Sam Cacace

Dr. Sam Cacace serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health within the College of Health and Human Services at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She holds dual affiliation as Core Faculty with the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center, where she leads research on stigma and suicide prevention in military and veteran populations through interdisciplinary team science approaches.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Washington State University (2018)
• M.A. in General Psychology from North Carolina Central University (2012)
• B.A. in Psychology & Sociology from North Carolina State University (2010)
• A.A. from Wake Technical Community College (2008)

Dr. Cacace's research program centers on ecological and psychosocial perspectives of stigma among vulnerable groups, with specialized focus on military service members and veterans. She pioneers advanced analytical methodologies including latent variable modeling, structural equation modeling, item response theory, and differential item functioning to develop measurement tools for suicide prevention and cultural competency assessment. Her work bridges epidemiological frameworks with clinical psychology to address barriers in help-seeking behaviors and wellness outcomes.

Analysis of her 11 publications (2020-2025) reveals consistent methodological innovation in psychometrics applied to military health, correctional settings, and geographic risk mapping. Key thematic clusters include validation of instruments for hate-motivated behavior and moral psychology, geographic identification of suicide risk at neighborhood levels, and latent profile analysis of self-injury correlates in incarcerated populations. Her research demonstrates strong translational impact through partnerships with NC DHHS and RTI International.

Her recognition includes:

• 2019 APA Division 19 Challenge Coin Awardee

Dr. Cacace directs significant grant-funded research through the Violence Prevention Center, with active collaborations spanning Team Red White and Blue, Consortium for Health and Military Performance, and NCServes. Her advising extends to graduate students through courses including Healthcare Data Analysis (HCIP 6102) and Introduction to Quantitative Methods (HLTH 8201/HSRD 8206), where she integrates her expertise in measurement invariance and intensive longitudinal analysis.

As Core Faculty of the Violence Prevention Center, she co-leads interdisciplinary teams developing culturally competent interventions for military communities. Her prior work at NC State University's Center for Family and Community Engagement established foundational partnerships with campus military services, demonstrating her commitment to community-engaged research that bridges academic theory and veteran wellness practice.