Kristie A. Thomas, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. - University of Pennsylvania
M.S.W. - University of Pennsylvania
B.S. - St. Joseph's University
View Complete Curriculum Vitae
Courses Taught
SW 441 - Research Methods
SW 509 - Evaluation in Social Work Practice
SW 598 -Leadership Development in Anti-Violence Work: The Susan Schechter Social Action Seminar
Scholarly and Practice Interests
Dr. Thomas' main research and practice interests are in the areas of intimate partner violence, women's homelessness, shelter service delivery, and community practice.
Selected Publications
Joshi, M., Thomas, K. A., & Sorenson, S. B. (in press). "I didn't know I could turn colors": Health problems and health care experiences reported by women who were strangled by an intimate partner, Social Work in Health Care.
Joshi, M., Thomas, K. A., & Sorenson, S. B. (in press). Domestic violence and international students: An exploratory study of the practices and role of U.S. University International Offices. Journal of College Student Development.
Thomas, K. A., Dichter, M. E., & Matejkowski, J. (2011). Intimate vs. non-intimate partner murder: A comparison of offender and situational characteristics. Homicide Studies, 15, 291-311.
Thomas, K. A., Sorenson, S. B., & Joshi, M. (2010). Police-documented incidents of intimate partner violence among young women. Journal of Women's Health, 19, 1079-1087.
Sorenson, S. B. & Thomas, K. A. (2009). Views of intimate partner violence in same- and opposite-sex relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 337-352.
Thomas, K. A., Joshi, M., Wittenberg, E. & McCloskey, L. A. (2008). Intersections of harm and health: A qualitative study of intimate partner violence in women's lives. Violence Against Women, 14, 1252-1273.
Wittenberg, E., Joshi, M., Thomas, K. A., & McCloskey, L. A. (2007). Measuring the health-related quality of life of intimate partner violence: An analysis of focus group data describing the domains of life affected. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 5, 67.
Selected Presentations
Thomas, K. A., (2013, January). "Homelessness and domestic violence: Examining patterns of shelter use and barriers to permanent housing." Paper accepted for presentation at the 2013 Society for Social Work and Social Research Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.
Thomas, K. A., & Marks, L. (2013, January). Action!: Video-making in social work education. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2013 Society for Social Work and Social Research (SSWR) Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.
Thomas, K. A., (September, 2012). A banner campaign to market consent to college students: Preliminary findings. Paper presented at the Symposium on Violence Against Women sponsored by the Ortner Center on Family Violence, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Sorenson, S. B., Joshi, M. J., & Thomas, K. A. (2010, November). A look at college students' personal knowledge of and attributions of blame in sexual assault. Paper presented at the 138th Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA), Denver, CO.
Thomas, K. A., Dichter, M. E., & Matejkowski, J. C. (2010, November). Intimate vs. non-intimate partner murder: Differences in legal, situational, clinical, and personal characteristics based on a representative statewide sample. Paper presented at the 138th Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA), Denver, CO.
Thomas, K. A. (2010, April). The role of cities in reducing future homelessness among women victims of IPV. Paper presented at the Penn-International Council on Women's Health Issues 18th Congress. Philadelphia, PA.
Sorenson, S. B., & Thomas, K. A. (2009, March). Views of intimate partner violence in opposite- and same-sex relationships. Presented at the 2009 National Injury & Violence Prevention Research Conference of the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), Atlanta, GA.
Thomas, K. A., Joshi, M. J., & Sorenson, S. B. (2009, March). Age is but a number: Intimate partner violence against women during adolescence and early adulthood. Poster presented at the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Selected Grant Activity
President's Fund for Faculty Excellence, Simmons College. Principal Investigator. Title: "Satisficing" to Survive: A qualitative study of the shelter experiences of homeless victims of intimate partner violence (2012-2013).
Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Student Principal Investigator: Homelessness and domestic violence: Examining patterns of shelter use and barriers to permanent housing (2008-2010).
Consulting and Professional Activity
Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence, University of Pennsylvania - Assistant Director - 2009-2011
National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women - Research Consultant - 2009-2011
Awards and Honors
1st Place - Injury Science Day Poster Competition - 2010
