Our Team.

Cortney Simmons

Cortney Simmons serves as the Educational Outreach Specialist for the Office of Equity Assurance within the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at West Virginia University. She works closely with units across campus including WVU Potomac State and the Institute of Technology implementing the West Virginia University BOG Board of Governance Rule 1.7 – Rule on Child Protection which promotes the safety of minors on campus who are engaged in WVU youth programs, activities, events, and research. Cortney Cortney is an instructor for the Peer Advocate Program, a student-centered violence prevention and advocacy service-learning course. The context of this course includes Title IX, de-escalation techniques, LGBTQ+, pornography, Veteran Advocacy, Abuse later in life, race and ethnicity, children on campus and disability awareness. Cortney also serves as an Anonymous Employee to faculty, staff, and students who have been involved in Title IX related issues who want to further discuss options for reporting and/or gathering resources.

Prior to joining WVU, Cortney was the Victim Specialist for the West Virginia State Police, Crimes Against Children Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Cortney worked throughout West Virginia providing direct services and assistance to victims, families, and other agencies affiliated to the West Virginia ICAC Task Force. Cortney designed and implemented an Employee Support Program to safeguard members of the unit who are exposed to child sexual exploitation materials in addition to other violent crimes against children. Cortney was a ChildFirst Forensic Interviewer and managed the West Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse.

Cortney actively participates in West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice Task Force and has focuses much of her attention on child related issues across West Virginia. Cortney co-chairs the Training Subcommittee of the West Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force and is an active member on the Steering Committee.