V. Elizabeth King
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Graduate Research Assistant
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Education | Child Studies (Psychology & Human Development) | Vanderbilt University | 2020 |
| Graduate Certificates | Poverty & Intervention; Latino & Latina Studies | Vanderbilt University | 2020 |
| Bachelor of Arts | Sociology/Anthropology with a minor in Education Studies | Middlebury College | 2013.5 |
Research
Elizabeth brings her experience working in the child welfare and Child Advocacy Center fields as a child forensic interviewer and multidisciplinary investigative team facilitator to her research perspectives. She is broadly interested in (a) the social-ecological etiology of childhood trauma in historically marginalized populations; (b) the potential of national and organizational policy to impact development, health, and safety throughout the lifespan; and (c) the development and application of transdisciplinary frameworks for defining and intervening in sensitive contemporary issues of childhood. Elizabeth's primary research interest is the application of child investigative interviewing and applied memory research to accounts of traumatic and/or violent events in domestic and international contexts (e.g., "credible fear" interviews; human rights violations; investigation of atrocity crimes).
Currently, Elizabeth works under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Wieling on projects related to developing ecologically responsive multi-component systemic interventions for populations exposed to mass traumas. This research is being conducted primarily with immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. and in low-income post-conflict settings internationally. Elizabeth is also engaged in her own scholarship to define current knowledge of Latin American adolescent refugees' experiences of trauma, and to define and assess the developmental and cultural appropriateness of current practices in interviewing asylum-seeking children at the US border.
Prior Professional Positions
| Organization | Title | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | Graduate Research & Evaluation Assistant (Human & Organizational Development; Teaching & Learning) | 2 |
| YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee | Domestic Violence Specialist | 1 |
| Randolph-Tucker Children's Advocacy Center | Multidisciplinary Investigative Team Coordinator & Lead Forensic Interviewer; Clinical Supervisor of Forensic Interviewers | 5 |
| Ripton Elementary School | Student Teacher | 1 |
| Middlebury College | Research Assistant, Tutor, Monitor, and Academic Coordinator (English & American Literature; Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies; Women's Resource Center; Queer Studies House) | 4 |
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate School Research Assistantship | University of Georgia | 2020-2024 |
| Dean's Academic Tuition Scholarship | Vanderbilt University | 2018-2020 |
| West Virginia's "Forty Under Forty" | The State Journal & West Virginia Child Advocacy Network | 2018 |
| Student Leadership Award Nominee | Middlebury College | 2013 |
| Feminist of the Year | Middlebury College | 2011 |
Areas of Expertise
child trauma; immigration; forensic interviewing
Professional Affiliations
- American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (2018 to present)
- Society for Community Research and Action (Immigrant Justice Group; 2018 to present)
- American Psychological Association (2019 to present)
- Society for Research in Child Development (Latinx Caucus; 2020 to present)
Journal Articles
- Buckingham, S. L., Langhout, R. D., Rusch, D., Mehta, T., Chávez, N. R., Ferreira van Leer, K., Oberoi, A.K., Indart, M., Paloma, V., King, V.E., Olson, B. (In press). The Roles of Settings in Supporting Immigrants’ Resistance to Injustice and Oppression: A Policy Position Statement by the Society for Community Research and Action. American Journal of Community Psychology.
Publications
-
King, V.E. (2017, April). Forensic Interviewing: So, uh, what exactly do you do? Retrieved from https://wvcan.org/forensic-interviewing/.
Conference Presentations
- Leyva, L.A., McNeill, T., King, V.E., & Marshall, B.L. "Counter-storytelling queer women of color's experiences of undergraduate STEM education as a white, cis-heteropatriarchal space." American Education Research Association Conference, Orlando, FL, United States. (April 2021)
- Buckingham, S.L., Ferreira van Leer, K., King, V.E., Rusch, D., Olson, B., Oberoi, A., Chávez, N.R., Indart, M., & Mehta, T. (Under review). "Giving Psychology Away: Considering Tensions in Public Interest Policy Advocacy." American Psycholgical Association Convention 2021.