Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
April 28, 2024

Hopkins community mourns the loss of Pava LaPere

By ROWAN LIU | September 28, 2023

The University mourns the loss of Pava LaPere, co-founder and CEO of EcoMap Technologies and a 2019 graduate of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. LaPere made her home in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore after moving from Tucson, Arizona. A vigil was held in the neighborhood Wednesday night.

In an email to the Hopkins community, Vice President for Public Safety Branville Bard Jr., Vice Provost for Student Affairs Rachelle Hernandez and Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being Kevin Shollenberger expressed support to Baltimore community members affected by her loss. 

“Our hearts are with her family, friends and Ecomap co-workers, and with all who may have had the privilege of knowing her. We witnessed how this loss is felt by many in our community during last night’s vigil,” they wrote.

The University has been communicating with the Baltimore Police Department during its investigation of this loss. While the tragedy did not happen on Hopkins grounds, the University is providing support services to students, staff, alumni and neighbors.

Bard, Hernandez and Shollenberger encouraged members of the Hopkins community to sign up for Rave alerts, the University’s emergency alert text message system, and make use of community resources during this difficult time. 

“We take very seriously your safety and well-being,” they wrote.

Mental Health Resources

  • The well-being website serves as a portal for all health and well-being resources across the university.
  • The Counseling Center may be contacted by calling (410) 516-8278 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 12 – 1 p.m.) as well as Wednesdays from 1 – 5 p.m. Please leave a message during the 12–1 p.m. hour or press 1 to reach the on-call counselor.
  • If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, contact the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team at 410-516-WELL (9355) to speak with a crisis support clinician available 24/7, 365 days a year. Telephone consultation with BHCST is available to students, faculty, and staff in Washington, D.C.  
  • Student Outreach and Support is available for appointments and can be contacted at (410) 516-7857 or by emailing studentoutreach@jhu.edu.
  • Religious and Spiritual Life can be reached at (410) 516-1880 or by emailing chaplain@jhu.edu.
  • 24/7 counseling is also available through TalkNow. Visit timelycare.com/jhu and use your Hopkins email to log in.
  • Employee Assistance Program: Faculty and staff can call the Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP) at 888-978-1262, for free, confidential help and referrals for emotional or mental health concerns you may have. 

Public Safety Resources

  • Daytime Shuttle Service: JHU operates a shuttle service to connect different areas of our campuses. You can review the schedules for all shuttles here. For questions regarding bus timing and tracking for the Homewood – Peabody – JHMI shuttle, in particular, call the dispatch line at 410-391-8700, option #3.  
  • Blue Jay Shuttles: To make ride requests and track the shuttle vans, go to ondemand.transloc.com. TransLoc’s free app is available at transloc.com/app. Dispatchers are available during operating hours at 410-516-8700. 
  • Blue Jay Night Ride: Blue Jay Night Ride is an on-demand, curb-to-curb service to and from locations within the designated service area. Ride requests are accepted beginning at 6 p.m. and honored until 2 a.m. To request a ride and track your van, download the TransLoc app, visit https://ondemand.transloc.com, or call 410-516-8700. 
  • LiveSafe App: JHU offers LiveSafe, a free mobile app that provides real-time, two-way communication 24/7 between Public Safety and members of the JHU community when they are on campus. 
  • Lyft Rideshare: Dispatchers may transfer a pending ride from a Blue Jay Shuttle to Lyft during peak service hours. A Lyft driver will be sent directly by the dispatcher—riders do not need to call Lyft, use the Lyft app, or pay. Riders will be notified by text message when their Lyft vehicle arrives. Passengers are encouraged to verify that the vehicle they are about to enter is the one described in the text message.  
  • Public Security Escort: Call 410-516-4600 for a walking or vehicle escort on or around campus. 
  • RAVE Alerts: Sign up for RAVE alerts, an emergency text message system that immediately broadcasts emergency information to subscribers. 
  • Blue Lights: Emergency blue lights are installed around campus to get you an immediate police officer response if you are in an emergency or feel concerned for your personal safety. 

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