Tasha R. Howe

Dr. Tasha R. Howe is a Professor of Psychology at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where she has served since 2002. She is an expert in developmental psychopathology, family violence prevention, and the neurodevelopmental impacts of trauma. Her work bridges academic research with community engagement, emphasizing culturally contextualized interventions. Dr. Howe holds a Ph.D. from UC Riverside and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University. She has been a Fulbright Scholar in Croatia (2014) and Cyprus (2008), focusing on child abuse prevention and cross-cultural violence reduction. Her research spans global initiatives, including evaluations of the ACT Raising Safe Kids program across cultures.

Education: B.A. (UC Santa Barbara, 1991); M.A. and Ph.D. (UC Riverside, 1994 and 1996); NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship (Vanderbilt, 1996–98).

Research Interests: Developmental psychopathology, neurodevelopmental effects of trauma, violence prevention, sociocultural influences on child development, and family systems theory. Her bioecological framework integrates biological, cultural, and environmental factors to address systemic inequities.

Awards: APA Diversity in Teaching Award (2010), Best Paper of the Year (2015), and recognition for contributions to children’s mental health (2016). She has led numerous community-based projects, including trauma-informed care trainings and policy consultations in the U.S., Croatia, Cyprus, and Colombia.

Professional Activities: Chair of the Psychology Department (2017–2021); member of the APA’s ACT Raising Safe Kids Evaluation Board; Fulbright Specialist (2017–2021); and advisor to global child welfare organizations.