Alexandra Rush, Ph.D., is a developmental scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Empire State University. Her work investigates how individuals and families create meaning after experiencing the traumatic effects of war, with a special emphasis on intergenerational transmission of trauma, resilience, and pathways of posttraumatic growth. She also studies youth purpose and identity development, employing mixed methods and qualitative approaches, including phenomenology.
Her academic path began at Douglass College of Rutgers University, where she majored in psychology and developed an early passion for human behavior and resilience. She pursued graduate training at Long Island University before earning her doctorate in Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University. Her doctoral research centered on intergenerational trauma within the context of war trauma and illuminated how resilience, family narratives, and experiences of loss influence growth and identity across generations.
During her time at Montclair State, Alexandra worked at the Institute for Research on Youth Thriving and Evaluation, contributing to the Building Evidence in Scouting Together (BEST) study. This research examined how adult experiences and training impact youth character outcomes and offered her opportunities to serve as a content expert on youth purpose. She explored programmatic features that help young people cultivate a sense of purpose in Scouts BSA, while also evaluating training methods for non-formal educators in the context of scouting.
As an Assistant Professor at Empire State University, she teaches courses on human ecological systems, child development, spirituality and wisdom, and abnormal psychology. She aims to foster purposeful learning, encouraging students to connect personal meaning with academic study. In a prior role at Dickinson College, she led research on the experiences of adolescent girls entering Scouts BSA, exploring how they navigated historically male-dominated spaces and how participation influenced their sense of self and purpose.
Alexandra Rush's scholarship has been published in several academic journals, with articles addressing youth purpose development, intergenerational trauma, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. She has presented her work at conferences and cultural institutes, offering insights into resilience and family heritage. Beyond academia, Alexandra draws inspiration from her background in dance and theatre, as well as her love for yoga, nature, and time spent with loved ones, which grounds and energizes her scholarly pursuits.
