Alexandra Rush, Ph.D., is a developmental scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Empire State University. She studies how families and individuals rebuild meaning after the trauma of war, with particular attention to resilience, intergenerational transmission of trauma, and features of posttraumatic growth. Her expertise also encompasses youth purpose and identity development, utilizing mixed methods and qualitative approaches, including phenomenology. Her academic foundation began at Douglass College of Rutgers University, where she majored in psychology and developed a deep interest in resilience and human development. She pursued graduate studies at Long Island University before completing her doctorate at Montclair State University in Family Science and Human Development. Her doctoral work explored intergenerational trauma in the context of war, identifying how family experiences of loss and survival influence identity and pathways of resilience and growth across generations. During her doctoral studies, Alexandra contributed to the Institute for Research on Youth Thriving and Evaluation at Montclair State, engaging in the Building Evidence in Scouting Together (BEST) study. This research examined how the training of adult volunteers influences youth character outcomes. She served as a content expert on youth purpose, investigating how relationships and program features fostered a sense of purpose, while also exploring the training of non-formal educators in Boy Scouts of America. As a faculty member, Alexandra teaches courses in child development, human ecological systems, spirituality and wisdom, and abnormal psychology. She emphasizes the connection between academic knowledge and purposeful pursuits, encouraging students to cultivate meaning in their education. At Dickinson College, she led a study of some of the first adolescent girls to join Scouts BSA, capturing how they negotiated participation in a space traditionally reserved for boys, and how their involvement fostered a sense of purpose and an evolving identity. Alexandra Rush’s scholarship is featured in academic journals and conference presentations, highlighting intergenerational trauma, youth purpose, and resilience in the aftermath of collective trauma. She has presented at cultural institutes and public forums, contributing insights to conversations on heritage and healing. Beyond academia, Alexandra’s background in dance and theatre, combined with her practice of yoga, hiking, and time in nature, enriches her teaching and research with creativity, grounding, and a holistic perspective. Read More: https://aboutalexandrarush.com/resilience-post-traumatic-growth-after-challenges/ https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Yp1q1i0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao