University of New Haven Announces Transformative $4 Million Gift to Help Combat Human Trafficking

The University of New Haven is proud to announce it has received a landmark $4 million philanthropic contribution from Janet Jensen ’17 Hon, a former member of its Board of Governors and the founder of The Jensen Project, a nonprofit organization fueling the fight against sexual violence.

The transformative commitment will enable the University to reimagine a commercial space adjacent to campus to create the Jensen Community Center for Applied Justice, which will position the University as a national leader in the fight against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

The gift will also support the development of innovative survivor-centered initiatives spanning prevention, intervention, enforcement, cyber forensics, advanced investigative techniques, and long-term survivor support, with the overarching goal of developing best practices that can be scaled and shared nationwide.

"Human trafficking is evolving every day, especially online and through financial systems that make it easier to exploit people,” explained Jensen, herself a survivor of rape. “It continues to impact the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. The University of New Haven’s nationally recognized strengths in forensic science, cybercrime, financial crime, youth justice, and de-escalation uniquely position it to address these challenges in a comprehensive and impactful way.”

“Janet’s courage and her passion for making a difference are inspirational and heroic,” said University of New Haven president Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D. “We take great pride in the many programs we offer that serve the public good and that position our graduates to make an important impact on their communities and society as a whole. We truly are a private university with a public mission, and we are grateful for Janet’s generosity that will help advance the brilliant work being led by our faculty and students to combat human trafficking and support those who are victims.”

The Jensen Community Center for Applied Justice will establish a new national standard for collaboration among academic institutions, survivor leaders, and justice-focused organizations. Through research, training, policy innovation, and public education, the Center will work to prevent exploitation, support survivors, and hold offenders accountable.

The Center will be located in a highly visible 10,000-square-foot building—formerly a CVS Pharmacy—located at the intersection of Route 1 and Campbell Avenue in West Haven.

Serving as a gateway to the University’s campus, the site is visible to more than 10 million vehicles annually. Once renovated, the Jensen Center will function as an integrated, trauma-informed hub delivering programs in combating human trafficking, youth justice, public health, violence prevention, and community-based policing.

The Jensen Community Center for Applied Justice will be home to several of the University’s leading programs, including the Center for Forensic Investigations of Trafficking in Persons, the Center for Advanced Policing, the Tow Youth Justice Institute, the Center for Analytics, and the Prison Education Program. Renovation of the space is expected to begin in late summer or early fall.