Bridget Diamond-Welch

Bridget Diamond-Welch serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of South Dakota. Her work bridges academic research with practical interventions addressing gender-based violence in rural and Indigenous communities across the Northern Great Plains.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Sociology from Iowa State University (2010) and an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Iowa (2005).

• Ph.D., Sociology, Iowa State University, 2010
• M.A., Sociology, University of Iowa, 2005

Diamond-Welch's research centers on sexual assault, sex trafficking, and domestic violence with specialized focus on trauma responses among Indigenous populations. Her work integrates cultural humility into trauma-informed care frameworks, emphasizing community-led solutions for Native American survivors. Current projects examine LGBTQ2S+ resilience among Lakota youth and telehealth innovations for rural sexual assault forensic exams.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on victim-blaming dynamics, structural barriers in rural healthcare, and culturally specific manifestations of violence. Her scholarship increasingly incorporates Indigenous research methodologies and examines intersections of historical trauma with contemporary violence exposure.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Center for Teaching and Learning Grant (2017)
• Arts & Science Travel Grant (2016)
• Course Design Fellowship (2016)

As Principal Investigator on $15M+ in federal grants, Diamond-Welch directs major projects including the NIH-funded "Wahwala Iyohlogya (Peaceful Means) Center" and DOJ's "eSANE Model" for telehealth sexual assault response. Her collaborative approach engages tribal nations as equal research partners, with strict adherence to data sovereignty protocols. Current work includes implementation science for trauma-informed juvenile justice centers serving Native American youth.

She co-leads the Takini Survivor Project, a community-academic partnership developing healing-centered interventions for rural Indigenous domestic violence survivors. This initiative operates through the Grand Challenges Center, emphasizing decolonized research practices and tribal advisory oversight.