Maureen C. Kenny, Ph.D. Dr. Kenny is a Professor of Psychology. She is Associate Chair of Academic Personnel and Diversity in the Department of Psychology. She is a licensed psychologist, Nationally Certified Counselor and Qualified Supervisor (Florida). She is affiliated with the Applied Social and Cultural Psychology program. Her training includes years of providing direct clinical care to abused children and their families. She has published extensively in the area of child maltreatment, with a specific focus on child sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation of children, prevention and treatment of abuse and an understanding of the impact of abuse on diverse populations. Her work also addresses the issue of mandatory reporting laws among professionals. Dr. Kenny is recognized as an international expert in prevention of sexual abuse and compliance with mandatory reporting laws. Dr. Kenny has published over 90 peer reviewed articles, has made over 100 professional presentations at national, international, and regional conferences and authored over 18 book chapters and three books.
Dr. Kenny has received the highest awards from FIU – the Faculty Senate Awards (one each in Teaching, Research and Service). She has been a recipient of the FIU College of Arts, Sciences and Education Dean’s Service Award for 4 consecutive years.
Research
The Maltreatment, Abuse and Sexual Trauma (MAST) Lab investigates interpersonal violence, primarily in the form of child abuse. Research is focused on understanding the experience of victims of abuse and examining ways to empower their recovery. Prevention efforts through education at all levels of society is one way we can work to decrease prevalence and begin to eradicate abuse.
MAST research primarily takes place in the community, working alongside agencies that are directly providing services to victims and families.
Additional emphasis is on the existence of mandatory child abuse reporting laws. Specifically, the lab is interested in understanding professionals’ attitudes toward and compliance with such laws. Through early identification and reporting of abuse, victims can receive needed assistance and begin the road to recovery.
The lab also focuses on marginalized populations, including sexual and ethnic minorities to understand their experiences of victimization.
Community Partnerships
Kristi House is dedicated to eradicating child abuse and child sex trafficking – working nationally on solutions, and locally to heal child-victims.
Kristi House’s Project GOLD (Girls Owning Their Lives and Dreams) addresses the needs of girls who are victims of CSE. Project GOLD operates a drop-in center offering an array of services to victims, including groups, advocacy, career counseling, tutoring, case management, and counseling. Services are provided at no cost and incentives are available for educational achievements (e.g. General Education Diploma) or completing an internship.
The THRIVE (Trafficking Healthcare Resources and Interdisciplinary Victim Services and Education) clinic at the University of Miami (UM) Miller School of Medicine is the result of a collaboration between the UM and Jackson Health System. It is one of a few such models in the US. The multidisciplinary, multicultural THRIVE Clinic offers primary, specialty, and gynecological care, and psychiatric and behavioral health services in one location. While they treat all victims of HT, 80% of their patient population is victim of sex trafficking.
Research Associates
Undergraduate
Isabella Garay
Isabella Garay is a Junior majoring in Psychology at Florida International University. Their interests lie in how social factors and childhood trauma contribute to the development of mental disorders. Isabella hopes to attend a doctoral program in clinical psychology once they graduate.
Jasmin Hernandez
Jasmin Hernandez is a senior at FIU majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. Her research interests are currently autism, ADHD, and anxiety. After gaining her bachelor’s degree, Jasmin hopes to obtain a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.
Graduate
Tracey Borelus
Tracy Borelus Tracy Borelus earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University before pursuing a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Now, she's continuing her academic journey at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she's enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, aiming to become a licensed forensic psychologist. Her research focuses on pressing societal issues such as human trafficking, childhood sexual abuse, sex offending, and the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals.
Elena Cabrera
Elena completed both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in just four years at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interests revolve around exploring cultural disparities, particularly in areas such as familial influences on body image and satisfaction within romantic relationships. Elena is supported by prestigious fellowships, including the CASE Dean's Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship. She is eager to collaborate with Dr. Maureen Kenny and her team of graduate students. Through classroom discussions, Elena aims to deepen her understanding of cultural dynamics, enriching her future research pursuits. She's thrilled to become part of the vibrant ASCP and FIU community, anticipating exciting opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Nathalia Holt
Nathalia Holt is a psychology graduate (BA) from Florida International University, with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. They are passionate about using psychology and their role in research to help women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented populations. Nathalia hopes to become a licensed mental health counselor and is currently working towards an MS in professional counseling psychology.
Frank Kotey
Frank Kotey is a student in the ASCP doctoral program in psychology. He graduated from the University of North Florida in 2010 with his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Child Psychology. He went on to work at a center for children with autism utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis to teach the children social and communication skills. He then went on to graduate from Florida International University with his Master of Science in Counselor Education in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track. He worked as a Registered Mental Health Intern for two year in community mental health providing therapy to children and families with open cases with the Department of Children and Families. After getting licensed as a clinical mental health counselor, he continued to work in many fields providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults struggling with severe trauma, addiction, and psychiatric diagnoses. He hopes to research the impact of intergenerational trauma on men of color and how it impacts their loving relationships. He hopes to use the skills and resources gained form the ASCP program to develop stronger mental health outreach and support for minority communities.
Kevin Ortiz-Diaz
Kevin Ortiz-Diaz is a doctoral student in the Applied Social and Cultural Psychology (ASCP) program in the Department of Psychology at FIU. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Central Florida and a second Bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida Gulf Coast University. He also has a record of distinguished service in the US Navy. The culmination of Mr. Ortiz-Diaz’s experiences led to his research interest in examining female service members’ experiences in the armed forces, particularly experiences of sexual assault and harassment. His work will examine male offenders, specifically African American and Latino, and their attitudes toward their female colleagues in the military. He is supported by the FIU University Graduate School Veteran’s Fellowship. He is hoping to gain the tools necessary for a career researching how to help victims of abuse. He is very excited to be beginning a new chapter of his life, and to get to try out all the new foods he can find in Miami.
Past Research Associates
Maheshi Pathirana
Maheshi Pathirana, is a graduate of clinical mental health counseling from the Department of Counseling, Recreation, and School Psychology at Florida International University. She has worked with U.S. war veterans, clients struggling with addiction, and people in the community who have experienced homelessness and are in sustainable housing.
Fayeza Malik
Fayeza Malik was born and raised in Miami and is currently a 4th-year medical student at FIU Herbert Werthiem College of Medicine. She is applying to psychiatry residency currently. She hopes to become a child & adolescent psychiatrist who will help serve the local mental health needs of the community in which she grew up in and holds near and dear to her heart. In her free time, she is a henna artist and likes to watch basketball and play tennis.
Maia Zock-Obregon
Maia Zock-Obregon earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Florida International University. Her experience in mental health consists of volunteer, research, and practical experiences. She was previously a research assistant at the THRIVE Clinic in the University of Miami Hospital working to deliver multidisciplinary services to survivors of human trafficking through trauma-informed care. Maia is currently a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern dedicated to providing the highest standard of care while working towards Florida state licensure. She provides individual, family, and couples therapy to clients of all ages struggling with their mental health.
Suggizett Satoba
Suggizett graduated from Florida International University with a psychology major and a minor in international relations. Her research interests include learning about the developmental effects of different forms of child maltreatment as well as intergenerational trauma. Suggizett is also interested in attending graduate school for a degree in clinical psychology.
Dr. Claire Helpingstine
Dr. Claire Helpingstine earned her doctoral degree in developmental psychology at Florida International University. Her research focuses on the ways in which culture, context and social network processes influence the ways in which women and adolescent girls with a history of sex trafficking are perceived, and the role of these factors in women and adolescent girls' sex trafficking entry and exit.
In 2020 Claire was awarded the Global Health Equity Scholar Predoctoral Fellowship through Fogarty National Institutes of Health – Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research. During this fellowship period, she will be at the Public Health Research Institute of India in Mysore where her project will examine survivors’ perceptions of sex trafficking in India, and their perceptions and experiences with formal support networks. She will also examine Indian formal support provider's perceptions and experiences working with survivors of sex trafficking. Taken together, the goal of this project is to provide intersectional and evidence-based recommendations for addressing sex trafficking, and enhanced treatment recommendations that are culturally informed and contextually relevant.
Interest in Working in Lab
The MAST lab is looking for undergraduate research assistants. If you are an undergraduate student interested in working with research having to do with the military, sexual assault victims, and the policies regarding sexual assault in the military, among other issues, please fill out at application at https://fiu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9GBOJfm7BIoqpoi
If you are interested in having Dr. Kenny mentor you as a doctoral student in the Applied Social and Cultural Psychology program, please read more about the program here. https://case.fiu.edu/psychology/phd-in-applied-social-and-cultural-psychology/
Please complete the Qualtrics survey and then e mail Dr. Kenny directly at kennym@fiu.edu
Recent Publications
Young, G. & Kenny, M. (2022). Focusing the APA ethics code to include development: Applications to abuse. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma. doi.org/10.1007/s40653-022-00484-z
Kenny, M. & Ortiz-Diaz, K. (accepted, Aug 2022). #Niunamenos (No one [woman] less) campaign. In Shackelford. T. (Ed). Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence. Springer.
Walsh, K., Eggins, E., Hine, L., Mathews, B., Kenny, M.C., Howard, S., Ayling, N., Dallaston, E., Pink, E., & Vagenas, D. (2022). Child protection training for professionals to improve reporting of child abuse and neglect. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 7. DOI:10.1002/14651858.
Kenny, M., Mathews, B. & Pathrina, M. (2022). Responses to prenatal opioid and alcohol abuse: A review of US and Australian mandatory reporting laws. Child Abuse Review. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2775
Kenny, M., Long, H., Billings, D. & Malik, F. (Online February 2022) School-based abuse prevention programming: Implementation of child safety matters with minority youth, Child Abuse Review, e2742. doi.org/10.1002/car.2742
Abreu, R., Long, H., Logan, S. & Kenny, M. (2022, Feb 3). School counselors’ perceived preparedness and school support for LGBT students. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling. 16 (1), 47-66, DOI: 10.1080/15538605.2021.1967254
Current Studies
Military Sexual Trauma
- This research examines the complexities of military sexual trauma. This includes researching the myths and factors associated with its occurrence, the impact that sexual trauma has on victims and on the military as an institution, and the policies that deal with these crimes. Additionally, my research looks at what aspects of culture, both military culture and that of modern American society, can influence the likelihood of military sexual assault occurring, looking at such aspects like the role of gender in the military, the point of view of perpetrators, and the opinions of the public on the military.
Child Abuse Reporting
- Analysis of State Laws Related to Parental Substance Use as Form of Child Abuse
- Understanding Clinicians Experiences with Child Abuse Reporting and Its Effects on Client Care
Books
Forthcoming Spring 2023...
