Maria Vukovich

Maria Vukovich

Associate Research Professor & Co-Director, International Disaster Psychology Program

What I do

Maria leads several interdisciplinary sponsored projects and initiatives focused on promoting safety, health, and wellbeing of communities affected by adversity including armed conflict, complex emergencies and disasters, human rights abuses, forced displacement, migration, and violence. Learn more: https://psychology.du.edu/mhpss
She also co-directs the International Disaster Psychology: Trauma & Global Mental Health Graduate Program overseeing projects and partnerships.

Professional Biography

Maria Vukovich, PhD, is an applied researcher and statistician with interests in human rights, global health, migration, intergenerational trauma, integrated care, and violence prevention. For two decades, Maria has led applied research and evaluation of humanitarian and direct service programs with populations affected by armed conflict, complex emergencies, human rights abuses, forced displacement, and migration. Her research utilizes human-centered and participatory mixed method approaches including feasibility studies, randomized control trials, cross-cultural measurement studies, and large-scale population surveys with community-based organizations in East Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, North America, and Southeast Asia. This work has been supported by the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. National Institute of Health, United Nations, International Organization for Migration, World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, European Union, and more. Her research has been published in Intervention: Journal of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Areas of Armed Conflict, Journal of International Migration and Integration, Health and Social Care in the Community, BMC Family Practice, BMC Psychiatry, Traumatology, Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, Torture Journal, Conflict and Health, etc.

Degree(s)

  • BA, Psychology, Spanish, University of Virginia
  • MA, International Disaster Psychology: Trauma & Global Mental Health, University of Denver
  • Ph.D., Research Methods & Statistics, Human Rights & Global Health Concentrations, University of Denver