Lab Director, PIVOT Research Lab
Dr. Jennifer O’Brien is a nationally recognized scholar whose work focuses on understanding and addressing the mental health and behavioral impacts of child sexual abuse and related forms of exploitation. She is deeply committed to community-based participatory research, partnering closely with survivors, practitioners, and organizations to ensure that research is grounded in lived experience and leads to meaningful change. Dr. O’Brien has led numerous federally and community-funded projects, produced more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, and collaborated with national organizations to create public education campaigns that promote safety and awareness. Her work reflects a steadfast dedication to survivor-centered research, ethical partnerships, and the translation of evidence into practice.
Training Lead, PIVOT Research Lab
Dr. Kathleen Preble is an expert in multidisciplinary community responses to interpersonal violence, with a focus on improving services, closing training gaps, and strengthening systems that support individuals impacted by human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other forms of harm. Drawing on years of direct practice in both domestic and international settings, Dr. Preble brings a practitioner-informed lens to all of her research. Her work has been supported by state and foundation funders, and she has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications and agency reports that help communities better understand and respond to interpersonal violence. Dr. Preble is known for her commitment to equitable dissemination, capacity building, and research that directly strengthens frontline responses.
Core Faculty, PIVOT Research Lab
Dr. Rachel Voth Schrag is a researcher and educator dedicated to advancing survivor-centered services and reducing revictimization and intergenerational cycles of violence. Her work focuses on developing and evaluating interventions that support the safety, wellbeing, and long-term stability of survivors and their families. With more than $4 million in federal and state funding and a strong record of translating evidence into practice, Dr. Voth Schrag has created tools and models that are widely implemented in victim service settings across the country. She is the author of over 60 peer-reviewed publications and is currently writing a book on the role of youth-serving systems in preventing violence. Her work is characterized by deep collaboration with community partners and a commitment to practical, actionable impact.
Dr. Rachel Voth Schrag Profile
Core Faculty, PIVOT Research Lab
Dr. Morgan PettyJohn is a Couple and Family Therapist and mixed-methods researcher specializing in sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and technology-facilitated abuse. Her work explores how digital tools, online platforms, and emerging technologies intersect with people’s experiences of harm and safety. As the clinic director for the MAVS ETA project, Dr. PettyJohn partners closely with community agencies, law enforcement, and advocates to provide training, technical assistance, and survivor-centered support across the Dallas–Fort Worth region. She is also a leading masculinities scholar and serves on the editorial board of Psychology of Men and Masculinities. Dr. PettyJohn is known for bridging research and practice to enhance prevention efforts and strengthen responses to survivors in digitally connected environments.
Research Affiliate, PIVOT Research Lab
Dr. Twis is a mixed-methods researcher whose work examines commercial sexual exploitation and gender-based violence, with a focus on translating evidence into trauma-informed, community-centered practice to support survivors.