Thema Bryant

Dr. Thema Bryant teaches Individual and Family Development: A Life Cycle Approach, Trauma in Diverse Populations, Expressive Arts Therapy, Intimate Partner Violence, and Professional Practice and Mental Health Systems. In 2007 the American Psychological Association awarded her the Emerging Leader of Women in Psychology Award for her scholarship and clinical work on violence against women. In addition, she was awarded the Sarah Allen Research on the Status of Black Women Award. Her research expertise is in the cultural context of trauma, particularly child abuse, partner abuse, sexual assault, and the societal trauma of racism.

Dr. Bryant-Davis is author of the book Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A Multicultural Guide and is published in the journals The Counseling Psychologist, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, and Trauma, Violence, and Abuse. Dr. Bryant-Davis serves on the Editorial Board for the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Her book chapters can be found in the books The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women, The Psychology of Racism and Discrimination, The Encyclopedia of Psychological Trauma, and Featuring Females; Feminist Analyses of the Media.

On a global level, Dr. Bryant-Davis was selected as an American Psychological Association representative to the United Nations where she provided education, advocacy, and monitoring of Member States' mental health policies for three years; she currently serves as the Global and International Issues Chairperson for the Society for the Psychology of Women. Dr. Bryant-Davis was recently appointed to serve on the American Psychological Association Committee on Women in Psychology. She directs the Culture and Trauma Research Lab which studies the intersection of cultural context and trauma recovery. Dr. Bryant-Davis' work has been highlighted on BET and PBS, as well as in the Trenton Times, Herald Sun, and Boston Globe.

In 2021, Dr. Bryant-Davis became the new president-elect of the American Psychological Association (APA).