University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences leadership publishes white paper on trauma-informed education

New white paper outlines trauma-informed teaching strategies that support student well-being, faculty wellness and course completion for working adult learners

2025-10-24

(Press-News.org) University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences announces a new white paper, “Trauma-Informed Education – A Pathway for Relief, Retention, and Renewal,” authored by College leadership Sheila Babendir, Ed.D., LPAC; Barbara Burt, Psy.D.; Michelle Crawford-Morrison, LMFT, LPCC, NCC; Samantha E. Dutton, Ph.D., LCSW-R; Christine Karper, Ph.D., LMHC (QCS); and MaryJo Trombley, Ph.D. The paper asserts that implementing trauma-informed practices can improve outcomes for students and educators, driving retention and well-being while equipping learners with skills they can carry into the workplace.

“Working adults bring complex life experiences into the classroom,” said Sheila Babendir, Ed.D., LPAC, interim dean and co-author. “Practical, trauma-informed strategies help faculty create supportive, rigorous learning experiences that honor those realities while keeping students on track to reach their goals.”

“Trauma-informed education isn’t a single tactic — it’s a mindset,” added Samantha Dutton, Ph.D., LCSW-R, associate dean and co-author. “When institutions intentionally design learning environments that recognize and respond to trauma, students and instructors experience more trust, more stability and better outcomes.”

In the white paper, the authors

Define trauma-informed education and why it matters in higher education serving adult learners. Recommend classroom approaches that foster psychological safety and course persistence/retention. Connect trauma-informed teaching strategies to faculty well-being and transferable workforce skills. With an emphasis on knowledge, skills, character and lifelong learning, programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences prepare students to address a community’s mental, psychological, emotional, social and case management needs in counseling; social work; psychology and human services; and criminal justice and public administration.

Read and download “Trauma-Informed Education – A Pathway for Relief, Retention, and Renewal” on the University of Phoenix Media Center.

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