university community and connecting with faculty, staff and students.”

Ms. Shortall holds a master of social work and a bachelor of science (honours) in psychology from Memorial University and a bachelor of social work from the University of British Columbia. She is a fellow of the School of Graduate Studies with more than 25 years of strong clinical experience and she has been a leader in both clinical and professional development, program and policy development, critical thinking and system innovation. Ms. Shortall has been chair, co-ordinator and champion of numerous working groups and new community and organizational program initiatives. During her career, she has also been a mental health consultant in Prince Edward Island, worked in women’s shelters in British Columbia and has been a sexual abuse consultant in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ms. Shortall has served as past chair and co-founder of the Field Instructors’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and served on the academic council and the admissions committee at the School of Social Work. She has also engaged in a partnership with Memorial regarding the design, development and research of an innovative brief therapy clinic and served as a community facilitator at Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine.

The Sexual Harassment Office provides information and education sessions to students, faculty and staff on how to identify and prevent harassing behaviours and also provides advice, information and support to any person who has experienced sexual harassment.

The Sexual Harassment Office is located in ER-6039. Ms. Shortall can be reached in the office, by email at rshortall@mun.ca or by phone at (709) 864-8199.