Meet Dr. Kayleigh Watters

For Dr. Kayleigh Watters, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, the journey from student to faculty member has been marked by a deepening understanding of trauma's complexity and a growing commitment to expanding trauma research beyond traditional boundaries.

As director of the newly established Trauma, Diversity, and Systemic Change (TDSC) Lab, Dr. Watters has broadened her initial focus on military sexual trauma to encompass a wider range of populations and experiences. "There has been a lot of need to look at sexual violence given the current climate in the country," she explains. "It is important to expand our current understanding of sexual violence and the impacts of that on complex trauma."

Dr. Watters' perspective on trauma research was profoundly shaped by her early experiences. While TAing psychology classes at San Quentin State Prison, she encountered a reality that challenged her preconceptions. "I had really drastic expectations that incarcerated people were extreme or violent - but these people who had committed crimes had also experienced complex and deep traumas that informed their life paths."

Similar insights emerged from her work at the VA. "I had thought that most people would have combat or wartime trauma, but almost the only thing I treated was sexual trauma because it was so prevalent," she recalls. These experiences led her to recognize how systemic issues can disenfranchise different populations, particularly women, and how these challenges might be addressed through population health or community psychology models.

Dr. Watters brings a unique statistical expertise to her trauma research. Having started as an applied statistics minor in her undergraduate years, she has continuously expanded her analytical toolkit. "I wanted to learn how to better analyze data on my own instead of needing to get a statistics consultant," she explains. Her current project includes collaborating on machine learning approaches to predict sexual assault severity in college-aged students.

Her research focuses on important insights about sexual assault reporting and acknowledgment. Using behaviorally defined assessments, she typically finds that 54-65% of participants have experienced sexual assault or sexual violence, though many have not acknowledged it as such. "Society stereotypes sexual assault," she notes. "When people experience sexual assault in a way that meets that stereotype, usually female victims and male perpetrators, they are more likely to report it and more likely to recognize it as sexual assault."

The TDSC Lab is currently pursuing multiple projects, including examining OCD symptoms following sexual violence, studying complex trauma, and investigating how everyday discrimination impacts trauma experiences among racial and ethnic minorities. Dr. Watters emphasizes the importance of partnering with community organizations to conduct research that can inform policy and prevention efforts without retraumatizing survivors.

Her commitment to addressing complex trauma stems from a powerful experience working at a middle school where a student was killed by a police officer. "There was a lot of latent trauma in that school and it needed to be unpacked," she reflects. This experience reinforced her belief that trauma often runs deeper and more systematically than initial appearances suggest.

When she's not conducting research or teaching, Dr. Watters finds balance through her love of gaming. "I play a lot of video games like MMOs and cozy games," she shares. "Final Fantasy 14 is my current time sink." She's also a self-proclaimed 'Disney Adult' with an impressive pin collection. Although she has been to Disneyland many times, she is still hoping to eventually visit Disney World in Florida.

Looking ahead, Dr. Watters is clear about the changes she would like to see in trauma reporting and treatment. "The biggest issue is that people are afraid they won’t be believed or that their trauma will be minimized," she states. "We need to create a system where everyone feels comfortable reporting. We need to train police, faculty, and staff to handle reports properly."

Through her research, teaching, and advocacy, Dr. Watters pushes the boundaries of trauma research while working to create more inclusive and effective systems for trauma survivors. Her journey from PAU student to faculty member exemplifies the university's commitment to fostering innovative research that addresses critical societal needs.