University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences announces a new white paper, “Trauma-Informed Education – A Pathway for Relief, Retention, and Renewal,” authored by College leadership Sheila Babendir, Ed.D., LPAC; Barbara Burt, Psy.D.; Michelle Crawford-Morrison, LMFT, LPCC, NCC; Samantha E. Dutton, Ph.D., LCSW-R; Christine Karper, Ph.D., LMHC (QCS); and MaryJo Trombley, Ph.D. The paper asserts that implementing trauma-informed practices can improve outcomes for students and educators, driving retention and well-being while equipping learners with skills they can carry into the workplace.
“Working adults bring complex life experiences into the classroom,” said Sheila Babendir, Ed.D., LPAC, interim dean and co-author. “Practical, trauma-informed strategies help faculty create supportive, rigorous learning experiences that honor those realities while keeping students on track to reach their goals.”
“Trauma-informed education isn’t a single tactic — it’s a mindset,” added Samantha Dutton, Ph.D., LCSW-R, associate dean and co-author. “When institutions intentionally design learning environments that recognize and respond to trauma, students and instructors experience more trust, more stability and better outcomes.”
In the white paper, the authors
- Define trauma-informed education and why it matters in higher education serving adult learners.
- Recommend classroom approaches that foster psychological safety and course persistence/retention.
- Connect trauma-informed teaching strategies to faculty well-being and transferable workforce skills.
With an emphasis on knowledge, skills, character and lifelong learning, programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences prepare students to address a community’s mental, psychological, emotional, social and case management needs in counseling; social work; psychology and human services; and criminal justice and public administration.
Read and download “Trauma-Informed Education – A Pathway for Relief, Retention, and Renewal” on the University of Phoenix Media Center.