Education

• Ph.D., University of Michigan
• M.S., University of Michigan
• B.S., Cornell University

Research Interests

• Environmental, psychological, and physiological mechanisms that promote resilience or reduce risk for psychiatric problems in the context of early traumatic stress
• Evidence-based interventions for children and families exposed to traumatic events, such as family violence and interpersonal loss
• Community-oriented studies to explore the various pathways to positive and negative functioning following exposure to traumatic events in childhood

Recent Publications

*denotes mentored student author

1. *Jamison, L.E., Howell, K.H., Decker, K.M., *Schwartz, L.E, & Thurston, I.B. (in press). Associations between substance use and depressive symptoms among women experiencing intimate partner violence. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation.
2. *Shoemaker, H.L., Howell, K.H., *Jamison, L.E., Walker, H.E., & Wamser-Nanney, R.A. (in press). Relational factors associated with posttraumatic stress among emerging adults of color exposed to community violence. Violence and Victims.
3. *Napier, T.R., Howell, K.H., *Schaefer, L.M., & *Schwartz, L.E. (in press). Differentiating the effects of anxious and avoidant attachment on depression and resilience following trauma. The Journal of American College Health. 
4. *Schaefer, L.M., Howell, K.H., *Sheddan, H.C., *Napier, T.R., *Shoemaker, H.L., &   Miller-Graff, L.E. (in press). Road to resilience: Strength and coping among pregnant women exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
5. *Napier, T.R., Howell, K.H., Maye, C.M., *Jamison, L.E., Mandell, J.E., & Thurston, I.B. (in press). Demographic factors, personal life experiences, and types of intimate partner violence. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
6. Howell, K.H., *Schaefer, L.M., *Hasselle, A.J., & Thurston, I.B. (2021). Social support as a moderator between syndemics and posttraumatic stress among women experiencing adversity. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 30(6), 828-843. 
7. *Schaefer, L.M., Howell, K.H, Thurston, I.B, Kaufman, C.C., & *Hasselle, A.J. (2021). Protective factors associated with fewer generalized anxiety disorder symptoms among women exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13-14), 5923-5947.
8. Howell, K.H., Miller-Graff, L.E., *Gilliam, H.C., & Carney, J.R. (2021). Factors related to parenting confidence among pregnant women experiencing intimate partner violence. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 13(3), 385-393. 
9. *Schwartz, L.E., Howell, K.H., *Jamison, L.E., Decker, K.M., & Thurston, I.B.           (2021). Examining resource-driven resilience and intimate partner violence in women. Partner Abuse, 12(2), 112-129.
10. Howell, K.H., Thurston, I.B., *Hasselle, A.J., Decker, K., & *Jamison, L.E. (2021). Systemic factors associated with prosocial skills and maladaptive functioning in youth exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(5-6), 2823-2847.
11. *Hasselle, A.J., Howell, K.H., Bottomley, J.S., *Sheddan, H.C., *Capers, J.M., & Miller-Graff, L.E. (2020). Barriers to intervention engagement among women experiencing intimate partner violence proximal to pregnancy. Psychology of Violence, 10(3), 290-299.
12. *Hasselle, A.J., Howell, K.H., Thurston, I.B., Kamody, R.C., & *Crossnine, C.B. (2020). Childhood exposure to partner violence as a moderator of current partner violence and negative parenting. Violence Against Women, 26(8), 851-869.
13. Howell, K.H., Miller-Graff, L.E., *Schaefer, L.M., & Scrafford, K.E. (2020). Relational resilience as a potential mediator between adverse childhood experiences and prenatal depression. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(4), 545-557.        
14. *Hasselle, A.J., *Schwartz, L.E., Berlin, K.S., & Howell, K.H. (2019). A latent profile analysis of coping responses to individuals’ most traumatic event: Associations with adaptive and maladaptive mental health outcomes. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 32(6), 626-640.
15. *Schaefer, L.M., Howell, K.H., *Schwartz, L.E., Bottomley, J.S., & *Crossnine, C.B. (2018). A concurrent examination of protective factors associated with resilience and posttraumatic growth following childhood victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 85, 17-27.