Eric Schisler
Growing up, the central message Eric Schisler received about sexual violence was simply, “Don’t be a perpetrator.”
While working at a women’s shelter in Cortland, New York, he realized the message should expand to include prevention and intervention.
“Bystander intervention helps shift the conversation from ‘As long as you aren’t doing this you can forget about it’ to ‘It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep those around them safe,’” he said. “Sexual violence is something no one should ever have to be subjected to and I believe we all should be held responsible for keeping each other safe.”
Eric wanted to help lead that shift, so he pursued a Ph.D. in Health, Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Arkansas, where he could work with faculty member Page Dobbs. His degree concentration is in health behavior and promotion.
“Dr. Dobbs has had an enormous influence on my career path, and I knew that continuing to work with her would help me achieve my goals,” he said.
Eric is also a graduate assistant in the U of A Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation and teaches Introduction to Human Sexuality.
In the fall, he presented his research about sexual assault bystander interventions to college-age men at the American Public Health Association conference. Eric’s research indicates that many people, especially the college males he’s interviewed, don’t intervene because they think their help may not be wanted or needed.
“I hope to turn that around and help people realize it’s better to ask people if they’re OK rather than assume they should butt out,” he said.
Eric is pictured here conducting a group interview with local high school students (all 18+) at a school in Jeremie, Haiti. The interview included information about sexual health, sexual assault and bystander intervention.
Eric has a degree in physical education from State University of New York College at Cortland. After taking a year off to work as a substitute teacher and a direct support professional at The Anderson Center for Autism, he returned to SUNY Cortland to earn a master’s degree in community health. He plans to complete his doctorate from the U of A in May 2024.
Eric would like to work at a teaching college next.
“I have always loved teaching and teaching at the college level has been amazing,” he said. “I also hope to travel internationally and work with vulnerable populations.”
While at SUNY Cortland, Eric traveled abroad, where he collected data and worked with other public health professionals.
“People all over the world suffer from public health issues, and any help I can provide will be worthwhile,” he said.
Eric visits with Kamachi and Rajeswari, two children at an orphanage in Kodiakanal, India. He was in India with a group of undergraduate students teaching them how to conduct needs assessments, qualitative interviewing and process evaluations with children at the orphanage and also at a local convent that houses destitute individuals (usually the terminally ill or elderly).
