Faculty and Staff Profiles

Sarah Leat
Asst Professor, Social Work
Email: srrbnsn2@memphis.edu
Office Location:
Education
  • PhD in Social Work Social Work - University of Texas at Arlington - 2021
  • Master of Social Work Social Work - Texas Christian University - 2017
  • Bachelors of Arts Psychology and Religion - Baylor University - 2012

Work Experience
  • Assistant Professor, Social Work - University of Memphis - 2021 - present
  • Adjunct Instructor and Research Coach, Social Work - University of Arkansas Fayetteville - 2020 - present
  • Adjunct Instructor, Social Work - University of Texas at Arlington - 2017 - 2021

Teaching Experience
  • SWRK 7022 Organizations and Community Practice - University of Memphis
  • SWRK 7025 Scientific Methods - University of Memphis
  • SWRK 7034 Advanced Community Practice - University of Memphis

Support
  • Peers Engaging and Empowering Recovery (PEER) Program - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals - $1,540,477 - 2021 - 2025
  • Increasing Collaboration among Domestic Violence Agencies - Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs - $376,523 - 2022 - 2025
  • Project: Research on Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative: Service Needs of LGBTQ2+ Individuals. Role: PI. - University of Memphis Community of Research Scholars - $5,000 - 2023 - 2024
  • Project: Victims’ Assistance Needs of University of Memphis Students. Role: Co-PI. - University of Memphis Community of Research Scholars - $2,500 - 2023 - 2024
  • Project: Research on Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative: Service Needs of LGBTQ2+ Individuals. - University of Memphis Community of Research Scholar - $2,500 - 2022 -2023
  • Project: Moms in Shelters: Understanding the experiences of intimate partner violence survivors who are mothers in shelter. Role: PI. - University of Memphis College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Research Grant - $10,000 - 2022 - 2023

Outreach
  • Validation of Measures for Transportation Coercion and Environmental Stress for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence - University of Memphis and University of Knoxville - 2022 - present -  
  • A needs assessment of services for survivors of intimate partner violence in Knoxville, TN - University of Memphis and University of Knoxville - 2022 - present - University of Knoxville Internal Grant
  • Increasing Collaboration Among Domestic Violence Agencies - University of Memphis and The Public Safety Institute - 2022 - present - Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs
  • Research on Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative: Service Needs of LGBTQ2+ Individuals - University of Memphis and Love Doesn't Hurt 901 - 2023 - present - University of Memphis Community of Research Scholars Grant
Service
  • University of Memphis - Public Safety Institute Advisory Board - 2023 - present
  • University of Memphis - SUAPP Community Advisory Board - 2022 - present
  • University of Memphis - DSW Committee - 2022 - present
  • University of Memphis - MSW Committee - 2021 - present
Books Reviewed
  • Robinson, S.R. (2019). Book review – The sexual politics of gendered violence and women’s citizenship. Affilia: Journal of Women in Social Work. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1177/0886109919851141
  •  Robinson, S. R. (2019). Book chapter – Needs Assessments. In R. L. Mauldin (Ed.), Foundations of Social Work Research (pp. 357-358). Arlington, TX: Open Mavs Press.
  • Voth Schrag, R., Robinson, S.R., & Padilla-Medina, D. (2019). Technical report – Outcomes of Survivors after Transitional Housing. Austin, TX: Texas Council on Family Violence.
  • Voth Schrag, R., Ravi, K., & Robinson, S.R., (2019). Technical report – Understanding the Needs of Non-service seeking survivors: A Final Report for the Texas Council on Family Violence. Austin, TX: Texas Council on Family Violence.
  •  Robinson, S.R. (2018). Book review – Becoming strong: Impoverished women and the struggle to overcome violence. Affilia: Journal of Women in Social Work, 34(4), 572-732. doi: 10.1177/0886109918813024.
  •  Robinson, S.R. (2018). Book review – The transformation of Title IX: Regulating gender equality in education. Affilia: Journal of Women in Social Work, 34(3), 403-404. doi: 10.1177/0886109918790931 
Journal Articles
  • Leat, S. R. & Ravi, K. (January 2023). “Do I belong here?”: Experiences of transgender survivors of intimate partner violence in shelter. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference in Phoenix, AR.
  • Leat, S. R. & Maxwell, D. (November 2022). Intimate partner violence residential programs as optimal healing environments: Survivors’ perspective. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting in Anaheim, California.
  • Leat. S. R. & Ravi. K. (November 2022). Mobility in shelter: Perspectives from survivors of intimate partner violence and advocates. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting in Anaheim, California.
  • Leat, S.R. (April 2022). Identifying environmental stressors in intimate partner violence shelters. Presented at the Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma Hawai’i Summit in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
  • Voth Schrag, R., Leat, S.R., & Wood, L. (January 2022). Safety planning in the context of COVID-19: Data from survivors and advocates. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference in Washington DC.
  • Leat, S. R., Voth Schrag, R., & Nordberg, A. (November 2021). Living in an IPV shelter during a pandemic: Perspectives from advocates and survivors. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting on Orlando, Florida.
  • Leat, S. R. & Maxwell, D. (November 2021). Measuring becoming a mother: Implications for American Indian/Alaskan Native mothers. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
  • Ravi, K.E., Robinson, S.R., Voth Schrag, R.J., & Fields, N. (January 2021) A systematic review of transportation coercion in intimate partner violence measures and the development the scale of transportation coercion. Paper presented virtually at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.
  • Robinson, S.R., Ravi, K., Nordberg, A., & Voth Schrag, R. (January 2021). Using scenario planning with advocates: Exploring the use of ride-hail and car-share services with survivors. Presented virtually at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference.
  • Robinson, S.R., Ravi, K., Nordberg, A., & Voth Schrag, R. (January 2021). Exploring the feasibility of shared mobility services for reducing transportation disadvantage among survivors of intimate partner violence. Presented virtually at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.
  • Robinson, S.R., Cronley, C., Hyun, K, & Naz, F. (January 2020), Examining the feasibility of shared mobility programs for reducing transportation inequities. Presented at the Transportation Research Board Annual Conference in Washington DC.
  • Robinson, S.R. & Maxwell, D. (September 2019). Sacred space: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis of women’s experiences within birthing environments. Presented at the CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference in Providence, Rhode Island.
  • Robinson, S.R., Cronley, C., Hyun, K., & Naz, F. (September 2019). Examining the feasibility of shared mobility programs for reducing transportation inequities: Perspectives from the front-line. Presented at the Transportation and Communities Summit in Portland, Oregon.
  • 33. Leat. S. R., Ravi, K., & Obernauf, C., (Accepted for publication). Living in an intimate partner violence shelter during a pandemic: Perspectives from advocates and survivors. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2024.2308828.
  • 32. Maxwell, D., Leat, S., Coad, S., Thomas, J. & Thomas, S. (2023). Strength, power, and choice: Empowerment through the tattoo environment for survivors of trauma. Deviant Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2023.2250052
  • 31. Leat, S.R., Ravi, K., Rai, A., Obenauf, C., & Bryant, S. (2023). Do I belong here? Experiences of transgender survivors of IPV in shelters. Families in Society, https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231196929
  • 30. Elias-Lambert, N., Leat, S. R., Grace, J., Pond, R. & Bolton, K. (2023). Development of the Bystander Attitude Behavior Scales with university faculty. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2023.2248055.
  • 29.  Maxwell, D., Leat, S. R., & Thomas, J. (2023). A scoping review of measures of beliefs towards becoming a mother. Best Practices in Mental Health., 19(1), 1-31.
  • 28.  Voth Schrag, R., Fantus, S., Leat, S. R., Childress, S., & Wood, L. (2023). Experiencing moral distress within the intimate partner violence and sexual assault workforce. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00567-x.
  • 27. Ravi, K.E., Leat, S.R., Voth Schrag, R., & Moore, K. (2023). Factors influencing help-seeking choices among non-service-connected survivors of IPV. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00495-w
  • 26. Leat, S.R., Ravi, K.E., Nordberg, A., & Voth Schrag, R. (2022). Exploring the feasibility of shared mobility services for reducing transportation disadvantage among survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Transport and Health, advanced publication online. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101517
  • 25. Elias-Lambert, E., Leat, S. R., Grace, J., & Voth Schrag, R. (2022). Faculty bystanders: Capturing university faculty’s willingness to engage in prosocial behavior. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma.https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2023.2171825
  • 24. Elias-Lambert, E., Leat, S.R., & Grace, J. (2022). Bystander programming with faculty: Recommendations for institutions of higher education. Journal of Primary Prevention, 43(2), 257-275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-022-00669-0
  • 23. Maxwell, D. & Leat, S.R. (2022). A review of the empirical measure son becoming a mother and their relevance to the American Indian/Native Alaskan mother: Implications for research and policy. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 31(2), 63-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2022.2041520
  • 22. Voth Schrag, R., Leat, S., Backes, B., & Wood, L. (2022). “So many extra safety layers:” Virtual service provision and implementing social distancing in interpersonal violence service agencies during COVID-19. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00350-w
  • 21.  Nordberg, A., Davis, J.B., Patel, M., Mattingly, S., & Leat, S.R. (2021). Towards a reentry mobilities assemblage: An exploration of transportation and obligation among returning citizens. Mobilities, advanced publication online. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2021.2008770
  • 20. Voth Schrag, R., Leat, S. R., Wood, L. (2021). “Everyone is living in the same storm, but our boats are all different”: Safety and safety planning for survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, advanced publication online. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211062998
  • 18. Leat, S.R., Cronley, C., Hyun, K., & Naz, F. (2021). Examining the feasibility of shared mobility programs for reducing transportation inequities: Perspectives from the front-line. Journal of Poverty, advanced publication online. https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060.2021.1919351. 
  • 17. Hyun, K., Naz, F., Cronley, C., & Leat, S.R. (2021). User characteristics of shared-mobility:A comparative analysis of car-sharing and ride-hailing services. Transportation Planning and Technology, 44(4), 436-447. https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060.2021.1919351
  • 15.  Ravi, K., Robinson, S.R., &Voth Schrag, R. (2021). Facilitators of formal help-seeking for adult survivors of IPV in the United States: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, advanced publication online. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838021995954
  • 14.  Voth Schrag, R., Ravi, K., Robinson, S.R., Schroeder, E., & Padilla-Medina, D (2020). Experiences with help seeking and services among survivors of intimate partner violence who are not engaged in services. Violence Against Women, 27(12-13), 2313-2334. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uta.edu/10.1177/1077801220963861
  • 13.  Robinson, S.R., Casiano, A., & Elias-Lambert, N. (2020). “Is it my responsibility?” A qualitative review of university students’ perspectives on bystander behavior. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 23(1), 117-131. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020933829.
  • 11.  Maxwell, D., Robinson, S.R., Williams, J.R., & Keaton, J.C., (2019). Short story of a lonely guy: A qualitative thematic analysis of involuntary celibacy using Reddit. Sexuality and Culture, 24(6), 1852-1874.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-020-09724-6
  • 10.  Robinson, S.R., Ravi, K., & Voth Schrag, R. (2020). A systematic review of barriers to formal help seeking for adult survivors of IPV in the United States, 2005-2019. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(5), 1274-1295.https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020916254.
  • 9. Robinson, S.R., Elias-Lambert, N., Casiano, A., & Ward, L. (2020). “Culture-bearer, culture-sharer, culture-changer”: The role of faculty in preventing sexual violence on campus. Advances in Social Work, 20(1), 45-60.https://doi.org/10.18060/23381
  • 7. Robinson, S.R., Maxwell, D., & Williams, J.R. (2019). A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis of pregnant women’s experiences of intimate partner violence. The Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 48(6), 604-614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2019.08.002
  • 6. Maxwell, D. & Robinson, S.R. (2019). Safety for Native Women: An Indigenous-First Policy Analysis of Violence Against Women Act Title IX. Advances in Social Work, 19(1), 181-200. https://doi.org/10.18060/22608.
  • 5. Voth Schrag, R., Robinson, S.R., & Ravi. K. (2019). Understanding pathways within intimate partner violence: Economic abuse, economic hardship, and mental health. Journal of Aggression, 28(2), 222-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2018.1546247.
  • 4. Maxwell, D., Robinson, S.R., Rogers, K. (2019). “I keep it to myself”: A qualitative meta-interpretive synthesis of experiences of postpartum depression among marginalized women. Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(3), 23-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12645. 
  • 3. Robinson, S.R., Maxwell, D., & Rogers, K. (2019). Living in domestic violence shelters: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis of women’s experiences. The British Journal of Social Work, 0, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz079.
  • 1. Voth Schrag, R., Ravi, K., & Robinson, S.R. (2018). The role of social support in the link between economic abuse and economic hardship. Journal of Family Violence, 35(1), 85-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-0019-8.