Violence Prevention Research Lab

The Violence Prevention Research Lab is includes Social Work & Psychology graduate and undergraduate students.

Summer 2024 VPRL Team – back from left: Nia Welch, Jenna Muller, Nick Cannon, and Brea Griffin; front from left: Alina Loewenstein, Tasia Curry, Dr. Rachel Garthe, Haley Miller, Apoorva Nag
Fall 2023 VPRL Team – Front (sitting) from left: Alina Loewenstein, Kailynn Hamilton, Maya Novick, Dr. Shongha Kim, Qihao Zhan, Dr. Rachel Garthe, Dora Watkins, Maddie Welsh, Haley Miller; Back (standing) from left: Amari Anderson, Ayla Makris, Emily Dailey, Lina Simpkins, Brea Griffin, Allyson Blackburn, Aggie Rieger, Dr. Cortney VanHook, Allie Ahlgrim, Matt Saxsma, Michelle Morrison, Christine Kwon, & Wyatt Beal
FALL 2022 VPRL Team – Front from left: Val Dobrow, Christine Kwon, Dora Watkins, Qihao Zhan, Alina Loewenstein, Maddie Welsh, Rachel Garthe, Sarah Aronson, Alexis Krones, Shongha Kim, Grace Dietrich, Abby Gillogly, Kailynn Hamilton; Back from left: Simon Mwima, Riley Murphy, Aggie Rieger, Brea Griffin, Allyson Blackburn, Chance Flemming, Maya Novick, and Michelle Morrison
SPRING 2022 VPRL Team – Front from left: Simon Mwima, Wendy Hsieh, Riley Murphy, Rachel Garthe, Shongha Kim, David Mowry, Matt Saxsma, Amanda Yeazel, Michelle Morrison; Back from left: Grace Dietrich, Abby Gillogly, Christine Kwon, Maddie Welsh, Liz Guenther, Sarah Aronson, Chance Flemming, Alexis Krones, and Maya Novick
FALL 2021 VPRL Team – Pictured left to right: Amanda Yeazel, Maya Korol, Alexis Krones, Sarah Aronson, Maddie Welsh, Matt Saxsma, Wendy Hsieh, Liz Guenther, Miah Emano, Miranda Robles, Simon Mwima, Ashley Jung, Shongha Kim, David Mowry, Rachel Garthe

Social Work Graduate Research & Teaching Assistants

Qihao Zhan, MSW, MPA – Graduate Research Assistant

Qihao received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and family and human development and master’s degree in social work and public administration from Arizona State University. Currently, she is a PhD student at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign’s School of Social Work. Her interests include teen dating relationships and intimate partner violence among adolescent and young adult populations.

Apoorva Nag, MS – Graduate Research Assistant

Apoorva Nag (she/her) earned a B.S. in Psychology from Christ University, India, and an M.S. in Psychological Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Social Work at the university. Her research focuses on examining distinct pathways adopted by gender-based violence survivors to seek help from formal and informal response systems. Her research aims to inform public policies to develop coordinated and integrated survivor-centered response systems.

Clinical-Community Psychology Graduate Students

Brea Griffin

Brea (she/they) received their Bachelors of Science in Biology and Psychology from St.
Lawrence University in 2019. Brea served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from 2020-2021. Currently, Brea is in their third year of the Clinical-Community Psychology PhD Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Broadly, their research interests include gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response. They are interested in exploring correlates of organizational approaches to GBV with individual and community well-being, as well as examining best practices in GBV prevention and response through an intersectional, anti-oppression lens. Their clinical interests
include crisis intervention, trauma, and PTSD.

Project Coordinator

Haley Miller, MSW

Haley Miller earned both her BSW and MSW from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work. Haley is the Project Coordinator for The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Violence Prevention Plan project. Haley is interested in all realms of violence prevention; specifically gender-based violence prevention, firearm violence prevention, and violence prevention within the criminal legal system.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Tasia Curry

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (SOCW225)

Yichen Wang, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), is pursuing a dual major in Clinical Community Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies. Their research focuses on areas such as intimate violence, sexual assault, and dating violence, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of underrepresented sexual minorities.

Publications & Presentations

2023
  • Kwon, C. (2023). Adverse Childhood Experiences, Intimate Partner Violence, Anger, and Mental Health Symptoms Among Incarcerated Women. Poster presented at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research. 
  • Loewenstin, A. (2023). Positive Relationships with Parents or Other Adults: A Protective Factor Against the Transmission of Intergenerational Trauma. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Murphy, R. (2023). A Narrated Review on the Prevalence of Police Violence in the Disability Community. Paper presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 
  • Novick, M. (2023). Intimate Partner Violence Against Transgender and Gender Expansive Individuals: A Review of Existing Literature. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 
  • Novick, M. (2023). Intimate Partner Violence Against Transgender and Gender Expansive Individuals: A Review of Existing Literature. Poster presented at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research. 
2022
  • Aronson, S. & Krones, A. (2022). The impact of an adolescent dating violence prevention program on dating violence norms: A comparison of in-person vs. online program delivery. Paper presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Flemming, C. & Morrison, M. (2022). An analysis of the inequality of Adverse Childhood Experiences facing African Americans in Illinois and the Impact of State Economic Policy. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Krones, A., Aronson, S., & Welsh, M. (2022). Parent/Caregiver perceptions of students’ mental and behavioral health and the impact on school involvement during the pandemic. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Kwon, C. (2022). Factors contributing to state and trait anger in incarcerated women. Paper presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Novick, M., Gillogly, A., Dietrich, G., & Saxsma, M. (2022). Parents’ mental health struggles in relation to the mental health of their children during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of emotion responsive parenting. Paper presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Saxsma, M. (2022). Intimate partner violence: The role of Adverse Childhood Experiences and attachment. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Welsh, M. (2022). Zero tolerance policies and the school-to-prison pipeline: the important role of school-family collaborations in decreasing juvenile delinquency. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
2021
  • Baltierra, J., Aronson, S., Welsh, M.  (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on cyber-victimization experiences among middle school students. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Guenther, L. (2021). An Investigation into the Potential of Horticultural and Nature-Based Interventions for Well-Being and the Methods to Evaluate Their Effects. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Krones, A., Aronson, S., & Yeazel, A. (2021). An Exploration of Dating Violence Norms Among Early Adolescents. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Shusterman, B., & Mikuta, E. (2021). Impact of Social Media on Adolescents Eating, Sleep, and Exercise Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Yeazel, A., Krones, A., & Aronson, S. (2021). Associations Between Parenting Practices and Acceptance of Dating Abuse Norms Among 7th Grade. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
2020
  • Brown, J. (2020). A Critique of the Youth Empowerment Model. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Maldonado, M. (2020). Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Incarcerated Women. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Mowry, D., (2020). Relationships Between Teacher Support, Informal Social Control and Students’ Perceptions of Safety. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Reubling, A., & Yeazel, A. (2020). An Examination of The Associations Between Positive and Negative Friendship Qualities and Cyber-Victimization from Friends During Early Adolescence. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Saxsma, M., & Welsh, M. (2020). The Relationships Between Self-Esteem, Mental Health, and Cyber-Victimization Among Middle School Students. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • Yeazel, A., & Reubling, A. (2020). Associations Between Mental Health and Attendance Among 6th Grade Students. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
2019
  • Garcia-Greenawalt, L., Razack, S., & McLain, B. (2019). A Systematic Review of Women Involved in the Criminal Justice System: Intersections with Intimate Partner Violence and the Child Welfare System. Presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Alumni of the Lab

  • Amari Anderson, BSW
  • Sarah Aronson, MSW
  • Jessica Baltierra, BSW
  • Wyatt Beal, BSW
  • Jahnellia Brown, BSW
  • Nick Cannon, MSW
  • Emily Dailey, BSW, BS
  • Grace Dietrich, MSW
  • Val Dobrow, MSW
  • Chance Flemming, BSW
  • Leyda Garcia-Greenawalt, MSW
  • Abby Gillogly, BSW
  • Elena Gonzalez
  • Graham Gustafson, MSW
  • Wan-Jung (Wendy) Hsieh, PhD
  • Chantelle Jasper
  • Rachel Kaufman, BSW
  • Shongha Kim, PhD
  • Christine Kwon, BSW
  • Fynn Levery, BSW
  • Alina Loewenstein, BS
  • Bradley McLain, MSW
  • Mariah Maldonado, MSW
  • Emily Mikuta
  • Percy Moran-Facazio, BSW
  • David Mowry, MSW
  • Jenna Muller, PhD
  • Riley Murphy, BSW
  • Alex Nambo, MSW
  • Maya Novick
  • Shameem Razack, BA
  • Ashley Ruebling, BSW
  • Breena Shusterman
  • Lina Simpkins, BSW
  • Dora Watkins, PhD
  • Nia Welch, MSW
  • Maddie Welsh, MSW
  • Amanda Yeazel, MSW

Collaborators

The lab also collaborates with the following individuals:

  • Nicole Allen, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
  • Jennea Bivens-Klingenberg, PsyD
  • Sarah Colomé, MS
  • Franklin Cosey-Gay, Ph.D., Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention & the University of Chicago Hospital
  • Gina Fedock, Ph.D., Crown Family School of Social Work, Practice, and Policy, University of Chicago
  • Matthew Epperson, Ph.D., Crown Family School of Social Work, Practice, and Policy, University of Chicago
  • Jacob Goffnett, Ph.D., School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Deborah Gorman-Smith, Ph.D., Crown Family School of Social Work, Practice, and Policy, & Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, University of Chicago
  • Jane Hereth, Ph.D., School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
  • Amandeep Kaur, MPH, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Core, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute
  • Marion Malcome, Ph.D., LCSW, School of Social Work, Loyola University
  • Between Friends Chicago
  • Jesus Sarol, Jr, Ph.D., Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Core, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute
  • Doug Smith, Ph.D., School of Social Work & Center for Prevention Research and Development, UIUC