White House honoring UC San Diego student as a ‘Champion of Change’

LA JOLLA (KUSI) — Meghan Yap of La Jolla will be honored by the Obama administration on Thursday as a "Champion of Change" for her work helping UC San Diego address sexual assault issues on campus, the White House announced Tuesday. Yap is developing sexual violence policy and best practice recommendations for the university. She is currently an intern at the UCSD Medical School Center on Gender Equity and Health, according to the White House. Yap is on track to graduate in June and has her eyes set on earning a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in global health. 

Nine additional honorees will be in attendance for the White House event that will include a message from Vice President Joe Biden and Tina Tchen, executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Actor Matt McGorry will also be a part of the program. 

Yap has been reviewing recommendations from state and national coalitions against sexual assault, then cross-analyzing her findings with campus policies in order to asses their adherence to those measures. She also believes greater sensitivity should be used to and to prevent re-victimization of survivors. Yap recalls her first exposure to sexual violence occurring while she worked as a medical technician in Los Angeles, which sparked her conviction in addressing the issue at UCSD.