Victim Researcher Profile

BIO

Dr. Megan Paceley (she/her/hers) is accountable to queer and trans young people through her research on the relationship between youth’s social environments and their health and well-being. Utilizing community-based, qualitative, and mixed methods research, she aims to transform stigmatizing environments, such as families, schools, and communities, that diminish well-being into affirming and supportive environments that promote healthy development and well-being for all queer and trans youth. By understanding the ways in which experiences of stigma and victimization affect the well-being of queer and trans youth, we can use research to intervene at the core of mental and physical health issues. She specifically aims to better understand and support queer and trans youth in rural communities and strengthen the national network of community-based queer and trans organizations via evaluation, assessment, and collaboration. Dr. Paceley has professional practice experience working in sexual violence prevention and advocacy for nearly 10 years and regularly collaborates with community-based and national organizations to promote queer and trans youth safety and well-being.

VICTIMIZATION FOCUS

Domestic and Family Violence, Hate and Bias Crimes, Physical Assault (other than domestic violence or elder abuse), Sexual Abuse or Violence (other than campus sexual assault)

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

LGBTQ victims, Rural victims

RESEARCH EXPERTISE

Action research, Community-based participatory research, Data collection, Descriptive studies, Ethnography, Needs assessment, Program evaluation, Qualitative studies, Quantitative studies, Training and/or technical assistance

VICTIM RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Community-based participatory research, Data collection, Descriptive studies, Needs assessment, Program evaluation, Qualitative studies, Quantitative studies