StopHazing Team
Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D., Principal
Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D., is Professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine where she leads the Hazing Prevention Research Lab. She is also Principal at StopHazing where she founded and currently leads the Hazing Prevention Consortium – a pathbreaking research-to-practice initiative to guide and support campus hazing prevention while building an evidence base for efficacy. Allan was the lead investigator for the National Study of Student Hazing (2008), the most comprehensive study of student hazing in the U.S. and is currently leading its re-launch. An experienced researcher, Allan’s scholarship has focused on campus culture and climate including studies about hazing and its prevention. She is author of three books, more than 50 scholarly articles and book chapters, and more than 60 technical reports and white papers. Her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals including the Harvard Educational Review, the Journal of Higher Education, the Review of Higher Education, the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, the Journal of American College Health, Qualitative Studies in Education, and the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Allan has presented for the Department of Defense, the U.S. Senate HELP Committee, U.S. Congressional briefings, and at numerous national and international conferences and institutes, has been cited in tens of thousands of news articles, and she has been interviewed for and quoted in numerous news outlets including NPR, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, Associated Press, The Hill, MSNBC, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Inside Higher Education.
Dave Kerschner, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dave Kerschner, Ph.D., is the Post-Doctoral Fellow for Research and Evaluation for StopHazing. A 2021 graduate of the University of Maine, Dave has been involved in the work of StopHazing and the Hazing Prevention Consortium since 2013. His dissertation examined factors predictive of varsity athlete hazing experiences across five NCAA Division III institutions and, building off of his prior experience as a Division III athlete and athletic administrator, he aspires to conduct research that will inform practice and change in college athletics. He has published on hazing and hazing prevention in the Journal of Amateur Sport, the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and the Journal of School Counseling. A 2009 Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington, Dave received his M.S. in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts in 2010 and an MBA from the University of Southern Maine in 2012.
Meredith Stewart, M.Ed., Operations Manager
Meredith Stewart, M.Ed., serves as Operations Manager for StopHazing, overseeing operational aspects of StopHazing, including program management, training implementation, and resource development in alignment the organization’s mission to prevent hazing through research-based initiatives and strategic partnerships. Meredith also supports the work of the Hazing Prevention Consortium (HPC), StopHazing’s signature research-to-practice initiative, as well as policy advocacy, consulting services, and developing StopHazing’s suite of online learning tools and courses. Through her work, she cultivates essential relationships with higher education institutions, professional organizations, scholars, practitioners, and policy advocates committed to violence prevention.
She earned both her M.Ed. in Student Development in Higher Education and her B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Maine. Her journey with StopHazing began during her graduate studies as a Research Assistant before transitioning to full-time leadership positions. Her time with StopHazing and experience in both higher education and secondary education environments bring a greater understanding to implementing comprehensive education and prevention strategies.
Jenny Desmond, M.A., Program & Training Specialist
Jenny Desmond, M.A., is the Program and Training Specialist for StopHazing. She contributes to the StopHazing mission by providing support for the expansion of e-learning modules, resource development, and training initiatives. Jenny works with different stakeholders to expand StopHazing’s membership program. Jenny graduated from the University of Maine with a B.A. in Political Science and earned her M.A. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University. During her career in Student Affairs, Jenny worked in Enrollment Management overseeing Orientation Leaders and Tour Guides and in Student Life directing Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership Programs. She brings a practitioner’s perspective and experience to StopHazing’s research to practice model.
Megan DeShon-Runge, Hazing Database & Outreach Coordinator
Megan DeShon-Runge is the Hazing Database and Outreach Coordinator for StopHazing. In this role, Megan supports the development and sustainability of HazingInfo.org, a database dedicated to creating transparency about hazing incidents. She also develops resources and training and leads communications and outreach efforts regarding the database. Megan graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in Psychology in 2009 and has since been working in Higher Education. Over the course of her career, Megan has held roles in Residential Life, Athletics, Student Engagement, and Fraternity & Sorority Life giving her vast experiences that influence the multi-faceted lens through which she views hazing prevention.
Lauren Griffin, M.Ed., Program and Prevention Coordinator
Lauren Griffin, M.Ed., is the Program and Prevention Coordinator at StopHazing, where she supports core initiatives including trainings, workshops, and summits; annual campaigns like National Hazing Prevention Week; and capacity-building efforts such as the StandUp to Hazing Online Course and the upcoming Hazing Prevention Portal. She also helps build and sustain relationships with the Hazing Prevention Consortium (HPC), educational institutions, K–12 schools, professional associations, and partner organizations.
Lauren holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of North Texas and a B.A. in English with minors in Secondary Education and Technical Communication from Texas Tech University. She began her journey with StopHazing as a Research-to-Practice Graduate Intern before transitioning into her current full-time role. With experience spanning secondary education, higher education, and fraternity and sorority life, Lauren brings a well-rounded perspective on student experiences and a strong foundation in resource and curriculum development to hazing prevention strategy.
Devin Franklin, M.Ed., Doctoral Research Fellow
Devin Franklin, M.Ed. is the Doctoral Research Fellow for StopHazing and a Ph.D. student at the University of Maine. She assists with hazing prevention research, engages in resource development, and facilitates leadership development trainings. Devin earned her B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama in 2021 and her M.Ed. in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine in 2023. She served as a Research-to-Practice intern for StopHazing prior to transitioning to her current role. Devin continues to advocate for research-based and research-informed hazing prevention, ethical leadership development, and the creation of more inclusive campus communities.
Angela Ging, M.Ed., Training Specialist & Research Assistant
Angela Ging, M.Ed., is the Training Specialist and Research Assistant for StopHazing. She facilitates engaging hazing prevention educational programs and supports research initiatives. Angela earned her B.S. in Information Technology from Florida State University in 2019 and her M.Ed. in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2023. She joined the StopHazing team in January 2021 as a Research-to-Practice intern and has continued to support StopHazing’s mission. Professionally, Angela has worked in various areas of higher education including academic support, admissions, career services, and fraternity/sorority life. Angela continues to advocate for hazing prevention and believes in the power of education to StopHazing.
Internships
StopHazing often has internship opportunities available. Internship responsibilities may include research, marketing, communications, social media and others for graduate and undergraduate level students.
Contact Meredith Stewart for more information about available opportunities and internship descriptions.