Mavericks Ending Technology-Facilitated Abuse (MAVS ETA)

We are an interdisciplinary research team led by scholars from the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, College of Engineering, and College of Liberal Arts. Our work aims to identify and respond to tactics of Technology Facilitated Abuse (TFA) via research, training, and technical support. We engage students, community partner agencies, and survivors of TFA living in North Texas to document needs related to TFA and develop and test educational and technical solutions to help promote safety and wellbeing.

Flyer about Technology Facilitated Abuse, including examples and assessment techniques

Faculty Leaders

Dr. Rachel Voth Schrag, Associate Professor and PhD Program Director in the School of Social Work

Dr. Morgan PettyJohn, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work

Dr. Shirin Nilizadeh, Associate Professor in the College of Engineering

Dr. Grace Brannon, Associate Professor in the College of Liberal Arts

  • Student Affiliates
    • School of Social Work
    • College of Engineering

About Technology Facilitated Abuse

  • Technology Facilitated Abuse is a form of controlling behavior. It happens when someone uses technology to control, stalk, or harass another person. It is frequent in instances of intimate partner violence, and prevalent in today’s society.

The UTA Tech Abuse Clinic

One way we are applying the findings of our research to support the community is through launching the UTA Tech-Abuse Clinic (TAC). Modeled on the work of the Clinic to End Tech Abuse at Cornell, the UTA TAC is a free consultation service that pairs trained MSW practicum students, supported by computer engineering students from the personal cyber security lab in the College of Engineering, with survivors experiencing technology abuse. We work with survivors referred to us from community-based violence service agencies across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We are utilizing the combined expertise and resources of the UTA School of Social Work in violence intervention and survivor support, the UTA College of Engineering in personal cybersecurity, and the UTA College of Liberal Arts in public health communication to provide technical support to survivors and advocates in our community.

Further, the clinic provides a training ground to educate MSW practicum students and emerging cyber security professionals in the dynamics of TFA.  Through the clinic, we are building a on-the-ground knowledge of current TFA tactics allowing us to identify emerging trends and associated intervention approaches from cybersecurity and public health perspectives. To learn more about the UTA TAC, contact Clinic Director Dr. Morgan PettyJohn at morgan.pettyjohn@uta.edu.

Flyer for the Mavericks Ending Tech Abuse Clinic, with referral information and QR code

Resources for Providers