Alexandra Rush

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Alexandra Rush

Alexandra Rush, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Empire State University. She studies how people and families create meaningful lives following the traumatic impacts of war, focusing on resilience, posttraumatic growth, and intergenerational trauma. Her scholarship also explores youth identity and purpose, informed by mixed methods and qualitative approaches, including phenomenology that connects theory with lived human experiences.

Her academic foundation began at Douglass College of Rutgers University, where she majored in psychology and developed a strong interest in the topic of resilience. Graduate studies at Long Island University deepened her commitment to understanding human development, leading to doctoral work in Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University. Her dissertation examined how the traumatic effects of war reverberate across generations, while also identifying pathways to healing, growth, and the rebuilding of purposeful lives.

During her doctoral training, Alexandra was a researcher at the Institute for Research on Youth Thriving and Evaluation (RYTE). She contributed to the Building Evidence in Scouting Together (BEST) study, investigating adult volunteer training and youth character outcomes. She also explored youth purpose development within Scouts BSA, analyzing mentorship, program structures, and peer interactions, while also collaborating in research examining the effectiveness of online training programs for non-formal educators in the Boy Scouts of America.

At Empire State University, Alexandra merges scholarship with teaching in courses on child development, human ecological systems, and the development of spirituality and wisdom. Previously, as Visiting Assistant Professor at Dickinson College, she led a study on some of the first girls officially accepted into Scouts BSA, formerly Boy Scouts of America. This project examined how participation in a traditionally all-boys' space affected girls’ sense of self and purpose, providing insights into inclusion within the context of shifting youth organizations.

Alexandra Rush’s work appears in peer-reviewed journals including The Polish Review, the Journal of Adolescent Research, and the Journal of Youth Development, with research spanning youth purpose, intergenerational trauma, and posttraumatic growth. She has presented her scholarship at events co-sponsored by Columbia University and the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences, and other venues. Outside academia, she draws on her background in dance and theater, finding inspiration in yoga, hiking, music, and nature, as well as time with family and friends, which grounds and energizes her pursuits.

Portfolio: https://www.alexandra-rush.com/

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