Kristina Anderson endured three gunshots in the deadly mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. Although she was among the most critically injured of the survivors, Anderson returned to graduate from VT and has dedicated her life to personal safety awareness and violence prevention in schools, workplaces and public spaces.
Anderson shares lessons she learned as a survivor at 6 p.m. Monday, March 6, at Pensacola State College’s Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio, WSRE Building 23, on the Pensacola campus.
The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
As a result of her own experience, Anderson has founded the Koshka Foundation for Safe Schools, a non-profit that provides training on the prevention of school and workplace violence, education on active shooter preparedness and consultation on post-crisis recovery.
With more than 20.5 million students attending colleges and universities across the country, campus safety is always an important issue. PSC Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Gilliam says the college has dedicated the month of March to enhancing campus safety with numerous speakers and activities for students, faculty and staff.
“We are proud to have this opportunity to bring Kristina Anderson to PSC,†Gilliam said. “We constantly work to make our campuses and centers safe for students and employees, but there is always something more we can learn.
“Ms. Anderson will give us her perspective on campus safety from the viewpoint of someone who survived the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech. Our hope is that she will provide those who hear her speak with an understanding of the importance of their personal safety awareness.â€
In addition to Anderson’s perspective as a student, Gilliam says Florida State University Police Chief David Perry will meet with PSC students, faculty and staff on March 13 to provide the viewpoint of a campus police department in responding to campus violence.