Her scholarship is broadly focused on understanding the relationships between childhood trauma and a range of behavioral and interpersonal challenges for institutionalized populations, with particular attention to incarcerated women. Related to this general theme, Stephanie has pursued research in three areas: 1) the examination of the behavioral health effects of trauma across the life course; 2) the evaluation of the effectiveness of empirically-supported interventions offered to individuals and families affected by violence; and 3) the assessment of service provider attitudes and behaviors towards clients in crisis. Overlapping themes in her approach include the use of a trauma-informed, strengths-based, social-ecological orientation and a focus on how victimized individuals and families intersect with institutional systems.