Louise F Fitzgerald

Dr. Louise Fitzgerald, Ph.D., is a pioneering scholar in psychology with a distinguished career dedicated to understanding and addressing gender-based violence, workplace sexual harassment, and women's psychological well-being. A Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Distinguished Senior Scholar at DePaul University, Dr. Fitzgerald has made significant contributions to both academia and public policy over more than four decades. Dr. Fitzgerald received her Ph.D. in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 1979, following her M.A. from the same institution and a B.A. in Psychology (magna cum laude) from the University of Maryland. Her academic journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to investigating sexual harassment, particularly in institutional settings such as academia, the military, and the workplace. Her research has yielded groundbreaking findings on the psychological and organizational consequences of harassment and has played a critical role in shaping institutional policies and national discourse. A prolific author, Dr. Fitzgerald has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and monographs, including landmark works like No Safe Haven: Violence Against Women at Home, at Work, and in the Community. Her integrated model of sexual harassment, developed in collaboration with colleagues, remains one of the most widely cited frameworks in the field. Her scholarship blends empirical rigor with theoretical insight, bridging counseling psychology, organizational psychology, and gender studies. Dr. Fitzgerald has been awarded multiple prestigious research grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health, supporting longitudinal studies on the outcomes of sexual harassment, including psychological harm and recovery pathways. She has served on editorial boards of leading journals such as the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Psychology of Women Quarterly, and the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, and has acted as a reviewer for numerous others. In recognition of her influential work, Dr. Fitzgerald has received numerous honors, including Fellowship in multiple divisions of the American Psychological Association (Counseling Psychology, Psychology of Women, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology), the APA’s Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy Award (2003), and the Heritage Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Psychology of Women (2010). Beyond her academic contributions, Dr. Fitzgerald has provided expert consultancy to key U.S. federal entities, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Defense, and Department of Justice. Her expert testimony and advisory roles have influenced policies on gender equity and sexual harassment across government, legal, and educational systems. Her legacy also includes mentoring a generation of scholars and practitioners, guiding them through the intersections of social justice, gender dynamics, and psychology. Whether through empirical inquiry, expert consultation, or policy advocacy, Dr. Fitzgerald’s work continues to challenge systemic inequities and advocate for environments free from harassment and discrimination.