Letter from the President
May 2025

Dear ATSA Members,

I’m writing to share important updates from the recent quarterly meeting of ATSA’s Board of Directors, held in Montreal, Canada. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for ATSA’s leadership to reflect on the shifting landscape of our field, revisit our strategic direction, and reaffirm our deep commitment to supporting professionals working to prevent sexual harm.

Both global and local challenges shaped our discussions—including political and societal pressures, increasing demands on practitioners and researchers, and the growing urgency for advocacy on behalf of the profession. One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was the Board’s acknowledgment of a critical priority: the need to support and grow the ATSA community. Ensuring that current and future members are well-resourced, connected, and supported for lasting, meaningful work is essential to achieving our mission.

As part of the meeting, the Board thoroughly reviewed ATSA’s current Strategic Plan to ensure it remains aligned with our members’ needs and the realities of the field. Goals 1 (Collaboration & Outreach) and 3 (Public Policy) remain unchanged, as the Board confirmed their effectiveness.

However, staff were given clear directives to re-prioritize specific tasks and activities to better respond to emerging professional advocacy needs and ensure our work remains impactful. We are especially excited to share that a new U.S. public policy agenda is being finalized and will be shared with members soon.

As part ATSA’s strategic focus on education, a high-priority new strategy was developed for Goal 2 (Advance the Field through Education & Supporting the ATSA Community):

Develop and promote educational content and opportunities for community & connection that is directly responsive to the day-to-day challenges faced by professionals in the field, with a focus on practical tools and applied skills. Emphasize education as a workforce support mechanism that helps members stay current, reduce burnout, transfer knowledge, and sustain long-term engagement in this critical work.

This strategy recognizes that education must advance the field not only academically, but also serve as a foundation of support for professionals—building resilience, sharing practical knowledge, and fostering a sense of belonging across our diverse membership.

In response to recent funding cuts and the erosion of support for science and research, the Board elevated support for research funding from a medium to a high-priority strategy under Goal 4 (Research). ATSA remains committed to promoting and protecting rigorous, interdisciplinary research that drives innovation and informs both best practices and public policy.

We encourage you to revisit the ATSA 2024–2027 Strategic Plan and reflect on how it connects with your work and role in this community.

To learn more about these updates and their impact on you, we invite all members to join us for our next Quarterly Virtual Membership Meeting on June 18. This will be a great opportunity to hear directly from leadership, ask questions, and connect with fellow members across the globe.

Thank you, as always, for your steadfast commitment to ending sexual harm and for your essential role in ATSA’s mission. Together, we continue to move this important work forward with a shared commitment to our vision of a world without sexual violence.

Warmly,
Dr. Ainslie Heasman
President, ATSA