Laura A. Voith’s research examines how relationships and social environments shape the development and prevention of violence across the life course. Her work is grounded in a central question: What helps children and families build healthy, connected relationships even in the context of adversity?
Drawing on developmental, trauma, and health equity perspectives, Voith studies how childhood adversity, family and community violence, social connection, and supportive relationships influence later health and relationship outcomes. A particular focus of her work is understanding the pathways that contribute to—and protect against—violence perpetration, especially among boys and men.
Voith translates this research into approaches that strengthen healthy relationships and prevent violence before it occurs. Her work spans community-engaged research, violence prevention and intervention, and efforts to build stronger connections between research and practice, with the goal of creating conditions in which young people, families, and communities can thrive.
Research Leadership
Learn more about Voith’s research team, current projects, and dissemination on the Healing, Empowerment, Antiviolence Research Team (HEART) page.
Voith also co-leads Building Healthy Relationships to End Violence (BHREV), a national collaborative that brings together researchers, practitioners, and emerging scholars to advance relationship health and violence prevention.
Recognition
Voith has received national and university recognition for her teaching and mentorship, including the Donna Harrington Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Social Work Doctoral Students, the Scholarship in Teaching Award, and the Jessica Melton Perry Award for Distinguished Teaching in Disciplinary & Professional Writing. She has also been recognized for her commitment to inclusive education, including a nomination for CWRU’s Outstanding Faculty/Staff Advocate Award by the Disability Resources Center.
Biosketch | Curriculum Vitae | Google Scholar | @lavoith
Why I Teach
Teaching provides an opportunity for me to create learning communities where all participants—students and instructor alike—can explore and question the origins of their points of view, apply critical thinking skills, and engage as active producers of knowledge, rather than passive consumers in the classroom and field. Drawing on trauma-informed, social justice, and intersectional feminist frameworks and active learning principles, I aim to create learning environments that have high expectations, while scaffolding opportunities for each student to find their own "edge."
Why I Chose This Profession
I chose social work because it embraces the complexity of the human condition and recognizes the influence of larger systems on social welfare. I can't imagine a better lens to use when trying to make a meaningful impact in our world.