Dr. Brenda Morton

Brenda joined UMHB in 2021. She is a professor in the College of Education and Director of the Educational Leadership program. She is also a visiting professor at Tallinn University in the School of Educational Sciences in Estonia. Brenda is a Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist, both in Estonia where she taught classes and conducted research in trauma-informed practices. At UMHB, Brenda teaches trauma-informed practices to undergraduate students, research in the Doctoral program, and chairs dissertation committees.

Brenda's research focuses on young people aging out of foster care with a focus on post-secondary education, the impact of trauma on life outcomes, and resiliency. Her latest research was developed into the book, "Braving the dark: Surviving foster care. Hope and resilience in the midst of trauma."

Brenda earned a post-doc in trauma recovery. She is an advocate of trauma-informed practices. Voice of America recently interviewed her on trauma-responsive practices to support Libya and Morocco after natural disasters. She also provided a workshop for Voice of America international reporters on secondary trauma and self-care practices.