For seven years, Mercer University students have raised awareness about sex trafficking and educated Macon-area ninth graders on its warning signs and dangers.

When the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the college students from going into high schools this spring, the Traffick Jam program’s faculty leader decided to use the time to innovate the curriculum. The changes could help other universities adopt the program and roll it out in their own communities.

“I really thought of it as an opportunity rather than a limitation after I literally got teary-eyed thinking about the prospect of not going into the schools,” said Dr. Tammy Crutchfield, associate dean and professor of marketing in the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business.

She created an innovation team consisting of graphic designers, content writers and videographers, as well as students who previously taught the program in schools. Together, they redesigned the Traffick Jam curriculum.

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