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About
Dr. Rebecca Campbell is a renowned Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University and a leading authority in the field of sexual assault research and violence against women. For over 25 years, she has spearheaded community-based research that explores the intersection of trauma, law, and health systems, with a particular focus on how these institutions respond to survivors of sexual violence. Her work has significantly advanced the understanding of how legal and medical system interactions affect the psychological and physical well-being of adult, adolescent, and pediatric survivors.
Dr. Campbell holds a Ph.D. in Ecological-Community Psychology from Michigan State University and has built a distinguished career rooted in advocacy and empirical research. A hallmark of her research is its real-world impact, exemplified by her leadership of the Detroit Sexual Assault Kit Action Research Project. This four-year, multidisciplinary initiative, funded by the National Institute of Justice, investigated the systemic issues behind Detroit’s backlog of untested rape kits. The findings provided critical insights into institutional failures and spurred national discussions on justice reform and the treatment of sexual assault survivors.
A highly sought-after trainer and speaker, Dr. Campbell provides education and consultation on the neurobiology of trauma for professionals across multiple sectors, including law enforcement, healthcare providers, military personnel, and campus-based support services. Her training work bridges cutting-edge scientific knowledge with practical application, helping multidisciplinary teams improve their response to victims of trauma.
Dr. Campbell’s scholarly impact is matched by her public service. She chairs MSU’s Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) Expert Advisory Workgroup and contributes actively to campus-wide initiatives aimed at creating safer, more inclusive environments. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored with the Vision 21 Crime Victims Research Award from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime in 2015—a testament to the life-changing impact of her work.
Her research has been featured in major media outlets like The New York Times, where she explained how trauma affects memory recall in survivors of sexual assault—an issue that often complicates investigations and public perception. Campbell’s advocacy emphasizes compassion and science-informed responses, highlighting the need for systemic changes in how institutions support survivors.
Campbell’s expertise spans multiple areas, including violence against women and children, trauma-informed care, institutional betrayal, neurobiology of trauma, and systems reform. Her collaborative approach ensures that survivors’ voices remain central to her work while influencing public policy and institutional practices across the U.S.
Skills & Expertise
Trauma-Informed Training
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Community-Based Research
Policy Development
Victim Advocacy
Public Health Integration
Program Evaluation
Grant Writing
Legal System Consultation
Academic Leadership
Research Translation
Media Communication
Law Enforcement Training
Sexual Assault Prevention
Curriculum Development
Research Interests
Sexual Violence Research
Trauma-Informed Care
Sexual Violence
Community Psychology
Gender-Based Violence
Ecological
Ecological-Community Psychology
Trauma
Violence
Violence Against Women
Sexual Abuse Survivors
Sexual Assault
Violence against Children
Neurobiology of Trauma
Institutional Betrayal
Violence Against Women
Child Sexual Abuse
Survivor Advocacy
Systems Reform
Criminal Justice Response
Public Health and Trauma
Campus Safety Policies
Victim Services
Medical-Legal Systems
Data Collection
Quantitative Analysis
Statistical Analysis
Connect With Me
Experience
University Distinguished Professor
- Research and program evaluation on gender-based violence (sexual assault) Professor, Department of Psychology Professor, Department of Psychology Aug 2003 - Present · 21 yrs 9 mosAug 2003 to Present · 21 yrs 9 mos Research and program evaluation on gender-based violence (sexual assault)Research and program evaluation on gender-based violence (sexual assault) Presidential Advisor, Relationship Violence & Sexual Misconduct, Office of the President Presidential Advisor, Relationship Violence & Sexual Misconduct, Office of the President Feb 2018 - May 2023 · 5 yrs 4 mosFeb 2018 to May 2023 · 5 yrs 4 mos East Lansing, MI
Associate Professor
Education
Michigan State University (MSU)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Projects
Sexual Assault: A Trauma Informed Approach to Law Enforcement First Response
The training video features Dr. Rebecca Campbell, Chief Tom Tremblay (Ret.), myself and law enforcement professionals from across Michigan. The training video was created by the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board in partnership with the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan Violence Against Women project.
See YouTube Video Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtWD1XJrhNo.
See EVAWI Link for Facilitator's Guide: https://www.evawintl.org/Library/Detail.aspx?ItemID=56
This short training film provides an overview of how trauma impacts victims and how law enforcement or other first responders can implement a trauma informed response and approach to sexual assault survivors.
The training film features Dr. Rebecca Campbell and Chief Tom Tremblay (Ret.) and law enforcement professionals from across Michigan. The video was developed by the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board in partnership with the Violence Against Women Project of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Association of Michigan.
The film has two parts that allow it to be viewed in its’ entirety at an in-service training (22 minutes) or in separate roll call trainings (13 minutes and 9 minutes).
A short facilitator’s guide is available to help you use the training film as part of training at your agency http://www.michiganprosecutor.org/con....
For more information e-mail MDSVPTB@michigan.gov.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2011-WE-AX-0035 and Grant No. 2012-WF-AX-0040 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this film are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
Publications (1)
Reports an error in "Revising the SES: A collaborative process to improve assessment of sexual aggression and victimization" by Mary P. Koss, Antonia Abbey, Rebecca Campbell, Sarah Cook, Jeanette Norr...
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