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Sarah Schulz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Psychology
Undergraduate Coordinator, Behavioral Sciences Program
Chair of the Department of Psychology

 

Pictured is Sarah Schulz, Ph.D., LSW, assistant professor of psychology and director of the M.A. in clinical-community psychology program. | Photo by Annie BrewerContact Information

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, Social Work, University of Pittsburgh
  • Master of Science, Social Work, University of Michigan
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley

Courses Taught

  • Psychology of Diversity

  • LGBTQ Mental Health

  • Qualitative Research Methods (Undergraduate and Graduate)

  • Social Welfare Policy

  • Senior Thesis

Background

Sarah L. Schulz, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology, undergraduate coordinator of the behavioral sciences program and chair of the Department of Psychology at Point Park University. She is also chair of the university Institutional Review Board (IRB) and faculty advisor of the Gender and Sexuality Spectrum Alliance, which is in support and celebration of the LGBTQ community at Point Park.

Schulz earned her Doctorate in Social Welfare with a specialization in gender and sexuality from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2012. Since joining the Point Park faculty in 2013, her research interests have focused on the health and mental health needs of the LGBTQ community, as well as the homeless community of Pittsburgh.  She was also a Principal Investigator on the 2016 Point Park University Campus Climate Survey, which aimed to assess students’ experiences, behaviors, and attitudes regarding sexual assault and harassment on urban college campuses. Her research interests are rooted in over 10 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in a variety of mental health settings. 

Schulz is also serving her second term as a commissioner on the City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission (GEC), and she is a Licensed Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Research Interests

  • Mental health
  • Sexual and gender-based violence
  • LGBTQ+ community
  • Community-based, participatory action research
  • Social determinants of health
  • Qualitative research

Publications

  • "Standards/Guidelines Workgroup of the Task Force on Developing Humanistic Approaches to Psychological Diagnosis," Society for Humanistic Psychology: Division 32 of the American Psychological Association (APA), 2018, and "Standards and guidelines for the development of diagnostic nomenclatures and diagnostic alternatives," Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2018.

  • "The informed consent model of transgender care: An alternative to psychiatric diagnosis," Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2018.

  • "Psychological theories of disability and sexuality: A literature review," The Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2009.
  • "Working with transgender individuals: Guidelines for beginning practitioners and students," The New Social Worker, 2004.

Selected Presentations

  • "Street Harassment: A Community Conversation," presentation at the Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues Conference, Pittsburgh, Pa., June 2018.

  • "#METOO:  What’s Next? Preparing Students for the Professional World and Changing Workplace Cultures," panel presentation hosted by the Center for Media Innovation and Title IX office of Point Park University, Pittsburgh, Pa., March 2018.

  • "Street Harassment on Urban College Campuses: Unique Challenges and Opportunities," presentation at the Looking Forward: Combating Sexual Violence on Campus Student Summit, Point Park University, Pittsburgh Pa., March 2017.

  • "Intersectional Feminism," panel presentation with SisTers Pittsburgh and Free Imagination Leaders, Point Park University, Pittsburgh Pa., March 2017.

  • "Gender identity: Pending? Health and mental health care experiences of transmasculine individuals," paper presentation at Society for Social Work and Research 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC., March 2017.

  • "Being genderqueer: Exploring the phenomenon of identities outside of the gender binary," Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, Ga., October 2011.

  • "Working with Transgender Patients: An Overview," Invited presentation/psychiatry staff training, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Berkeley, Calif., July 2011.

  • "Beyond Male and Female: Social Work Practice with Gender Variant Individuals," Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, San Francisco, Calif. October 2007.

Honors and Awards

  • Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, Point Park University, 2018
  • Graduate Assistantship, University of California, Berkeley, 2006-2011
  • Research Assistantship, University of California, Berkeley, 2009-2010
  • William V. Power Graduate Award, University of California, Berkeley, 2006-2007
  • Graduate Fellowship Award, University of California, Berkeley, 2006-2007
  • Undergraduate Research Award, University of Pittsburgh, 2001

Professional Licenses and Memberships

  • Pennsylvania State Social Work licensure
  • Council on Social Work Education
  • National Association of Social Workers
  • Society for Social Work and Research

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