Lauren Bennett Cattaneo, Associate Professor of Psychology at George Mason University, has been involved with DVARC since its inception. Lauren earned her doctorate in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2001 and joined the faculty of George Mason University in 2003, where she has won awards for teaching excellence and community-engaged scholarship. Dr. Cattaneo applies a community psychology orientation to her work, centering on the ways psychology can fuel and inform efforts toward social justice. Dr. Cattaneo’s research has focused on the key constructs of empowerment, resilience, and survivor-centered practice, and she intertwines her research, teaching, mentorship and service in that work. She explores ways in which higher education can be a mechanism for social change, both through bringing students to community, and through bringing community into the classroom. She has published widely in outlets such as the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Psychology of Violence, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, American Journal of Community Psychology and the American Psychologist. Dr. Cattaneo is a long-time devoted DC resident, and she lives in Capitol Hill with her family.