Matthew Hammett Selected to Lead State Institute on Prevention of Sexual Violence

GREENWOOD, S.C.—Following an extensive national search, Lander University today announced that higher education veteran Matthew Hammett has been tapped to lead the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses.

Hammett, currently the director for civil rights and student risk assessment and Title IX coordinator at Wofford College, will serve as the inaugural executive director of the new Institute, which is chartered at Lander.

“I am honored to lead the S.C. Institute as the state continues to embark on addressing the prevalence of sexual violence—one of the most critical areas impacting colleges and universities today,” Hammett said.

Authorized by Governor Henry McMaster and the S.C. General Assemblyin 2022, the Institute’s primary mission is to reduce the prevalence of interpersonal violence on college campuses in South Carolina through a collaborative, unified approach. As director, Hammett will work closely with representatives from each of the state’s public and private higher education institutions to capture best practices in sexual violence prevention and intervention, as well as survivor care and support services. In addition to deploying these standards, he will be instrumental in facilitating research opportunities and in developing educational and training materials that will be available to all participating colleges and universities. His official start date is Jan. 2, 2024.   

“It is significant that our state’s leadership has invested in these efforts,” Hammett said. “I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to leading with a focused desire to maximize our impact on prevention and education. My goal is to add value and design greater opportunities for engagement and dialogue around reducing interpersonal violence in higher education.”

Hammett holds a B.A. from Lander and an M.Ed. from Clemson University. In March, he will defend his dissertation to receive his Ed.D. from Converse University. In addition to his current role at Wofford, he has also served as assistant dean of students, associate director of residence life and assistant director of career services. These positions have led him to complete a number of training and professional development opportunities, including Advanced Investigator Training from the Association of Title IX Administrators, Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Investigation Training from D. Stafford and Associates, and Title IX Investigator Training from the National Association of College and University Attorneys. 

Lander University’s president, Dr. Richard Cosentino, said he believes Hammett’s familiarity and experience with colleges and universities in South Carolina make him the right choice for this position. 

“Through the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses, Governor McMaster and the General Assembly have given colleges and universities the opportunity to work collaboratively in solving an important issue in our state, region and nation,” Cosentino said. “Matthew Hammett has experience studying and working at four South Carolina institutions. On day one, he will utilize his connections throughout the state to build a successful program that will serve the students of South Carolina for generations to come.”