Sherry L. Hamby

Dr. Sherry Hamby is a Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at Sewanee: The University of the South and the Founding Director of the Life Paths Research Center. With over three decades of academic and applied experience, Dr. Hamby is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research on violence, resilience, and strengths-based approaches, particularly among underserved populations. Her career has been dedicated to understanding and addressing interpersonal violence, poly-victimization, trauma, and the resilience that can follow adversity. Dr. Hamby earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992. Her academic training also includes a clinical fellowship in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School’s McLean Hospital and graduate degrees from the College of William and Mary. Since 2012, she has served as Director of the Life Paths Research Center, where she leads innovative, community-based research initiatives with a focus on narrative, virtue, and strength development in marginalized communities, particularly in rural Appalachia. She is the founder and co-chair of ResilienceCon, a conference aimed at advancing strength-based approaches to violence prevention and resilience science. She has also held key academic and advisory roles at institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Lausanne, and St. Andrews University. Her work has received numerous awards including the Paul Fink Interpersonal Violence Prevention Award, APA Division of Trauma Psychology’s Outstanding Contributions to Science Award, and recognition from the National Center for Injury Prevention & Control at the CDC. Dr. Hamby is widely published, with over 300 scholarly works including journal articles, book chapters, and major reports. She has authored or co-authored several influential books such as “Battered Women’s Protective Strategies” and “The Web of Violence.” She served as the founding editor of the APA’s Psychology of Violence journal, helping shape the field of violence studies with a focus on nuanced, scientifically rigorous, and inclusive perspectives. In her role as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, Dr. Hamby has secured more than $13 million in external funding from major organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Her recent work has involved large-scale national studies such as the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence and resilience-based interventions supported by NIJ and the Templeton Foundation. She frequently consults on national and international advisory boards focused on elder abuse, child maltreatment, and resilience among Indigenous populations. Known for her innovative use of narrative, mixed methods, and cultural responsiveness, Dr. Hamby is committed to advancing ethical, community-centered science. Her contributions continue to influence public health, clinical practice, and policy discussions on trauma and violence, emphasizing not only what harms individuals but also what helps them heal and thrive.