Chris Schulberg O’Sullivan, PhD, has establishing herself as a respected consultant, scholar and writer in the fields of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Throughout her work as a research consultant and writer, she has secured major grants from the Department of Justice to study a broad range of violence-related issues. Her projects have required hiring and training interviewers, designing research frameworks, collecting data and conducting detailed analyses. Much of her funding has been awarded through the Office for Violence Against Women, reinforcing the significance and credibility of her research in the national landscape. Her studies have played a key role in improving services for survivors, revealing gaps in systems, and expanding awareness of the structural inequities that contribute to violence.
Dr. O’Sullivan’s academic background laid the foundation for her multidisciplinary expertise. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma after completing advanced doctoral coursework at Yale University through a full fellowship in linguistics. She also holds a master’s degree in linguistics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and linguistics from Sarah Lawrence College. This combination of training in language, behavior, and research methodology has shaped her career and strengthened her ability to design rigorous studies that illuminate the realities faced by survivors.
Dr. O’Sullivan also contributes her expertise to the National Organization for Men Against Sexism, where she has helped promote gender equity and address societal attitudes that perpetuate violence and discrimination. Her advocacy extends to the Older Women’s Caucus of the Association for Women in Psychology, where she supports research and dialogue surrounding the experiences of aging women.
As a consultant with the Supreme Court of Rockland County, Dr. O’Sullivan wrote the proposal that secured Department of Justice funding to establish a hub court for domestic violence cases. She continues to advise the project, which aims to improve coordination among service providers and strengthen judicial responses to domestic violence. Her consulting portfolio also includes work with the Vera Institute of Justice, where she supported justice reform and victim service initiatives, as well as a longstanding role evaluating programs for the Village of Spring Valley.
Earlier in her career, Dr. O’Sullivan served as co-principal investigator for the New York Legal Assistance Group and the Center for Court Innovation, leading studies that examined court practices and legal supports for vulnerable populations. She spent a significant portion of her professional life as a senior research associate at Safe Horizon in New York City, directing numerous studies on domestic violence. Among her most impactful contributions was a series of grants she secured to investigate family court cases involving battered mothers who lost custody to abusive partners. Her work revealed critical gaps in protection and influenced broader discussions on custody reform.
Before transitioning fully into applied research, Dr. O’Sullivan served as an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Although she enjoyed academic research, she discovered that community-based projects aligned more closely with her interests and values. She has maintained an active role in civic life. She served on Community Board 12 in New York City and supported environmental efforts through the Great Pond Foundation, particularly in projects focused on rescuing polluted bodies of water. She also served on the board of directors for the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center in Harlem, supporting literary and arts programming that enriched the community.
Dr. O’Sullivan has continued to apply her research skills to issues of modern concern, including developing a protocol for human trafficking in Rockland County in partnership with the Center for Safety and Change. This work focuses on identifying victims, coordinating services, and ensuring that minors and adults affected by sex or labor trafficking receive effective support.
Despite navigating metastatic breast cancer, Dr. O’Sullivan remains deeply engaged in survivor communities. She initiated online classes for cancer survivors during the pandemic and continues to participate in outdoor dance classes multiple times a week. Modern dance is among her creative interests, providing balance alongside her consulting work and writing projects.