

Hi, I’m Melanie Sonsteng
a PhD candidate at UCLA, a systemic violence and trauma researcher, a believer in participatory research, and a lover of the outdoors.

Current Projects
2018 - 2019
Educational Implications of Community Violence and Trauma: How Los Angeles Teachers are Dealing with the Effects in the Classroom
PI
Survey research project that seeks to identify teachers’ awareness of and difficulties with traumatized students in the classroom.
Research Methods
Mixed Methods
Survey Research
Qualitative Research
Participatory Methods (PhotoVoice, Asset Mapping)
Education
PhD I University of California, Los Angeles
Department of Social Welfare
Dissertation: The (re)production of violence and trauma in high schools: How institutional policies and practices influence teacher and staff decision making
April 2022
MSW I Boston University, School of Social Work
Concentration: Community Organizing and Program Planning/Evaluation
May 2014