Dr.(Prof.) Sarah L. Cook

Dr. Sarah L. Cook is a distinguished professor of psychology at Georgia State University, where she has also served as Associate Dean of the Honors College since 2012. With a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Virginia and decades of professional experience, Dr. Cook’s research and leadership have significantly advanced the fields of community psychology, public health, and gender-based violence prevention. Her career has been characterized by a deep commitment to integrating empirical research with public policy and practice, especially around issues affecting women and underserved populations. Dr. Cook’s academic journey began with a B.A. in Psychology from Saint Mary’s College, followed by a prestigious internship at the American Psychological Association’s Public Policy Office. Since joining Georgia State University, she has steadily progressed through academic ranks, from assistant professor to full professor, while maintaining affiliations with women’s studies and leading interdisciplinary efforts. Her scholarship focuses primarily on the prevention of violence against women, trauma, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and the psychological and systemic factors impacting marginalized communities. She has led and collaborated on numerous high-impact, federally funded research projects, including studies funded by the CDC, NIH, and the National Institute of Justice. Her projects have examined topics ranging from rape crisis center assessments and trauma research participation to HIV prevention and coercive control measurement in intimate partner violence. Dr. Cook is highly active in professional and governmental advisory roles. She has served on multiple expert panels and task forces for the CDC, National Institute of Justice, and the National Academy of Sciences, influencing the development of key definitions, assessment tools, and national strategies related to violence prevention and victim services. Her consultation experience spans state and federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations, demonstrating her commitment to applying research in service of community and policy change. Her academic service includes editorial roles for top journals such as the Journal of Traumatic Stress, Psychology of Women Quarterly, and Journal of Community Psychology. She also reviews grants and publications for numerous scientific organizations and federal agencies. Dr. Cook has secured both internal and external funding for research, training, and evaluation efforts totaling several million dollars. As an educator, she’s a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and a mentor to emerging scholars. She has championed diversity in research and education through initiatives like the Academic Researcher Collaborative on Campus Climate (ARC3) and participation in APA’s Committee on Women in Psychology. Dr. Cook exemplifies scholar-activism, leveraging her research and leadership to foster equity, inform policy, and improve systems that affect survivors of violence. Her interdisciplinary and applied approach makes her a key figure in bridging the gap between academic research and social justice.

• Grant Writing
• Program Evaluation
• Public Policy Consultation
• Trauma Research Design
• Editorial Review
• Mentorship and Teaching
• Community-Based Research
• Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
• Workshop Facilitation
• Panel Moderation
• Institutional Leadership
• Sexual Violence Assessment
• Curriculum Development
• Statistical Consultation
• Cross-Sector Collaboration
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