ABOUT ME
My goal is to inspire a love of learning and sense of purpose in my students as they pursue their studies and career aspirations. As a developmental scientist, I approach my work through the lens of a relational developmental systems perspective which views human development as driven by dynamic and reciprocal person ↔ context relations over the lifespan. I’m especially interested in social contexts that promote youth purpose and character virtue development, and how people transform adversity and traumatic experiences to create meaningful lives.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Purpose, posttraumatic growth, family resilience, and historical trauma.
PUBLICATIONS & SCHOLARSHIP
Refereed Journal Articles
Rush, A., Kochis, O., Belanger, B., Urban, J. B., & Linver, M. R. (in press). Navigating The Tides of Change: Girls’ Experiences in Scouts BSA. Journal of Youth Development.
Rush, A., Urban, J. B., Davis, W. J., & Linver, M. R. (2022). Exploring pathways to purpose in scouts. Journal of Adolescent Research. 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584221091488
Davis, W. J., Rush, A., Tevington, P., Urban, J. B., & Linver, M. R. (2020). Online trainings for non-formal educators: A case study of Boy Scouts of America leaders. The American Journal of Distance Education. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/08923647.2020.1819745
Rush, A. (2020). Exploring trauma, loss, and posttraumatic growth in Poles who survived the Nazi Era (1939-1945) and their descendants. The Polish Review, 65, 42-56. https://doi.org/10.5406/polishreview.65.3.0042
Degrees
- Ph.D. in Family Science and Human Development from Montclair State University
- M.A. in Psychology from Long Island University
Awards
- Scholars Across the University (Empire State University, 8/2024 to 8/2025)