Lisa M. Brown

Lisa M. Brown is a tenured Professor at Palo Alto University where she serves as Director of the Trauma Program, Director of the Risk and Resilience Research Lab, and Director of the Peace and Human Rights Lab. She is also faculty advisor for the Association of Traumatic Stress Studies and Psi Chi.

Her research spans trauma, resilience, global mental health, aging, and vulnerable populations. Current projects examine trauma interventions, psychological first aid, financial elder abuse, and mental health delivery across New Zealand, Korea, Great Britain, Africa, and the United States. Her work involves military personnel, veterans, refugees, disaster survivors, and older adults using community-based participatory research, photo voice, and survey methodologies.

Recent publications reveal strong thematic trends in pandemic mental health impacts on seniors, military PTSD with humor/morale moderators, betrayal trauma analysis, and culturally-specific interventions for African American communities. Her lab produces policy briefs, training materials, and social marketing campaigns alongside empirical research.

• Fulbright Specialist award with University of the West Indies, Jamaica (2014)
• Fulbright Specialist award with Massey University, New Zealand (2015)
• Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America
• Fellow of American Psychological Association Division 20

Dr. Brown advises numerous graduate students across publications and has served on critical national committees including the Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee of the National Biodefense Science Board and HHS National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters. Her Risk and Resilience Research Lab conducts program evaluations for SAMHSA and FEMA while developing mental health protocols for catastrophic events.