Faculty Research Interests

My research interests focus in the area of orthopedics, manual therapy, and clinical education.

• Service learning 
• Community engagement
• Medical science
• Global health

My research centers on psychology and the law. In particular, I am interested in jury decision-making, forensic assessments, and experiences of correctional personnel (primarily mental health professionals). I currently have many ongoing research projects in various stages of development. 

My clinical research interests relate to providing evidence to support occupational therapy interventions and provide effective, quality care to the clients we serve.

• Clinical supervision and mentorship in social work practice
• Impact of communication technology
•  Mindfulness and self-care
• Trauma awareness
• Social work values and ethics

My research interests focus on the use of qualitative methods to examine the narratives of older adults. More specifically, I have been using narrative approaches to examine the oral histories of older adults in China and transgender older adults in the U.S. and Thailand. Past research has included an emphasis on grandparent caregivers of grandchildren; Soviet immigrant Jews, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, and Cambodians caring for their parents; older volunteers; and clinical use of behavior modification and older adults.

• Children's Mental Health
• Inter-professional Education
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Sensory Information
• Teaching in the Digital Age
• Trauma-Informed Practice

• Systematic racism and how its maintained in societies 
• Clinic practice in understanding the trauma experienced by Blacks across the lifespan 
• Affinity circles (practice in creating safe space for race specific work)

• Preventative medicine
• Sports injuries
• Orthopedics

My research interest lies in the development of counseling skills for allied healthcare providers working in early intervention and pediatric medical services. I am particularly focused on understanding how these skills impact the quality of care provided to young children and their families during critical developmental windows.
My research seeks to explore and expand the repertoire of counseling skills used by SLPs to ensure that families feel empowered and supported. I am particularly interested in investigating how these skills can be developed and refined in professionals who may not have formal counseling training but who nonetheless play a crucial role in family-centered care. Specifically, I aim to examine the role of empathy, reflective listening, and culturally responsive communication as core competencies in pediatric settings to adapt and tailor these skills to diverse family backgrounds and varying developmental needs of children.
Additionally, I am interested in exploring the effectiveness of training programs designed to improve counseling skills in early intervention and pediatric medical SLPs. My goal is to contribute to the body of research that bridges the gap between clinical skills and emotional intelligence, enhancing the capacity of SLPs to deliver holistic, family-centered care.

My research areas include community change strategies and the social impacts of environmental degradation. More specifically, I am working on a model to enhance citizen involvement in community change efforts. I also am examining ways that citizens can work together to address community problems such as crime.

• Grief, loss, trauma, and healing centered practice
• Policy within systems and communities

I envision communication as a central process in our relational lives, not just a variable. I use a variety of methods to study communication in personal relationships. The majority of my research has focused on LGBTQ+ relational communication, especially the way that socio-cultural factors and shifts, such as marriage equality, affect these relationships. I am also especially interested in studying family communication, especially for marginalized families.

In my research, I explore the rich, diverse tapestry of human sexuality, recognizing the importance of acknowledging and respecting this diversity. Whether it’s addressing the challenges faced by sexuality professionals, or examining the complex issues surrounding sex, work, and ethics, my research pursuits aim to explore critical aspects of human sexuality in our ever-evolving world.

My main research interests include sexual ethics and diversity, cross-cultural sexuality, and Catholic sexual theology.  I often research justice issues in the field of sexuality, examining issues of consent, sexual behaviors, sexual fantasy, trauma, and sexuality education

My research focuses on translating teachers' knowledge into classroom practice.

• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Occupational Justice
• Trauma Informed Practice
• Clinical and Professional Reasoning
• Role of Occupational Therapy in Healing Police & Community Relations

Dr. Love’s research sits at the intersection of faith, spirituality, and education. She employs qualitative and historical inquiry to explore topics related to spiritual wellness, organizational change, and social justice. Her work investigates how morals and values influence individual development, resilience, and purpose, and how these personal attributes connect to broader institutional outcomes such as retention, community building, and a sense of belonging.

• Clinical and Professional Reasoning
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Occupational Justice
• Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

Clinical Education

Domestic minor sex trafficking, complex trauma, trauma-informed care, helping clients gain access to mental health services, crisis intervention, and sexual health and education.