Kate Walsh

Dr. Kate Walsh is a Professor of Gender & Women’s Studies and Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology. She serves as Clinical Area Group Chair, integrating clinical practice with academic research. Her interdisciplinary work focuses on sexual violence prevention, trauma outcomes, and substance use disorders. Her research spans epidemiological studies of sexual violence prevalence, biopsychosocial mechanisms linking trauma to mental health, and translational interventions to address violence.

Key research areas include: 1) Risk factors for sexual violence perpetration/victimization in college and military settings; 2) Psychobiological pathways to PTSD and substance misuse; 3) Intergenerational trauma transmission; 4) Prevention program development. She directs the PIVOT Lab (https://pivotlab.psych.wisc.edu), emphasizing community-engaged research.

Notable contributions include identifying correlates of repeat sexual victimization during college and developing evidence-based interventions for survivors. Recent work examines barriers to sexual assault service-seeking and the impact of sociocultural factors like discrimination on post-assault recovery. Dr. Walsh’s scholarship bridges clinical science and public health policy, with a focus on marginalized populations.