On September 9, 2015, a Philadelphia Business Journal article by Dan Norton highlighted the work and official launch of the CSE Institute at the Villanova University School of Law. The Director of the CSE Institute, Shea Rhodes, Esquire, was interviewed for the article.
The article recognized the growth of the CSE Institute from the pre-launch academic year of 2014-15 to the official launch event on September 16, 2015. In addition to expanding from four student externs in 2014 to eight in 2015, the article noted the collaboration with more than 50 governmental and non-governmental organizations. Rhodes described the CSE Institute as “a think tank.” She further explained, “We are looking at the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania and trying to shift perception of commercial sexual exploitation” throughout the Commonwealth.
As the article stated, The National Human Trafficking Resource Center reports over 500 cases of human trafficking, with 1,199 victims, in Pennsylvania since 2007. The CSE Institute wishes to thank Mr. Norton and the Philadelphia Business Journal for bringing attention to the issue of commercial sexual exploitation and our work at the Institute.