Dr. Jennifer S. Middleton, PhD, MSW, LCSW

Professor | Director, UofL Human Trafficking Research Initiative
University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work & Family Science

Dr. Jennifer Middleton is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar, educator, and community leader whose work bridges science, systems change, and social justice. As Professor and Director of the Human Trafficking Research Initiative at the University of Louisville, she has dedicated her career to helping organizations, leaders, and communities heal from trauma and structural violence.

With more than $23 million in competitive federal, state, and foundation funding, Dr. Middleton leads large-scale, interdisciplinary initiatives that transform how systems care for vulnerable populations. She is the co-author and co-developer of the Trauma Resilient Communities (TRC) Model, an evidence-informed framework that equips organizations to build resilience, prevent secondary traumatic stress, and sustain trauma-informed leadership. Under her guidance, the TRC Project has been implemented across multiple cities—impacting child welfare systems, community-based organizations, and first responders working on the frontlines of racial trauma and community violence.

Dr. Middleton’s research combines rigorous mixed-methods design with survivor-centered, arts-based methodologies such as photovoice and found poetry. Her studies have illuminated the lived experiences of survivors of childhood sex trafficking, forensic interviewers across the globe, and other helping professionals who shoulder the invisible weight of trauma exposure through their work. Her work has produced validated instruments, including the Trauma Resilient Change Organizational Assessment Survey (TRC-OAS), used nationwide to measure and strengthen organizational health.

Her impact extends far beyond academia. Through partnerships with local governments, nonprofits, and federal agencies—including SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Children’s Bureau—Dr. Middleton has co-created healing ecosystems that advance equity and resilience. Her translational approach, guided by implementation science and trauma-informed leadership, ensures research becomes practice—and practice becomes change.

Dr. Middleton’s scholarship has appeared in leading journals such as Child Abuse & Neglect, Journal of Public Child Welfare, and the International Journal of Forensic Research and Criminology. She has received multiple honors for her contributions, including the Outstanding Community Engagement Award (2024), International Influential Scholar Award (2023), and the Mid-Career Ascending Star Fellowship (2022). Her work exemplifies the University of Louisville’s mission to advance knowledge that uplifts communities and creates lasting social impact.