Community

The Resilience Portfolio Consortium (RPC) is a joint endeavor of the Life Paths Research Center (Sewanee, TN) and the Center for Research on Ending Violence, Rutgers School of Social Work.

About the Resilience Portfolio Consortium

Mission Statement

The Resilience Portfolio Consortium (RPC) is an international community of scholars and policymakers. We work together to advance the science of resilience and psychosocial strengths, with the ultimate aim of informing prevention, intervention, and reducing the global burden of trauma and its consequences. The RPC advocates a portfolio approach to resilience and prevention. The portfolio approach emphasizes the importance of harnessing assets and resources across all levels of the social and physical ecology, focusing on the domains of meaning making, regulatory, and interpersonal strengths. Our work emphasizes the use of multiple methods, promotes scholarly collaboration and mentoring, and engages practitioners and communities. A primary focus of the RPC is developing a global and coordinated approach to identifying key psychosocial strengths (especially understudied or underappreciated strengths) in a broad range of cultural and geographic settings. We are particularly interested in facilitating work in communities that have historically received less scientific investment. The RPC is designed to provide opportunities for scholars seeking mentoring, training, and professional community for their work on preventing and overcoming trauma. 

The creation of the RPC was inspired by the promise of strengths-based approaches–and also by the challenges in shifting to strengths, as seen by the persistence of deficits-based and even victim-blaming approaches to trauma. We recognize the obstacles in keeping up with new work and pushing against longstanding scientific conventions and created the RPC to help scholars move the field forward faster. A key goal of the RPC is to discourage research on resilience that overly focuses on individual characteristics or studies only one strength at a time, because such approaches have limited utility for overcoming trauma and can even become victim-blaming. We also aim to promote global collaborations on this work.

Activities and Resources

The RPC will provide a range of protocols and other supports to promote portfolio-based work on resilience. 

• Scoping Reviews Project. Our first efforts will focus on building scholarly teams who will prepare and publish scoping reviews that focus on a specific region, population, or category of strength. Protocols, examples, and training will be provided to authors.
  • Recommended Scoping Reviews resource:
    • Scoping Reviews – Evidence Synthesis in the Social Sciences – Research Guides at Rutgers University
• Mentoring opportunities. Led by Co-Directors Dr. Sherry Hamby and Dr. Victoria Banyard, there will be numerous opportunities for professional development, including a system for formally recognizing professional progression in scholarship (see below).
• Networking opportunities. There are opportunities to meet and form relationships with other scholars with interests in resilience and trauma. We have formed several collaborating teams to work on scoping reviews and other projects.
• Protocols for other scholarly endeavors:
  • Qualitative interviews and guides to explore understudied and/or culturally specific strengths.
  • Survey research, to develop tools to assess all elements of the resilience portfolio–trauma, psychosocial strengths, and current functioning) and to provide valid and reliable measures for communities worldwide.
  • Program evaluations and guidance on how to better integrate basic research with prevention and intervention.
• Opportunities to work with others on existing or shared datasets to investigate new strengths-based analyses and hypotheses.

Benefits of Membership

• Members will have access to mentoring across career stages.
• Members will be part of a community of scholars producing strengths-focused science.
• Membership provides professional affiliation and service to help build your own scholarship portfolio and CV.
• Members will have opportunities to collaborate on publications and grants.
• Members will be invited to be part of quarterly RPC online community building, idea exchange, and accountability meet-ups, both in-person and on zoom.
• Members will be offered an affiliation with the Life Paths Research Center.
• Members will be part of a community that will provide opportunities for mentoring and for connecting with scientific teams to partner on scholarly projects.
• Members will be able to access all protocols developed by the RPC.

Levels of Involvement

• Members: All Interested researchers, advocates, and providers can join as Members. There is no fee to join.
• Senior Members: Members who have been an author or faculty supervisor on at least two peer-reviewed, resilience portfolio-based journal articles or similar professional projects (such as developing a curriculum) are eligible to become Senior Members. Senior Members are expected to remain active in the RPC (including participating in quarterly meetings and collaborating on RPC projects).
• Fellows: Senior Members with substantial contributions to research, policy, or practice using a portfolio approach to resilience or prevention may apply for Fellow status. Fellows are expected to mentor early-career members of the RPC and help recruit others to the RPC.
• Associate Directors: There are limited positions available for those who want to get more involved in the administration of the RPC and shaping of the direction of the RPC. 

Leadership

• The RPC is led by Drs. Sherry Hamby and Victoria Banyard, Co-Directors. 

Meetings

The next in-person meeting of the RPC will be held on April 9, 2025, immediately after ResilienceCon in Nashville, TN, USA.

Please direct questions related to the RPC to Liz Taylor at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org.

The Resilience Portfolio Consortium includes more than 200 resilience professionals from 24 countries around the world (and growing!). We welcome you to join us.

Australia
AJ Glazebrook, Queensland University of Technology, Central Queensland University
Molly Dragiewicz, Griffith University

Canada
Isabelle Daigneault, Université de Montréal
Mike McCabe, Nipissing University
Asma Shamim, University of Toronto
Jennifer Silcox, King’s University College at Western University
D. Gaye Warthe, Mount Royal University

Chile
Pamela Zapata-Sepúlveda, Universidad de Tarapacá

England
Chinyere Ajayi, University of Central Lancashire
Matthew Brooks, Manchester Metropolitan University
Zoë Firth, King’s College London
Alison Gregory, independent counsellor
Sandra Gut, Buckinghamshire New University
Rebecca Hamer, Sheffield Hallam University
Jessica Wagner, University of Central Lancashire/Birmingham City University
Kate Whittenbury, Manchester Metropolitan University

The Gambia
Adeyinka Adeoye, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital

Greece
Sophie Leontopoulou, University of Ioannina

Hong Kong
Lincole YL Chan, Salvation Army
Clifton Emery, University of Hong Kong

Iceland
Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir, Reykjavik University

India
Raina Chhajer, Indian Institute of Management Indore
Antara Thakur, Mumbai University

Iran
Mahsa Fallahi, University of Tehran

Israel
Shireen Sokar, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, Bar-Ilan University

Korea
Seungjin Lee, Ewha Womans University

Kosovo
Era Hamiti, University of Prishtina
Kaltrina Kelmendi, University of Prishtina
Skord Retkocerie, University of Prishtina

Northern Ireland
Martin Robinson, Queen’s University Belfast

Pakistan
Aneeba Tahir, Punjab University

Poland
Natavan Karimova, SWPS University of Social Science and Humanities

Portugal
Patricia Correia-Santos, University of Minho
José Ferreira Alves, University of Minho
Ângela Sofia Ferreira Pereira, University of Minho
Eunice Magalhães, ISCTE, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
Paula Martins, University of Minho

Scotland
Dennis Relojo-Howell, Psychreg and University of Edinburgh

Spain
Noemí Pereda, University of Barcelona

Switzerland
Jacqueline De Puy, freelance

Türkiye (Turkey)
Oznur Bayar, Hacettepe University

United States
Becci Akin, University of Kansas
Kimberly Allen, NC State University
Janie Ames, Strengthening Indiana Families/Indiana University
Tia Andersen, University of South Carolina
Zohra Asad, Indiana University
Gifty Ashirifi, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Victoria Banyard, Rutgers University, New Jersey
Xenia Barnes, Capella University
Helen Vrailas Bateman, University of the South, Tennessee
Tab Battle, Independent Scholar
Juan Lorenzo Benavides, Ohio State University
Rebecca Bosetti, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Emily Bosk, Rutgers University, New Jersey
Jessamyn Bowling, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Loretta Brady, Saint Anselm College, New Hampshire
Cheryl Bushman, HOPE Academy Ranch, Texas
Jordan Catlett, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Shih-Ying Cheng, University of Illinois Chicago
Shelby Clark, University of Kentucky
Lisa Colón, Cleveland State University, Ohio
Sara Conley, Cleveland State University, Ohio
Meghan Crabtree, Colorado State University / Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research
Jonathan Davis, Samford University, Alabama
Rebecca Davis, Rutgers University, NJ
Elizabeth de Wetter, University of the South, TN
Douglas DeMoulin, Saint Anselm College, NH
Arielle Deutsch, Avera Research Institute, South Dakota
Sara Durbin, State of North Dakota
Jacquelynn Duron, Rutgers University, NJ
Michael Edwards, Phoenix 50 Consulting LLC, Florida
Katie Edwards, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jenna Elliot, Indiana University School of Social Work
Alexis Ellsworth-Kopkowski, University of New Mexico
Victor Esparza, University of the South, TN
Holly Foster, Texas A&M University
Ben Freer, Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ
Adrian Gale, Rutgers University, NJ
Nili Gesser, Drexel University, Pennsylvania
Lindsay Gezinski, University of Utah
Glenn Given, Saint Anselm College, NH
Julii Green, CSPP/Alliant International University, California
Ayse Guler, University of Kentucky
Matthew Hagler, Francis Marion University, South Carolina
Sherry Hamby, University of the South; Life Paths Research Center, TN
Brittany Hampton, University of Mississippi
Ashly Hanna, University of North Dakota
Rachel Hanebutt, Vanderbilt University
Sheila Hanson, University of North Dakota
Caroline Harmon-Darrow, Rutgers University, NJ
Megan Haselschwerdt, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Amanda Hasselle, Rhodes College, TN
Victoria Helm, Johns Hopkins University, MD
Mona Herrington, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, PA
Sunghyun Hong, University of Michigan
Skyler Hopfauf, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kathryn Howell, University of Wisconsin
Martha Ishiekwene, Georgia State University
Elaine Jackson , Georgia State University
Mallika Jade, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Vickie Johnson, H.O.R.S.E.S, Ohio
Lisa Jones, University of New Hampshire
James Jurgensen, Accenture, Massachusetts
Camilla Kalthoff, University of the South, TN
Mehak Kapoor, Washington & Lee University, Virginia
Mary Koss, University of Arizona
Shaina Kumar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, UNC Charlotte
Linda Lawless, PTI, California
Veronique LeBlanc, University of New Hampshire
Debra Leggett, Walden University, Minnesota
Danielle Littman, University of Utah
Esther Malm, Murray State University, Kentucky
Angie Malorni, Rutgers University, NJ
E. Susana Mariscal, Indiana University School of Social Work
Yvonne Mbewe, University of Connecticut
Cindy McDougall, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, MD
Erica McIntosh, California Baptist University
Nicole McKenna, Rutgers University, NJ
Rosie McMahan, MA Mentoring Partnership
Cecilia Mengo, Ohio State University
Audrey Miller, University of Houston, TX
Elizabeth Miller, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA
Angela Mitchell, Miami Dade County Public Schools, FL
Hasina Mohyuddin, Vanderbilt University, TN
Carmen Monico, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Deborah Moon, University of Pittsburgh, PA
Brooke Morgan, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Lena Obara, Rutgers University, NJ
Julia O’Connor, University of Central Florida
Michele R. Parkhill, Oakland University, Michigan
Sarah Parmenter, Ohio State University
NIraly Patel, University of Arizona
Waverly Patterson, University of South Dakota
Tori Paukgana, SRPMIC Youth Services, Arizona
Fei Pei, Syracuse University, New York
Selena Piercy, University of the South, TN
Sebastian Prandoni, NC A&T and UNC-Greensboro
Katie Querna, St Cloud State University, Minnesota
Spenser Radtke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Genie Raff, Ilene Serlin Psychological Practice, California
Rebecca Rampe, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kristen Ravi, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Travis Ray, Naval Health Research Center, TN
Kristina Ray-Bennett, Indiana University
Nicole Reed, University of Colorado
Madison Reid, Vanderbilt University, TN
Michelle-Ann Rhoden Neita, University of Illinois Chicago
Danielle Rousseau, Boston University, MA
Chiara Sabina, Rutgers University, NJ
Marlena Salters, Georgia State University
Michael Schoemann, Oakland University, MI
Katie Schultz, University of Michigan
Ilene Serlin, Self-employed, CA
Tricia Sherman, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, MA
Katie Shires, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
Karla Shockley McCarthy, Ohio State University
Trinity Smartt, University of the South, TN
Heather Storer, University of Louisville, KY
Heather Taussig, University of Denver and Kempe Center, Colorado
Elizabeth Taylor, Oakland University & Life Paths Research Center, MI
Sean Taylor, Oakland University, MI
Hayley Tessier, Notre Dame, Indiana
Derek Tice-Brown, Fordham University, NY
Camie Tomlinson, Virginia Commonwealth University
Preciouse Trujillo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Gene Tyon, Oaye Luta Okolakiciye [Moving Forward in a Sacred Way], SD
Ariel Valdes, Saint Anselm College, NH
Olivia Varney-Chang, University of Michigan
Maritza Vasquez Reyes, Georgia State University
Xiafei Wang, Syracuse University, NY
Dora Watkins, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Marcela Weber, South Central MIRECC, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Esther Weiner, Jefferson Center for Mental Health, CO
Melissa Wells, University of New Hampshire
Lisa Wilson, University of North Dakota
Michelle Wright, DePaul University
Yitong Xin, Ohio State University
Yanfeng Xu, University of South Carolina
Ruth Yeo-Peterson, Center for Victims of Torture, MN
Susan Yoon, Ohio State University
Nicole Yuan, University of Arizona
Melissa Zephier Olson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Virgin Islands
Gail-Ann Guy-Cupid, University of the Virgin Islands

Zimbabwe
Samson Mhizha, University of Zimbabwe, Harare

ResComm is a listserv for the community of resilience professionals. ResComm welcomes posts on all topics related to resilience, including strengths, social justice, other protective factors, adversity, prevention, intervention, and information on programs and program evaluations related to these issues. You can also ask questions, look for collaborators, or make announcements that might be of interest. We also welcome posts sharing news of the community of professionals who are devoted to reducing the burden of trauma and opportunities that may be of interest to this community.

If you have a Google account, ResComm can be reached at Google Groups via this link: https://groups.google.com/a/lifepathsresearch.org/g/rescomm.

If you do not have a Google account, a ResComm subscription will be provided by sending an email with “Subscribe ResComm” in the subject line to lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org.

All posts must abide by the Inclusiveness Policy of Life Paths Research Center:

We would be glad to have you join our community and hope you will find it helpful.

POWR-L is a listserv for people interested in the psychology of women, gender, and sexuality. POWR-L welcomes discussion of current topics, research, teaching strategies, and practice issues related to the psychology of women, gender, and sexuality. You are welcome to publicize relevant conferences, job announcements, calls for papers, publications, and other related material. You can also ask questions and look for collaborators.  We also welcome posts sharing news of the community of professionals who focus on gender and sexuality and opportunities that may be of interest to this community.  

Life Paths Research Center has become the institutional host for this list after many years at the University of Rhode Island under the sponsorship of Kat Quina.

If you have a Google account, POWR-L can be reached at Google Groups via this link:
https://groups.google.com/u/2/a/lifepathsresearch.org/g/powr-l

If you do not have a Google account, a POWR-L subscription will be provided by sending an email with “Subscribe POWR-L” in the subject line to lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org.

All posts must abide by the Inclusiveness Policy of Life Paths Research Center:

We would be glad to have you join our community and hope you will find it helpful.

In these “webchats” (not just a webinar), we will host some of our favorite thinkers and activists, as well as provide instructional sessions on resilience portfolio topics.

Webchats are offered at no cost, but we encourage donations to support the work of Life Paths to reduce the burden of trauma, promote thriving, and help us sustain staff hours during the pandemic.

The best way to learn about our webchat schedule is to join the ResComm listserv.

The purpose of the Mindful Writing group is to help you work on your writing–an important task, but one that often feels less urgent than emails, meetings, and other demands. A classic “nudge” for this dilemma is to schedule some writing time on your calendar.

The mindful writing group offers a bonus on top of that–a chance to enjoy fellowship with scholars with similar interests and to take a few minutes to practice mindfulness in community.

The 2-hour group begins with a check-in, where each person shares a writing and a mindfulness goal, followed by a brief mindfulness exercise. Then, 90 minutes of writing time, followed by a checkout and another brief mindfulness session to send you on in a good way.

We welcome first-timers as well as regulars.

Monday times are:
12:00 – 2:00 Pacific
1:00 – 3:00 Mountain
2:00 – 4:00 Central
3:00 – 5:00 Eastern

Thursday times are:
7:00 – 9:00 Pacific
8:00 – 10:00 Mountain
9:00 – 11:00 Central
10:00 – 12:00 Eastern

The Zoom link is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88175346598?pwd=aWF1SzRiZWRoSEpoK0Q0dkRwODVMZz09

Hope to see you there!