Julie G. DeVercelly
Chairperson

Julie is a retired educator, coach, parent advocate, and national voice for campus safety, hazing prevention, transparency, and accountability. Following the 2007 hazing-related death of her oldest son, Gary DeVercelly Jr., Julie and her husband, Gary, transformed unimaginable loss into nearly two decades of tireless advocacy dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of hazing and preventing other students and families from experiencing its devastating consequences. 

Julie and Gary have worked tirelessly since Gary Jr.’s death as a result of a fraternity hazing “ritual” to create meaningful change in how hazing is understood, addressed, prevented, and disclosed. Their advocacy led to unprecedented changes at Rider University, where Gary Jr. was enrolled at the time of his death, helping revolutionize the way the university manages and oversees its Greek organizations. Their relationship with Rider has continued, and they remain actively engaged with the university in collaborative efforts focused on hazing prevention and education for students, organizations, administrators, families, and other stakeholders. 

Julie’s commitment to education and student development began as a mother. She homeschooled all three of her children during their first four years of education and helped coach their baseball and volleyball teams. Those experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to educating, mentoring, coaching, and equipping young people to become active participants in their own success. 

Julie went on to spend 30 years as an educator, including her final 12 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Throughout her career, she was recognized as a highly effective mathematics teacher and served as a Math Lead and Senior Teacher Lead for the Global Business, Law and Government Academy (GBLG). She also served as a Head Swim Coach, mentoring and developing scholar-athletes through leadership, teamwork, discipline, accountability, and goal-setting. 

Julie brought that same philosophy of student leadership to her work addressing hazing. Through Carson STEAM High School’s Global Business, Law & Government Academy (GBLG) Hazing PBL: Advocating for Safer Schools project, Julie worked directly with students to research hazing, examine its impact, and develop their own message for prevention. She partnered with a professional muralist to transform the students’ research and message into a permanent, student-driven statement on their campus: “WE DON’T HAZE HERE.” 

The project demonstrated Julie’s belief that meaningful culture change begins by engaging students as active partners in the solution. The project and mural were recognized with the 2023–24 Human Relations Student Leadership Award by the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Human Relations, Diversity, and Equity Commission. 

Federal Advocacy & the Stop Campus Hazing Act 

Julie and Gary began traveling to Washington, D.C., in 2014 to advocate for federal legislation addressing hazing, initially known as the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act. In July 2017, they spoke on Capitol Hill when the REACH Act was first introduced during the 115th Congress. In 2018, they participated in a hazing education briefing and panel discussion hosted by then-Congressman Alan Lowenthal in Washington, D.C. Over the years, the REACH Act continued to gain momentum through the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses. 

Julie and Gary remained deeply engaged throughout the legislative process, making more than 30 trips to Washington, D.C., meeting with members of Congress and their staffs, sharing Gary Jr.’s story, educating policymakers about the dangers and consequences of hazing, and advocating for meaningful federal action. Their sustained grassroots advocacy helped keep hazing prevention on the national agenda and were the driving force behind the movement that ultimately led to federal hazing legislation. 

On September 21, 2023, the REACH Act was reintroduced as the Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R.5646 / S.2901) during the 118th Congress. After nearly a decade of persistent advocacy, education, coalition-building, and bipartisan legislative efforts, the Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed into law on December 23, 2024. 

For Julie and Gary, the passage of the Act represents far more than a legislative victory. It is the culmination of nearly two decades of turning personal tragedy into public action—and a powerful step toward ensuring that students, families, and communities have the transparency, accountability, education, and tools they need to prevent hazing. For them, legislation is not the finish line; it is a tool for creating meaningful change and protecting future generations. Their advocacy is driven by the belief that Gary Jr.’s life can continue to make a difference—and that his story can help ensure others may live. 

Julie and Gary also collaborate with StopHazing.org and serve as Advancement Council Members for the Hazing Prevention Research Lab at the University of Maine. They provide leadership and advocacy for the National Study of Student Hazing, helping usher in a new era of research-driven hazing prevention. Their work reflects their belief that lasting change requires more than awareness—it requires credible research, evidence-based strategies, collaboration, and a commitment to understanding what actually works to prevent hazing. 

Julie serves on the Clery Center Board of Directors, bringing a unique perspective shaped by her experience as an educator, coach, parent, and longtime advocate for students and families. She is committed to ensuring that laws and policies translate into meaningful action and that prevention, transparency, accountability, education, and student safety remain at the center of the conversation. 

Julie and Gary are also Project Partnersof the award-winning short-form documentary We Don’t Haze and Executive Producers and key forces behind 4000 Days, a feature documentary inspired by Gary Jr.'s story and nearly two decades of advocacy. The film made its World Premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival and examines the devastating impact of hazing and the urgent need to move beyond awareness toward accountability, prevention, and meaningful cultural change. 

Recognition 

Julie and Gary have been recognized for their leadership and commitment to hazing prevention and victim advocacy, including:  

• Rider University Sesquicentennial Medal of Excellence — presented to Julie and Gary on September 25, 2023, in recognition of their hazing prevention advocacy. 
• Edith Surgan Victim Activist Award (2024) — recognizing their commitment to promoting the rights and services that help change the lives of hazing victims. 

Today, Julie continues to bring together education, advocacy, policy, research, student leadership, and lived experience to advance a culture of safety and accountability. She believes preventing hazing requires more than compliance—it requires education, leadership, transparency, accountability, strong partnerships, credible research, and, most importantly, engaging students as active partners in creating cultures where hazing has no place. 

Julie’s advocacy is rooted in a simple promise: Remember Gary Jr. not for the way he died, but for the way he lived—and use his life to help ensure that others may live. 

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