Published on: May 20, 2026
An ATIXA Testimonial by Roy Burr, MPA, MBA, SFC (Ret.), U.S. Army, Alcorn State University
As a first-timer at ATIXA’s Winter Symposium, I came to the Title IX Investigation Foundations Level One certification course with years of investigative experience, first in the military and later in higher education. I left wanting more, which tells me ATIXA is doing something right.
At Alcorn State University, I wear many hats as Director of First- and Second-Year Experience and as an investigator. We are a rural HBCU with about 3,700 students, so there are situations I simply don’t see every day. Still, when the work comes to you, you need to be ready for it.
A Classroom That Works Like a Team
I enrolled in the investigator training to prepare for such instances. One of the first things I appreciated was the dynamic between the instructors, Joseph Vincent, M.L.S., and Alisha Carter Harris, M.S. As a teacher myself, I pay attention to how people run a classroom, and they were fantastic. They worked together seamlessly, playing off each other well and segueing naturally from one point to the next.
This teaching rhythm engages an audience, especially the younger, post-COVID generation of professionals. The presenters understood that a PowerPoint alone won’t hold an audience’s attention; we need interaction.
What Investigators Need to Hear
The facilitators also kept the discussion practical. Although I’ve conducted about 15 investigations at Alcorn State, there’s always more to learn. They emphasized using standard questions in every situation, reinforcing the importance of consistency and uniformity to a thorough process.
As a smaller school, we don’t face the same situations as larger campuses. Networking with ATIXA members allowed me to hear about those experiences directly. I could pull someone aside and ask, “How did you handle that situation?” Sometimes, they offered a solution I’d never considered.
Lessons From the Field
Many current incidents involve digital activity. We discussed how practitioners are addressing cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and the anonymous apps students use, even when universities try to prohibit them. Joe and Alicia shared their years of investigative experience, and they noted that many of the underlying issues are not new.
I have already transformed the way I conduct investigations by focusing on meeting students where they are, creating a comfortable interview atmosphere, and asking open-ended questions. Even small changes, like avoiding my office for interviews, can help ease these inherently difficult conversations. My goal is to make both the respondent and the complainant feel as comfortable as possible so they can speak openly, leading to a more complete understanding of the situation.
You Can’t Do This Work Without Evolving
This experience reinforced the importance of professional development. If you think what you’re doing is good enough, you’re not evolving. You can’t be in the Title IX arena, whether as an investigator, a coordinator, or in athletics, and say, “We’re good.” You must be open-minded to new ideas. ATIXA challenges you to improve, even when you think you’re doing fine.
If I can’t communicate to someone that I’m there to help them after they may have been mistreated or treated unfairly, then my training is useless. As a representative of this university and this office, my duty is to ensure we conduct a thorough investigation to get to the truth. If I have blinders on because I’m not open-minded or I’m making assumptions, I risk being biased and failing to conduct a proper investigation.
Although I couldn’t take Title IX Investigation Foundations Level Two on this trip, I am motivated to continue the curriculum. After all, the more cases you see, the more you realize how much there is to understand.
Continue Improving with ATIXA
Before the Symposium, I didn’t know anyone in the ATIXA network. Now, I have colleagues I can turn to for advice. Throughout my career, former students have reached out to me because they trust my experience, and I’m thrilled to have gained a professional community, too. In a constantly evolving field, those relationships are invaluable.
Explore upcoming trainings, certifications, and conferences to find practical strategies, honest discussions, and a network of committed colleagues to help you strengthen your investigative practice.