Sara Waters

Sara Waters is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development at Washington State University, affiliated with the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). Her work bridges developmental psychology, trauma-informed interventions, and health equity, with a focus on marginalized populations.

• Education: Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of California, Davis (2011); M.S. in Child Development from UC Davis (2008); B.A. in Psychology and English from UC Berkeley (2003).

Research Interests include children’s emotional/physiological self-regulation, child-caregiver attachment, biological pathways linking early adversity to health outcomes, and culturally grounded interventions for trauma-exposed families. She integrates Indigenous worldviews and strengths-based approaches in her work with Native communities.

Scientific Contributions span child development, emotion regulation, and health disparities. Recent publications emphasize Indigenous infant mental health, antiracism interventions, and pandemic impacts on marginalized populations. Her work often employs interdisciplinary and community-participatory frameworks.

• Current Funding: Multiple grants, including a $350,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation award for Indigenous trauma interventions and a WSU Grand Challenges Grant ($4.1M) for health equity research.
• Community Engagement: Collaborates with Pacific Northwest Tribes, Burmese communities, and Micronesian Islander organizations to address intergenerational trauma and promote resilience.